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From flora@flora.comFri Feb 9 11:06:36 1996
Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 22:06:44 -0500 (EST)
From: flora@flora.com, Anonymous <flora@flora.com>
Reply to: Community_Forestry_Discussion <Tree-House@lists.umbc.edu>
To: Community Forestry Discussion <tree-house@lists.umbc.edu>
Subject: TH: tree meditation
The following tree meditation was found in a book entitled Still as a
Mountain, Powerful as Thunder, written by Y.P.Dong. It is a simple
Taoist exercise for healing, vitality, and peace of mind.
- - -
Trees are a treasured source of energy for practicing meditation. The
solidity of a tree, its roots connecting it with the energy of the earth,
is a quality that is emulated by the practitioner. One has only to look
at the roots of a tree growing near rocks or a sidewalk to realize that a
tree has the tremendous power necessary to buckle concrete and separate
stones. As long as our arboreal friends are not injured, they seem able
to live for an indefinite period of time. For the Chinese, trees live in
close harmony with the Tao.
1. You can practice with a tree in your backyard or any natural area.
The energies of trees are most available at dawn or dusk, but they can
practice with you at any time. In general, select a comfortable standing
meditation posture as close to the trunk of the tree as possible.
2. If you are in a wooded area, walk slowly and visually scan the area
without focusing on any single object. Wait for one tree to select you
by suddenly becoming the attractive focus of your attention in a way that
differs from all the surrounding trees. You will know when you have
found your tree because you will feel more inclined to practice with this
tree than with any other you have seen.
3. Once you approach your tree, notice from which direction the sunlight
is falling on its trunk. If you feel tense and have recently been under
a lot of stress, you may want to stand in the tree's shadow, which
heightens the convergence of yin energy. If you feel weak or have
recently been ill, you should stand in the sunlight. In any case, you
should always try to stand on the most level area at the base of the trunk.
4. Whether you stand facing the tree trunk or away from it depends on
the size of the tree and your personal preference. If it is a small
tree, you may be able to partially encircle the trunk with your arms
without actually touching it. A larger tree may ask you to stand with
your back as close to it as possible without making physical contact.
5. Relax by feeling yourself breathing with the tree. Feel every part
of your body gently expand and contract as you inhale and exhale
naturally, smoothly, and softly. Experience the feeling that there is no
difference between you and the tree. Maintain this feeling as long as
you can.
6. If you get tired but wish to continue your meditation, sit down with
your back against the tree and close your eyes. Imagine that the
pressure of the trunk against your back is your own spine and that
tremendous energy is being transmitted into your body. Continue as long
as you are comfortable. The same exercise may be done lying down with
your head against the base of the tree, using leaves for padding if the
bark is too rough for the scalp and neck.
7. When you have completely returned to your own body, place both hands
against the trunk of the tree and slowly inhale and exhale 21 times, or a
bit longer. Mentally transmit your own energy to the tree through your
palms while exhaling, and take in energy while inhaling. You will know
that you are doing this correctly when you feel a slight pulsating
sensation directly in the center of your palms.
You may later return to this particular tree or choose another. Feel
free to improvise and experiment, because you may find a particular way
of practicing with trees that allows you to integrate more completely
with them. Let your own body and the tree be your guide, for there is no
set routine to follow. You are attempting to draw energy by integrating
yourself with nature; therefore, do what seems most natural to you.
[Anonymous Post To Tree-House] ...