"Keep one-point" is the most powerful and most essential practice taught me by a martial art teacher (Koichi Tohei). Keeping one-point has served me through my life and is now serving me as I continue learning how to die.
The one-point or center in the body is two to three inches below the navel and deep inside. One moves from one-point. This allows one to get out of the head chatter, out of entangling emotion, out of fabricated illusion and move with full attentiveness and clarity through life.
But how about through death? One does not want to stay attached to one's body. Where then shall one keep one's one-point? Where shall one center oneself?
I practice the answer to this question even now. I center in the Formless that is producing this form. Rather than being a body that is embodying the Life Force, I practice being the Life Force that is embodying. In other words, I am practicing dying before I die. I identify with the Formless rather than the form.
Where is my one-point? I center in the vastness that produces all that is. I hear comforting laughter and feel warmth and peace. Centering and opening. No attachment. Boundless capaciousness. As Stephen Levine put it, a spiritual being having physical experiences rather than a physical being having spiritual experiences.
The one-point or center in the body is two to three inches below the navel and deep inside. One moves from one-point. This allows one to get out of the head chatter, out of entangling emotion, out of fabricated illusion and move with full attentiveness and clarity through life.
But how about through death? One does not want to stay attached to one's body. Where then shall one keep one's one-point? Where shall one center oneself?
I practice the answer to this question even now. I center in the Formless that is producing this form. Rather than being a body that is embodying the Life Force, I practice being the Life Force that is embodying. In other words, I am practicing dying before I die. I identify with the Formless rather than the form.
Where is my one-point? I center in the vastness that produces all that is. I hear comforting laughter and feel warmth and peace. Centering and opening. No attachment. Boundless capaciousness. As Stephen Levine put it, a spiritual being having physical experiences rather than a physical being having spiritual experiences.
Having experienced extensive astral travels, I can vouch for what you're saying, George. Researchers and geniuses such as Robert Monroe attest to being centered even when experiencing out-of-body journeys, so you're in good company. Trust and have no fear. (Interesting that you quote Stephen Levine. Teilhard de Chardin said: "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience." Oh well, it's certainly the truth, regardless of who borrowed the sentiment from whom.) Another good post, George!
ReplyDeleteThat's funny. I thought you had already died and been reborn, unlike a snowflake. :-) Nicely centered.
ReplyDeleteI was just speaking with a friend about dying before you die yesterday. Thanks for this timely (and centering gift). I will share it with my friend as well.
ReplyDelete