The time is coming to test our choices, beliefs, principles, practices, our place in the world. It was easy for us not to worry when the human madness happened far away from us. It was easy for us to think that it would never happen to us. Now we are facing a new situation. Now we are faced with the crowning madness of civilization – war. Today it’s a war across the border. Tomorrow? Many of the things we considered important so far have already lost their importance. Many more will follow. Each of us is in a different life situation, in different circumstances. Each of us has to do what we have to do. However, especially now, it is important how we treat the world around us, how we treat the people around us, and how we treat ourselves. May we be able to appreciate the moment that is given to us, people that are close to us that we still have, and our place in the world. May we be able to express this gratitude through our relationship to others, our treatment of others, those who are close to us, and those who are strangers. May we not lose what is, thinking about what was or what could have been if … Let us remember that everything changes but what we do, and how we do it during and between these changes has a measurable impact on them. May the peace of the wilderness be with you always. You can also lookup – THE PRACTICE OF KAN ...
Quality of life
Primal Tao is a daily quest for quality. QUALITY of experience. QUALITY of life. In practical terms it is paying attention to the quality of foods we consume and the reasons why we consume them. Primal Tao is also paying attention to the quality of our “inner life”. The quality of our thoughts and our reactions to what is happening around us, as well as the stability and quality of our inner peace and our perception of life in general. Another aspect of Primal Tao practice is our individual physical condition and its dependence on intensity and variety of physical activities and frequent exposure to natural elements. In all of these pursuits we look for naturalness and simplicity. Thoughtful nutrition Purposeful regeneration Conscious movement Deliberate life ...
Tao of the Four Empties – the Empty Mind
How many times do we hear the story of never-ending to-do-lists, things to take care of, projects to complete, deadlines to meet, unfinished errands, etc? How many times our head is overflowing with never-ending streams of thoughts, plans, worries – an incessant noise and activity. We can easily notice an interesting phenomenon nowadays – overstimulation of the mind and under-stimulation of the body. The simplest solution would, of course, be a reversal of these proportions – activating the body and quieting the mind. The practice of the Empty Mind aims to achieve just that: a quiet, focused mind. How do we empty our minds? How to realize a focused, relaxed, flexible and quiet mind? Obviously, it is not easy. Many aspects of contemporary life stand in our way. The pace of life in the cities, work ethics of most companies, the focus on the instant results in today’s business world, changes in our immediate surroundings, lack of access to Nature for some, 24/7 exposure to marketing and mind-manipulation, high expectations towards ourselves and others, and even the impact of stimulating foods and beverages. While it is very difficult for us to be unaffected by all of these daily occurrences, it is possible to develop simple thought habits, mental hygiene of sorts, an attitude of looking at tasks at hand from a bit distanced perspective. In many Taoist practices, we frequently distinguish two opposite but complementary poles, two aspects of the same – Yin and Yang. In the practice of the Empty Mind, we also address this duality. We practice controlling our thoughts by the conscious development of certain habits of mental attitudes – that would be an active Yang approach. We can also utilize a more passive, Yin technique – letting go and focusing more on the meditative aspects of the practice. They are complementary and equally important and both can utilize the use of breath and self-observation. It is very difficult if not impossible to make any changes without the ability to take note of the present situation here and now. It is only when we are aware of the fact that our mind is overstimulated, too emotional or stuck in a negative sphere, that any steps towards changing this situation can be made. In order to do that we need to develop a habit of paying attention to what and how we tend to think. Just like everything else, at first it seems very difficult but with time it will get easier and easier. There are many simple exercises that can help us control the flow of our thoughts. We can start by noticing and writing down the feelings or emotions we would like to get rid of like anger, anxiety or the need to complain, and then pay attention and note every occurrence during the day. You will notice that at first, it requires a great deal of self-discipline but it will soon become very natural. The very fact that you notice it will give you a measure of satisfaction and increase the level of control you have over this particular habit. The next step is finding a feature directly opposite to the one you’re trying to get rid of. For example: for anger, it would be: composure, patience, mental balance. For anxiety – calmness. For the habit of complaining – noting the positive side, praise, etc. These are the characteristics you want to introduce, strengthen, and master. The habits that deserve your energy and effort. Features of your mind that you want to cultivate. The more we do it the easier it becomes. The more we pay attention to something, the more we will see it all around us. Paying attention (which is a form of energy allocation) to the positive aspects of the situations we are in will strengthen these aspects, deepen our ability to find them, create a habit of guiding our minds in the more desirable directions and not just automatically reacting to the circumstances. This is how we can manifest the kind of understanding, create an inner perspective that is the most conducive to maintaining serenity, optimism, joy, and contentment. With practice, it will become completely natural, subconscious, and effortless. In Yin practice, a more passive mind practice, we will concentrate on influencing and calming down our minds with the use of meditative techniques, working with our breath and awareness. We try to create habits of letting go of mental noise, habits of finding moments of quiet contemplation in different situations throughout our day. These can be pre-arranged meditation times (like before or after work) or, in a more informal way, brief moments of remembering and awareness of our breath, posture, our body or emotional state. Focusing attention on one’s breath, lengthening of the exhale, a conscious relaxation of the entire body and letting go of accumulated tension – they can all be an integral part of our how we “go with the flow” of our day’s events. We can find these little meditations in many unexpected places. For some of us, it could be a moment of silence and stillness waiting in the queue. For others – a short break for a cup of tea. Sometimes it happens while we take our pet for a walk, make our bed, clean the dishes or fill up our car’s gas tank. The possibilities are infinite. What are your “informal” meditations? When do you find the time to let go? ...
Qigong – Tai Chi – Yoga (and many other modalities) – why is it worth practicing?
When somebody asked me some twenty years ago: “What is Qigong or Tai Chi? – without any doubt, in just a few minutes I could precisely explain the goals and characteristics of these practices. Since I had “already” been a devoted practitioner for a couple of years, I was convinced that I knew everything there was to be known about the subject. A few years later I was asked the question again. This time I think I managed to make my unsuspecting victim bored to death by describing different styles, forms, and approaches in Tai Chi and Qigong. I think I could talk about it indefinitely. Fast forward another 10 years or so… and my answers have become shorter and more and more enigmatic. The more I practice the more I realize that I know very little and that our individual goals, perspectives, and interpretations can be vastly unique. At the same time, we have a lot in common when we ask ourselves the same questions and struggle with similar challenges that our daily life can generously provide. We can find many benefits of practices such as Qigong or Yoga. With time, both our understanding and our goals of practice can evolve and change. For me personally, my practice helps me find and cultivate the qualities that are difficult to manifest in a vortex of the everyday pace of life, work, and responsibilities. It is important for me however, to focus at least a little bit of energy on creating some peace of mind, health, and joy in my daily life. How to find my place in this world, in Nature? How to be comfortable in my own body and mind? What is my life’s work? How to accept and like my own self, others, and the rest of the world? These are some of the many questions that my training is helping me to find the answers for. For me, to practice Qigong/TaiChi/Yoga/Meditation means to continuously cultivate the qualities I seek. It means to engage in a process of self-discovery and self-observation. It means to create a quality of being. We don’t need to practice, let’s say: an hour a day. We can practice all the time. Your practice can be your being here and now. Constant awareness and conscious choice of the way you think, talk and act. Noting your posture, your breath, and your tension level. Paying attention to others, paying attention to your own reactions and to your surroundings. Continuous effort to establish an inner and outer balance. It is a practice of transforming the ordinary into the unusual, boring into interesting. It is a way to discover the magic of everyday life! ...
Life as a continuous act of cultivation.
Every day I cultivate my life experience. I like to think of the word “cultivate” as “do”. What I do is what I develop and strengthen. How I live every day influences the way I will live in the future. How I live every day determines how I feel about the past. What I do every day but more importantly how I do it, is a choice easy to forget that I have. Am I kind or rude? Talking or listening? Paying attention or absent-minded? Compassionate or indifferent? Tolerant or idealistic? Focused or scattered? Relaxed or tense? Calm or anxious? Happy or sad? Active or inert? By concentrating on certain aspects and attributes of our life and our being we can create habitual reactions that we would like to have. By making an effort to smile, to listen to others, to pay attention and notice the good side of things, it becomes infinitely easier to do it in a more natural, effortless way. Almost automatically. What is your choice? What do you cultivate? Life goes by very quickly. Be an artist and a co-creator of your daily experiences. ...
Tao of the Four Empties
There are countless ways to approach our health and wellbeing. Some people are inclined to follow the mainstream guidelines, others like to experiment on themselves. In an era of the internet, we have access to an unbelievable amount of health systems from many diverse cultures. It is only a question of what we like and what works for us. Many years ago, while studying books on Qigong, Tai Chi and Taoism I came across an old Taoist saying: “ Those who strive for longevity should maintain the “Four Empties”. For me as a Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner, the concept of the “Four Empties” neatly encompasses all the general principles of maintaining good health that I have discovered and implemented in my own life. Each of the Four Empties represents an important aspect of our daily cultivation. The type of practice that is simple, inspired by Nature itself, and accessible to anyone wishing to try it. The Four Empties are: Empty Mind Empty Stomach Empty Kitchen Empty Room The practice of the Empty Mind refers to our effort of maintaining an inner, mental equilibrium. Our mind has an unimaginable power of effecting the quality of our life, therefore it is important to pay attention to the habits it develops (for example needless worrying or dwelling on the past or future). There are many meditative, contemplative methods that help to bring our thoughts to a place of balance and stability. Control of our breath can be a very useful tool. The practice of the Empty Stomach refers to the importance of our eating habits and their impact on our lives. It reminds us of the value of the time-tested healing tradition – fasting. Each and every one of us needs to find a favorite way to implement periods of detox and restoration with no food. It mimics the experiences of our ancestors and reflects our evolutionary needs, reminding us that for most of humanity, continuous satiety is a very recent and not necessarily optimal phenomenon. The practice of the Empty Kitchen refers to the quality of foods that we usually consume. Foods our body needs have to be fresh, unprocessed, whole. Most of us quickly forget the meaning of these words. Keeping our kitchen empty means avoiding eating anything that can be stored for an excessively long time, learning to recognize the real, natural foods that humans have been using for millions of years, and “unlearning” the pseudo-foods we’ve grown to consider “normal”. The practice of the Empty Room refers to the influence of our surroundings on our mood, health, and wellbeing. Simplifying what we can make simpler, decluttering what we can declutter. Creating space for more movement, sunshine and fresh air. Motivating ourselves to activate our bodies and interact with natural elements more. By minimizing the amount of “things” in our life we open up room for more time for relationships and experiences. In the next few posts, we will take a closer look at each element of the “Four Empties”. ...
Minimalism – the incredible lightness of being.
The world around us, our schools, businesses, governments, parents, they all us teach us how we need to have more, achieve more, be more. Minimalism teaches us how to have enough. What is enough? It is a state of being when we feel contentment with what is, with what we have. In a way, it is not very different from the lofty ideas of enlightenment or happiness, ideas of being present and happy here and now. Minimalism is not anything new. The Greek philosophers, Japanese Zen masters, Chinese Taoist hermits, and many, many others have been practicing minimalism since the times forgotten. Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi, they all understood the limitations of things. In the world of materialism and common mindless consumption, the idea of minimalism is a counterbalance to excess. To have enough or to be enough has been a goal pursued by many. In minimalism, contrary to other approaches, enough is sought by subtracting rather than adding. Letting go rather than accumulating. Appreciating the “haves” rather than craving the “have nots”. When we realize what we really need – we realize what is enough for us. When you realize that there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you – Lao Tzu Many types of Buddhist practices emphasize the importance of being present in the moment, aware and mindful of what we are doing. Minimalism shares the same desire to be more mindful of our real needs for possessions, achievements, and many more. When we simply react to the world around us, it is often an unconscious or undesirable reaction. A result of previous experiences, past conditioning or a formed habit. On the material plane, we happen to react to peer pressure or marketing suggestions and buy more things in hopes that they will bring us joy and happiness. While things can do that, it is not a very long lasting feeling. Because we want to experience the feeling again, we end up buying more and more. As a result, we get more conditioned, our reward system down-regulates and we need to do it even more often, feeling progressively less pleasure. Not to mention that our stuff quickly accumulates. It is a vicious circle that slowly burns out our joy of life. So, instead of investing our hopes for contentment in yet another toy we would like to have, why don’t we start the process of elimination to discover that we don’t really need much to feel satisfied with life. Re-discovering a long forgotten hobby, simple interactions with other people and nature can be as rewarding and much longer lasting means of finding the elusive happiness. Do YOU enjoy every day appreciating its gifts and remembering its transience? ...
Everyday cultivation of quality.
Every single day you wake up in some place, you wake up in some body, you wake up in some mind and you begin to tell yourself your own story from the beginning, again. You remember where you are. You remember who you are. You remember what you need to do. Remember. It is a nice word but do you realize that human memory is re-created over and over again every time we try to “remember” something?! We do not function like a computer storing memories of yesterday. Every reflection of the past is created anew every time we try to remember it. Amazing! A continuous creative process! Just like our everyday life. Every morning you wake up and create your life again. You put it all together the way you are used to, the way your environment had conditioned you, the way it is convenient or the only way you believe it is possible to do. But of course, you know that there are many, many ways. All it takes is changing your immediate surroundings, social circle, cultural environment, the place where you live or work and it becomes very clear how many different ways of doing things there are. Or.. you can change the way you think. Change the thinking and continuously use this new way, practice, utilize, cultivate it. This is the simplest and yet the most demanding change. It requires our own work, effort, willingness, time and patience. All the things we are constantly running short of. When you wake up – think of something nice, appreciate a good night’s sleep. Stretch and appreciate your body. Get up and appreciate your surroundings. Walk to the bathroom and appreciate the water you have. Go to the kitchen, prepare something healthy, tasty, nutritious and thank for the food you have. Go out, appreciate the world and yourself and do something good, do something nice! ...
What spirituality is and what it is not?
I am sitting on the train watching a father and his ten-year-old daughter. They are so nice. He is so engaged and enthusiastic and has so much fun in a conversation with her. They exemplify how one can be towards another. Full of love. I think it is possible to be like this with everything. It requires attention. It needs cultivation. But it is possible. I think when people see it in someone who doesn’t apply it only towards a family member or a loved one, they think this is spirituality. Perhaps it is. Giving love to everyone. Perhaps feeling love for everyone is spirituality. Perhaps feeling gratefulness is spirituality. Perhaps feeling contentment is spirituality. Perhaps feeling inner peace is spirituality. Certainly showing devotion to a principle, doing things for show, being overly strict to oneself or others, showing no appreciation, showing anger, pessimism, anxiety – is not spirituality. Which one do you practice? ...
Avoid confusion.
Simplify your life and find out what is important for you. Don’t confuse things. We confuse education with intelligence. Happiness with pleasure. Achievement with sales numbers. Real value with popularity. Longevity with a number of years lived. Health with the looks. Facebook likes with real human interactions. Size of the muscle with fitness level. Sex with love. Starchy, sugary, processed stuff with nutritious food. Addictive cravings with hunger. Cockiness with confidence. Aggression with strength. Modesty with shyness. Tax deductible charity with generosity. We confuse surviving with flourishing. Existing with Living. ...
