Presence | ||
classes qigong tai chi kung fu about us reviews a-z
Here
Presence is all about how much you are here, right now.
Not lost in thought, talking
inwardly, problem solving, spacing out or otherwise
distracting yourself.
Simply here.
Hijacked
Most people are not present at all.
Their minds have been hijacked by the mass media.
Endless inward chattering blinds people to what is
right in front of them: the immediate, the
real.
Delusional
The problem with not being present is that you live in the here and now.
Not in your memories or the past. Nor in
speculation and worries
about the future.
You are here right now.
Everything else doesn't exist.
To the degree that we are
present, there is no fear.
(Peter Ralston)
Half asleep
When somebody is semi-present, they are only giving partial
attention to what they are doing at any given
time.
They drive a car whilst texting on their phone or taking a phone call.
Their mind is not here and now. Their ability to respond
spontaneously to immediate circumstances is
diminished.
Instead of being vital,
present and here, the individual is
drifting
in the clouds of their own thoughts,
ideas and memories.
Talking
Try talking with somebody who is not fully present... They seem distracted, slow, listless. Not
attentive. They have difficulty following a train of
thought. They are not really
listening to what is being said.
There is a certain vacancy in their eyes. Or a look
of inward anxiety. A
deeply neurotic
urgency of purpose.
The mind has first to be
attuned to the unconscious.
(Eugen Herrigel)
Body language
When a person isn't present, their body reflects
their mind.
There are often careless habits of slouching,
poor poise, bad patterns of usage. They look like they've borrowed the body
for a while.
No nimbleness, grace, vigour, agility at all.
The body is reduced to a shambling
carcass; transporting their chorus or
thoughts around their life.
Emotions
The degree of presence affects emotions.
Much of what people speculate about never comes to
pass. Gossip is mean and
fruitless.
Politics is merely a form of amusement for the
bored individual seeking identification with events greater than themselves.
Consequently, people explore a range of
faux emotions every day that have no direct bearing
on the immediacy of their lives.
Brain health
Since we live in the immediate we need to be
conscious of the immediate.
The more present we are, the better we can address what is taking place
as it is taking place.
For a martial artist this
is imperative. For everyone else it is still
essential.
If your mind is elsewhere, who is running
things in its absence? There is no autopilot.
Wake up
Meditation is about training the
individual to be here and now.
Initially there will be very little
improvement but over time things will change.
Rather than space out, you find yourself increasingly aware of what is
taking place.
This will facilitate a deeper, richer engagement
with life.
Heightened level
of awareness
You will notice more. See more.
Feel more. Experience more.
Whilst other people are tapping away on their phones you will see squirrel
on the tree, the pheasant at the roadside,
feel the slight twinge in your back or hear the creak of your friend's
knee.
Noticing things will broaden your perspective and
change how you see the world. You may
find that humour comes more readily and
easily.
Your life will change in ways you cannot imagine.
It is said that soon after his
enlightenment the Buddha passed a man on the road who was struck by the
Buddha's extraordinary radiance and presence.
The man stopped and asked, "My friend, what are you? Are you a celestial
being or a god?"
"No," said the Buddha.
"Well, then, are you some kind of magician or wizard?"
Again the Buddha answered, "No."
"Are you a man?"
"No."
"Well, my friend, then what are you?"
The Buddha replied, "I am awake."
(Buddha)
Conscious
There is nothing mystical about 'presence'.
It is simply a condition of awareness whereby you are rooted in the
immediate moment rather than absorbed in thought or memory.
In order to do anything wholeheartedly you
need to be present, not daydreaming or 'spacing out'.
Sensitivity
Certain activities can help a person gain presence. These are not
'meditation'. They are simply activities or exercises that encourage you to
be conscious of the 'here and now'.
Ultimately, everything that you do should help to bring your mind back to
reality; whether it is washing dishes, walking on a
deserted beach or sitting quietly.
The activity itself is not important - it simply serves to initiate the
condition of presence. If you come to rely upon the activity, this is a
mistake.
Simple is not easy
Tai chi requires awareness; the mind must be without thought in order
for you to move internally.
Beginners initially learn 'standing
qigong' because this helps them to calm the mind and be present.
The exercise is uncomplicated and offers almost no physical challenge
except to remain relaxed and aware.
It is the very simplicity of the qigong that causes problems for
people; it is an exercise that lacks activity.
Agitation
An agitated mind needs entertainment and rebels against inactivity.
Once the mind settles, the senses become more acute and you begin to
notice more. This is the beginning of presence.
Toxic habits
Alcohol, drugs, sugar, smoking etc hinder
mindfulness. e.g. alcohol
dulls the senses.
The original meaning of intoxication is "a
poisoning". The euphoria people experience from alcohol isn't
the outcome of being healthy and present. It is
the consequence of poisoning the brain.
You cannot be mindful and
clear if your brain is dulled. Drinking alcohol is the
polar opposite of mindfulness.
Resistance...
People may drink alcohol regularly, read this
information and then object... It can be worth
asking yourself why?
The answers are simple: habit, lifestyle
attachment, emotional investment,
peer pressure, self-image and even (potentially)
addiction. Common sense and reason are inconvenient.
Having 'presence'
Presence can be seen in a different way...
Some people seem to have
'presence'. They exude a notable air of security and
calm.
These individuals quietly walk through
life in a comfortable,
natural way. They
are unaffected and genuine. There is no conflict or aggression in their
manner. Just gentle humour and
grace.
Ed Parker says, "The only reason men fight is because
they are insecure; one man needs to prove that he is better or stronger than
another. The man who is secure
within himself has no need to prove anything with force, so he can walk away
from a fight with dignity and pride. He is the true martial artist - a man
so strong inside that he has no need to demonstrate his power."
The Chinese word for this kind of confidence is 'sai', which can be defined
as 'presence'.
(Joe Hyams)
Page created
18 April 2005
Last updated
04 May 2023
▲