■Book51-Highest Yoga Tantra and Mahamudra
■Written by Master Sheng-yen Lu
■Chapter ten
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After moving to Seattle, USA, I continued vigorously with my daily cultivation. Besides entering into meditative absorption, I also practiced Mahamudra techniques. These techniques, known as Asanas, are essential. What are the techniques of Mahamudra? They are a set of techniques that are exercised to compliment the meditation of Mahamudra. Each of the seven chakras that we will discuss below is “a plexus of nerves,” which constitute the meridians. As we direct winds into the meridians, we must release the knots in the meridians.
If a practitioner of Mahamudra increases their spiritual strength, yet their physical body is weak, then this results in an imbalance. Exercising with these techniques contributes to the development of balance in the body, mind and spirit. The meditative absorption of Mahamudra and the physical techniques of Mahamudra compliment each other.
The Sixteen Gyalwa Karmapa once transmitted a technique to me known as the Vajra Techniques of Great Bliss. In the past, I learned many other techniques from other yogis. Thus, the vajra techniques I am about to introduce are rather eclectic. I want to teach you a few simple techniques that can be done easily. While they may appear simple and easy, they are nevertheless significant. The students must first pay homage to the guru and lineage holders to show respect.
The physical techniques of Mahamudra are as follows:
1.The Life Force Technique [Resembles the Forward Bend Posture or the Paschimothanasana]
From a lying position, with your arms straight out behind you, inhale slowly and lift your upper body slowly from your waist. Then continue to bend forward, lowering your upper body as far as you can and grasp your toes with your fingers. Hold your breath for 3 to 8 seconds before releasing it. Bend backwards until you are lying flat on your back. Repeat this sequence 8 times.
This technique resembles the exercise of a sit-up, but it differs slightly. One may visualize white light while inhaling, blue light while exhaling, and red light while holding the breath. The breathing should be gradual and full. The body should bend and extend from the waist from as low of a point as possible, ideally resting the chest on the thighs.
This Life Force Technique helps to press the winds toward the solar plexus chakra [located a few inches above the navel], so as to release all the knots around that chakra.
2.The Loosening Technique
Seated in the cross-legged full lotus position, with the hands clasped in a fist and held closely at the waist, turn the upper body from right to left and from left to right in one sequence. Repeat this five times. Turning the body this way helps to loosen the knots around the solar plexus chakra, which helps to clear the knots and eliminate any problems in the navel area.
3.The Inversion Technique [Resembles the Supported Shoulder Stand or Salamba-Sarvangasana]
This is an inverted pose. The novice may learn it by supporting himself against a wall. This inverted pose requires the head, neck and shoulder areas to be on the floor, with the hands placed on the spine to support the back, while keeping the elbows in and resting on the floor. The body beyond the shoulder forms a straight line. Tuck your chin against your chest and keep your legs together, focusing your attention on the tips of your feet.
Keep your body still. Hold the pose for about 2 to 5 minutes. Repeat 3 times.
This inversion technique serves to fill the body with wind. After completing this technique, rotate your neck several times either clockwise or counter-clockwise to release the knots around the throat chakra. This posture can eliminate problems around the throat chakra.
However, this inversion technique is unsuitable for the elderly and those suffering from high blood pressure. Those who are unable to do a shoulder stand should not attempt this technique.
4.The Slapping Technique
This technique requires one to sit cross-legged. Extend your hands and rub your palms to produce heat. Lift your right arm straight up to expose the armpit. Slap your right armpit 3 times with your left palm.
Repeat this with your left arm extending straight up, and slap the left armpit 3 times with your right palm.
Following this, massage your left and right shoulders respectively by rubbing them with your hands. You can combine the techniques of rubbing and slapping. You can even slap your chest area. By slapping from your shoulders down to your legs and feet, including your toes, you are literally giving your body a full slapping massage.
This approach is one of the best ways to loosen the heart chakra and the meridians in the armpit area. Usually, it is difficult for the winds to circulate through the meridians at the armpit; this is a dead end in the practice of Mahamudra. It is just as difficult for the wind to reach the tip of the toes. This is made possible with the force of the slapping technique. This is vital. This technique can cure problems arising around the heart and chest area.
Someone has described this technique as the flapping wings of a bird. You can slap on your arms and hands, and on the area around your chest, waist and legs.
I would like to elucidate on this further: If the “Awakening of Spirit” exercise of the Golden Mother of Jade Pond is performed while fully conscious with a good control of timing, then it is no different from the Slapping Technique mentioned here. By applying the force of slapping, one releases all the knots in the meridians and helps to improve the health of the body. The “Awakening of Spirit” exercise includes the techniques of slapping, rotating and twisting the body. This exercise applies these techniques to cure the illnesses of the body by clearing the knots in the meridians, and helping to circulate the winds within them.
-To Be Continued-
