..续本文上一页of the earth, but you will never find out "who
" You should follow in an orderly fashion and run at the same pace as everyone else. Right now we are walking in single file. Sometimes the walking is done three abreast. But because we don”t have that much room here, we are using single file. When we start the walking period in single file, we should not be running. We should walk first. We walk for about fifteen to twenty minutes. The runs should be once or twice around the hall--three times at most--and then the signal to stop should be given. The runs cannot last too long. If the runs last too long, people get tired and winded, and then they won”t be able to apply their effort. Just run for one or two laps, three at most. Run until you feel that people are just beginning to get warm. As soon as the body heat rises, hit the fish to stop the run. Then start the sitting period. Once the circulation of blood and qi has come alive, the sit should begin. hen sitting, if you can sit in full lotus posture, then that is best. It is easy to enter samadhi that way. When you use full lotus posture, the gods, dragons, and others of the eightfold pision will come to protect you. The demon kings will stay far away from you. By sitting in full lotus position, you are already amassing infinite merit and virtue. Notice the way Buddhas are seated--they are all in full lotus posture. But maybe you simply cannot bear full lotus posture or you have no way to get up into it. Perhaps your legs are as stiff as a board and you can”t pull them up into that position; perhaps your legs are as hard as iron so that it seems you would have to fire up the furnace and smelt them before they will bend. If it”s that difficult, then you”ll have to compromise a bit and use half lotus posture.
Sitting in half lotus posture, it is not as easy to enter samadhi. Besides, haven”t I told you before about Dhyana Master Gui Bi ("Pressured by Ghosts")
From his story we know that sitting in full lotus creates a golden pagoda; sitting in half-lotus creates a silver pagoda; and that normal sitting--without any lotus posture--creates a pile of mud. And so, pull yourself up into full lotus! Adjust your clothing so it does not bind you. When your clothing isn”t too tight, then you will feel more comfortable. When you are sitting comfortably, you may use a light blanket or your padded robe if you are wearing one to cover your lap and tuck in around your legs.
When you see that everyone has wrapped his legs well and is settled into the sitting position, and no one is moving around or making noise, then you may start the sitting period. That means everyone should be sitting quietly and no one should be making any disturbance. It shouldn”t be that before people have even sat down you "Pa! Pa! Pa!" [hit the fish to begin the sit]. That”s not the way to do it. The strokes on the fish should not be rapid. Hit it more slowly "pa--pa--pa--." I could hear you when I was on the third floor--hitting the fish very fast to begin the sits. That”s not how it should be done. You are not setting off atomic bombs. You must watch to see that everyone is seated. If even one person is not yet seated, then you should wait for him. By the same token, participants in the session should not make the person responsible for starting the sit have to wait for you. That”s not the way it should be done.
When the fish is hit to stop the running period, everyone should immediately sit down and place a blanket or robe over his legs. That”s because when sitting in meditation, you should not let your legs get cold. If they get cold, then it”s not easy to work on your skill. And so you should wrap up your legs. If your legs get cold, they won”t cooperate with you. Not only will they hurt, you may be unable…
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