The concept of mind concentration
The mind concentration refers to the ideas focusing on a certain thing in the practice. In the practice, paying attention to the vast ocean, it is called mind concentration on the ocean; paying attention to the bright moon, it is called mind concentration on the moon; paying attention to the lower abdomen (Dantian), it is called mind concentration on Dantian, and so on. The mind concentration can make the exercisers concentration and eliminate the distractions, so as to achieve in the static state.
The contents of mind concentration are various, which usually summarized as mind concentration on the inside and mind concentration on the outside. The so-called mind concentration on the inside refers to the ideas focus on a certain part of the body, such as mind concentration on the Dantian, mind concentration on the breath, mind concentration on Yongquan acupoint, mind concentration on the vital gate, mind concentration on Tanzhong acupoint and so on. Mind concentration on the outside refers to the ideas focus on something except the body, such as mind concentration on the mountains, mind concentration on the clouds, mind concentration on the flowers or recalling a piece of pride thing. The contents of mind concentration on the outside should be pleasant and without causing excitement. In addition, mind concentration has an important influence on the body.
The site selection of mind concentration
Conduct the mind concentration and choose the site according to the different diseases from person to person, but most people are suitable for mind concentration on Dantian. "Dantian" is a Taoist terminology. In the Taoist practice, they imagine that the so-called elixir of life is refined at somewhere in their bodies; therefore the site to produce the elixir of life is called Dantian, which is the same as the coal zone, namely the place to produce the coal, and the cornfield, namely the place to produce the rice. There are three Dantian in the body, namely the upper Dantian between two eyebrows, the middle Dantian between the breasts, and the lower Dantian below the navel (Qihai acupoint). The so-called mind concentration on Dantian mainly refers to mind concentration on the lower Dantian, some exercisers keeping mind concentrate on the middle Dantian or upper Dantian. In addition, it is possible to mind concentration on the vital gate, toes, Zusanli acupoint, Yongquan acupoint and precordium, based on the state of illness and method. Clinically, the site selection is determined by the diseases. For instance, the exercisers with the deficiency of the kidney and the deficiency of life-gate fire can choose mind concentration on the vital gate, so as to improve its performance; the exercisers with hypertension can choose mind concentration on the Yongquan acupoint, so as to enhance the lower body, improve the pathological state and decrease the blood pressure; the exercisers with spleen-stomach deficiency can choose Zusanli acupoint, in order to enhance the functional activity of the stomach meridians, etc.
The mind concentration on the outside scenes is used when mind concentration on the inside is not adaptable or with side effects. In addition, the way of mind concentration on the outside can be used in the outdoors practice. In some individual methods, there are no fixed parts in the mind concentration on the inside, and they use the circulating mind concentration method, such as mind concentration on the exchange point of Ren channel and Du channel, or multi-point mind concentration method.
How to master the mind concentration methods specifically?
Take the case of mind concentration on the lower Dantian as the example. Many methods all require forming the abdominal breathing. At the beginning of the formation of the abdominal breathing, exercisers should guide Qi with the ideas, i.e. the ideas guide the Qi downward, progressively approach to the lower abdomen. When the breathing is deep and long, pay attention to the bulge and fall of the belly caused by the breath; it is the so-called mind concentration on the Dantian. So it seems to be easier to master than the static mind concentration method, which accelerates the pace quietly on the lower abdomen. As the area of Dantian can not be considered as an individual acupoint, so the exercisers can keep mind concentrate on the middle part of the surface of lower abdomen, or a fairly large part of the lower abdomen. When the distractions are gradually reduced further deepen meditation, which should give up on breathing mind concentration, speak slowly belly landing, the body feel relaxed and comfortable, nearly all things are empty of the realm.
When mind concentration on Dantian, there must be distractions constantly appearing, this is a normal phenomenon. Do not be anxious, exclude them patiently, and concentrate on the lower abdomen. If there are too many distractions in a particular practice, so that exercisers cannot keep mind concentrate on Dantian, then they may suspend the practice for ten minutes, and slowly walk indoors or outdoors. After calming the mind, continue to mind concentration on the Dantian and do not practice reluctantly.
The mind concentration should master the duration and degree. The so-called duration and degree refers to the strength of attention. Moderate duration and degree is the major problem in practice. Many people have detoured due to improper duration and degree. Exercisers need to experience it in the practice, self-regulate from strong to weak and from the micro to the strong, so as to achieve the appropriate state. Clinical practice tells us that if the strength of mind concentration is too small and with too many distractions, it is difficult to concentrate on the Dantian. And if the strength of mind concentration is too large, although the distractions can be reduced, it may cause dizziness, nervousness and other symptoms. How to master it would be suitable, the ancients had especially deep experience about it, they claimed that "do not pay attention to it, do not practice unintentionally, and concentrate in a state between being intentional and being unintentional, as well as keep the mind continuously. "This experience can be followed completely.
In the early of practice, the duration and degree of the mind concentration can be larger, which is conductive to eliminate distractions, taking the degree of mental relaxation and without headache. On this basis, with lengthening the practice time, exercisers may gradually reduce the strength and achieve the state of "keeping the mind continuously “The strength of mind concentration in the practice should not follow the same pattern. If there are many distractions in the practice, the duration and degree of the mind concentration may increase appropriately; if there is a little distraction in the practice, the duration and degree of the mind concentration can weaken.
The duration and degree is from the ancient practice, i.e. the fire size and length required in the refinement of the cinnabar pills of immortality. It was cited in the Inner Elixir (Nei Dan Shu), to describe the degree of controlling the intensity of ideas. Because it is difficult to master the duration and degree and describe it by words, so it is deemed as the secret by the ancients, in which it is afraid to make the deviation in the practice. As the ancient book Wu Zhen Pian said, "The scriptures and theories only record the real truth, and neglect of the duration and degree in the text." To this end, I hope the exercisers to experience carefully and constantly sum up, master the duration and degree in the practice, so as to practice the Health Qigong well and achieve good results.