Rodney J Owen
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Lost in The Zone

12/22/2017

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Following is my post, as a guest blogger for Seamless Living.  The original post:  
http://seamlesslivingnc.com/2017/12/lost-in-the-zone-guest-blog-rodney-owen/


There has been much talk over the last twenty or thirty years about “the zone”, specifically in the sports world, but also in entertainment, business, even education. The zone is not a place but a condition, a state of focus where everything seems to flow effortlessly and generally with high precision. The zone, so called, is nothing new, but it came to mass appreciation primarily through NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Soon many people were interested in this phenomenon which seemed to propel athletes to high levels of performance without the use of drugs.

So, what is this mysterious zone and how does the average non-super star, access it? If we look further we find the secret behind the recent popularity is mindfulness meditation. Specifically to the NBA, the secret weapon was a mindfulness coach by the name of George Mumford. Mumford was hired by coach Phil Jackson to help the Chicago Bulls. Eventually the teaching and practice spread through the NBA and other sports, to corporate America, education, healthcare, the Veterans' Administration, and prisons.

Mindfulness is a great practice and it will indeed help one find and get in the zone. I practice Mindfulness and teach it both as an aspect of Tai Chi and Qigong practice and as a stand-alone practice in its own right. And while it is a great practice and I am certainly not discounting it in any way, I will say it is not the only path to this so-called zone. For me, I prefer to see it as a component of a well-rounded self nurturing practice that also includes physical and energetic practices such as Yoga, Tai Chi, or Qigong, and intentional life practices that include wise dietary choices, balanced work and family life, and adequate rest. In short, the best way to the so-called zone is through skillful living.

What is called the zone is nothing other than living in the present moment. However, many of us have no idea what that experience is really like. We miss the present because we are distracted by thousands of fluctuations in the mind, fear, worry, regret, and physical stress that becomes mental stress due to bad diet, low energy, lack of sleep, and lack of exercise. Often we are caught up in mini mental dramas that only exist in our minds but affect us in countless ways, because the mind doesn't know the difference between a real stressor and an imagined one. It reacts the same to either of them. In fact, high stress is such a common experience in the modern world that many people assume it is a default condition that we all must deal with. But that is not the case. We can all learn to live low stress, or even stress-free, lives and start discovering this zone for ourselves.

The zone is a place of intense focus because when we are in that state we aren't obsessed with past regrets or making plans for a future that never arrives. It's a place of high energy and low stress. These conditions are natural byproducts of self-nurturing practices and life-affirming lifestyle routines. The best part about all of this is the ease of transition. Nothing special is required to choose higher living, it's simply a choice like any other. And the best place to start is the beginning. Investigate dietary and exercise choices; know the costs and benefits of what you eat and how you treat your body. Take ownership of your life. Be brave enough to change your behavior. It's not necessary to continue eating and behaving a certain way if you know it's unhealthy, regardless of what family and friends might think or say. Take a Yoga or Tai Chi class, join a gym, attend a workshop, learn to meditate. If you aren't familiar with these practices, try them and find what resonates with you. Once you understand the costs and benefits of your current lifestyle and that of optional paths, find what works for you and start living into it on a daily basis.
​

The key to intentional living is to make it who you are rather than what you do. As I say in my Qigong classes, you can't do Qigong, you have to be Qigong. Get a vision of what you consider to be your highest self, your ideal self, and live in to that vision. See yourself as what you want to become and don't allow any competing vision to interfere. Don't be concerned with who you used to be or who those around you want you to be, be who you know you really are. For the most part, we are not born into this world to be ill, overweight, stressed, addicted, anxious. We are born to be healthy and happy with unlimited potential. We each have within us, at our center, a kernel of perfection, the potential to be healthy, wealthy, happy, strong, and content. However, through all the ups and downs of life; the misunderstandings; the years of bad diet, lack of sleep, and stressful situations we begin to cover this kernel of perfection beneath our personal dramas and bad habits. But recovering it is easier than you may think. It's simply a matter of believing it, visualizing it, and actualizing it—living into our higher selves. The way is to decide and do it. The time is now.

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Reeling Silk

12/21/2017

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Explanation of the Chansijin in Chen Taijiquan by Chen Zhaokui

​(Posthumously published script by Chen Zhaokui, revised by Chen Yu)1

The reeling power is also called silk reeling power and it is one of the main contents of Chen-Style Taijiquan. Simply said it describes the course of applied force and a method of applying force. It asserts that all movements in the whole body follow a flexed course. Moreover, every part is connected and closely in tune with one another. Movements are continuous and unbroken – i.e. that what people refer to as: “the Yi is unbroken”, “the body is unbroken”, “the Jin is unbroken”, “the Shen is unbroken”, “The Peng is unbroken”, “the Heli (closing force) is unbroken” and “the Kaili (opening force) is unbroken”. Also all movements take the waist as the central axis which results in all movements being coordinated. Internally the silk reeling takes place, outwardly round movements occur. In this way a force path takes place which almost resembles a spiral and which results from a variety of curved lines with different amounts of curvature. The two signs for the term “silk reeling” as in “silk reeling Jin” are meant to be a metaphor. There is in no way a “force”2 which winds and spirals around the body and the limbs.

The silk reeling energy can be used for attacks as well as for defensive actions. Also a movement can be an attack and a defence at the same time. During attack your own point of transmitting force changes while following the opponents action. During defence you adapt to the change of the opponents point of force transmittal to lead him into emptiness. E.g. I attack with the arm and use Pengjin3. My hand is blocked by my opponent from the side and he leads it away from his own body (assuming that the region of force transmittal is in my hand). As a result I release the force in my hand and change to an elbow technique (that is I change the point of force transmission). If my attack is blocked again I release tension in my upper arm and use a shoulder technique… etc. until the use of the hip or the back of the elbow (i.e. the other elbow attacks from behind [with a turn of the whole body]). Just from this movement alone every point on this line from hand to shoulder, from back to hips can become the point of force transmission. Not only can the aforementioned course of variations be executed, they can also be combined. At the moment where you release tension in shoulder and elbow you just use hand and forearm to win. To sum up the whole matter you adapt to the movements of the opponent’s actions and thus act according to changing situations. For defence the matter is the same.

Analogous to the example above: While my opponent is attacking me, I will catch his hand and arm (I go against his arm from the side with my hand on the same side). With the waist as an axis I turn in tune with the attack of my opponent (at the same time my weight changes to the back). I use Pengjin to divert the opponent’s attack downwards and at the same time turn it outwards to divert his point of force transmission. If the opponent follows my movement and changes his point of force transmission I adapt to the situation and continue to divert his point of force transmission. If the situation allows – e.g. the opponent gets close while following me – you can also divert him to the opposite direction, which would unexpected for him, so that he runs into emptiness on the other side. For this technique alone there are numerous variations. For simplicities sake I will not mention these here. By the way, when using the curved force (i.e. the Chansijin), the part of the body which has been diverted by the opponent, as aforementioned by turning hand and elbow, does not lose its capability, assuming that your own force was not broken. Not only can it adapt to the situation, but it can also use force to control the opponent. I.e. as long as there has been no new adaptation to the situation it still has a defence function which allows him to prevent the opponents actions from the very beginning. If this works or not depends decisively on if the own force is unbroken or not. This is to be elaborated according on the aforementioned explanations.

In Chen Taijiquan every technique and the movements of every limb are executed according to this Chansijin, there are no exceptions (though this especially refers to the upper part of the body). It should be stressed that the movements of the whole body must be coordinated accordingly. Using Chansijin does not mean that the movements have to be exceptionally big. Sometimes the use of Chansijin or not using it can hardly be perceived from the outside. If you use it accordingly it is right. Needless waggling and twisting actions, however, are definitely disadvantageous.

1 The original article was published in the Wuhun magazine No. 202, p.29; ©2005 Wuhun - Beijing Wuhuyuan
2 The quotation mark is also found in the original text for 劲 - Jìn.
3 膨劲 – Péngjìn.
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Han Shan

12/18/2017

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Some time ago I discovered Han Shan, the Zen Poet of China.  I have to say, very little in the way of so-called spiritual literature has spoken to me the way Han Shan does.  Han Shan means Cold Mountain.  Like many figures in Ancient Chinese lore, it is debatable whether he even existed or is rather a metaphorical character.  In my opinion, that matters zero.  The essence of writing is a completely different matter from the history of the writer(s).

Han Shan was downright critical of the Buddhist and social norms of his day.  His focus was on the natural world in his midst, the mystery of existence.  One of the stories about Han Shan is that he and a contemporary fled the boring and artificial life of the monastery and went to the mountains.  They travelled the countryside scribing poetry on boulders and barns with coal and cheap paint.  The one day Han Shan returned to Cold Mountain and entered a cave which promptly closed on him, returning him to the source from whence he came.

Of course the best, and really only, way to appreciate Han Shan is to read Han Shan:  www.amazon.com/Cold-Mountain-Poems-Tang-Han-Shan/dp/0231034504/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513609399&sr=8-1&keywords=han+shan+cold+mountain

​​
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The Power of Words, 12/8/17

12/9/2017

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"A parrot may be taught to say, 'I'm not afraid of cats, I'm not afraid of cats, I'm not afraid of cats,' but the first cat that jumps into the cage it starts squawking and screaming its head off. This is like most of us. We go around repeating affirmations, words of truth that we read some place, we become like a parrot.
The whole idea is to be silent. Not to add affirmations or words to your garbage pail. It is already filled with garbage. By garbage I mean, preconceived ideas, dogmas, opinions, samskaras from previous lives, you're filled with these things and you are a reacting machine, you react, that is what you do all day is react, react, react. Therefore when you try to learn more knowledge and you read more books all you're doing is adding on to the garbage pail. Of course most of you realize, the highest truth is to delete, not to add. To get rid of the things you believe in now. So empty yourself out totally and completely. All of your ideas, your feelings, all have to be emptied out of you. When you become totally and completely empty there is nothing you have to do to fill it up again. Emptiness is realization. Emptiness is Brahman. Emptiness is the Self. Emptiness is your real nature."
​

Robert Adams
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Right Action Dec. 2017

12/8/2017

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"Divine union is possible through self-effort, and is not dependent on theological beliefs or on the arbitrary will of a 'Cosmic Dictator'".
Lahiri Mahasaya


Religion and so-called "Spirituality" are pretty much two sides of the same coin.  In the end they are about finding a way to transcend the world, or our interpretation if the world, via some path laid out by another.  Ironically, these paths, systems, are as much the problem as anything else.  They only lead us further into the abyss of confusion and suffering. 

There is no search. There is no path, because there is no where to go. Everything is right here. What is specific and real, what matters and can make a difference is action. Humans act.  And it is action that determines our state and our fate.

We can get caught up in the terms of different systems, but let's be honest.  There is a 'me' and an other, there is a world in which I interact. There is suffering, ignorance, wisdom, and Grace. We may misunderstand it all. In fact I am sure we do. But to get caught up in concepts such as the illusion of reality, or time, of Samsara or Maya, is just so much speculation and no different from religious beliefs, such as heaven and hell, karma, and astral realms.  These beliefs can't be proven or disproved, because they are beliefs not facts.
​

I believe a better use of life is right action, living wisely, and embracing the unknown while being open to discovery—discovery based on pure naked experience not on another's tales or specific path. If one follows a teacher, in most cases you will be trying to replicate his/her experience, forming a theology around his/her interpretation of this mystery we are all immersed in. Better to learn the ways of self-nurture and contemplation and cut one's own path. To this end, we can benefit from teachers who can share ideas and practical techniques. However, caution is advised.  We risk turning this to disadvantage when we begin to consider our teachers as different, separate from us, as masters, gurus, sifus. In such a relationship we are disciples, subordinates, striving instead of arriving. It's a fine distinction, but one worth noting.   
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Desiderata

12/3/2017

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Because sometimes you find something that really speaks to your condition:

  • Desiderata 
    Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
    and remember what peace there may be in silence.
    As far as possible without surrender
    be on good terms with all persons.
    Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
    and listen to others,
    even the dull and the ignorant;
    they too have their story. 
    Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
    they are vexations to the spirit.
    If you compare yourself with others,
    you may become vain and bitter;
    for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
    Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. 

    Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
    it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
    Exercise caution in your business affairs;
    for the world is full of trickery.
    But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
    many persons strive for high ideals;
    and everywhere life is full of heroism. 

    Be yourself.
    Especially, do not feign affection.
    Neither be cynical about love;
    for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
    it is as perennial as the grass. 

    Take kindly the counsel of the years,
    gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
    Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
    But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
    Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
    Beyond a wholesome discipline,
    be gentle with yourself. 

    You are a child of the universe,
    no less than the trees and the stars;
    you have a right to be here.
    And whether or not it is clear to you,
    no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. 

    Therefore be at peace with God,
    whatever you conceive Him to be,
    and whatever your labors and aspirations,
    in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. 

    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
    it is still a beautiful world.
    Be cheerful.
    Strive to be happy. 

    Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.
  • Source: http://mwkworks.com/desiderata.html
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