Rest
Truth has no fixed abode;
it's a living thing, more alive,
more dynamic than anything the mind can think of,
so there can be no path to it.
(Krishnamurti)
Too busy
We are encouraged to lead active busy lives and this is not
necessarily good for your health.
It is essential that we take time to rest.
Rushing around puts both body and mind in a state of anxiety.
Stress occurs when the demands you place upon yourself become too great.
Are you allowing people to put upon you?
Are you taking on too many
responsibilities?
Unless you are willing to see that your life may be too busy
you are unlikely to be concerned and act.
Slowing down or stopping is the
first step to getting some rest.
No rest
Watching television, drinking and sleeping-in on a weekend do not
count as rest.
Sports and other activities may seem
restful but they are often just as competitive as work.
Ceaseless activity is not rest.
Calm mind, calm body
An
agitated mind will not allow you to rest.
Being
emotionally upset will also deny you rest.
You must be willing to put matters aside and stop, without worrying about
things left undone.
Once your concerns are set aside, you can relax.
Relaxing
The 'relaxing' in kung fu is a culmination of various factors:
The art does not offer you a way
to relax.
It creates situations in which you need to relax.
Relaxing is achieved by removing the obstacles that prevent you from
letting-go.
Consider:
When you can do nothing, what can you do?
(Koan)
Relaxation is not rest
Relaxing is important but it is important to recognise that relaxation is
not rest.
Rest is the end of all activity.
Unless your motion ceases, you will not find rest.
Not doing
People often work on a false premise, which is the notion that you
can rest by 'doing'.
In kung fu, we aim to relax by stopping doing.
To 'try and relax', to 'do' in any fashion is not to relax.
There is no method, technique, approach or skill involved.
Relaxing is accomplished by doing nothing at all.
Doing is akin to "fighting for peace".
Peace is the end of fighting, the absence of conflict. It cannot be fought
for.
To fight is to perpetuate conflict.
Constructive
rest
When people do not know how to relax, they are taught the 'constructive rest
position'.
This method is only taught during
private sessions because it is important for you to feel safe
enough to let-go.
It is a subtle way of encouraging you to release tension and regain balance.
Weekend
Does your week actually end?
Or do you spend all seven days in relentless activity?
If you spend at least one day per week doing nothing in particular, you will
feel refreshed and relaxed.
A day of rest is important.
When you spend your weekend doing very little, you return to work on Monday
feeling alive.
Last Friday feels far away.
Getting
rest
Good sleep, healthy
food, exercise and fresh air are essential
for rest.
Kung fu helps you to be calm and to appreciate the value of
relaxation.
Allow yourself to slow down and become still inside; let tranquillity
replace agitation.
Page created 10 February 1999