Spirituality

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Comment by KrishnaKamini on July 3, 2011 at 10:00pm

Thank you for your many words Chris. I like the word "presence". I am constantly learning that when awareness is focused in my head, I am living from behind my eyes and life has a way of throwing me off center. I am learning more and more to live life as if from the camera lense of my heart, a much deeper level. I feel more fully incarnated living from the heart center and this creates whole body awareness. The spiritual heart is the alchemical vessal that transmutes all things. Personal power has a ring of egotism to it. When living from the heart the "I" which is the paradox of being simutaneously one, yet different, is "empowered" to allow the ALL to work through it. Thus allowing all others to be empowered in the same way.

KrishnaKamini

Comment by Las Vegas Massage In Summerlin on July 3, 2011 at 10:22am

I'd like to 'touch' on a topic that many of us have encountered...and for lack of a better phrase I'll say, a topic that many of us have encountered in our 'Spiritual Quest.'  Or, perhaps it's just those I hang around with  :-)

 

This topic is personal power, or power.  I'm sure we've all encountered this.  We've been around someone who is 'powerful.'  Have you ever got that feeling?  Hmmm....well, what is it? 

 

After endless debate with fellow 'Spiritualists,' I posed this question to a good friend of mine and Aikido Sensei, Christopher Curtis.  Curtis Sensei is the Head Instructor of the Hawaii Ki Federation, 8th Dan in Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido and world renowned speaker and lecturer.

 

He commented back to me, listed below, and it's taken me years to digest.  Theory is one thing for most intellectuals, practical application in daily life is another  ;) 

 

Here's what he had to say...

 

"What I refer to as "power" is simply my attentive capacity, or my ability to be in awareness of my world of experience at any one moment.  The more all-encompassing my awareness, the more it can include in terms of my world of experience, the more power.  Attention - power:  same thing.

 

Power is very important.  All tools that aid in accessing awake mind are energized through power, or attention.  Power is not a "thing" or an energy even. It is simply my ability to be in awareness at any time.

 

[Ed. Note:  I also asked Sensei to comment on Ki, Chi, Prana, etc., etc., and how that relates to power, etc., etc.]

 

So: Ki is that which we are experiencing and power is the ability to experience same.

 

Ok, so what’s Ki? Ki, of course, is the "stuff" of the universe.  All sensation (seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, tasting), all thought, and all emotion make up the sum total of our universe, sometimes called our "world of experience." As such, all experience is the experience of Ki.

 

There is nothing that can be confirmed as existing outside of this world of experience, since any confirmation would take place through that world of experience.  In other words, to attempt to deduce the existence of anything beyond our own individual perception of the moment, would be to deny the very limits of that perception.

 

The most effective way to increase power, in my experience, is through mediation.  

 

To say "personal power" implies that there may be something like a "person" who can have some "power."  But there is no such thing, as such.  There is awareness, and there is the power implicit in that awareness, but there is no single entity (such as an "I") that wields that power.

 

If you see what I am saying here, then you see that it's pretty radical.  This should actually make no sense at all to a person that has not looked very closely at what is going on in any single moment of experience (i.e. done a lot of sitting).  "What do you mean there is no 'I'?  I'm right here right now and I know it!"  At this point I can only say, "Please show me who is here right now." And of course, when we look, we find nothing, though it takes a lifetime of looking in this way to even begin to be convinced that there is really no thing here to be called an "I".  

 

Hope this helps."

 

To put this in perspective of massage or my massage business, this attentive capacity is what I work to develop.  Especially with clients.  I listen to them prior to the massage without an agenda, but with attention.  During a massage session, we're together as one, not two.  It's not 'me doing something to you.'  Attentive capacity.  An example of this, albeit a shallow one, is as follows:

 

Have you ever received a deep tissue or myofascial release session with someone who only uses hand strength or their upper body?  Compare this to receiving the same from one who has experience in proper body mechanics and moves from their one point.  I don't know about you, but there's a huge difference between these for me. 

 

In the second example, there's an acceptance.  The hands/body are together as one.  The receiver is much more relaxed.  I can almost hear/feel the body tell me, "Ah, Ok, we are one.  Resistance is not needed."  :)

 

Again, this is a shallow example.  As I develop my attentive capacity I'm much more aware of not only the body or body-part I'm working on, but everything around me.  I'm able to grasp subtle movements of the client, something in the massage room, or even that which occurs outside the massage room. 

 

With that said, being aware is only part of it.  Learning to not become 'attached' is yet another issue!  It's always interesting how our mind wants to 'grab ahold' of something.  Identify it, analyse it.  As Sensei is always telling us and working with us on, it's Ok to identify, yet don't become attached.  Accept and allow.  Let go.  I refer to this as my 'recovery rate.'  An example would be that during a massage, someone slams a door down the hall.  Ok.  Identify, accept, let go. 

 

That's my take on it, anyway  ;)

 

Have a beautiful Sunday and a marvelous Independence Day!

 

Kris   

Comment by Dave Brower on June 26, 2011 at 11:07pm

Hi group, here is my $0.02 on the topic.

 

Spirituality is the energy side of massage. I'm a holistic student because I believe that you touch another human through both physical touch and energy exchange links. I follow my intuition during a session. The client tells me what they need without a word coming from their mouth. Some comes through my sense of touch the rest through energy. To me its one in the same. Follow Newton to Einstein to the latest in quantum particle physics and the physical science world becomes the spiritual world. The next great break through will be a true unified theory that will bring them together under one amazingly simple equation.

Religion, has always been our struggle to explain the missing connection. From early pagan beliefs of the original Americans (north and south), through Eastern and western beliefs. Its only the later Western interpretations that became corrupted by the need for power and control of others. This bread intolerance and the whole range of troubles now affecting the world. The spirituality I associate with massage is more akin to the Eastern or even the early American Indian nature or all life is the spirit. We collectively are "god" and through massage and energy work we connect and bring the higher power into our lives to enable real healing.

 

Thanks for the forum to express this and for listening,

Dave

Comment by Las Vegas Massage In Summerlin on June 26, 2011 at 5:12pm

~

 

Sounds good to me!

Comment by Nancy Toner Weinberger on June 26, 2011 at 5:11pm

Hey there, Erin- good to see you  on the discussion!

Comment by Nancy Toner Weinberger on June 26, 2011 at 5:10pm

The first 11 lines of your last post, Kris.

Why would I want you to leave?

Because you said something that I don't agree with?

Isn't that what we are here for? To have discussions- and may they be feisty!

I have appreciated every single word written on these pages, and they have all given me food for thought. Thank you Kris, and everyone else who has posted. I don't want us to walk on eggshells here. Please speak up. And be willing to have those who have a different point of view speak up as well.

Comment by Las Vegas Massage In Summerlin on June 26, 2011 at 4:49pm

Which quote, Nancy?

 

As well as, if you'd like me to leave, say the words.

 

Kris

Comment by Nancy Toner Weinberger on June 26, 2011 at 4:42pm

Kris, I don't think much of your quote and find your post a tad on the preachy,or possibly condescending, side. Wanting more, desire, is an energy that makes the world go round. Your quote smacks of Christian religious teaching (and also some Zen and Buddist and New Age) aimed at shutting down direct experience and honesty. If we all just sat around and meditated on how great everything is every monment of our lives, we would do nothing. It's a like a drug. Instead we can be honest and realize, I don't like this traffic and so I find another way to go with less traffic or I move to the country where I like it better- telling ourselves the truth of what we expereince without having to pretend to be polly anna IS appropriate- and is responsible. The "things could always be worse" philosophy can best be balanced with the "how could things be even better" philosophy.

Comment by Erin Sonnier on June 26, 2011 at 3:20pm

Hello friends!

Nancy, I would like to extend gratitude to you for being a courageous soul willing to discuss spirituality.  I am thankful for all of the comments I've read so far and am so thankful there is a place to come to in our profession to have intelligent, open, honest and professional conversations.

 

I personally feel that spirituality keeps my life harmonized and keeps the core of my being, my essence, love, divinity (whatever you want to call it) in tuned to all humanity.  The integration of spirituality, though deeply personal to all, may just be the medicine humanity needs.  An intention to serve with the arms/hands/hearts full of love. . . because to me spirituality ultimately means having an intention that when I facilitate others with this professional practice that they may be happy, free and above all held in a space of love and healing.

 

Thank you, Love, light and blessings

Erin Sonnier

Comment by Daniel Cohen on June 25, 2011 at 9:37pm

Traditional massage throughout the world has been connected with spirituality historically. The massage has often been part of spiritual ritual. If you believe in the holistic approach I don't think it is possible to simply dissect a system, pick a part and get full value from it. These, such as Lomi Lomi, are part of the philosophy that goes back to ancient times, that holds healing must include body, mind, spirit. The teachings train us to address each and the whole. Would the massage be the same without the values associated with it? A massage is nurturing, touch soothing and consoling. These are spiritual values. Studying traditional massage comes with responsibility and is much more than medical terms and mechanical strokes. It is a total healing experience that is intrinsically connected with our spirituality.

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