Paradox Enlightenment Technologies -- Final. _g 13 September 2009
Mudra PARADOX meditation is an ancient PRACTICAL Enlightenment
TECHNOLOGY using a PHYSICAL PARADOX to TRAP the mind in a feedback
LOOP freeing it to find its INTUITIVE TRUE NATURE through "silent,
illuminating meditation", as in ZAZEN.
http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/how_to_do_zazen.html
Traditional hand meditation MUDRAS are symbolic GESTURES which have,
over time, become simple POSES.
http://www.thesecretsofyoga.com/mudras.html
In the past, these MUDRAS had a more PRACTICAL significance for
meditators, as will be explained below.
Posture and the environment also serve a PRACTICAL purpose.
http://www.kaihan.com/Zazen.htm
The FEEDBACK loop between the SENSORY and MOTOR cortex established
ONLY when BARELY or ALMOST touching; thumb to thumb (Zen -- Cosmic
Mudra - hokkai-join),
http://global.sotozen-net.or.jp/images/how_to_do_zazen/htdzazen08.jpg
; thumb to forefinger (Yoga -- Chin Mudra),
http://www.yogajess.com/2007/08/09/chin-mudra/
or, flat palm to flat palm (Universal prayer position),
http://www.newhopeministries.org/media/image/Logos/praying-hands.gif
creates a PHYSICAL PARADOX to TRAP and FREE the mind from suffering
through self-forgetting.
This FEEDBACK with TIME DELAY creates a physical OSCILLATOR - settling
at some natural optimum frequency with MINIMAL amplitude, balancing on
a manifold between two states - like balancing a round pebble on top
of a saddle using minimal movement - this is the POINT of STILLNESS on
the BOUNDARY.
The LONG-LOST SECRET of this method was NOT to PRESS at all, but to
BARELY/ALMOST FEEL, and to continuously CORRECT for the LOSS of touch
by bringing the finger/thumb surfaces TOGETHER and to CORRECT for the
ONSET of touch by bringing the finger/thumb surfaces APART -
continuously alternating between these two states.
As these oscillatory movements became smaller and smaller one
approached the THRESHOLD of feeling.
The PARADOX is FEELING AND NOT FEELING at the same time (which is
PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE) and the attempt to achieve this is what TRAPS
the mind.
This PRACTICAL TECHNOLOGY had been lost and was the TRUE original
purpose of these three meditation MUDRAS.
For maximum thumb tip sensitivity in the Traditional Cosmic Mudra, the
thumbnails must be trimmed right back as well as the thick skin at the
very tips.
This is the most effective and powerful of all the mudras when barely/
almost touching.
Since the thumb PADS are naturally more sensitive than the tips, a
modified Cosmic Mudra with thumbs relaxed and the upper thumb pads
barely/almost touching is also effective, as in the Buddha Mudra; but
not pressing hard and not so flat.
http://healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Buddha.htm
The thumbs should not overlap as in this version of the Dhyana Mudra,
which is an ineffectual POSE.
http://healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Dhyana.htm
The Yoga Gyan Mudra can be modified slightly so the thumb and index
finger are relaxed and the upper pads, or the tips, are barely/almost
touching.
http://healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Gyan.htm
Fingers lightly interlocked, with palms apart and upper thumb pads or
tips barely/almost touching, is another practical position.
A steepling prayer, or Hakini mudra, with fingertips touching lightly
and thumbs just barely/almost, like the left position in the image
below, is also effective.
http://healing.about.com/od/touchtherapy/ss/healinghands_6.htm
The fingers do not need to be absolutely straight, to prevent muscle
strain.
The thumbs can be perfectly inline, tip to tip, or can be more
relaxed, with the upper pads barely/almost touching, but not pressing
hard as in the traditional Hakini mudra.
http://healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Hakini.htm
Lying down, with arms at the sides, and the upper thumb and forefinger
pads barely/almost touching is an EFFORTLESS position - one can remain
at the THRESHOLD WITHOUT TRYING and without falling asleep.
Physical Background:
"Merkel nerve endings and Meissner's corpuscles are most densely
clustered in the highly sensitive finger tips, and less so in the
palms."
Merkel nerve endings are concentrated "beneath the ridges of the
fingertips that make up fingerprints."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkel_nerve_ending#Functions
"They are the most sensitive of the four main types of
mechanoreceptors to vibrations at low frequencies, around 5 to 15 Hz."
"Because of their sustained response to pressure, Merkel nerve endings
are classified as slowly adapting."
"Firing during the static phase can continue for more than 30
minutes."
"Merkel nerve endings are extremely sensitive to tissue displacement,
and may respond to displacements of less than 1 μm." - that's why
Braille is so efficient.
Meissner's corpuscles respond to light touch but adapt rapidly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meissner%27s_corpuscle
Rinzai ZEN KOAN meditation is another ancient PRACTICAL Enlightenment
TECHNOLOGY using a LOGICAL PARADOX that TRAPS the mind in a feedback
LOOP trying to find an ANSWER to a DUALITY (which is LOGICALLY
IMPOSSIBLE) freeing it to find its INTUITIVE TRUE NATURE.
Paradox in Zen Dialogue:
http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JOCP/jc26897.htm
Zen Dialogue is Non-Logical:
http://ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JOCP/jc26600.htm
Looped BROWN NOISE via headphones is helpful in masking noisy
environments.
Download brown_noise.wav:
http://host-a.net/Astralhereticus/brown_noise.wav
Download Wave Pad:
http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html and use
Shift-F9 for Loop Play then minimize to the task bar - works OK if run
by itself -- freeware.
Download Noise Looper:
http://www.sardinesoftware.com/whitenoiseplayer.php
and add to the system tray - easier to use and very seamless looping
but is $5 PayPal.
"Try it, you'll like it."
Happy Awakenings.
Astralhereticus
Adios.