Centering And Grounding: Daoist Perspectives

Today I would like to talk about Daoist cosmology.

Cosmology is study of the cosmos,

How it comes into being and humans place within the cosmos.

Every culture has their own cosmology,

Whether that's a supreme being such as God creating the heavens and earth and everything and creating humans,

Or other forms.

And it's important to be aware of our cosmology,

Or which cosmology we choose to perceive the world and our experiences from,

Because it impacts all layers of our experience and our perception of reality.

Every cosmology is a perspective,

Because it's based in the conceptions of the mind and therefore it is an abstraction,

And no cosmology can ever actually be the absolute truth,

Because it's always simply a model or a gesture or a parable or a metaphor of the actuality of existence and how things came to be.

There are stories that ideally help to give meaning to life,

And help us make meaning from the experiences we have in life,

From the difficulty and the challenges as well as the joys and the beauty.

And it affects everything about how we perceive our experience and ourselves.

Cosmology affects everything from philosophy to education,

To healthcare and medical systems,

To religious perspectives,

Beliefs,

Spiritual practices,

Education,

Governance.

And so when we learn about different cosmological models from different cultures,

It gives us different ways of understanding our place within the whole,

And different means of interpreting our day-to-day experiences.

One of the things I appreciate about Daoist cosmology is that it sees us as individual beings that are inextricably,

Continually connected to the whole,

To heaven above and earth below and the world around us,

That we are never separate,

And that our fundamental nature is to be in the natural state,

Where we are in that state of connection above and below and to everything around us.

And from that state,

There's a natural unfolding that occurs,

And compassion and wisdom and love naturally flow through us and grow within our experience.

That there's a natural unfolding and development and a continuity within life.

It's also a cosmology that sees us as inextricably connected to nature.

That humans are not separate from nature.

We are not better than nature,

Than the animals and plants and so forth.

That we are completely connected and immersed in it.

So Daoism itself is more of a philosophy than a religion,

Although there are aspects and manifestations of both.

But in its core,

Its essential teaching was more of a philosophy and a perspective on life.

And so for those of you who may be familiar,

Daoists were often,

Still are often pictured as hermits living in the woods,

Sitting by a river,

Watching the water go by.

And there's many stories of Daoist masters that would be approached by kings in China or emperors asking for them to come to court and give their advice,

Or to even take on a political post.

And they would often eschew such entreaties,

Saying that they preferred to live a simple life in the woods with nature,

And not to get involved with trying to control what was happening in the world.

And that such attempts at trying to control were foolish attempts due to human ignorance,

That creates greater separation and more pain and suffering than when we allow ourselves to simply find harmony within ourselves and with the world around us.

To work with things as they are,

Rather than how we would like them to be.

Daoism and Daoist philosophy is one of the main bases of Chinese culture and Chinese philosophy and Chinese medicine.

So in Daoist cosmology,

The Dao,

Which is sometimes translated as the way or the path,

Is the word used for the ineffable,

All-pervading unity that is everything as we know it.

It's the oneness.

In some respects it could be the equivalent to what is termed God in other cultures,

When God is used in the way of being the all as opposed to a separate being that is watching over us.

And so from the Dao,

The all-pervading oneness in its original state,

There was no differentiation.

There was no manifest world as we know it.

And in Daoist cosmology what occurred is that the Dao split into a polarity of heaven above and earth below.

Heaven is yang,

Earth is yin.

Heaven is ephemeral,

Related to the spirit.

Earth is solid,

Physical reality,

And is related to the physical body.

After splitting into heaven above and earth below and creating that polarity,

The nature of polarity is that there is always something that is continually maintaining the polarity,

That is simultaneously connecting,

Yet separating,

The individual polar aspects of heaven above and earth below.

In Daoist cosmology that is this level of manifest reality.

Everything that exists between earth and heaven is the pivot,

The third term that maintains the polarity between heaven above and earth below.

So humans,

Animals,

The trees,

Even the water.

Everything is in that pivotal space,

Simultaneously connecting and separating heaven above and earth below.

This is sometimes termed the middle kingdom,

Between the kingdom of heaven above and the kingdom of earth below.

The middle kingdom is also,

Interestingly,

The name of China in Chinese.

中国 literally translates to middle kingdom.

Some people say that this comes from China thinking that they're the center of the world,

Or that it was the center of the known world at that time.

But another etymological understanding of it is that they were just terming that as all of humanity is the middle kingdom.

Some say this is also where Lord of the Rings borrowed from,

Middle earth.

From that perspective,

Everything that exists at this level of humanity is a coming together of the polar energies of heaven and earth and body and spirit.

That creates a vertical axis of integration within each individuated being.

And so first,

Each individual must be integrated within self,

Bringing together those polar energies of yin and yang,

Body and spirit.

Once we have that vertical axis of integration established within the individuated being,

Then there is the horizontal axis,

Where the individuated being experiences and connects with everything else that is present at the level of humanity.

Everything else that is present at the level of the middle kingdom.

And that is an exchange between within and without.

So this creates what can be termed vertical and horizontal axes of integration.

The vertical axis is where we find that deep connection within self,

As well as the connection to heaven above and earth below.

And that is a connection that transcends the individuated self.

In Chinese philosophy and medicine,

They would say this is where we receive ming,

Or destiny,

From.

That each of us,

Being an incarnated being,

Has our own unique destiny that we are here to fulfill.

Maintaining that connection within self allows us to bring forth that which we need to fulfill our destiny.

But ultimately,

Our destiny is always played out horizontally through how we connect to the world around us.

And it's that interaction between self and other that ultimately brings the greatest meaning to our life.

Through allowing us to actualize our destiny and what we are here to do.

I find this interesting for many reasons.

But one of those reasons is that that vertical axis of integration within self is primary.

And it's one of the things that I see is so easy to lose,

Especially in modern society.

In modern culture,

We are so easily externalized.

There are so many pressures and demands pulling our awareness outside of ourselves.

Things that we feel we have to do or should do.

That we end up dispersing our energy and our consciousness at the horizontal level.

And we don't come back to that vertical grounding within self between heaven and earth.

And when we do that,

We're more likely to be driven by anxiety,

Fear,

Worry.

To feel pressure and obligation.

To feel constricted and even imprisoned in our lives.

Regardless of how much liberty we might have to be able to move and do things in the world around us.

And it's when we come back to that grounding in that vertical connection within self.

That we find that freedom that we so deeply crave.

And that we remember what we are here for beyond all of the mundane details.

And things that we're supposed to do according to our culture and conditioning and our education.

Because we all have a deep purpose here.

And the more we move closer to connecting to that purpose and then actualizing it within our lives.

The more fulfilled we are.

And the more we get pulled away from that because we feel obligated or fearful.

Based on what's happening in the world around us.

The less we feel fully alive.

And we feel a deep ache that often we can't pinpoint or an emptiness.

Because at some level we know we are not fulfilling what we are here for.

And ultimately I believe that this is the greatest gift that we can give to ourselves as well as to the world.

And to our family and friends.

It's not selfish to take time to focus inward and reconnect within ourselves.

To find that connection between body and spirit and heaven and earth.

For when we find that connection we become so much more grounded.

So much more peaceful.

So much more harmonious.

And we access that well of compassion and wisdom and love that we all have within.

And then we are able to offer that to everyone in our environment and to the world around us.

But we have to consciously decide to make that connection.

To set aside the time and to put in the effort with discipline.

To keep coming back to that deep connection within self.

Even though others might be pulling on us or wanting us to do things for them.

Or we might feel we have to do things.

Even if others aren't making us feel obligated.

It can be very easy to get conditioned into feeling guilty and feeling like we should be doing more out there than we are.

When the greatest thing we can do is bring it back in here and from there it will naturally overflow to everyone else around us.

For the greatest benefit of all.

When we allow the awareness to flow freely through the body we enter that natural state.

Where we become connected within self and connected to the world around us.

That helps us not only relationally with our relationships and emotionally with feeling more grounded within ourselves.

It actually changes how energy and blood flow through the body.

And it accesses the innate capacity of the body to heal.

This is the basis of acupuncture as well as qigong practices.

Both are based on opening the flow of the meridians within the body.

The energetic channels and the movement of blood circulation through the body.

And as we do that the body itself naturally begins to heal.

Excesses are carried off,

Deficiencies are filled.

And we also access that connection within self that allows for spiritual growth and development.

It works on all levels.

And as we connect within ourselves and then have a greater ability to connect with the world around us.

We find greater meaning in life.

We become more present in each moment to the incredible beauty and complexity that life has to offer.

And the incredible beauty and complexity that we are,

That we embody,

That we carry within and that we have to offer.

For today's meditative practice we'll do a classic Daoist meditation called the Central Channel Meditation.

It has other names as well.

But the central channel is sometimes referred to as a meridian but it isn't a classic meridian in terms of acupuncture.

It's a channel that runs through the center of the body from the perineum all the way up to the crown of the head.

And it's more or less centered between the front of the body and the back of the body.

And it runs through the midline.

And in doing so it connects the three dan tian,

Which are three major energetic centers in the system of Daoism and Chinese medicine.

That the lower dan tian is in the lower abdomen,

About two to three inches below the umbilicus,

In the center of the lower abdomen.

The middle dan tian is in the center of the chest,

Sometimes called the heart center.

And the upper dan tian is posterior to the space between the eyes or the third eye and straight down from the crown.

Where those two lines would intersect in the center of the brain is the upper dan tian.

These three dan tian,

Or energetic centers,

Are microcosmic reflections of heaven,

Earth,

And the level of humanity within self.

The upper dan tian takes in energy from heaven,

Chi from heaven.

The lower dan tian takes in chi from earth.

And then those two come together to meet in the middle dan tian,

Just as heaven above and earth below meet in the individuated human being.

From that unified coming together of yang,

Or heavenly chi,

And yin,

Or earthly chi,

Meeting in the chest center,

That unified chi flows out through the shoulders,

Arms,

And hands to connect with the world around us.

So we wave,

We shake hands,

We hug.

All of that is an expression of that unified chi flowing out through the arms and hands to connect with the world around us.

So in qi gong practice,

There's a point in the center of the palm,

Pericardium VIII,

That is said to relate to exchanging chi with the level of humanity.

This is also why when we get stressed,

We often pull the shoulders forward.

We tighten the shoulders because it's cutting off that connection between self and other in the world around us.

When we feel overwhelmed,

We separate ourselves.

So to open that back up,

First we have to ground within ourselves and feel firmly connected.

So the central channel meditation works to open,

You could even say floss,

That central channel within self,

So that we feel completely connected to heaven above and earth below.

This is a guiding of awareness and intention within the physical space of the body.

At first,

It can sometimes be difficult to feel,

Or we might think that we're just making this up.

And so,

As I sometimes mention,

We have to suspend disbelief when we meditate.

If we can't feel it,

We simply imagine it.

And over time,

Through doing so,

It allows us to create that ability to actually feel it within our body.

In Chinese medicine and Qigong,

There's an expression that at first the qi follows the mind.

Later,

The mind follows the qi.

And what that means is at first,

We have to use our mind to consciously guide the flow of energy through the body.

And as we do that,

And the channels open up,

Eventually the mind can relax and simply follow the qi as it naturally moves through the body.

So if you will,

Please find a comfortable seated posture.

This practice is best done sitting upright.

Of course,

If that is not accessible for you,

You are welcome to lay down for this practice.

But if you can,

Please take an upright seated posture.

Make sure that you have a stable seated base.

Feel the solidity beneath you,

Supporting you and holding you up.

Allow your torso and spinal column to rise with the natural curves up towards heaven.

Perhaps feeling as though there's a gentle string attached to your crown,

Pulling up towards heaven,

Lengthening the entire spine.

Allow your shoulders to relax back and down.

And gently scan the body,

Releasing any unnecessary tension.

Relaxing the scalp and the forehead.

Relaxing the eyes and the jaw.

The neck and the shoulders.

The torso.

The hips.

The legs.

All the way down to the bottoms of the feet.

Bringing awareness to the breath.

Observing the natural movement of the breath as it flows in and out.

Shift into abdominal breathing,

If you are not already.

Allowing the chest and shoulders to remain relaxed and still.

With every inhalation,

Let the abdomen gently expand.

With every exhalation,

Allow it to gently contract.

As you continue with abdominal breathing,

Guide your awareness to the lower dantian,

The energetic center that is located in the lower abdomen.

About 2 to 3 inches below the umbilicus,

In the center of the lower abdomen.

In women,

This is said to be located within the uterus.

Guide your awareness to that space in the lower abdomen.

Notice if there is any sensation.

Warmth or tingling.

Fullness.

If you have any sense of light or color.

Tension.

Discomfort.

Or nothing at all.

Just observe.

What may or may not be occurring in that space of the lower abdomen.

Feel as though the awareness is concentrating in that space.

Gathering from throughout your body.

Focusing in the lower abdomen.

If you like,

You can imagine a miniature sun situated in the lower abdomen.

All of light.

Making sure that you're continuing to breathe.

And once you have an awareness that is concentrated in the lower abdomen.

Allow that awareness to gently begin to ascend through the center of the body.

Moving a couple of inches anterior to the spine.

Through the central channel.

First it may only rise a couple of inches.

You can allow it to rise.

And then descend back to the lower dantian.

If it is useful you can use the breath.

Feeling it rise through the central channel as you inhale.

Feeling it descend to return to the lower dantian as you exhale.

Not forcing.

And if you have trouble feeling it,

You can imagine it moving in this manner.

Allowing it to continue to rise a little further each time.

Eventually rising as high as the middle dantian,

The heart center.

Before descending back down.

If that far is accessible you can continue rising.

Continuing up through the central channel.

Through the upper chest into the neck.

Before descending back down to the lower dantian.

Not forcing.

And if you notice that tension is coming into other areas of your body from the concentration,

Try to gently release those areas.

Allow the movement of the awareness through the central channel to occur with effortless effort.

Allowing it to continue to rise higher,

Reaching the upper dantian,

The center of the brain.

Before descending to return to the lower dantian.

If you are able to bring the awareness through the central channel.

All the way up to the upper dantian,

The center of the brain.

The next time the awareness ascends to this point,

Allow it to remain there for several breaths before it descends to the lower dantian.

If this was accessible for you.

The next time the awareness rises to the upper dantian,

Allow it to remain there.

All of the awareness from the body.

To flow and focus in the upper dantian.

Relaxing into that space.

Simply observing.

Any sensations.

Awareness of light.

Relaxing into it.

You may feel a sense of stillness.

In that space.

If so,

You may feel a sense of stillness.

In that space.

In that space.

Allow all of the awareness.

To begin to descend through the central channel.

Cascading like a waterfall.

Descending through the neck.

The chest.

Passing through the middle dantian.

Continuing down through the torso.

All the way down to the lower dantian.

Feel as though there is a sense of gravity.

Pulling all of the awareness.

To the lower dantian.

Feeling the awareness becoming more densely concentrated.

Become aware of the solidity of the ground beneath you.

Supporting you and holding you up.

Become aware of the felt sense of your body as a whole.

Physicality of the body.

Infused with the spirit of awareness.

Become aware of the air around you in which you are immersed and never separate from.

And aware of the breath gently moving in and out.

When you are ready,

Maintain an awareness of this connection within the central channel.

As you gently begin to open your eyes,

Take in the world around you.

We all have a purpose.

A destiny,

If you will.

Our soul has been incarnated in a body.

And it yearns to fulfill its destiny.

We all have that ability to fulfill what we are here to do.

And as we continually return to this central channel,

To the grounding within self of the spirit and the body.

The connection to heaven from whence we came.

To the Dao.

Our destiny will naturally unfold and manifest.

And in so doing,

Our unique gifts and our unique beauty will pour forth without us even trying to do anything at all.

Thank you for joining me today.