Joe, >I don't know enough about clicks and pops upon entering samadhi, though.
What I'm driving at is the feeling that the spine, at times, seems to almost take on an intelligence of its own and straightens itself with no conscious input to do so. At this point sitting becomes effortless and feels like there are pockets of air cushioning each vertebra. I have also had occasions where my spine has involuntarily twisted to the left and right like being possessed. It wasn't scary at all, but actually fascinating to experience. There definitely seems to be channels where energy can travel where it's not normally experienced. Not sure if it has anything to do with 'spiritual' advancement, but my intuition tells me it affects psycho/physical health. Mike ________________________________ From: Joe <desert_woodwor...@yahoo.com> To: zen_f...@yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, 16 October 2012, 20:38 Subject: [Zen] Re: Sitting straight Mike, Yes, I did suggest that, here. That was me. I recognize it. I was trained that way, and found out the helpfulness and truth of it in practice, and I always teach that in my Buddhist Yoga classes to beginners and old-timers. Different adjustments happen in the spine as we sit, even in any one particular sit. And, yes, some cracks and pops occur, I find. I don't know enough about clicks and pops upon entering samadhi, though. It could just be that I am not paying attention, or have a short memory. Interesting! I'll take note. Sometimes there are rapid whip-like movements of the spine, almost like a very sudden and strong "shiver". Kundalini. Chi. Heat goes into the head, dissipates over the scalp, or comes down the front of the body. One of the "circulation" pathways of Chi in the body, I guess, ...noted and mapped by the Taoist Chi cartographers. Anyway, all very natural. I sit in half-lotus in quite a small and compact "footprint", with the knees not far splayed apart. This gives good support to the spine via the pelvic girdle, I think. The spine holds itself, with no muscles being needed. It's a very comfortable posture. If everyone sat so compactly, we could pack more people into a room on sesshin! ;-) --Joe > mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > I recall you advising someone here about not using their muscles to hold up > their spine. I find that just before I enter samadhi my spine sometimes > corrects itself - sometimes audibly. From that point on, physically at least, > the meditation is quite comfortable as the spine is supporting all my limbs > like hanging a hat on a coat stand. Do you experience something similar? I > won't go into kundalini like experiences here, but the role of the spine > seems to be quite central (literally!) in it.
