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Old 11-11-2005, 04:15 AM   #23
Steve Mullen
Dojo: White Rose (Sunderland)
Location: Washington
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 270
England
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Re: Zazen Meditation, Haragei and Focus

I watched an interesting programme on television last night which culminated with 5 people, who were 'specialists' in certain sences (a tea taster, an artist, a masseur etc), experiencing an hour in a sensory deprivation chamber, apparently the absence of all senses can have one of two effects on people, they either feel refreshed by the expeience or they feel a hightened sense of tention (apparently for some there is no effect at all)

To me meditation has a similar sort of ethos, by controling the breathing you can (i use the word grudgingly but i'm lost for another) dull the senses. In both cases the absence of external influence clears a huge section of your brain (set aside to deal with these) allowing other thoughts which have been 'compressed' to expand and fill this 'gap' in your mind. I really like the thought of this happening.

An interesting comparison can be using hypnosis to extract repressed memories. The hypnotist completely controls the other person's senses and allows their mind to be clear of them, allowing the space for the hypnotist to deposit the memories into.

Im not sure if i have actually made a point here or weather i have just rambled for a few paragraphs, either way i feel better for it and it got me out of a few minutes work. ; )

"No matter your pretence, you are what you are and nothing more." - Kenshiro Abbe Shihan
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