Breathing and Chakras opening

Chakras opening is an interesting as well as important subject, and with so many different interpretations and practices in the meditation market today, it can easily baffle the mind of any serious student.  What is the underlining concept behind these different approaches?  It is a unique way using our natural breathing mechanism in driving the whole process (putting aside the spiritual foundation for the time being).

Before discussing the main subject, it would be interesting to take a look at some of the areas where approaches differ. Firstly: the path or channel where the chakras lie differs, the most common two locations are right in the center and along the spinal cord (which is further split into inside the spinal cord and other than inside!)  Besides there are different number of chakras (the most common number is seven), and the exact positions of the chakras are not always exactly the same!  Needless to say,  the methods of opening the charkras are many.   Each master will "swear" that his approach is supported by his personal inner experience, as a serious practitioner myself, I always give each the benefit of doubt, and hope my readers will give theirs to me too!

In order not to confuse my readers any more, the following is my approach on the subject of charkras opening.  It is definitive for me with my current practice experience.  It is definitely not definitive in the sense that I explained above.

1. I favor using the central axis in the torso as the path or channel on which the chakras lie.  For expediency purpose, I work with seven chakras with each chakra serves a different purpose which I shall explain on some future posts.
2. I consider microcosmic circulation (up spinal cord and down front) an excellent chi-foundation building practice (though not the only way) and chakras opening primarily an advanced method for spiritual pursuit.  It is through the chakras that a practitioner ventures into higher level of spirituality.
3. I believe a good practice in chakras opening is most beneficial for a modern man seeking mind and body balance, calmness and health.  Essentially it enables the practitioner to do more rewarding point-meditations, as well as to nurture the skill in choosing almost any point inside our body to do point-meditation.  The rationale is that chakras are most difficult to point-meditate without undue stress on the meditating point for the untrained practitioner.  If one can meditate on a chakra comfortably, he will be able to meditate on any other point in his body that he might choose for a purpose of his practice (like the purpose of opening his shoulder joints).

With the above theory behind, let me explain a few points on technique.  The major difficulty (and danger) in chakra meditation is that, when our mind focuses on a chakra, the point will most likely be felt as too "heavy".  A criterion on any good or workable technique is to allow chi to generate, to cultivate a distinct experiential presence of a chakra, and yet the chakra point will be at ease so that we can keep on meditating with chakra mindfulness.

The gist of my approach is to visualize a void (or empty, as in the concept of Kong 空 in Buddhism) at the point where a chakra is supposed to be present.  How can this point be opened or created?  It is opened through a meditative mind which will be trained to balance all chi-energy from the peripherals of our body (initially our fingers, later our toes, ultimately including everything else other than the void itself).  In short, to open a chakra is to empty a chakra with chi that permeates the body and equalized or nullified as far as the chakra is concerned.  In Buddhist lingo, a chakra should be opened as void yet not void （色即是空，空即是色). In energy lingo, a chakra is full of all energy and drained or balanced out of all energy. Graphically, a chakra is a radiating point and a vanishing point.

What is the role of breathing?  One should "breath" through a chakra.  This chi-breathing is facilitated by or coordinated with our abdominal breathing done in a mindful manner..  Chi is generated through the interaction effect of chi-breathing between the chakra and our peripherals.

Difficult to comprehend?  A cause for frustration or an anticipation of more alluring depth?

Opening the heart chakra