Meditation: Eyes and Heart Open

Chi

Meditation: Eyes and Heart Open

The practice of Tai Chi and Chi Kung induces the meditative state. We experience a connection to our inner essence.

Particularly when we’re doing stationary Chi Kung, some students in my classes, tend to close their eyes. They have such a look of blissfulness and contentment that I don’t want to disturb them. But I do.

When practicing Tai Chi we are to be aware of the inner peace as well as our external environment. While maintaining this centeredness, we’re able to make effective assessments on how to proceed in the external. Besides, doing Tai Chi with your eyes closed is just not safe. I have seen students close their eyes while Tai Chi walking.

I do understand why students close their eyes. Since the early 90s I have been practicing sitting meditation, during which I close my eyes. Closing my eyes enables me to disconnect from the world and its care. I feel as if I am in a cosmic womb. An inner glow envelopes my being. I can stay there forever. Just as an overdue child, I have to be induced from womb.

No matter how great it feels, you can’t live closed up within yourself. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15

Those scriptures were hard for me to embrace. When I was a marketing executive, I would meditate before going to work. I felt peaceful, all was well. I dreaded leaving my house to go into the workforce.

Once in the office, I felt as if I had left that presence of peace on my cushion. There would be incessant deadlines to be met, conflicts to be resolved, attitudes that needed adjustment and insatiable bosses to please.

During my lunch breaks, I often retreated to the womb. I would go to my car and meditate. Because I had always meditated with my eyes closed, I thought I could only feel the presence when I isolated myself.

Practicing Tai Chi as led me to the discovery of stillness in motion. I can move in the outer without losing my center, grounded between both worlds. Uniting heaven and earth, I can feel the Presence overshadowing me as I conduct my every day affairs.

I still enjoy losing myself in deep seated meditation. But I’ve finally accepted the message that, “you must go into the market place.” The world (body and affairs) is embodied in us. We can’t disconnect from ourselves.

Meditation unites the mind, body and spirit. After meditating I am eager to share that inspiration. The light escapes through my opened eyes and heart and transforms the world. I eagerly watch as heaven unfolds on earth.

When I see my students with their eyes closed I joke, “don’t go into the light, but bring the light.” Share that light with the world, experience heaven here and now.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10