Does anyone know whether it's necessary to sit in an asana position when doing the motionlessness exercise in Liber MMM? If you can stop yourself from moving while leaning back against a cushion or something, surely that's alright? Thanks.
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Wed, August 8, 2007 - 8:47 AMZen meditation isn't usually done on a bed. It's done in a sitting position and I believe that it's done that way for a reason.
I'm sure you can modify the exercise into what ever you like, though I think it will then be a modified exercise. Nothing wrong with that, per se, it'll just be a slightly different thing with, presumably, slightly different results.
Personally, I don't much care for zen style meditation either. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Thu, August 9, 2007 - 9:54 PMHaven't noticed that the position makes a whole lot of difference in results..unless you are laying down and happen to fall asleep easily. I practice this one just about every chance I get, in water, at work on phone calls when someone is yakking incessantly, and even the bathroom..
I never understood there to be a "right" or "wrong" way of doing it..motionlessness is not meditation, it is motionlessness. It's one more tool in the arsenal of skills to help build up towards other things, like effective inhibitory gnosis.
Out of all of them, motionlessness in water or in a moving vehicle becomes intersting (in water done in a back float) because your body becomes moved on it's own, which is a struggle to maintain the excercise and not tense up. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Fri, August 10, 2007 - 4:59 AMA colleague of mine who used this technique extensively during her own MMM informs me that lying down flat on your back comprises the 'Corpse Posture', apparently a well-known asana. And yes, you do have to guard against falling asleep.
I personally use the Armchair Posture, as I can perform it in all sorts of places without drawing attention to myself. The motionlessness counts, the precise posture you take doesn't matter. That said, I get best results by keeping my spine extended and my breath a little fuller than average. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Sat, August 11, 2007 - 6:04 PMdo it crosslegged style and you will find PAIN!!!! wahahahaha!!!!!
your legs will get tingly then go numb. then your back your will hurt for-EVA if you have bad posture. i did it this way half of the time .it requires way more discipline cuz there will be plenty of times you wanna give up. actually my first try was like 3 minutes. im such a whimp. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Fri, August 31, 2007 - 10:46 PMBTW, I thought I could clarify the bit about motionlesness in a moving vehicle..that would be as a PASSENGER only lol...
As far as sitting crosslegged, you can avoid the numb tootsies sometimes by *slightly* elevating your rump on a towel folded a couple of times, tucked under the tailbone. Takes some of the pressure off the nerves and arteries :)
Also, I prefer not to sit in that style "cold" and usually warm up the body with a bit of stretching walking etc...
Just in case you really want to try your motionlesness this way :)
After so many years, I get a kick out of seeing *where* I can do it (and other things) keeps the practice from getting stale... -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Fri, August 31, 2007 - 10:57 PMI like the numbness, personally - it takes an extra bit of self control to stay motionless after you adjust your legs to avoid pins and needles :) -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Sat, September 22, 2007 - 3:30 PMI was doing Dragon posture; kneeling basically; but with my butt sitting not on my ankles, but on a piece of wood held up by blocks about 6 inches high. Helps the circulation a bit. One day, getting up after 30 minutes, my feet were numb, and stupidly I stood up. I immediately had to take a step forward to keep my balance, and because my foot was numb, I had no control over it - no proprioception, nothing. It was like walking on a piece of meat stapled to my leg. So instead of acting like a foot should, the toes simply curled up, and I put my weight on them. Youch! It tookm weeks for my foot to get back in shape - bruising all over, especially where it folded under me.
So here's a warning. If your foot is numb - dont attempt to walk or stand on it, except watching it very carefully.
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Tue, February 5, 2008 - 11:00 PMhahahhaa, yeh, your blood pools. THis is where you learn movement is life and stopping is death. LOL
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Tue, August 14, 2007 - 4:16 AMAh, OK, thanks for the information. The Armchair Posture sounds like a good idea - I could practise it at work without alarming customers, haha.
I've been trying to do it crosslegged style recently but I have such a bad posture I'm not getting anywhere with it. I guess I'll have to gradually learn to sit up straight. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Tue, August 14, 2007 - 2:17 PMraising the sit bones higher than the knees greatly helps with posture. A mat or folded towel or small pillow should work like a charm. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Tue, August 14, 2007 - 4:38 PMcool im gonna try that. i was never taught how to sit like that . i only see that shit on tv. like travel network or something.
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Fri, August 24, 2007 - 10:03 AMThanks, that makes sense. :) -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Sat, September 22, 2007 - 11:04 AMI think it's good to use a variety of postures and environments.
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Sat, September 22, 2007 - 2:23 PMVery true. People with tight hamstring muscles (the ones along the back sides of your thighs; you feel them when you keep your legs straight and bend forward from your hips, tilting your pelvis forward) often need to sit on a small pillow or folded blanket. Use something fairly solid, but soft. Go into a yoga studio or an online yoga shop and buy a $15-20 "Mexican" blanket; they're great for this when folded up. A Zen-style zafu filled with buckwheat hulls can work great, too.
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Tue, February 5, 2008 - 10:59 PMI suggest referring to the text. It says to find a "comfortable position". Is the asana position comfortable to you?
You can do the exercise any way you want. I've done it laying down, and sitting. The effects are the same. There are certain insights you will gain from this exercise.
The idea is to NOT move.
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 12:29 PMJust stay put for 15 minutes. If you can!!!! -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Wed, February 6, 2008 - 6:58 PMI was shocked, but, yeh, there are people who can't do it....
Not even 5... they try it once, and go "this sucks" and they'll never try again....
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Thu, February 7, 2008 - 2:46 AMmany people lack discipline. -
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Re: Liber MMM Motionlessness exercise
Mon, March 17, 2008 - 6:23 PMHeh, I can't believe I used to find this exercise difficult. For a couple of weeks I couldn't go five minutes without something spontaneously twitching, but it was easy after that.
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