Chereads / THE PRINCE OF HERBS / Chapter 90 - MEDITATION 3

Chapter 90 - MEDITATION 3

"There are many theories for this question, but I will take the easiest one which is suitable with our current level; Quickly being aware, don't let us sink deeper into our unstable mind, and force ourselves to focus again on our breath."

"Can you tell me about other theories?"

"There is a type of meditation, that is, Observing ourselves. We free our mind to flow as it likes - and we act as observers to the flowing mind. And the requirement to do this meditation well is, we should separate us from our physical condition and even our mind. Eliminate the ego. Just take me as an example. I have to let go of every idea that I am Li Heng, I release my identity and everything attached with it, in fact, I just act as an observer who is watching this Li Heng. When I see my mind wandering, instead of saying "My mind wanders" I note "Li Heng's mind wanders". This type of meditation is very good for getting to know the truth of yourselves. We can find out who we really are. But in my opinion, this level of meditation is still quite difficult for us in the current. Take it easy. Later when you have been more skilled in meditation, you may try this method."

"I want to try the practice of Cunxiang taught by Sun Simiao * , or the Exercise of Dantian * like the Wushu experts usually do," Someone commented.

"Ah, you are so desirous! Don't be so greedy, you have to do it step by step! The time to learn all of these for us will arrive, but if you can't do even the easy one, then how can you learn the hard ones?" Li Heng cut in firmly. "Alright, our training session is done for today. From tomorrow, we will start to do meditation alternately."

The session of meditation had ended. But everyone went home excitedly, talking to each other about what they had experienced during their failed practices. Some of them even laughed out loud because what they were talking about was indeed very funny.

"Ah, yes, Nayin, how about your meditation?" Since by chance Zhu Su walked next to Hu Nayin, he was curious to ask that girl.

Hu Nayin curved an awkward smile. "Ah... that, um..."

"Does your practice get results?"

"N... no! Not at all... very far from getting any result..."

"So you are not different with us?"

"Yes..."

"So what makes your mind tangle, Nayin?" Lin joined the conversation.

"Uumm... that..." Hu Nayin sighed, appeared like she was about to answer, but finally, she could not.

"It's okay Nayin, don't be shy, just say it! Or... yes, I know!" Lin snapped her fingers. "You must be thinking of your crush, right?"

"N... no! Lin, how can you say such!" Hu Nayin quickly refuted, but her face was flushing and she was sweating profusely.

Lin laughed even louder. "Hahaha, that means I'm right! It's okay Nayin, just tell the truth. We won't ask you any further about that guy... but if you are willing to tell us about him, we will be happy to listen!"

"No, Lin... you're wrong! I... I just thought about... uhhmm... the dinner that we will eat later!..."

Xue Mei joined in the conversation while smiling amusedly. "Nayin really reminds me of the time I first fell in love. Often getting nervous, face often blushing red suddenly, often stammering when talking... it's true Nayin, you are very similar to the previous time of mine."

"And how about your love, Xue Mei?"

"Ah, that is a love that I regret so much. That handsome young man who is good at seducing turns out to have me no more than his prey. After he found another prey, he immediately left me. At that time not only I was broken-hearted from being abandoned, but my savings were depleted because of being spent by him," Xue Mei said in a bitter voice.

"But fortunately you have not married him, Xue Mei. I had a neighbor who married a bad guy. He was a drunkard, what he did was just playing outside, teasing women everywhere, and also stealing money to get drunk! When he was drunk he could violently beat his wife and child. Finally, the woman became ill and died as a result of being beaten too often," Qing told the sad story. "However, in my view, the woman was actually doing wrong. She was so deeply in love with her husband, her deep love let her turn a blind eye to all mistakes her husband made, including not fighting back or asking for help when being beaten."

Everyone immediately sighed as they heard Qing's story. Wu Qi murmured, "Wow, not only men who are stupid when falling in love. Women are apparently the same."

"To be honest, women are even more stupid than men if they have been obsessed with their lovers. Men can realize that there are still many women who are more beautiful than that beautiful-but-evil woman they love, and dare to leave her. But not with women, especially if the bad guy even challenges her to leave him, a woman could not bear the heart to do so," Di Na sighed. "Well... I think, it's okay to fall in love, but we must use our logic. Don't let us be easily manipulated, moreover be sacrificed."

"But the real practice of your theory is difficult, Di Na. Everyone can get married because of falling in love at first, right?" Lin said. "I also really love my husband, and I am willing to sacrifice myself for him, but my husband is indeed a kindhearted person. Then, of course, I will do everything to please him."

"So do I! I am willing to sacrifice myself like Lady Meng Jiang * , Zhu Yingtai * , or Bai Suzhen * , if that can make my husband happy," said Qing with sparkling eyes.

"Wow, love! This is indeed the most intricate and complicated topic, far beyond anything else in this world! Talking about this topic can take up to seven days and seven nights and it still hasn't finished yet!" Guo Songmi, who had been quiet all this time, was finally intrigued to join in. "But no matter how intricate and complicated it is, still, love becomes the most beautiful and interesting topic in human civilization, that's why novels, stories, and theater performances will always allude to love story."

The Team of Wellbeing nodded in agreement. About Hu Nayin, she now chose to remain silent, her head kept bowed down. Because deep inside her heart, thousands of turmoil feelings that she was unable to express whirled intensely in the bottom of her heart.

...

* Cunxiang = The way to heal a disease by using imagination taught by Sun Simiao. To practice Cunxiang, imagine as if there is a Qi above our heads. This Qi looks bright and sparkling, and has an extraordinary strength. This Qi then descends downward, slowly through the head, neck, chest, stomach and finally to the point of Dantian which is the accumalution point of energy from all over the body. Even though we know clearly this is just a fantasy, but since we do it in a state of silence, we will get the feeling that the fantasy is the same as real, that it feels real to us. The sick often get cured through this way.

* Sun Simiao = a Chinese physician and writer of the Sui and Tang dynasty. He was titled as China's King of Medicine for his significant contributions to Chinese medicine and tremendous care to his patients. (Wikipedia).

* Dantian = loosely translated as "elixir field", "sea of Qi", or simply "energy center". Dantian are the "Qi focus flow centers", important focal points for meditative and exercise techniques such as Qigong, martial arts such as Taijiquan, and in traditional Chinese medicine. (Wikipedia)

* Lady Meng Jiang or Meng Jiang Nü = a Chinese tale, with many variations. Later versions are set in the Qin dynasty, when Lady Meng Jiang's husband was pressed into service by imperial officials and sent as corvee labor to build the Great Wall of China. Lady Meng Jiang heard nothing after his departure, so she set out to bring him winter clothes. Unfortunately, by the time she reached the Great Wall, her husband had already died. Hearing the bad news, she wept so bitterly that a part of the Great Wall collapsed, revealing his bones. (Wikipedia)

* Zhu Yingtai = the female lead The Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese legend of a tragic love story of a pair of lovers (Wikipedia).

* Bai Suzhen = the female lead in Legend of White Snake, she is a snake spirit who falls in love with a human named Xu Xuan.