Kokoro No Kokyo

KOKORO NO KOKYU
(The Heart's Breath: emanating Love, Gratitude and Compassion)
Copyright © 2003 James Deacon

This technique comes from the loose 'conglomeration' of miscellaneous practices and techniques referred to as reiryoku no michi:

"the Way of [connection with] Spiritual Power"

or, alternatively:

"the Way of the Soul's Power"

This meditation is generally performed seated in seiza [However, for those less-supple students unaccustomed to 'sitting on heels' - who find the task of sitting in seiza uncomfortable (& therefore a distraction) - most practices can be undertaken in other, more comfortably familiar postures.]

Close your eyes and 'hara-centre' yourself: focus your awareness on your seika tanden - an area deep inside your body mid way between your navel and the top of your pubic bone.

For a few moments, simply 'be' - silently and restfully 'watching the breath': loosely focussing on the natural rhythms of your breathing. There is no interference with the natural process - no seeking to consciously breathe - merely to be aware that you are breathing effortlessly.

After a few moments - with the focus of your awareness still at your seika tanden - in your mind's-eye, see and feel the Spiritual energy flowing down from above, as a stream of crystal clear light.

And as you breathe in - naturally, effortlessly - the crystal clear Spiritual light floods into your crown, and streams down, pouring straight into your seika tanden.

In the moment before your body begins to exhale, be aware that the crystal clear Spiritual light fills your seika tanden - feel it growing stronger and brighter in your seika tanden; and, even while your body exhales, the crystal clear Spiritual light remains focussed at the seika tanden.

In this way, with every effortless in-breath, you are developing and building a reservoir of light in your seika tanden.

REMEMBER - you are building up a reservoir of LIGHT, not PRESSURE

After a few minutes, gently shift the focus of your attention from the seika tanden to the centre of your chest - the thymus region - the 'Heart Plexus/Centre'.

This shift of awareness should be one of smooth transition.

Continue, in your mind's-eye, to see and feel the Spiritual energy flowing down from above, as a stream of crystal clear light.

However, now as you breathe in - naturally, effortlessly - the crystal clear Spiritual light floods into your crown, and streams down, pouring straight into your Heart Plexus.

In the moment before your body begins to exhale, be aware that the crystal clear Spiritual light fills your Heart Plexus - feel it growing stronger and brighter in your Heart Plexus, and as the light deepens and intensifies, so you are immersed in feelings of deep and intense Love, Gratitude and Compassion.

And now, as your body exhales, be aware that the crystal clear Spiritual light radiates out from the Heart Plexus - radiates out in all directions to infinity, bathing and suffusing all living things in those same deep and intense feelings of Love, Gratitude and Compassion.

Continue in this awareness of 'radiating the light' for as long as you feel comfortable.

Allow your body to maintain its own natural breathing rhythm. There is no interference with the natural process - no seeking to consciously breathe - merely to be aware that you are breathing effortlessly.

To conclude practice, bring your hands together in gassho - bow to the Light that is within you and all beings. - then return your thoughts once more to your daily activities.