Personal Observation:

When I was first introduced to the Chinese approach of meditation, there were no words are spoken nor instructions how to properly breathe by our master, Professor Peng-si Yu. After continuous dedication of hours and hours meditating you begin to realize that your body and its rhythm along with your breathing begin to slowdown. This feeling of refinement graduals happens over several months. There is no forced effort but rather your commitment and focus. The Standing Meditation with its slow breathing provides a different challenge. Breathing becomes the main focus. The pains induced by the standing posture posses the personal challenges of "letting go." After 15 to 20 minutes into your meditation, your breathing becomes quieter and refined. This leads to the subtle and gentle body vibration that leads to the calming of the mind. This Chinese approach of meditation mainly focuses on the inner feelings, centering, grounding and the moving of the Ch'i to the Tan Tien (dan tian) region, approximately 2.54 cm below the navel.

I have been very fortunate to be able to compare both the Chinese and Tibetan approach to of meditation. The main difference lies in the area of "attitude." - the attitude towards breath and one's experience. To the Tibetans, breath is an expression and experience of life and to felt simultaneously. Each breath is a new breath and a new experience. We must be willing to: "experience the experience." The standing position is forces us to face our fears that fear towards pain. The Tibetans embrace the pain. This is an inclusive as well as a reactionary response. There is no separation. It is "total-ness" and all involving. The unity and fusion of the three, the BodyMindSpirit, are as One.

Methods of Meditation:

If your mind is able to settle naturally in own accord, then you are inspired simply to rest in its pure awareness. You don’t need any method on how to meditate. Meditation provides a means to work within yourself from moment to moment leading towards your inner awakening. It is a mental process to lessen our distractions and transforming enlightenment. Meditation is not something you can just do. It is something that happens spontaneously. Our mind is like a candle of flame unstable flickering constantly changing, fanned by violent winds of our thoughts and emotions. The flame will only burn steady when we calm the air surrounding it.