T
o embody means to give form to a quality or an idea, to manifest something intangible so we can relate to it in a more tangible way. In that sense, we might say, to embody Kum Nye is to manifest the qual- ity of being—a vibrant aliveness fully attuned to the present moment. Being makes possible the rich array of feelings that give pleasure and meaning to human life. While we tend to associate being most closely with the body, being is the property of a fully integrated whole that encompasses body, senses, and mind—in other words, a complete human being.When we practice Kum Nye, our initial focus is on relaxing the body, using massage, postures, and move- ment to release deeply-held tensions and stimulate the circulation of vital energies through our entire body system. As described in Kum Nye Relaxation and pre-
sented in the last section in this book, these practices promote health and well-being, while calming the rest- less tendencies of body and mind that interfere with the development of meditation. On a more advanced level, learning to stay with the flow of feeling relaxes and refreshes the senses as well, and opens their capaci- ties for greatly enriching the quality of our lives.
When we move more deeply into these practices, we learn that they can awaken intensities of feeling that fill our consciousness with light and bring beauty and joy into our lives as an ongoing celebration. Along the way, we may have some glimpses into how embodying Kum Nye benefits the mind. These glimpses remind us that, while theory can point the way, only direct experience makes knowledge truly our own. This is the knowledge that empowers growth and change and comes alive in every gesture of our being.
Touching the Essence of Feeling
Kum Nye relaxes the body, calming the mind and slowing down the speed of perceptions and thoughts. Gradually, usually after several weeks of daily practice, the mind set- tles more readily into a quiet attentiveness, alert, but not grasping for thoughts or fixating on perceptions. With body relaxed and mind more cooperative, we can attune our senses to a greater intensity of feeling. Just as pow- erful engines propel a rocket into space, and then drop away when their purpose is accomplished, our senses can generate blissful feelings, then release, allowing the mind to enter the deep calm of meditation.
Embodying Kum Nye
Make yourself comfortable in the Seven Gestures posture and breathe through both nose and mouth. With the back of the neck straight, aligned with the spine, relax neck and shoulders. Lift the chest slightly and allow the arms to fully relax. Sense any remaining areas of tension, and relax them with the breath.
When feeling arises, relax into the sensation, but do not go into it in a grasping way, seeking for meaning. As much as possible, stay with the pure flavor of the feel- ing, without losing yourself in thoughts or emotionality. Savor the feeling deeply and allow it to expand. With practice, the feeling will intensify, becoming almost tangible. Sustained practice will purify the flavor of the feeling; eventually only the essence will remain.
Benefits of Cultivating Rich Depths of Feeling
When we cultivate our capacity for experiencing rich depths of feeling, life becomes an ongoing symphony of feelings that blend and harmonize throughout the day, sustaining us with interest, creativity, and posi- tive thoughts. Discords come, but they also resolve and merge into the inherently joyous and uplifting momen- tum of life's unfolding. The more attuned we become to the positive aspects of experience, the more good feelings accumulate in body and mind, and the more completely we embody them. Gradually we build up reserves of joy that invite the blessings of bliss into our practice. Bliss cannot be bought with material riches or given us by others, but we can invite it and allow it to develop. Once established, bliss becomes our property,
our own creation, and it shines through every action of our body, speech, and mind. When hard times come, we can draw upon these blessings to restore our balance and reach out to others with love and appreciation.
However inspiring it may be to theorize about what is possible, teachings without practice may only distance us further from the vitality of direct experience. So it is important to take encouragement from the examples of the Arhats and great siddhas, who knew how to use the energy of body, mind, and senses to realize pro- found states of bliss. If we too have access to these trea- sures, we owe it to ourselves to develop them, and Kum Nye gives us a way. So we need not be shy about get- ting inside our experience and embracing it intimately, below the level of concepts. Viewing our own embodi- ment as a precious resource, we may find our joy.
We have been on a long journey; the road has been long and difficult at times, and it is time to make it bet- ter. We can heal our senses and transform them into our best friends and constant companions; we can reclaim the joy and peace that is our human heritage and become examples for others who are lonely and isolated, vulnerable to frustration and pain. If even a few practitioners can demonstrate how to develop the capacities of their mind, body, and senses, others will be inspired to join them, adding their energy to illumine for us all the journey to a richer and fuller way of being.