Sunday, September 13, 2009
Paradox Enlightenment Technologies.
Paradox Enlightenment Technologies -- Final. _g 13 September 2009

Mudra PARADOX meditation is an ancient PRACTICAL Enlightenment TECHNOLOGY using a PHYSICAL PARADOX to TRAP the mind in a feedback LOOP freeing it to find its INTUITIVE TRUE NATURE through "silent, illuminating meditation", as in ZAZEN. global.sotozen-net.or.jp/eng/how_to_do_zazen.html

Traditional hand meditation MUDRAS are symbolic GESTURES which have, over time, become simple POSES. www.thesecretsofyoga.com/mudras.html

In the past, these MUDRAS had a more PRACTICAL significance for meditators, as will be explained below.

Posture and the environment also serve a PRACTICAL purpose. www.kaihan.com/Zazen.htm

The FEEDBACK loop between the SENSORY and MOTOR cortex established ONLY when BARELY or ALMOST touching; thumb to thumb (Zen -- Cosmic Mudra -- hokkai-join),
global.sotozen-net.or.jp/images/how_to_do_zazen/htdzazen08.jpg ; thumb to forefinger (Yoga -- Chin Mudra), www.yogajess.com/2007/08/09/chin-mudra/ or, flat palm to flat palm (Universal prayer position),
www.newhopeministries.org/media/image/Logos/praying-hands.gif creates a PHYSICAL PARADOX to TRAP and FREE the mind from suffering through self-forgetting.

This FEEDBACK with TIME DELAY creates a physical OSCILLATOR - settling at some natural optimum frequency with MINIMAL amplitude, balancing on a manifold between two states - like balancing a round pebble on top of a saddle using minimal movement - this is the POINT of STILLNESS on the BOUNDARY.

The LONG-LOST SECRET of this method was NOT to PRESS at all, but to BARELY/ALMOST FEEL, and to continuously CORRECT for the LOSS of touch by bringing the finger/thumb surfaces TOGETHER and to CORRECT for the ONSET of touch by bringing the finger/thumb surfaces APART - continuously alternating between these two states.

As these oscillatory movements became smaller and smaller one approached the THRESHOLD of feeling.

The PARADOX is FEELING AND NOT FEELING at the same time (which is PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE) and the attempt to achieve this is what TRAPS the mind.

This PRACTICAL TECHNOLOGY had been lost and was the TRUE original purpose of these three meditation MUDRAS.

For maximum thumb tip sensitivity in the Traditional Cosmic Mudra, the thumbnails must be trimmed right back as well as the thick skin at the very tips.
This is the most effective and powerful of all the mudras when barely/almost touching.

Since the thumb PADS are naturally more sensitive than the tips, a modified Cosmic Mudra with thumbs relaxed and the upper thumb pads barely/almost touching is also effective, as in the Buddha Mudra; but not pressing hard and not so flat.
healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Buddha.htm

The thumbs should not overlap as in this version of the Dhyana Mudra, which is an ineffectual POSE.
healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Dhyana.htm

The Yoga Gyan Mudra can be modified slightly so the thumb and index finger are relaxed and the upper pads, or the tips, are barely/almost touching.
healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Gyan.htm

Fingers lightly interlocked, with palms apart and upper thumb pads or tips barely/almost touching, is another practical position.

A steepling prayer, or Hakini mudra, with fingertips touching lightly and thumbs just barely/almost, like the left position in the image below, is also effective.
healing.about.com/od/touchtherapy/ss/healinghands_6.htm
The fingers do not need to be absolutely straight, to prevent muscle strain.
The thumbs can be perfectly inline, tip to tip, or can be more relaxed, with the upper pads barely/almost touching, but not pressing hard as in the traditional Hakini mudra.
healing.about.com/od/east/ig/Mudra-Gallery/Hakini.htm

Lying down, with arms at the sides, and the upper thumb and forefinger pads barely/almost touching is an EFFORTLESS position - one can remain at the THRESHOLD WITHOUT TRYING and without falling asleep.

Physical Background:

"Merkel nerve endings and Meissner's corpuscles are most densely clustered in the highly sensitive finger tips, and less so in the palms."
Merkel nerve endings are concentrated "beneath the ridges of the fingertips that make up fingerprints".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merkel_nerve_ending#Functions
"They are the most sensitive of the four main types of mechanoreceptors to vibrations at low frequencies, around 5 to 15 Hz."
"Because of their sustained response to pressure, Merkel nerve endings are classified as slowly adapting."
"Firing during the static phase can continue for more than 30 minutes."
"Merkel nerve endings are extremely sensitive to tissue displacement, and may respond to displacements of less than 1 µm." - that's why Braille is so efficient.
Meissner's corpuscles respond to light touch but adapt rapidly.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meissner%27s_corpuscle


Rinzai ZEN KOAN meditation is another ancient PRACTICAL Enlightenment TECHNOLOGY using a LOGICAL PARADOX that TRAPS the mind in a feedback LOOP trying to find an ANSWER to a DUALITY (which is LOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE) freeing it to find its INTUITIVE TRUE NATURE.

Paradox in Zen Dialogue: ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JOCP/jc26897.htm
Zen Dialogue is Non-Logical: ccbs.ntu.edu.tw/FULLTEXT/JR-JOCP/jc26600.htm

Looped BROWN NOISE via headphones is helpful in masking noisy environments.
Download brown_noise.wav: host-a.net/Astralhereticus/brown_noise.wav
Download Wave Pad: www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html and use Shift-F9 for Loop Play then minimize to the task bar - works OK if run by itself -- freeware.
Download Noise Looper: www.sardinesoftware.com/whitenoiseplayer.php and add to the system tray - easier to use and very seamless looping but is $5 PayPal.

"Try it, you'll like it."

Happy Awakenings.

Astralhereticus