The Fundamentals of Meditation Practice 靜坐入門 2

The Fundamentals of Meditation Practice

靜坐入門

Part 2(第二部)
The Foundation Of Meditation Practice
爲什麽要静坐

The Psychophysiological Effects Of Meditation

The Russian physiologist, Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936), emphasized the role that the cerebrum plays in physiology. At first glance, one might assume this to be merely a statement of fact, because that part of the brain is usually thought to involve little else other than thinking. Actually, it takes part in the production of many hormones, both directly and indirectly. Every aspect of a person is interrelated, and that is how and why thoughts and emotions can have such far-reaching effects. That is, however, also why meditation and calm-inducing thoughts can be so stabilizing and so healthy. One can safely assume, then, that most of what contributes to proper functioning also contributes to good health.

Useful Hints For Better Practice And Better Health

As you progress in your practice, you are required to sit motionless for longer and longer periods of time at a stretch. It is then that some very important physical limitations may oblige you to make some adjustments in the way that you sit. Should you choose to ignore them, thinking that there is just one right way to practice, you may cause yourself needless pain and distraction (which means that you will not be able to concentrate); and you may possibly expose yourself to irreparable physical damage as well.

It is not unusual for people who have gone on retreats to return with painfully damaged knees, having held a position in spite of pain and having welcomed an ensuing numbness, simply because they have more trouble than they can remedy. To paraphrase The Kalama Sutra, "Do not do something because you have been instructed to do so, but try it and find out how it works for you."  Be always on guard for what doesn't seem to be quite right, and see what might be done about it. There are many, many methods that can be tried. There is no reason to have to submit to pain or outright debility, especially when nothing good can come of it.

靜坐與生理的關系

人體的構造,是非常複雜精妙的,它能夠成爲一個完整的個體,主要是依靠神經系統——尤其是大腦的作用,所以蘇聯生理學家巴甫洛夫(1849-1936)特别強調大腦對于整個生理活動的重要性。同時根據生理學的觀點來說,人體機構的最大作用,首先在于生活的維持,一方面攝取體外的養料和氧氣供給于體内各器官,一方面使體内的二氧化碳和其他廢料排洩于體外。這種物質交換的現象,就是所謂“新陳代謝”。新陳代謝的作用,是沒有一息停止的,主要是依靠心髒、脈管、淋巴管等循環器官,來循環不停地運行血液到全身。心髒包括四個腔,即左心房、左心室和右心房、右心室,是推動血液的器官,脈管有動脈和靜脈;淋巴管遍布全身,與靜脈并行,一面吸收營養物,輸送到動脈管,一面攝取廢物,送到靜脈管。血液的循環,與呼吸有密切的關系,呼出碳酸氣,吸進氧氣,使靜脈中紫血,變爲紅血輸送到動脈,經體循環一周,約需時二十四秒,一晝夜共計三千六百周,我們呼吸的次數,一晝夜計二萬多次,所吸入的氧氣,共計三百八十多立方尺,這種可觀的工作,我們平時自己并不知覺。假使我們能呼吸正常,血液運行沒有阻滞,身體便能健康,一有阻滞,全身各器官便得病。
血液阻滞而生百病,有下列幾種原因:一、呼吸不正常,以緻不能很好發揮吸收氧氣和吐出碳酸氣的作用。二、一般人全身的血量,一半積儲在腹部,由于腹力不充實,每每發生郁血,因而使其他各部失去調和。三、内髒器官是由交感神經與副交感神經所支配,不能直接受大腦控制,在生理學上叫做不随意肌。當我們睡眠時,雖全身靜止,但它的作用,并不稍停,一般說來,不能以我們的心意來左右它,所以當它阻滞而病,每使我們來不及預防。四、心髒跳動時,對于動脈接近而有力,至于靜脈管,則是從頭部和四肢,回血入肺,受心髒跳動力量的影響,比較微弱,所以也容易阻滞。
根據上面的分析,可見人身的血液,正象鐵路的運輸,宜于流通,運輸停滞,物資必然積壓;血液停滞,人身必生疾病。衛生家隻能用清潔、運動、多得日光、空氣等辦法來鋪助血液的運行。隻有靜坐一法,能使大腦皮層的活動,趨于鎮靜正常,而促使全身各機構的工作更爲順利協調。同時呼吸因練習而得調和,借呼吸的功用,使橫膈膜上下動作,腹力也得緊湊,可以逐出腹部的郁血,返歸心髒,再由心髒逼出鮮血,輸送到全身。如果呼吸功深,增加内髒感覺,就可使不随意肌,也能充分發揮作用。同時心髒的跳動,也自然循序而有力。這樣,血液循環便十分優良,而新陳代謝的作用,也就圓滿,疾病便不易發生,即使偶然有病,也能預先知道,使它不久複原。治病在未發之前,較一般病後而忙于求醫的,其得失是不可同日而語了。