Finding the Balance Between Tranquillity and Passion

We are human beings! I cannot shout that loud enough! We are human beings and we cannot try to deny that. In fact, we need to connect with it. When we deny it, it causes us stress and suffering. We need to connect with it now more than ever. In this modern world where we are constantly plugged in to the internet, with process wrapped around us, governing our behaviour. Implying structure and order to our every move, decision and action. This is not the human way. The human way has chaos and passion entwined. But it feels that we are encouraged to live this way, every step of the way. Why has this come about? Why have we let ourselves become so disconnect with our human nature? Well, I think it may be because of another aspect of our nature. A natural desire to identify, label, categorise and box everything. Including our own characters and behaviours. There is no doubt about it, this ability has helped immensely in our evolution and is a remarkable ability. It has led to the creation of order and structure in our society. But this is what also causes us a great deal of stress in our lives because this isnt the human way. But we are human beings and that is beautiful and we should celebrate it. Our very humanness is beautiful because of its infinite nature. We are SO complex. The most beautiful things in nature are complex and fragile. A rose, a spiders web, a rainbow, a human. Just beautiful, just amazing. Our passion and energy are part of that. We have done some amazing things us humans. It is very easy to dwell on the bad side of humanity but actually, just entertain me and dwell on the good stuff for a while. Think of the way a surgeon works tirelessly to save anothers life. Then perhaps consider the time and effort that has gone in to the tools and techniques allowing that surgeon to do their job and save the life of a total stranger. It is our passion and energy that got us here. So we should celebrate this. But, as we all know, it is our passion that promotes an immensely powerful emotional response, which can become all-consuming and completely take us over. When these powerful emotions take

over, we literally lose sight of ourselves and it is easy then to behave unskilfully and perhaps cause harm when we dont mean to.

This is one of the reasons why the contemplative practices of Tai Chi, meditation, yoga and other similar disciplines put a great deal of emphasis on focussing on relaxation, tranquillity, stillness and a disciplined mind. It is through practise that we develop the discipline to not let our powerful emotions driven by our passionate nature rule our minds. It is this aspect of the contemplative practises that most of us know of because of the media and the way they are presented. When we consider Tai Chi for example we may bring to mind an old master moving slowly and gracefully under the trees, consider Buddhist meditation and we may imagine a Tibetan monk sitting alone in a huge remote temple perhaps.

A key aspect of these disciplines is to calm the mind, allowing us to remain mindful and see when our mental behaviour is becoming unskilful. (In Buddhism, there is no such thing as good and evil as we dont have the concept of heaven and hell. We simply have skilful and unskilful). Through practise we learn how to train our minds to become still, focussed and fully present. But where does this sit with our passion? Surely all this contradicts my earlier thoughts? If passion is a part of being human how do we balance that with a practise that concentrates on the development of tranquillity. The keyword here is balance. The understanding of the passionate and energetic side of human nature is just as important as the tranquil side because it is a part of us and we cannot and must not deny it. Actually, in the higher forms of tai chi we study the form in a faster and more energetic way. Once we have become expert in the main principles of tai chi, we bring in the energy. From a health perspective this is incredibly important. We do need to make our heart beat and get the blood pumping in our veins. But when we do that, we dont lose the principles, which have their basis in tranquillity and stillness. Action in stillness, stillness in action, this is how

we describe Tai Chi. When we move through the form fast we are still moving with the same principles that we have learnt when we have spent those years studying the tranquil and still aspects of the art. How does this fit in with meditation?

Surely in meditation we dont manufacture the energy and passion in the same way as we do in tai chi? Tai Chi is a physical practise like yoga. Meditation is a mental practise. Meditation helps us to find the balance between passion and tranquillity. Meditation helps us to connect with our human nature. Allowing us to experience passion but stopping it from becoming all-consuming and taking over our minds and lives. In Buddhist meditation we recognise that the body and mind are a single thing. Whatever arises in the mind, arises in the body and vice-versa. We study this arising directly and with deep interest noting how a thought manifests in the mind and subtly activates sensations in the body. This is happening all the time. Our thoughts happen in our mind and our body. When we are in formal meditation on the cushion, we reach a deep and tranquil state immersed in mindfulness. When we get off the cushion we take that mindfulness with us. We learn to be meditating right through the day. Consider anger. There is nothing wrong with anger. It is a very human emotion and can give us great strength. Even The Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh two very well-known Buddhist monks both talk about and admit to being angry. But we mustnt let our anger lead us into unskilful behaviour. When we are angry it is quite possible for us to act out actions that are inappropriate and hurt others. It is mindfulness that helps us to capture this emotional rollercoaster and get it under control. Emotions like anger are so powerful and all-consuming and can completely take us over. It is through the practise of mindfulness that we stay in touch with ourselves. We notice the thoughts coursing through our minds, driven by the anger and study the interplay of those thoughts with the sensations in the body that they trigger. The quickening of the heart, the racing of the blood, the flood of adrenaline. We study how these bodily sensations feel. How they give us energy. How addictive they can become. Because we are mindful, we are able to do this. In this way we stay in touch with ourselves. In this way we watch the way we act, ensuring we act skilfully despite this powerful emotion coursing through our mind and body. When we practise in this way our lives become fascinating and full. As we go through our lives every experience, triggered by our 5 senses or a thought running through our mind, we are able to study with absolute fascination. Our experience of life, the world out, there triggers emotional reaction

and thoughts which feed that emotional reaction. We call this the Vedanas in Buddhism. It is this that connects us. The world around us triggers reaction in our very being. When we start to study this and become aware of it we become acutely aware of our connection to the world. A wonderful connection. We are part of the world, connected intimately through our 5 senses into the very heart of our energetic being. That is JUST WONDERFUL. The more we meditate, the more mindful we become and the more connected we discover we are. This is NOT an exercise in becoming more connected. We are already connected, we just havent noticed. We just need to wake up. The Budda literally means one who is awakened. Through the practise of mindfulness we discover the balance and necessity of both tranquillity and passion and through it we discover our connection with the universe. We discover that we are simply creatures of energy.

Andy Spragg www.re-vitalise.co.uk UK 0800 0191 635