OPTIMIZE YOUR LIFE BY NURTURING YOUR SPINE


By Farrah Garan


in a cultural layer, at its core, Buddhism is really about nature. All Buddhist methods have the same ultimate aim—to reveal our true nature of clearness and wisdom.


W


While enlightenment (the realization of our Buddha nature) may feel far away, I think we can agree that any incremental development in clarity and wisdom will improve the quality of our decisions and, therefore, our entire life. I propose that one of the most accessible and practical things you can do to move in this direction is to care for the openness of your spine. To understand how caring for your spine can improve your life, let’s explore principles from Buddhism and Tibetan Medicine.


Wisdom Embodied The Tantrayana (Vajrayana) path of


Tibetan Buddhism is one of the most direct paths to accomplishing this aim of knowing our nature. It functions like science in that it uses empirical evidence to validate a natural law. In this case, it uses direct experience in the body to achieve realizations of our fundamental nature. In other words, clear awareness isn’t just a state of mind; it’s an embodiment. And we already have ev- erything we need to get there. Just run the experiment and get the results.


Tibetan Medicine is a subcategory of


Tantrayana. Its principles were developed from the teachings given by the historical Buddha around 900 BC. Both fields are concerned with optimizing the health of the body and mind. While Tibetan Medicine ad-


30 Natural Nutmeg - June 2016


hat is Buddhism? While it is an umbrella term for various prin- ciples and practices all wrapped


dresses the functioning of the physical body, Tantra goes deeper and addresses the func- tioning of the subtle body. The subtle body informs and energizes the physical body, so it is definitely not separate.


In both Tantrayana Buddhism and Tibet- an Medicine, there is a significant focus on the spine. Our spine is the root of our body. It is the main highway through which neuro- logical communication, blood flow, oxygen and nutrients are transported. Blockages in the spine directly impair organ function and limit communication between the central nervous system and the millions of motor and sensory nerves of the peripheral nervous system. So it is clear why the spine is central in medicine’s sphere of concern.


Our spine is also the energy box of our


body. It is like a battery. Not only does the current of energy need to remain unobstruct- ed and flowing to be useful, the energy also needs to be recharged periodically so that it doesn’t completely drain. Movement is what promotes the smooth flow of the current.


The Subtle Body & Spirituality


When the spine is obstructed, we experi- ence emotional imbalance, including height- ened stress, fear and anger. When everything is flowing smoothly along the spinal column, we experience more calmness, focus and creativity. To understand how spinal mobility promotes a beneficial state of mind, we enter the realm of the subtle body.


According to Tantrayana, our subtle


body is our channels, and the wind-energy and essences that move in them. Blocked channels means blocked wind and essence. There is a tremendously intimate connection


There is no excuse for not caring for


your spine! There are extremely powerful reasons to do so (whether you are motivated by boosting physical health, longevity, mental clarity, emotional stability, bound- less energy or spiritual development) and there are efficient and practical ways to get the job done. If you are not regularly doing something to nurture your spine, then you are neglecting it at your own peril. Either way, a decision is being made. My goal is to motivate you to prioritize the health of your spine and provide you with the tools to take action.


Reality Check So, now I’d like to ask you: How is the


health of your spine? Is it limber and spa- cious? Or is it becoming hunched, crunched and compacted? If you want to live an opti- mized life with energy, focus and passion, it is imperative that you start with the spine.


between the wind-energy (Tibetan: lung) and consciousness, as well as between the essences and emotions. When the wind is stuck, the mind is stuck. When the wind and essences are flowing, the mind is clear, stable and happy.


The goal of Tantrayana goes far beyond health and happiness; its aim is enlight- enment. So why is it concerned with the spine? The spinal column holds the key to deep spiritual transformation. Our body is like a map to higher dimensions. There are hidden doors, portals of energy, that when opened catapult us to new levels of aware- ness and ability. The most important of these hidden doors, or chakras, are along the spi- nal column. Therefore, cultivating openness in the body changes our consciousness.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42