Spirituality as a Way by Naoki Kashio

Author:Naoki Kashio
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Trans Pacific Press

1. Mind simplification • Raja yoga

• Shikan, zazen

• Vipassana meditation

• Sema

• Gurdjieff movements

2. Image activation • Dances, songs, sand paintings, stone piles

• Spiritual practice, prayers

• Ajikan, moon ring meditation, mandala visualization (development stage), Dhammakaya meditation

3. Energy activation • Hesychasm

• Hatha yoga, Kundalini yoga

• Mandala visualization (perfection stage), Longde

• Internal alchemy method

Table 6.1 Three types of basic meditation techniques

The core practice elements of the ‘mindful’ feature of mind simplification are the insight of the self, external figures (externality) and concentration on the sound and meaning of language (language activity). Each of these has different points of attention and observation. The targets are part of one’s body, breathing, feelings and thoughts; or character, space, figure or song outside of oneself; or vocalization of inner words and scriptures uttered in the mind. An example of self-attention on the body is Gurdjieff movements. Examples of self-attention on the body, breathing, feelings and thoughts include Goenka vipassana meditation and Raja yoga. Examples of externality are heart meditation and Buddhist imagery. An example of an internal language activity is Mahāsi vipassana meditation, while external language activity is scripture repetition. There are many examples of recitations, such as ‘Namu-Amida-Butsu’ of Pure Land Buddhism and ‘Namu-Myōhō-Renge-Kyō’ of Japan’s Nichiren sect.

Image activation

The core practice elements of image activation’s external utilization of images are whole body expression, vocalization and visualization. Whole body expression is a dance accompanied by vocalization such as a song. As for vocalization, a group practicing this form of meditation sings a phrase of the teaching and sings a song. Visualization is the internal formation of an image. An example of dance accompanied by a song is the Mikagurauta song of Tenrikyo, a traditional Japanese New Religion. Examples of vocalization include chorus and singing, which are present in some form in all religions. Examples of visualization include the sand mandalas of Tibetan esoteric Buddhism and the stone (grain) piles of Mt. Suya.

The core practice elements of image activation’s internal utilization of images are remembering and realization/unification. Remembering focuses on the life of the creator, its ethics and spirituality, or a prayer for transcendental beings. Examples include spiritual exercises and internal prayers. Realization/unification is a correspondence between macrocosm and microcosm. After training to visualize the origin of the cosmos, the vision of enlightenment and the image of light, as well as sacred places, names, characters, images, human figures and objects, the practitioner aims to integrate them with the self. Examples include Catholic contemplation, moon ring meditation, ajikan, the development stage of esoteric Buddhism’s mandala visualization, the Dhammakaya meditation of Thai Buddhism, Osho’s Golden Light Meditation and Taoism’s cun-si (visualization).

Energy activation

The core practice elements of energy activation by utilizing energy are energy inhalation/conversion (alteration), accumulation and transfer. Qi and prāna are bioenergy that are ubiquitous in the universe and give life. The bioenergy taken in by breathing is converted/accumulated in the body, flows and creates unique breathing and primitive selfness. Examples include Shinto’s repose of souls, the spiritual purification by hands in the lineage of the Sekai-Kyūsei-kyō and Mahikari

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