The Fourteen Methods of Synchronizing with Primary Respiration – Metaphors of Interrelatedness – Post #10

Homage to Shantideva who wrote the greatest book ever on compassion:
“As long as space remains, as long as sentient beings remain, until then, may I too remain and dispel the miseries of the world.” – Shantideva

Homage to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the King of Compassion. Please guide us in this time of need:
“May I become at all times, both now and forever: a protector for those without protection; a guide for those who have lost their way; a ship for those with oceans to cross; a bridge for those with rivers to cross; a sanctuary for those in danger; a lamp for those without light; a place of refuge for those who lack shelter; and a servant to all in need.” – Shantideva

Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is a compassion-based practice.
“Compassion – our ability to feel the pain that we share with others.”
– Pema Chodron

There is no embodiment of order without dynamic stillness,
There is no movement in the universe without Primary Respiration.

 

16. The Embodied Compassion of PR

  1. The twelfth synchronizing is with the three compassionate intentions of PR as detailed in Tibetan Medicine. These intentions may be observed to automatically shift during a neutral, a change of phase of PR or any time during the cycle of attunement and the Ignition process. Recall that Sutherland started the biodynamic model observing PR shift to repair mode in 1948. It changed the foundations of the cranial concept.
  2. Create: The activity of constant renewal, constant conception Ignition whose fulcrum is the present moment. The change of phase of PR is a dilation of the present moment which has no past and no future. It reminds me of an expression of the Navy Seals: “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.”
  3. Repair: PR is self-directing following its own priorities for healing. This is known only by observation just as Sutherland discovered in 1948 when he started the biodynamic model.
  4. Maintain: PR has a constant interconnection to the whole. It establishes the baseline for all metabolic and physiological function inside the body and out.
  5. Principle: These intentions unfold from one of the wisdom aspects of PR called compassion. Compassion is the ability to feel the pain that we share with others. It is established in the heart to heart connection detailed earlier.
  6. Principle: Compassion requires humility. Bowing one’s head during a session is important. When appropriate make a nonverbal aspiration for the client to be completely free of pain and suffering.
  7. Principle: The present moment is the supreme spiritual teacher. I think it was Becker who said: “Trust the Tide (PR).”

17. The Five Gates and Five Elements of PR:

  1. This discussion of the five gates and five elements is based on an understanding of the shamanism integrated in Tibetan Medicine. Shamanism in this sense means to harmonize the relationship between the individual and the environment through working with the five gates and five elements inside and outside the body. This includes the felt sense of embodiment as an interconnected whole with the environment.
  2. Consequently, the thirteenth synchronizing is with the five gates of PR in the body with the five elements in Tibetan Medicine. In Ayurvedic Medicine these gates are called the Vayus. Prana, Chi, Wind (PR) enters the body synchronized with the breath of air. It separates into five gates (fulcrums) to govern form and function of the human body. The incarnating consciousness first takes form in the human embryo via the five elements.
  3. The five elements by themselves are associated with the body as follows:
    1. Tissue-Earth
    2. Blood-Water
    3. Metabolism-Fire
    4. Breath-Wind
    5. Mind-Space
  4. All the 5 elements (earth, water, fire, wind and space) however are simultaneously ruled by the element of the wind. Since it is the most important from a shamanic point of view, then naturally PR is viewed as an element and consequently the most important.
  5. The literature (cited below in the Sources list) says that the wind is the horse upon which each element is mounted. Yes, there is the wind mounted on the wind. These gates (locations) and associations with their respective elements are as follows:
  6.  Life Sustaining Wind – Space
    1. The Wind of Space emanating from the heart. This is an important level of Wind that governs all the others. It is where the highest spiritual expression of wind and space manifest.
    2. The heart relates to the element of space. Space in this sense is synonymous with dynamic stillness as mentioned above. Whenever working around the heart, the dynamic stillness permeates the room and total environment. Therefore, the element of space is always associated with the perception of dynamic stillness. Please refer to the sections above on dynamic stillness especially 13g4.
  7.  All Pervasive Wind – Wind
    1. The Wind of Wind emanating from the superficial fascia and interstitium. Thus, the all pervasive wind is everywhere in the body.
  8.  Upward Rising Wind – Earth
    1. The Wind of the Earth emanating from the voice and nervous system.
    2. The cycle of attunement to the natural world with the third ventricle (central and autonomic nervous systems) connects to the element earth. Any contact around the head and neck of a client needs to be grounded in a perception of the earth element and its density.
    3. Breathing activates the element of wind. Feel yourself breathing inside the breath rather than outside at the surface of mind and thoughts.
  9.  Downward Voiding Wind – Water
    1. The Wind of Water emanating from the kidneys.
    2. Wait in the fluid body of micromovement and dissipation for PR to enter as a guest. The fluid body is the element of water. Sutherland was the first to map out its therapeutic directions and then Blechschmidt (embryology and morphology) and then Pollack (The Fourth Phase of Water). Longitudinal, lateral, spiral and playful. This is the metabolism of flow.
    3. Once the fluid body moves with PR a lot of issues will resolve. All the elements move under the power of PR.
  10. Digestive Metabolic Wind – Fire
    1. The Wind of Fire emanating from the superior mesenteric artery. It governs the metabolism of the body. Refer to section 7g above.
    2. Eat Real Food! Cease eating ultra-processed food and any food with added sugar. Sugar is a chronic dose dependent chemical toxin. It is extremely unhealthy chemotherapy.
    3. Then intermittently fast (IF) for 12-15 hours between the end of the evening meal and the beginning of breakfast. Thus, the meaning of breakfast. That’s a good start. This promotes inner safety and decreases many problems. IF is now called biohacking as it changes metabolism of the body for almost everyone in a positive direction.
    4. Belly breathing activates the fire element located in the gut. Feel the umbilicus move out and back. The umbilicus is our connection to a universal origin. It is a key point in biodynamic practice as noted in section 6e.
  11. PR as stated is an aspect of the element wind. Wind is the most important element from a shamanic point of view. It has three levels of function noted in the next section. The cycle of attunement directly involves abiding in the elements wind and space which are metaphors for PR and the dynamic stillness. Attune to yourself, the client and the natural world as discussed in Sections 7, 8 and 9.
  12. Observe PR giving a treatment and directing your attention. Now attune to the five elements just listed with PR.
  13. Principle: These are the five internal gates (fulcrums) of PR governing all structure and function in the human body.
  14. Principle: The element of Wind (PR) is the most important element upon which all the other elements depend from a shamanic point of view. See section 13g4 above for a discussion of the importance of Space.
  15. Principle: These gates are known depending on where the practitioner’s hands are located on the client’s body and the practitioner’s embodiment and three-dimensional orientation to the wind and space.