Chanting OM, AH and HUM sound

Following post is by Master Chow

When we are born our 72,000 meridians are open up and functioned accordingly and efficiently. There is why the baby is serene and has a nice smell or fragrance oozing out from the body. The baby's body texture and skin are so smooth and beautiful. It is also soft and tender and nimble. 

As the baby grows up and is getting older, every day you find that two or more meridians began to close up. That is why we can not find an ugly girl in this world if she is 18 to 20 years old because the meridians are functioning efficiently.

As more and more meridians have closed up and not functioning, the person looks older and older each year. When we reach 50 years, all kinds of pain and aches will come along. Some of us are getting older much faster at younger age if we don't know how to take of our body and heart.
 

In order to activate and open the closed meridians, we need to chant the OM, or AH, or HUM sound every day, about 10 to 20 minutes in the morning and also before you sleep. And don't be too smart to chant all the sounds together. You need to practice it correctly to clear the blockages in your physical, emotional and mental body. Make sure that the vibration moves up from the base to the whole body and ends it on top of your head and out into the cosmic.
Not only it strengthens your immune system, it makes you look younger and also fortune will find it way to you. Good luck.

The Om sound which helps to open up 32 meridians to the crown chakra will help to open the space unlimited in your mind and enhance your wisdom.

The next mantra basic sound would be the 'AH' and the 'HUNG or HUM' sound. Using the same method of chanting the 'AH' sound by raising the vibration from the base chakra to the throat chakra, you can open the 16 meridians leading to the throat, You will find that you encounter less sickness and you will be become eloquent and you can speak and express more wisely; that means you will be become a good talker, a teacher who can propagate the dharma well and widely.

The Hung or Hum sound opens up 8 meridians to your heart chakra. When this is open up, you become compassion and have more loving-kindness . More joy and bliss will accompany you. You tend to be less dualistic when you look at things. You are more generous and helpful. In the case of having difficulties with someone or your boss in your company, if you send this Hung or Hum sound to them, and soon their attitude will change and will accept you more readily. This was taught to me by my master.

Secret #6 - 手如抽丝, 步如猫行

手如抽丝, 步如猫行

Today master chow many the above 8 words to take note of when practicing Taiji

手如抽丝

The feeling of the hand is like drawing the silk out of the cocoon. Slow and smooth. Another feeling to describe it is "Swimming in the air". You will practice to a stage whereby you can feel the resistance of the air as your hand/fingers move through the air.

步如猫行

The gracefulness of the cat in motion, so sure of its step. The way to practice this is back to the basic "differentiate the substantial and the in-substantial" (虚实分明)

Secret #5 - Relax (松) after every step

While doing the kata, you will notice that when you complete each step, your hand is actually "floating" and the body stiff. It is important that you relax (松) so that your hand does not "float" and the body is not stiff. Relax (松) the "kua", shoulder, elbow, waist.

Doing this also helps to bring your awareness back to you.

As Master Chow had mentioned, his master and the grand master and the great-grand master always had one word during Taiji practice, that is - 松

Secret #4 - Free the mind

Another tips given out during the pushing hand session with Master Chow.


Our mind is easily drawn to the point of contact, whether the contact is direct or indirect. Once the mind is "trap" at the point, that point will become stiff, harden, stagnation and chi will not flow.


For example if your arm is grasp tightly and your mind is trap at the contact point of the grasp. Then most likely you are trying to twist your way out at the point. However if you free your mind, you will be able to relax and lead your mind to the shoulder, elbow, waist and lastly finger to turn your arm.


This is just an example, there are much more subtle usage but the idea is the same.
Free the mind.

Secret #3 - Natural human responses

During a pushing hand session with Master Chow on Sunday, he showed and mentioned the following.

Its is human nature that when we move to extreme, we will then move the opposite (Ying and Yang balancing each other). For example, if the attacker push with his right hand, the defender will yield till the right hand becomes "empty". At this point, attacker will (by nature) automatically move his left hand to counter balance the right hand. 

This is like reading your opponent's mind in advance, but its actually natural human responses.

Secret #2 - There must be a circle somewhere

Master Chow always mention that in Taiji, every posture and every movement there is/are circle(s).

So that note and assess your posture and movement. If you don't find circle(s), then likely your posture is not "so" correct.

Secret #1 - Sink in the back leg (虚实分明)

When doing the Tai Chi kata, it is very important to differentiate the substantial and the in-substantial clearly (虚实分明).
 
When moving (shifting weight) from leg to leg, there should be no change in height and minimum shifting of body forward or backward. The secret to this is to sink into the back leg and relax the hip-joint. This will automatically shift the weight to the front leg, without any shift in height.

When shifting backward, besides sinking the back leg, you have to imagine the back knee moving forward, which then allows for the front leg to retract back and straighten.

What I try to imagine is that the "weight" is shift at (or below) ground level to feet to feet. You should not shift the weight at upper body level as your chi will be floated up and you are not so rooted.

All these small and precise movement is to ensure that the force/chi is direct to where you want them to go without losing too much in the process of reaching there.