Standing – Relax Your Body and Mind to Lighten Your Burden

Since childhood, everyone has experienced physical and mental anxiety caused by standing for long periods of time. For example, during a vacation trip, when there is a long queue for buying tickets and waiting for transport, some people get annoyed that those who line up ahead of them are too slow, while other people get angry at those who cut in line...The physical burden, emotional agitation and impatience brought about by standing for a long time likely spoil the start of a good day. Furthermore, the enjoyment of your long-awaited trip will be greatly compromised due to unnecessary anger. In contrast, we can see smiling volunteers standing all day long at the events of religious and charity organizations while still happily greeting the event participants and distinguished guests. In the operating room, surgeons often have to stand for more than 7 or 8 hours for an operation, but they can still concentrate on working with surgical knives and successfully completing the task. Surgeons, teachers, chefs and other people who need to stand for a long time at work have a clear understanding of their job duties and know how to use relaxation methods to regulate their body and mind. Therefore, they not only have more endurance than other people while standing for a long time, but they also can devote to their work in a more energetic manner.

Standing meditation can lessen the burden of the legs

According to medical research, our feet have to bear most of the body weight above the waist while standing. Therefore, a standing posture cannot be as sustainable as other postures, such as sitting and lying down. And yet, standing posture is also unlike walking, which has constant changes in body movements. In addition to the lack of changes in physical movements, oftentimes there is no specific thing to do during most of the standing time. Therefore, one is very easily prone to feel bored and dull when waiting for a bus, waiting for the elevator, queuing, or riding in a vehicle without a seat. The burden on the feet, coupled with boredom and monotony, will easily lead to physical and mental irritability.

To solve the problem of physical and mental irritability produced by standing posture, we must first reduce the burden on our legs and feet. Dharma Drum Mountain Chan Practice Center suggests that, when standing, we can use the posture applied in standing meditation to relax our body and mind and reduce the physical burdens of standing. The method is as below: Drop the arms naturally with both hands in fists, slightly bend the knees, put the weight on the soles of the feet, and sink the Qi at the same time. The benefit of this posture is that it can make the blood circulation smoother. In addition, making a fist can also prevent the Qi from dissipating and preserve the energy of the body. This method can improve our endurance while standing for a long time. When the burden on our legs and feet is reduced, our  irritability will also decrease.

Relax the body and mind and increase stamina

Physical and mental restlessness and impatience are most likely to cause anger, which is the reason why many people get very angry and have quarrels and disputes with others when waiting in long lines to buy transportation tickets or visit exhibitions. The physical and mental instability caused by standing may lead to irrational emotions and behaviors, which really requires our precaution and attention. Many people have experienced situations where they are almost late for work, but the elevator still descends at a snail's pace, or the appointment time with others is approaching, and the bus has still not arrived. At such moments, how can we be patient and eliminate boredom and monotony when standing and waiting?

Liao Zhicheng, manager of a trading company with many years of meditation experience, said that he would first relax his head and facial expressions and muscles when he is aware that his body tensed up due to the agitation of waiting for the elevator or for public transportation. Meanwhile, he would let the body's center of gravity sink downward, while concentrating the mind on the natural awareness of breathing in and out, without counting the breaths. He further explained that doing so does not mean ignoring the surrounding environment, but, rather, entails achieving mindfulness and stability through contemplating and observing the body and the breath. In addition, he suggested that to those who are used to looking around and feeling bored while standing to rein in their gaze when necessary, in order to collect their minds. This is because the steadiness of their gaze helps calm their minds. Using this method, Liao Zhicheng believes that time would pass faster without us noticing. At the same time, we can relax, regulate the breath, have the opportunity to get a rest, and practice to cultivate a leisurely state of mind.

From the abiding of the body to the calm-abiding of the mind

Generally speaking, full dedication to work can make us forget about our physical burdens. Therefore, the more positive the mentality, the more we can reduce physical and mental drain, and the more quickly we can recover. On the contrary, being disturbed by negative emotions will consume our physical and mental energy, which in turn increases our impatience while standing, thereby impacting what we're doing at the moment.

Chen Weixiong, attending physician of the Department of Rectal Surgery in Taipei Veterans General Hospital, spends an average of one to two days every week in the operating room, with the longest recorded operation lasting nearly 20 hours. Dr. Chen believes that overcoming the physical challenge of standing during surgery is the duty of a surgeon. If a doctor can perform the surgery with concentration and relaxation, the operation will go more smoothly.

Dr. Chen believes that performing  surgery with concentration and relaxation means to "look at yourself and your patients from a detached and objective standpoint." Therefore, before the operation, he will completely focus his mind on "wanting to relieve the patient's suffering with sincerity and good intention." Any questions caused by subjective negative thoughts and prejudices---such as "is the operation I am going to perform difficult?", "will the operation be successful?", "how is the relationship between the patient and me?, "does this patient usually respect me?", or "is the patient a troublesome person?--should all be discarded and cast aside.

Therefore, sometimes he would sit in meditation for a few minutes before performing an operation to settle and calm down his mind. Owing to wholeheartedly wanting to relieve the patient's suffering, it is easy for him to recover physical strength and regain vitality after an operation. At the same time, he never tires of treating every operation as an opportunity to practice kindness and compassion.

The more relaxed a person is, the longer they can stand. Through the relaxation of limbs and muscles, the mind can become calmer. Through standing meditation, people can be aware of the changes in the body and mind, as well as experience and practice mental calmness and smooth breathing. Over time, one's inner spiritual power will naturally arise. 

Standing in the style of Chan practice
 
      1. When standing, place the center of gravity of the whole body evenly on both feet.
      2. When standing for a long time, try to reduce the burden on your legs by slightly, by bending your knees     
      3. To keep energy in the body, make a natural fist.
      4. Keep your head, neck, and back naturally straight and relaxed.
      5. When standing for a long time, you can focus on one thing while maintaining awareness of the surrounding environment. 



Related articles:

Chan is Everywhere in Daily Life

Walking – With Calm and Steady Steps

Standing – Relax Your Body and Mind to Lighten Your Burden

Sitting Meditation – Regulating the Mind and Breath in Sitting, for Better Health

Optimal Sleep Postures --for a Steady Mind and Body, and a Sound Sleep




Resource: Issue 232 of Humanity  Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photo: Dharma Drum Mountain Humanities and Social Improvement Foundation
Translation: Denise  
Editing: Keith Brown, YKL