The Mentalist

The

Mentalist A Quiet Mind Pt. 1 Holistic Self-Care

‘‘A Quiet mind is able to hear intuition over fear.’’

What a great time to work on self-care! We quite possibly need to take more care of ourselves and also have the free time to do so. People are under stressors that they may never have experienced before; fearing for loved ones, health, finances and many other reasons.

I realise that when this article comes out, we will be a month further down the track and I sincerely hope that things are better by then. Though, I still feel that holistic self-care will be needed for many months ahead, once we begin to deal with the fallout from this pandemic. In fact, self-care should be practised ALL the time. I felt I needed to write this two-part piece at this time; it seems cathartic to do so, as I reflect on my own self-care disciplines and how they developed over time. Yes, you will have to wait for the next issue for part two, but it will be worth it, I promise.

“People are under stressors that they may never have experienced before.”

So, if you will indulge me, I shall pass onto you some history and some useful practices that will help you lower your stress levels, improve your intuition, cultivate Chi energy and improve your physical health. For, as we know, stress, worry and unresolved emotional blocks are poison to the physical body, causing skeletal, muscular and gut problems, even cancer. Yes, we can think ourselves sick subconsciously, so this is why looking after ourself is so important. If our bodies are temples - some may be crumbling ruins, but renovation is possible - then our mind is every molecule of every brick and the ground it sits on.

By Jason D. Varga

“It is like being in an impenetrable fortress or standing in the eye of a hurricane.”

In Budo, the martial way, there are four states of mind; Shoshin, the Beginners Mind, Mushin, the Empty Mind, Fudoshin, the Immovable Mind and Zanshin, the Remaining Mind. What we are interested in here though for a few reasons is Fudoshin. Fudoshin models the mind of Fudo Myo-o, the war god in Japanese Buddhism. The Fudoshin situation represents the highest level of focus where the mind is not affected by any external factors. It cannot be stopped on the way to its destination. The person is completely confident and has no fear in his soul. It is like being in an impenetrable fortress or standing in the eye of a hurricane.

How do we obtain this state of mind? Make no mistake, it will take practice, discipline and time though, on the plus side, it is not all that difficult or taxing to achieve. Those who follow me, may have gleaned that I am an ardent student of martial arts, although the martial arts are not about training my body for conflict, it is about training and stilling my mind.

A few issues ago, I wrote about a moving meditation using Qigong, just one of the styles I have studied over many years. However, at the moment, I study a traditional style of Shukokai Karate. I have been fortunate to have sailed through seven belt levels in just over fifteen months, mainly because of my prior studies. The styles that resonated strongly with me were those that improved my mind. Going way back to the 1980s when I was twelve, I began to study under Soke Tony Ball, in a style called, wait for it… FUDOSHIN. Fudoshin Ryu taught a mix of Aikido, Judo, Jujutsu, Karate and Weaponry. The theory was that these arts were intended to be studied alongside each other to create a more holistic and complete martial arts education. But it was Soke’s words, his wisdom and stories that always stuck with me; that a quiet mind is able to hear intuition over fear, that it is about the MIND more than the body. Something I came to appreciate as I grew older. When I was around fifteen, I began studying Wing Chun Kung Fu under Grandmaster Sifu William Cheung, the man responsible for introducing Bruce Lee to his master the legendary Ip Man, when they were teenagers in Hong Kong. Again, what I remember most was not the forms or katas or physical drills, it was his talks about Chi and energy. This fascinated me more than the actual physical side of training. I still use elements of those teachings now in my shows, when not in lockdown. As a mentalist and hypnotist, I use subtle energy and demonstrate energy transference routines, all from a seed that was planted 36 years ago. To all my teachers - a deep and respectful thanks.

So where is this going? When do I learn to still my mind, you ask? Like all good things, patience is the key. Next month I will pass onto you the secret!

ESPecially best wishes

Photo Credits: Pixabay, J.D.Varga

The Mentalist

Jason D. Varga