Have a Rest #1
Certainly, having a rest means for everyone something different. We rest a night or maybe after work for come back home, when we drink tea or coffee. When going into holidays to rest from our work life and so on.
But can we also rest in all situations? Could we have a deep rest in our entire life, each second and in all kinds of circumstances?
Deep rest, also known as Anxi 安息 in Chinese, is an important practice for achieving this inner rest and freedom. And, of course, having a deep rest is reducing stress in our daily lives. Normally, in order to achieve a deep rest, we take time to pause, breathe deeply, and focus our attention on the present moment, which can help us feel more grounded, centered, and calm.
Research has shown that regular meditation and relaxation practices can have numerous physical and mental health benefits, such as reducing anxiety and depression, improving sleep quality, boosting immune function, and lowering blood pressure.
The idea of Anxi in the context of the Dzogchen tradition (大圆满）is a different one.
In the Dzogchen tradition, Anxi (ཨན་ཤེས་པ) refers to a state of primordial awareness or natural state of mind that is free from the limitations of conceptual thinking and dualistic perception. It is considered to be the fundamental nature of all sentient beings, which is always present but often obscured by our habitual patterns of thinking and reacting.
According to the Dzogchen teachings, the practice of Anxi involves recognizing and resting in this natural state of mind, which is described as being spacious, open, clear, and unobstructed. Through the practice of Anxi, one can gradually uncover the true nature of the mind and awaken to the ultimate reality of non-dual awareness.
"The water from the high mountains rivers is always pure." - Master Shangshi
The term Anxi is also sometimes used interchangeably with the term Rigpa, which means "pure awareness" or "non-dual wisdom" in the Dzogchen tradition. Both Anxi and Rigpa are considered to be the highest level of realization in the Dzogchen path, representing the ultimate goal of spiritual practice in this tradition.
So, staying in Anxi means having a deep rest as you are truly connected to your true nature. And even if you cannot stay in this state of being at the beginning all the time, you can practice the 4 second Enlightenment Method every day, which can connect you in 4 easy steps to this state of being. By practicing this regularly, your whole life will change and you will find more and more deep rest in your life and all situations of life.
So, whether you prefer to practice the 4 second Enlightment Method and have Anxi (Rest) or through other meditation techniques, or simply by taking some quiet time for yourself to relax and unwind, make sure to prioritize rest and self-care in your daily routine. Your mind and body will thank you for it!
Mathias
Healers, TCM Expert, Qigong Teacher, Breathwork and LifeCoaches. In my whole life, I have been looking for the deep meaning of life and how to experience the True Self in life.
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