MEDITATION 2

"We can do the meditation alternately. One of us will go to meditate for an hour. Although a person has been missing, I'm positive that it won't give any effect to our work."

Zhu Su gazed heavenward, staring at the twilight sky which began to turn its color into bluish purple. "Looks like you are right, Physician Li... I've been already addicted to my work since I really like my activities, but apparently it is dangerous for my health..." He smiled. "And this meditation, is a very appropriate way to neutralize all of our emotions and attachments. Moreover, we can get closer to Nature. Our solitude, accompanying only by Nature, will certainly let Nature be willing to come closer to us... and help us."

On the next day, Zhu Su made an announcement for all of his team members, that they would go outside to meditate by turns every hour. It was immediately welcomed with enthusiasm.

"I have often heard from the teachings of Buddhism and Daoism about the practice of meditation as well as the way of getting closer to Nature, but unfortunately I've never had the chance to practice it. I am so glad, since finally I can learn in this occasion," Qu You expressed his enthusiasm.

"That's true, we can also take a break for a while," Another person said.

"But remember. Meditation is different from sleep. Meditation is an activity which aims to restore our energy as well as to cultivate our minds. Our physical condition is being still, however, our mind is keeping aware. But when sleeping, we are often disturbed by dreams. If you want to sleep, we can do it at night. So try your every effort not to fall asleep during the meditation," Li Heng gave advice.

"But if we accidentally fall asleep, we won't be beaten like the monks practicing meditation at Zen Temple, will we?" One of them asked anxiously.

"No... we won't, rest assured! We're not that strict. Besides, you're not training to become monks, after all," Zhu Su laughed. The asking guy now smiled shyly.

Shortly after, they started the meditation. Since all of them did not really understand how to meditate (it was also the same with the former government officials, since the lessons they used to focus were only the ability of government management and administration, as well as the knowledge of literature and classic books that had absolutely no connection with the skill of mind cultivation), then at the first session of meditation they did it together, with Li Heng and Zhu Su as instructors. And Mount Laojun, which was normally very quiet, immediately turned crowded by the participants and became noisy.

"Alright folks, please be quiet," Li Heng interrupted the lively conversation chattered by the excited participants. "There are various types of meditation practices, many of which even have close relations with Qigong. But since we are novices, we will then practice with the most basic type of meditation - simply focusing our attention on our breath, that is, the inhale and the exhale. The method is super easy. Sit cross-legged, close your eyes, then just watch your breath, your inhale and exhale. As the beginning, today we will meditate for half an hour."

Xiong raised his hand. "Should we regulate and hold our inhale and exhale? If we are breathing heavily, or halting, then what should we do?"

"No need to regulate it. Just do it naturally. What we need to do is simply making notes about our mind; We are inhaling, exhaling, our breath is halting, or panting, or etc, just note what you've observed in your meditation," Li Heng replied. "Any other questions?" Nobody else asked. Li Heng continued, "Well, then. Let's start the meditation."

Zhu Su was used to meditated alone before, so this was the first time he meditated together with many people. Although his eyes were closed while meditating and what lying before him was the endless darkness, there was a kind of pressure that made him uncomfortable.

Perhaps because I am acting as an instructor who has to set an example for all participants, then a "coercion" to be a perfectionist exists. My body must remain upright, I may not sway, and must not fall asleep. At this rate, will I fail in this session at the end?...

That was the kind of thought which mainly disturbed Zhu Su's mind while meditating, still not added with other smaller-in-scale thoughts which always passed by. He finally attempted to maintain his perfect sitting position for half an hour, but according to him, his meditation failed miserably because he was bound by those annoying flow of thoughts.

But Zhu Su might be grateful, other participants were evidently worse than him.

"Finally I fell asleep!" Rui spoke, did not stop yawning.

"We all already know, Man. Your snoring is very noisy!" Han Zhong giggled.

"I'm busy shaking the body to get rid of mosquitoes!" Qing complained.

"Liu Ku, how about you?" Zhu Su asked curiously. In every condition Liu Ku always appeared cool, therefore Zhu Su assumed that the Changshi must do the meditation in a very perfect way.

"I am sorry, Your Highness, but just now I was ended up thinking of many ideas about various types of medicine," Liu Ku chuckled.

"Wow, sounds great! How many types of medicine you've thought about?"

"That's not great, Your Highness. That means Liu Changshi's mind is still attached to work," Li Heng straightened out.

"I'm also ended up thinking about my mother who is sick in the village," Qu You chimed in.

"The conclusion we can get from our meditation session this time is - all of you are still trapped in your scattered minds," Li Heng concluded.

"Physician Li, how about you? Did your meditation make result?" One of the former Kaifeng government officials asked.

Li Heng answered with a little smile, "So am I. From earlier, my mind was also wrinkled."

"That means we're all the same, huh!" Everyone laughed. "Except Lord Zhou Wang!"

Zhu Su quickly replied with laughter, "No, I'm also the same as you guys, ended up being entangled in the chaos of my own mind."

"If we get stuck in our tangled minds, then what should we do, Physician Li?" Wu Qi asked.