Book Title: Realize What You Are
Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre

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Page 23
________________ REALIZE WHAT YOU ARE: Your Posture Now we have a pleasant place and the right time for meditation; the next thing we need is a good posture. If you can sit in the lotus pose, that is excellent, but do not feel embarrassed or inadequate if you cannot. If your joints become sore and painful, you will be distracted and you will give up before long. The lotus position has become famous because in India, the people do not usually sit in chairs. There is very little furniture in most homes and so from childhood onward the people sit on the floor. Their bodies are conditioned in this way, and if they were made to sit on a chair, they would become stiff and uncomfortable. The beauty of the lotus pose is that it keeps the spine erect, but it is not compulsory for meditation. You may sit in a chair or on the floor with your back against a wall, or you may even try lying down. The two main things to remember in the posture you choose are to have your back straight and to be relaxed and comfortable. The spine is a beautiful column of energy. It is an electric line, and all the energy from toe to head passes through that line. If you know how to keep the spine straight and strong, you will reduce the risk of disease. That is why the aspirants sleep on a harder surface, to keep the spine from being bent in sleep. This helps to keep you healthy and gives longevity and an impressive appearance. If you see someone sitting, standing or walking with a slumping posture, you do not think so much of him. Those who are standing straight and tall naturally please our eye and impress us. Once you have the habit of being straight, then you will always walk and sit with your head

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