Mind Visualization

An old Oriental proverb tells us: When our willpower is concentrated upon a stone, it can pass through it. When our mind is focused and in harmony with the universe, it can command the wind, rain and thunder.

As a child, I remember attending, for the first time, a very important martial arts event honoring some of our most revered Aikido dignitaries. I knew that everyone had to be at their best as it would reflect poorly on our dojo (training hall) if we didn’t.

Everything was going great. We were all in our uniforms (mine was new, just purchased for the event), standing in straight lines. Through the corner of my eye I could see that the other students, next to me, were standing at attention and perfectly still.

I listened and focused on the ceremony before us. That is, until I did the worst thing I could possibly do. I suddenly felt nauseous, and even more suddenly, fell to the floor.

One of the head instructors swiftly escorted me away from the ceremonies. At that point, I thought I would be severely reprimanded and kicked out of the dojo.

Ah, but it was then, Grasshopper, that my wise instructor explained to me the error of my ways.

I didn’t have to tell him what happened. He was watching me the whole time. He knew exactly why I had almost fainted (ultimately causing mass embarrassment for the dojo-but he left out that part).

True power is not gotten from a rigid and immobile state of mind but the condition of stability which comes from the most rapid movement; just as a top is the most when it is actually moving at its optimal and effective speed. Like the peaceful eye of the hurricane, inner calm results in great strength of action.

He told me to rock side to side, each time half the distance than that of the last. Soon, to others, it appeared that I was immobile but instead, I was really still rocking from side to side in my mind.

My instructor explained that it was unnatural to keep the body perfectly still. This is what caused me to feel nauseous.

“True power comes from imperceptible but infinitely focused movement,” he said. It was like a moment from the show Kung Fu with Kwai Chang Cain but this was Aikido and I was not on television.

It was then that I recalled another similar analogy that I could easily visualize in my mind. Folding a fire hose is easy when there is nothing running through it. But it is impossible to do so when water is gushing out of it.

It was then that I realized that when we unify the power of the mind and body and focus that energy, we really could wield great power.

He taught me that, like the steadiness of a spinning top, the state of perfect spiritual and physical stability arises from movement which continues infinitely and is so infinitely rapid that it appears as imperceptible.

If you would like to try this “power of the mind” concept out for yourself, I don’t recommend you do the rocking thing in public as, believe me, it even looked a little weird within the confines of the dojo.

Instead, do the following entirely within your mind’s eye.

Visualize a space about the size of a piece of paper. Now, imagine it reduced to half. Continue to imagine the space reduced to half again. Repeat this until the space is the size of an atom.

Once you reached this point, imagine your mind continuing this concept on its own as you go about your daily routine.

If you do this correctly, I guarantee that, at the very least, a powerful calmness will wash over you and a smile will emerge on your face!

Related posts:

1. Mind Power ? Tap Into the Power of your Subconscious Mind
2. Unleash the Power of Your Brain – Understand How to Control Your Mind Power
3. Shakti GAWAIN- CREATIVE VISUALIZATION Use POWER of MIND