A Guide & Explanation of Unconscious and Conscious Tension Relaxation (Important)

[ardacigin]

There are two ways of learning relaxation, because there are two distinct levels at which a person can relax.Think of it as surface relaxation versus deep relaxation.

"Surface" refers to the surface conscious mind, "deep" refers to the deep unconscious mind.Surface relaxation is what most people think of when they think of relaxation.

It's voluntary relaxation, like a progressive relaxation where you make a conscious effort to relax.When a person sits to meditate I think it is the smartest to do whatever possible to relax the overall body.

This is what I recommend everyone to do as a baseline standard before doing anything else. It is the conduit to powerful spiritual practice.I usually try to get an overall sense of the body relaxing. I call it a "settled-in" sense.

For example, I notice that during sitting sometimes my shoulders will come up and tense up, so I'll relax them as an act of conscious intention. Same thing happens to my jaw as well.

This form of relaxation, although it's valid and useful, is also limited, because there are certain things that you can't relax intentionally, like the kind of intense sensations that come up when you stub your toe.

 You can't go through a progressive relaxation, and just relax the sensations going on in your stubbed toe.And what about the sensations that go with a stubbed ego?

For that type of phenomenon, it is desirable to learn about a second kind of relaxation which I call deep relaxation.Deep relaxation deals with the source of tension which is deep within the unconscious mind and way out of the range of conscious control.

I know. This is the million-dollar question: How can you relax tensions that are not within conscious control?

By observing them with heightened awareness, accepting the tension as is in a state of radically reduced craving and self-clinging. 

Deep relaxation happens when this directed relaxation occurs without ‘you’ trying to relax. Automatically.With practice, the neuro-programming of your brain and body changes so radically that the body rests in a state of pysical relaxation as a default position.

Not only this relaxation makes it easier to concentrate on the breath. It allows for deep meditation to flow into our chaotic daily lives as well.

How do you think master-level meditators continue to meditate deeply while doing demanding tasks like working, talking, walking, watching videos, listening and reading?

These people master body relaxation as a way of life.Their minds have changed their operating system from tension to relaxation.

How does this occur?

With practice.

PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!

Continue doing this body relaxation technique until you make this radical shift from surface relaxation to deep relaxation.With more directed conscious relaxation, the faster you’ll progress towards automatic deep relaxation.

But if you stop putting in the effort somewhere along the learning process, you will not make the leap.As you gain a little more skill in relaxation, I suggest that you do this technique on your own in stressful situations.

Now lastly, let’s talk about why tension occurs in the first place.The tension pattern that we observe in our bodies is a conduit into the unconscious mind.

It tells us that the mind, at its core, is not at peace. It is conflicted. The ego congeals and manifests itself as tension.

By flooding the tension area with the qualities of mindfulness – concentration, awareness, joy, tranquility, sensory clarity and equanimity - you are helping the unconscious - animal levels of the mind to untie their own "knots".

The tension pattern will start to break up on its own. With time and disciplined practice.Paradoxically, the quickest way to have it break up is to stop wanting it to break up. In a specific manner.

The attitude of wanting it to break up adds subtle new knots.For the really deep relaxation, a person has to be willing to watch tension with mindfulness, without desiring relaxation.

And remember! How do you do that?

By practicing relaxation on a daily basis with observation, discipline and resolve.

Much love,

Arda

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by ardacigin

[Consilience]

Such a high quality post! Thank you so much man. 

[Batman]

Thanks. I really liked your post, relaxation is indeed important and fruitful.

Can you clarify what do you mean by observing unconscious tensions with 'heightened awareness'?

 

[ardacigin]

5 hours ago, Batman said:

Can you clarify what do you mean by observing unconscious tensions with 'heightened awareness'?

I mean the simultaneous cultivation of the following skills moment by moment: Stable attention, introspective whole body awareness, conscious relaxation, dropping of self-efforting, equanimity, tranquility, meditative joy, energetic investigation and diligence.

By flooding the tension area with the qualities of mindfulness – concentration, awareness, joy, tranquility, sensory clarity and equanimity - you are helping the unconscious - animal levels of the mind to untie their own "knots".

The tension pattern will start to break up on its own. With time and disciplined practice.

Hope this helps.