【Description】
Semi-prostration is a self-cultivation exercise that develops wisdom, promotes health and is suitable for anyone regardless of race, religion or age. It is easy to learn yet offers significant benefits.
In this video, Grandmaster JinBodhi explains the preparation and basic movements required for half-prostrations and offers valuable tips and information on the potential benefits. Instructors demonstrate the standard movements so you can master it in just a few minutes.
【You will learn】
- Preparation for half-prostration
- A demonstration of half-prostration
- Tips on half-prostration
- Benefits of half-prostration
【Content】
Hello, everyone. I will teach a meditation practice that can awaken your wisdom. It is “half-prostration”. It is easy to learn. Anyone can learn this. It is an effective way of awakening your wisdom.
Before practicing, make sure you are wearing clean and comfortable clothing; this makes you feel at ease, and also shows respect. You will need a mat or a cushion to kneel on. A yoga mat is fine. You can use 2 if you want a thicker support. You can also use a folded wool blanket. You can be flexible on this.
When practicing, if you have a religious belief, prostrate to your God, your Buddha, or a heavenly deity. For those who don’t have a religious belief, you can prostrate to a photo of nature. Someone asked, “I don’t have a religious belief, but I trust you, Master”. That is fine too. You can prostrate to my photo. Don’t prostrate without one of these images. It is not recommended. If you prostrate to vacant space, it is easy to be possessed by evil.
Before prostrating, start with your palms together. With sincerity, reverence and purity, face the God, Buddha or Master. It is better to have a wish. What kind of wish? It is up to you. It can be a short-term one or a long-term one.
Here is an example. You are a student: Put your palms together; be reverent before the Buddha and wish for wisdom, so as to get good grades and be admitted into a university. The key is to be sincere. What does a short-term wish look like? You can pray for wisdom to get a good mark on a math exam. Or, you can wish to be able to get out of bed quickly. You can wish like this. These are valid and practical wishes. You may check whether your wishes come true. If you have become wiser after practicing, you know the method is effective.
Movements
First, relax; stand straight with legs shoulder width apart. Your eyes should be open naturally, or half closed; palms together at chest level. Arms apart; raise them slowly above your head. Palms together; bring them down slowly. Your thumbs touch your forehead, slowly go down, touch the lips, then touch the center of the chest. This represents your body, speech, and mind.
Showing respect to God, Buddha or Master, kneel down slowly. Put your left knee down first, then your right knee. The palms should stay together. Then, lower your upper body and your palms touch the floor. Bow in front of the Buddha or deity. Show every ounce of your sincerity. Turn your hands over; palms up. Knock your head lightly 3 times to worship the Buddha or deity. Turn your hands over; palms down. Back to kneeling position, palms together. Be reverent and grateful.
Again, lower your upper body. Palms face down. Bow sincerely in front of your Buddha or deity. Turn your hands over; palms up. Knock your head lightly 3 times. Turn your hands over; palms down. Visualize you are immersed in Buddha-light. Back to kneeling position, palms together. Be reverent and grateful.
When you are done, stand up on your right leg first, then your left leg. Put palms together and bow to show your gratitude to the Buddha and deity.
Practice Tips
When prostrating, the more sincere you are, the more benefits you are blessed with. And it is easier to connect to the Buddha and deity. When you knock your head, apply some force if you can. We want to hear a light knock, but don’t hurt your forehead. Knocking too hard is wrong. If it is too light, it won’t be as effective.
If you are prostrating on a carpet, I suggest getting a small wooden board. You can buy a wooden chopping board. You can knock your forehead on it and you get the same result. Knocking on a carpet is less effective as the knock is too soft.
Knocking could make noise. If you practice between 7am and 10:30pm, it is OK. If you practice beyond that period of time, you need to reduce the sound, by putting a towel or blanket under the wooden board. Let’s not disturb our neighbors.
Young people are quite busy with school. Try to practice for 10 to 20 minutes daily. You will notice its effect after a month. Try it. You can do it in the early morning or at night. For the best result, practice at the same time daily.
Benefits
After about 100 days of half-prostrating, you will feel some physical changes. You will notice a slight bump on your forehead. Your forehead will be slightly more developed. That is the transformation your forehead undergoes. To a certain extent, this will benefit your brain.
Regardless of age, people can have their wisdom awakened through half-prostration. It doesn’t take long for this to happen. Children will become smarter at school. You will see the difference after one month. Half-prostrating will also rectify your poor posture.
It is better if parents can practice together with their children. Both you and your children will benefit. It helps with health issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, etc. I recommend parents practice together with their children. You will benefit more if you practice for another 20 minutes after your children go to school.
Alright, that is all for today. Thanks for listening.