Ilchi Lee, Feel Your Brain
Dr. Ilchi Lee
“Feel your brain.” You frequently hear this at Dahn Centers, especially during Brain Respiration training. Although the brain processes all the information that it receives through its sense nerves, it does not possess receptors that allow it to feel itself. So, how then can we “feel our brain?”
To begin, we must understand that our body is composed of matter, energy and information. Matter flows through our body via blood vessels, information flows through our body via the nervous system and energy flows through our body via meridians. Just like the vascular and nervous systems, meridians direct energy to the organs of the body. Ilchi Lee
Although we cannot ordinarily feel the flow of this energy, we can when we concentrate, keeping our focus on the “here and now.” It is through focused awareness of energy that we can feel the brain. Each person possesses a different degree of this awareness, but anyone can easily cultivate this sense through concentration and practice. An example of this sense is the ability to sense the “atmosphere” of a place or situation. The degree of this sense depends on how sensitive your senses are and how focused your consciousness is.
The most effective way to feel your brain is to utilize your hands and head (scalp). Our palms are very sensitive to energy because they contain energy points that are connected to our entire body. Our scalp contains several important energy centers (or acupressure points) and functions as the conduit through which energy enters and exits. Important energy points include the Baek-hoe at the top of the head, the Ah-mun at the back of the head, the Tae-yang at the temples, and the In-dang at the center of the forehead. These energy centers are also linked to the various lobes of the brain: the Baek-hoe corresponds to the parietal lobe (sense of touch), the Ah-mun to the occipital lobe (vision), the Tae-yang to the temporal lobe (hearing and memory) and the In-dang to the frontal lobe (reasoning and emotion).
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At the Dahn Center where I work, in Newton, Massachusetts, members anticipate Fridays with excitement and trepidation. They love how they feel after class on Fridays. But they don’t always love the process. On Fridays we do an intensive exercise to release stress that combines vibration exercise, (jin-dong), and Yeon-dahn, where participants hold a posture for 20-25 minutes.
Friday classes are for purification. First, we pat our bodies all over to awaken the blood and energy flow. Then we dance around the room wildly, eyes closed, to traditional Korean drumming music (Salmunori). We sweat, breathe hard, and release accumulated tension and fatigue from our bodies, finishing class by accumulating new energy through Yeon-dahn.
At the end of class, we finally rest. The last few minutes of breathing are luscious and pure. Our rest is well earned. Our bodies and minds feel light and clean. To immerse yourself in vibration exercise, you must understand its purpose. The exercise allows you to access Yuln’yo, the deepest vibration within your being, which originates in your brain stem. Hidden, it makes you breathe, allows your heart to beat, and sustains your life. Lost in our emotions and thoughts,we are not normally in contact with this vibration. However, during vibration training, you can move out of your conscious mind and into your unconscious. As you access this “no thought, just act” mode, your body will move freely and creatively. You can release stagnant energy that has accumulated from too many emotions, too much thinking, and too little action. Yuln’yo will open your heart and heal your body.
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