In the field of spirituality, there is a discussion about tension and relaxation. It's a concept that involves initially creating tension and then releasing it to achieve relaxation.

This may seem to deal with seemingly contradictory phenomena such as tension and relaxation.

However, from an energy perspective, this is quite obvious. Here, "energy" refers to the flow of energy within the body.

First, as a basic premise, there are differences in the amount of energy that people typically have. Some people are energetic, while others may not be.

Here, "energy" refers to the energy that flows through invisible pathways within the human body, and "amount" refers to the thickness of those energy channels.

Therefore, a person with abundant energy has thick channels for their energy and a large amount of energy flowing through them.

This means that tension and relaxation affect the energy pathways. If an energy pathway is blocked or has poor flow, a person may feel unwell or experience a lack of energy.

At this time, energy flowing through that route temporarily increases due to tension and relaxation. This is the mechanism by which relaxation occurs through tension and relaxation.

Is relaxation good?

It is relaxation as a result, and exploration of energy routes as a process.

However, it often seems that relaxation itself is considered both a means and an end. Therefore, while I can understand if relaxation is the goal, if we view relaxation as a means, things become unclear.

Often, discussions about spirituality and relaxation come up. However, as mentioned above, relaxation itself is a means to an end, not the goal in itself.

Methods for Relaxation

Then, if relaxation is not a means to an end, what are methods that bring about relaxation?

First, let's consider what a relaxed state is. In short, a relaxed state is a state of being full of energy. A state without energy cannot be called relaxation; it means losing sensation. Therefore, we can find two directions in relation to relaxation here.

First of all, there is relaxation that follows creating a state filled with energy.

Next, there is a sense of relaxation in the absence of sensation, which can also be described as emptiness when energy is cut off.

These two things are clearly different.

A state full of energy.

This can be divided into internal methods and external methods. Internal methods involve generating energy from within one's own body, and the basic principle is to thicken the energy pathways that run through the body, which in turn increases energy and promotes relaxation.

On the other hand, external methods involve taking in energy from outside. This can come from food, nature, or even other people.

A state of emptiness.

In this state, blocking sensations becomes a condition for relaxation. This literally means not feeling anything at all. This can happen temporarily by intentionally closing one of the chakras.

Closing the chakra means disrupting the flow of energy within the body, and as a result, it is possible to eliminate the sensations that can be felt from there.

The Spiritual Trap of "Stop Thinking."

In spirituality, you often hear things like "stop thinking." This can be achieved through the two directions mentioned above.

First, it is said that by increasing energy levels, one's vibrations will rise, and they will become less susceptible to distractions.

Another possibility is that it can make you feel numb, as if closing your chakra eliminates sensations and makes you insensitive to the harsh environment.

These two things are completely different in terms of directionality.

And, the cessation of thought achieved by the latter causes vitality to be lost from the body, depending on how tightly that chakra is closed.

The phenomenon of "thought stopping" is merely a result, yet there are claims that suggest something will happen by advocating for thought stopping. As a consequence, some people misunderstand this and engage in it on their own, which can lead to the closing of chakras.

What should be done?

In terms of living environment, one should place oneself in a situation where they are less likely to be subjected to psychological attacks from others. This is the foundation for everything.

For example, an environment where there is a person who yells at you in the workplace is not suitable for someone who aspires to live a spiritual life.

And in meditation, the aim is to thicken the energy pathways that flow through each part of your body. Not only in meditation, but also in breathing techniques, although explanations may vary depending on the school of thought, the essence of breathing techniques lies more in opening up energy channels within one's own body than simply taking in energy. Therefore, while there are various methods for breathing exercises, fundamentally, even the act of breathing itself does not necessarily release anything.

Moving energy in accordance with the breath is what's truly important, and physical breathing itself isn't emphasized as much. Therefore, some schools of thought prioritize the movement of energy over regulating the breath. While techniques for breathing may become refined through learning, and certain benefits might be derived from those techniques, fundamentally, it's about the movement of energy.

Here, the word "tension" becomes significant. When we say "tension," it might feel like its opposite is relaxation. However, here, "tension" refers to the movement of energy itself. By concentrating energy through tension or focus, we can condense that energy into a single point, thereby opening up energy pathways within the body.

Sometimes, it is also called "chakra." However, "chakra" refers to a knot in the energy pathway, and there is a point of connection with other dimensions at that location. It does not exist as the chakra itself.

Rather, it is more accurate to think that there are energy pathways and that chakra exists as a result of those pathways. In reality, this is like the chicken or the egg problem, where it's not clear which comes first. However, when it comes to spiritual growth, it is often more important to focus on opening up these energy pathways before focusing on chakras.

And, even if the chakras do not open to that extent, if energy pathways are developed, you can become somewhat energetic and relaxed. The degree of relaxation may vary, but you can still relax appropriately.