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In Eastern medicine there is an energy point in the body named hara or Tan tian (Dan tian). Hara is located two inches below the navel. There are actually three dan tians in the body but the one which is located below the navel is more familiar and we talk about this one. The area of the hara is approximately 2 finger-widths. “Dan” means “the medicine of immortality”; “tian” means “field.” It is the field of the elixir of life. It is a place for sowing and reaping. It is sometimes also called the “Sea of Qi.” The cultivation of this energy center is practiced in most of eastern martial and healing arts alike. You may have heard the word "hara kiri' . Kiri in Japanese means "to cut" and hara kiri is cutting the hara. Samurais used to do this when they wanted to die as they believed the life comes in and goes out from the hara. Focusing the mind in the abdominal hara helps to concentrate the mind, remove distracting thoughts, and induce a state of inner calm.
The hara is the physical center of the body and center of gravity and grounding. The navel, at the center of the abdomen, represents nourishment and elimination. As a developing fetus, it is through the umbilicus that oxygen-rich blood and nutrition reaches the growing being and through which its body wastes are conveyed back to the placenta. It is our life cord, sustaining us, and, when cut following birth, the umbilicus persists as an energetic connection to the living universe of which we are a part.
The hara is a vulnerable place. All animals are protective of their soft underbelly and it is an indication of trust that they allow you to touch them there. Therefore it is important to always approach the hara with an attitude of reverence and respect, honoring the trust placed in you. At the same time that it is intimate and vulnerable, it is also powerfully nurturing to be touched at our vital center. With a stomachache, it is natural to rub your own belly. When you are upset, simply holding your belly will have a calming effect. As a child, you may have experienced your mother stroking your belly or your brow, helping to soothe you. There is no part of the body that can touch you so deeply and so completely as the hara. Many people may not want their abdomen to be touched. We are not used to having strangers touching us there and it may be uncomfortable. Some people may be self conscious about the size or appearance of their abdomen. Others may be apprehensive about being touched there, especially in the lower abdomen, due to its proximity to sexual organs and feelings.
Hara is understood as our life source and spiritual center and through its cultivation comes mastery, strength, wisdom, and tranquility.
Children quite naturally are connected with their hara. Their bellies are relaxed and their breath is deep. They glow with an abundance of vitality, spontaneity, and playful curiosity. As we move towards adulthood, we learn to distrust and to distance ourselves from the lower body and we are taught to privilege and develop the mind. Western culture equates a tight ‘six-pack’ abdomen with vigor and health, and a soft belly with laziness. The adult belly must be disciplined and constrained. ‘Chest out, belly in.’ We are taught to think of strength and power positioned well above the navel – in our arms and shoulders, and in our brains. In the Asian view, it is the opposite. Taoist yoga often represents the lower abdomen as a fiery cauldron which ‘cooks up’ the energy needed to open and liberate the rest of the body.
By bringing the focus of the mind to the breath and allowing the breath to descend deep into the lower abdomen, and feeling the weight of the body, the mind becomes calm and there is a relaxed (that is, not forced) concentration. In these moments we are unified; the split between body (hara), feeling (heart), and thinking (mind) dissolves. In these moments, there is no conflict; nothing is lacking. We are aware of breath and of feelings of weight, softness and alertness in our bodies, and there is an internal sense of focus, clarity, and ease. When we shift from the mind-centered experience to one where we start to feel our bodies and our wholeness, it is not at all uncommon to experience a deep joy and at the same time a profound sadness. It is the recognition of our ‘split,’ the realization of how far away we have been from our bodies. In the Persian language, this ennui of recognition is called durie, ‘homesickness.’ In the hara, we come home to our unity.
Hara no aru hito literally means a man with ‘Center’ or a man with belly. Such a person is always balanced, tranquil, magnanimous, and warm-hearted. With calm unprejudiced judgment, he knows what is important. He accepts things as they are and maintains a balanced sense of proportion. He is ready for whatever comes his way. When, through persistent discipline and practice, such a man reaches maturity, like a tree that bears ripe fruit effortlessly. To awaken is to come home. Home is where we start from. |
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