Dharana 28 of 112 · verse 46

One Part of the Body as Void

Take any single part of the body and hold it, briefly, as empty.

00:00Ready

8 minutes. Seated or lying down, eyes closed.

Beginner8 min

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The practice

Choose one part — a hand, a foot, the jaw. For a short while consider it as containing nothing: no bone, no weight, no interior. Do not argue with the fact that it plainly does. Simply hold the other view for a moment and see what happens to the sensation there.

What it works on

The text is explicit that this is done briefly and with one part only. It is the smallest possible dose of the emptiness practices, and the least destabilising, which makes it the right entry point for most people.

Notes

  • The hand is the easiest place to start, because we have the clearest sensation of it.
  • A short while means a short while. This is not an endurance practice.

Practise gently

Shoonyaka offers educational and contemplative material, not medical, psychological or religious authority. Nothing here diagnoses or treats any condition. Stop any practice that leaves you dizzy, frightened or unwell, and treat a strong reaction as a reason to rest rather than to push on.