Frog posture 2

TOAD (Forward and Reversed)

The toad exercises the base chakra (chakra 1) located at the end of the tail bone along the spine, and it is negative in its nature. The base chakra represents survival instincts and basic physical needs such as eating, sleeping, etc. This form shows a toad jumping out of a well, representing vô minh (ignorance) or a narrow mindset. Practicing this form helps reduce procrastination and laziness.

Mantra

Forward (Thuận):

• Right and Wrong are one (Thị Phi hợp nhất)
• Quickly enter into Suchness (Đốn nhập chân không)
• Gently engage with the world (Nhẹ nhàng nhập thế)

Reversed (Nghịch):

• Good and Bad are non-dual (Tốt xấu là một)
• Embrace all (Bao hàm vạn tượng)
• Let go and return to the source (Buông xả về nguồn)

Essential points

1. This form imitates the frog jumping out of the well. Philosophical meaning is the transformation of our limited tunnel vision into boundless vision as the frog sees the vast open sky atop the well.
2. Understand the Yin and Yang concept of the hands and the low back.
3. For the philosophical meaning, refer to the mantras.

Starting position

1. Breathe in - Step out with the left foot, feet are parallel to each other spacing about one shoulder width.
2. Breathe out – Hands expand and pointed downward ready to go down with the body.

Points of attention

• Forward:

1. Going down (Slow – Breathe out)
   1. Hands come down relaxed and form a circle as the body gets into a crouching position.
   2. At the crouching position, lower the hip to about knee level, the spine curved forward with the neck bent down, head relaxed, and eyes looking down at the middle point between the soles of the feet.
   3. The head and the hip should be leveled with each other relative to the ground.
   4. Back should be curved down to open a center of energy (Huyệt Mạng Môn).
   5. Hands form a circle around and in front of both knees.
   6. Knees point straight toward both feet or slightly outward.
2. Standing up (Quick – Breathe in)
   1. Spring up in a quick motion, stand on the toes, the spine curved backward, and eyes look up at both hands.
   2. The body curved backward due to the forces from the knees and the back, not from the hands.
   3. Back of hands stay with each other through the upward movement to the end before opened out, facing upward.

• Reversed: All the points mentioned above and:

1. Hands circle upward, back of hands meet up with each other. Hands lowered slowly and twisted around but still attached to each other. Hands lower first as the head follows. Both hands eventually form a circle in front of both