Qrai
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Contents |
[edit] What is Qrai?
Qrai is a little known self training method that aims to develop extreme qualities in human beings. These qualities should be visible in our normal, everyday life, leaving a deep impression on other people. This visible excellence is called shining.
The main practice of Qrai is to systematically eliminate certain behavioural and character flaws. The elimination of these subtle flaws has tremendous impact on our lives and our actions.
[edit] A Brief History of Qrai
Qrai was originally created by a Hungarian computer scientist. He wished to remain anonymous. He created several webpages about Qrai on the internet. Unfortunately, most of the original Qrai pages have been deleted. In this book, the author is attempting to reconstruct the original Qrai system from his own notes and memories.
[edit] Reading alone is not sufficient for an understanding of Qrai
There is a deep well of knowledge to be explored by practicing Qrai. This knowledge cannot be attained by studying Qrai.
Reading a book like this one may give the illusion that the reader is capable of understanding what Qrai is. However, this kind of knowledge is only a superficial understanding. The deep truth of Qrai can be understood only if someone actually practices Qrai and achieves the Shining.
The idea of shining cannot be expressed in words, but it is readily expressed in actions.
[edit] The Hypothetical nature of Qrai
Qrai is said to be hypothetical because its truth cannot be proven by rational argument. The truth of Qrai must be validated in practice, through attempting to reach its ultimate goal, the shining. If the shining is not attainable by the practice of Qrai, then Qrai is proven false.
The teachings of Qrai can be communicated among people through writing and teaching. Its truthfulness, however, cannot be communicated in the words or the letters of human language. There are so many fake and useless books written about self-improvement that words have long lost their credibility. Everyone should try by themselves to verify the truth of Qrai through the practice of Qrai.
[edit] Effortless Qrai
Practicing Qrai is a frustrating activity. While it is easy to induce a temporary “change” in our ways of doing things, it is extremely difficult to maintain this change over an extended period.
Nonetheless, Qrai teaches that as long as “change” appears difficult to maintain it is not real change, and it will soon revert itself. This is because excellence cannot be maintained by continual effort. Each person's will power has its limit. True shining lies well beyond this limit.
This relates to Aristotle's idea that genuine virtue should require no moral effort.
[edit] The Qrai Paradox
There is an inherent contradiction in all systems that strive to better the human mind and character. If this were possible by simply following any one method, by taking certain steps or by doing specific exercises, then these methods and steps would already be known and widely practiced. The lack of any such systems or techniques suggests that there is an insurmountable hurdle in the way of any Qrai like system that claims to allow the participant to attain internal excellence.
How does Qrai circumvent this difficulty? The truth is, it doesn't. Qrai does not make life easier, nor does it prescribe a magic formula that diminishes fear and weakness of mind. Qrai only teaches how to act more effectively, even when fear, anxiety or weakness are present.
Qrai does not cause the formation of new habits. The kind of excellence aimed for through Qrai is of greater complexity than strict daily routines or habitual discipline. It requires a spontaneity that is absent from such habits.
Nor does Qrai teach any new skills. The exercises and drills that are described below have only temporary effects, and to maintain these effects we should continue practicing them indefinitely. It is this practice in and of itself that becomes the new quality of the self, not any skill that is acquired.
In short, Qrai does not change or improve a person's character in any fundamental way. It causes only momentary changes in our actions, our behaviour. These changes are only momentary, because they only occur whilst the participant remains focussed.
[edit] Qrai drills
Traditionally, there are seven exercises (or stages) that are practised in Qrai. The participant should always start at the first stage, but should not remain there for long. Later stages of Qrai can solve the problems encountered at the first stage.
[edit] 1. Fault control
During the first stage a list is drawn up. This list should include bad habits, behavioural faults and character flaws that the participant has been trying to change without success for a long period of time. These may include smoking, laziness, overeating, talking nonsense, watching too much TV, driving over the speed limit, swearing or an addiction to pornography. Then the participant attempts to completely eliminate these bad habits.
Correct behaviour expands and maintains itself, and correct actions support and amplify each other. Likewise with errors and character flaws. Therefore, seeds of excellence should be cultivated and helped to grow.
[edit] 2. Developing Focus
A calm, focused and centred way of doing things in everyday life should be developed. One should be poised and yet relaxed. It is not easy to describe this state of mind, but it is quite easy to attain - at least the first time, when it is initially attempted.
The difficulty lies in maintaining this state of mind throughout daily life, even when tired or weary, when things do not turn out as expected, or when distractions occur, preventing concentration.
Developing control of one's body includes maintaining good posture, with balance and poise. Furthermore, your actions, your words and your work should be focused and effiecient.
Good focus maintains and expands itself. On the other hand, lack of focus and concentration also maintain and prolong themselves. These should be broken as soon as they are recognised.
[edit] 3. Physical training
Qrai does not have its own system of physical exercise. The participant choose to partake in any sport that they deem suitable. This sport should involve real physical training. Examples of typically Qrai sports include weight training, running, swimming, martial arts, rock climbing and horse riding.
[edit] 4. Reading
Reading is like a sport in that it can be performed at many different levels, from beginner to expert. Reading at the highest level requires a broad knowledge, a high level of perseverance, and even a type of courage.
Plan your journey of reading with careful ambition. Obtain rare and highly valued literary and scientific works. Preferably, read them in their original language. Do not be deterred by difficulties like mathematical equations or chemical compound names – regard them as riddles to be solved. By solving these riddles, you gain access to faraway lands of knowledge where few can ever enter.
[edit] 5. Immediate action
This is an interesting exercise that makes it apparent just how much ‘strength’ and ‘weakness’ are illusions created by your attitude and way of thinking.
When doing something that is difficult, skip all the hesitation, procrastination and preparation, and do it immediately.
In Qrai, the concept of immediate action is also extended to passive qualities, including calmness, patience and avoidance of bad habits. These qualities should be attained immediately, without prepondering or preparation, without any method and without being overly conscious of them.
[edit] 6. Silence
There should be a deep silence behind all actions. This silence should be silence in mind and heart. Time should be spent thinking of Qrai and the qualities and excellence that have been achieved through practising Qrai. In actual fact, Qrai should not be thought of at all.
We all know that it is difficult to control our actions and habits. However, it is much more difficult to control our thoughts. For true shining to occur, we need to control our thoughts. Too many of the thoughts that we have are not only irrelevant and stupid, but also disrupt our concentration, our work, and even destroy our happiness.
It is not easy to replace the constant tumult of these worrisome thoughts with calmness and silence. It is impossible to do away with them once and for all. But you can diminish their influence, attenuating their loudnes and removing them into the soft background of your mind where they mingle with forgotten, nonsensical dreams and irrelevant impressions.
This practise of the calming of your mind should be done during your daily chores, during work, during your conversation with other people. It should not be done whilst sitting and meditating. The inner silence attained in meditation is irrelevant for Qrai.
[edit] 7. The Second Fault Control: The Shining
The final exercise in the Qrai ladder of drills leads full circle to Fault Control. This time Fault Control should be implemented at another level - not by struggling against faults and bad habits, but by letting them slip away as thoughts slip away and sink into silence. Then Shining within will intensify and fill the empty space of this silence.
[edit] Create your own Qrai
Qrai is not a rigid system of dogmas. Anyone can create their own version of Qrai: their own set of drills and methods; their own understanding of Shining and Silence.
