Living in your hara is living balanced, vital, centered, and spontaneous. Emil Durkheim wrote a seminal and comprehensive book on the subject (Hara: The Vital Center of Man). Although not much is said about it these days in Zen circles, cultivating hara is part and parcel of zazen as well as the cultivation of equanimity. Having a strong hara is a much valued trait in Japanese culture and many of the arts from Zen archery to playing the shakuhachi.
The physical location of this psycho/spiritual center is a bit below the navel and a couple of finger widths into your belly. When sitting in the full lotus posture (not required nor often recommended in western culture) the hand mudra rests on the heel of one foot and the little finger is placed next to the belly so that the sensation of the hara is brought to awareness. Belly breathing teaches relaxation of the diaphragm and the lower abdomen while allowing the breath to naturally rise. Few people breathe correctly, and fewer still breathe low into their bellies, much like a purring cat. If you place your hand on your belly, your belly should expand on the inhale like a balloon. I could write a diatribe (and did in my master's thesis) about breathing and the cultural injunctions against the naturalness and fullness of breath in an image conscious culture (suck it up, belly in chest out, coke bottle figure, don't look fat, etc.).
The belly is the center of gravity and of the body. When I am centered in my belly I am out of my head and I am focused, calm, present, flowing, vital, responsive, in touch with the bread basket of deep feelings, alert, ready for whatever presents itself, spontaneous, peaceful, joyful, strong, grounded, connected, whole, integrated, and authentic. I am alive. I am natural. I am myself. Not a bad place to live if you ask me. The subtlety of living in the hara is the subtlety of Zen refinement...why mention it?!
Wet in the rain
a bullfrog bellows
at the moon
Hara!
