- This topic is empty.
-
Posts
-
Listening to the first two weeks instruction for Month #2 I found that it will take many sessions to grasp the details.
The first 15 days will be recognizing the entire body at once and then going through these body parts.
1. Neck and shoulders
8:50
2. Arms and chest
13:48
3. Belly
14:52
4. Hips and groin
17:00
5. Thighs and knee
17:46
6. Calves, ankles, and feet– 19:43
7.Lower tantien
20.50If you are listening on Win. Media Player I listed the time that each of these body parts are discussed and details are given for ways to move the parts to recognize them.
Thanks, Joan. This is a helpful breakdown. I did something similar for my own use for week 4.
I am in the 2nd week of Month 2 Meditation. I have not discovered how to create more spaciousness when distracted and how to forestall distractions by creating more space. I can recognize when parts feel nothing or a lot, but don’t have any idea about this concept that Bruce describes. My awareness is becoming more relaxed because I feel my breathing less labored.
Does anyone have ideas to share on this concept of creating space to stop distractions.
“The first 15 days will be recognizing the entire body at once and then going through these body parts.”
My impression is that we’re supposed to go through each body part BEFORE we try to recognize the whole body at once.
“You should take about two days each on each separate body part before you try to combine them and go deeper. . . .”
But it’s not clear to me how to proceed. Two days on neck and shoulders, then 2 days on arms and chest, and then combine neck, shoulders, arms, and chest for — what? Must admit I’m at sea.Also, he says he’s going to focus only on the front half of the body the first week, but then he gives you exercises to feel the back (not just the front and sides) of the neck and shoulders (e.g., shoulder blades).
??
Joan – When I started meditation with Bruce, there were many things he would talk about that I just had no concept of (still are!). Eventually, you will reach a point in your practice where these phrases make sense, and you will say, “Oh, that’s what he was talking about!”
You say your awareness is becoming more relaxed, so I would say you are going in the right direction. For me, creating space feels like a softening and opening of the mind. Keep playing with it, and don’t worry too much about getting it or not getting it. In time, the experience will come to you.
John, I listened back through the Week 1 and 2 instruction…and I’m afraid I still don’t have a definite answer for you. The best I can do is give you my opinion on this.
I also got the impression that at first, we are supposed to do all of these parts individually. Recognizing the body as a whole will probably come later. So, we have about 15 days to go through these parts, and I think I might end up drawing up a rough plan for myself, listing what body parts I need to cover and figuring out how much time I get to spend on each part. And it may be good to remember that there is nothing that says we can’t take a few extra days to work on this, since there is no strict schedule to adhere to. I started this lesson, then wasn’t feeling well for a few days so I’m just getting back to it. I don’t think he said anything about combining in this first lesson. Most of the explanation seems to revolve around what to move to activate each body part, so I would assume that whatever he didn’t mention specifically is at our discretion…
I’m not sure what to tell you about the front/back of the body dilemma. I think what I am going to do is to peek ahead to the Week 3 and 4 lesson – and that may give us some clues as to how this whole thing fits together.
I think we are all at sea with you, John. I guess we should just make sure that as our little lifeboats bob along, we are heading more towards presence than distraction…
Hi Joan, this was my first day of month two. That was pretty much the breakdown I gleaned from the audio. Would just add that I believe Bruce mentions working on the tantien for two days after two days on each of the areas you list here.
I spent the first couple of rounds of 10 today on the entire head and then moved on to a round on the front of the neck, a round on the back of the neck and a round on the sides. Then did a round each for the shoulders. I finished by trying to work the entire region at once.
I listened to a little of the second half of the month and Bruce talks of trying to make the mind light in order to encompass the larger areas. Like that idea and it seems to help.
Hey there,
I remember Catherine comparing creating more space to the focus or lack thereof looking through a camera lens. I like that one; For me when the few times I feel Ive experienced that spaciousness, there was a sense of my awareness being pushed tight into my head when lost in thoughts and suddenly as if a blindfold was taken off (only with eyes still closed) the space around me felt much more “open” for lack of a better word. Also, at this time I could feel my breath much more subtle, relaxed and even.Hope this Helps,
Kevin
Im pretty sure when Bruce says count 1 to 10 , he only means 10 breaths….right? It also sounds like he could also mean count 1 to 10 as in 1-10 on the inhale and 1-10 on the exhale in addition to counting a complete in/out as 1.
Kevin, I revised my opening message and added the lower tantien for two days after reading your post.
I wonder where the focus on the front. side, rear. and whole of the body fits in with the two days on each part. I was assuming that when we recognize the whole body at once that we use that division (front, side, rear, and whole). And that when we are focusing on these individual parts this month that we use the exercises he describes. What do others think?
I’ve just started the month 2 and today was my second day on the neck. I began with 2 rounds on the entire head. The instructions, I believe say to start with that. I am doing front and back because I believe ti would be impractical otherwise (can’t figure out which is the front and back of my arms). Pretty sure it’s front and back of the body.
Once I did each quarter (i.e. front, back and sides) of the neck I did each shoulder individually. I then did a few rounds combining neck and shoulders. Finished with head, neck and shoulders combined. I, too, heard nothing about doing the whole body at once yet. Joan’s initial post has a good breakdown of the areas to cover. Bruce does say to finish with 2 days on the tantien, though (once again, I believe).
All of this being said, I did listen to about the first half of week 3 and 4. Bruce says to lighten the mind in order to be able to encompass larger areas of the body in our thoughts and not have that laser focus. I also take this to mean don’t beat ourselves up when distractions occur or it doesn’t seem things are going perfectly. The more we can relax and not get hung up, the better, I believe!
Keep on truckin’!
It is 10 complete breaths. And then start over and go on to the next area you’re focusing on (in some cases).
He says not to count in your head which you would have to do for counting 1-10 on inhale and exhale. I lose count now and then as it is. Don’t want it harder.
Just a quick note to those coming along…I did peek ahead to the second half of the month. Even though he says something about doing the front of the body for the first half of this, there is no breakdown of parts of the back of the body in the second half of the month audio. So I am just doing back as well during the first two weeks. Since he mentions the back of the neck, the shoulder blades, and kidneys in the week 1-2 audio, most of the back side is covered anyway. So I just added upper back to the chest, lower back to the abdominal area, and everything is covered. Weeks 3-4 seem to be all about combining.
Listening to the third and fourth weeks for Month #2 Bruce suggests practicing twice a day for twenty minute sessions if needed.
The goals are how the body parts are connected to the lower tantien and the concept of Forgiveness (yourself and others).1.Head, neck and shoulders (crown of head to floor as balance point)
2.All of the above plus top of torso, chest, arms, abdomen—-5:24
3.Add diaphragm, lower belly
9:00
4. Lower tantien (how it connects to everything)
13:50
5.Lower tantien (how it will keep your present)
16:15
Thanks for another breakdown, Joan. This is very useful. I think it’s also significant that we’re concentrating on the upper body down to the tantien. I’m assuming this is in direct preparation for inner dissolving which is concerned with this same physical area of the body. It will be interesting to see what he covers in month 3. He’s planning on 18 months of this, right? And it’s all in preparation of inner dissolving. It could be really serious training…
This is an archived forum (read only). Go to our active forum where you can post and discuss in real time.