Progress and Questions

[Anonymous]

I have been following Bruce’s practice instructions for the Tao Te Ching meditations. I miss the more directed approach that we used in the Meditation Circle.

Are we still counting our breaths?
How many use a variety of sitting positions for meditation? Anyone using a slanted stool?
I admit to listening only to the short practice recordings and not to the longer descriptive recordings each month.
Is there a date that the recordings are issued each month? I am not receiving an email when they become available and must check on the website to find them.
I was hoping this forum would have more discussion topics and engage a wider group of participants.

[Anonymous]

I’ve also noticed that I’ve stopped getting the automatic emails. Is anyone still getting automatic emails, or were they shut off for some reason?

[Anonymous]

I too am no longer receiving email notifications of the monthly TTC releases. I was surprised to find two which I had not been aware were available. As you mention, perhaps something was inadvertently shut off?

Also, unlike the Bagua forum, I am notified anytime anyone responds to a post on this forum, whether I have commented or not.

Moderators, please advise.

[Anonymous]

Hi, everybody.

I think the folks at Energy Arts have been a little busy. I stumbled across the chapter 5 content by accident and let them know it hadn’t been posted in the usual place. I think if one if us sent an email to them requesting that they send an email announcement when new chapters are posted they would do it.

I find these meditations powerful and I’ve been doing them in addition to the inner dissolving. I’ve moved on from the Med. Circle stuff to sitting doing dissolving as Bruce describes in The Great Stillness and the Tao of Letting Go. I’ve been doing these on the train on the way home sometimes, sometimes at night. My main practice has been Inner Dissolving, but these are pretty cool.

To answer Joan’s questions:
I’m not counting my breaths or doing anything but what’s described in the audio. I listen to the lecture once, maybe twice after a few weeks. Then just meditate with the audio guide track. These are usually short sessions and I continue meditating for 5 or 10 minutes after the audio track has ended.
I just sit in a chair and don’t really have a variety of postures I use. I haven’t tried a slanted stool. I use a kitchen chair with a pillow on it to make it a little higher and softer.
I’m not sure if there’s a consistent release date for the audio. It started out to be around the first of the month, but it seems to be a bit more random now.

What does everybody else think?

mjn

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

Thanks for the feedback, we are updating our systems now to fix the issues you have been experiencing. If however, you do not receive an email for next month’s material, please notify us.

Kaualani
Admin Assistant 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Matthew for the comments. That helps me redirect what I have been doing. I was using a beaded meditation string and possibly being too aware of every breath with this newer approach since the Meditation Circle ended. I have not tried listening to the practice audio every time I meditate like you suggest. I might try it.

[Anonymous]

I’ve missed the posting of new chapter content too. Indeed, I didn’t know chapter 5 is available (will chase now). I too have found this narrative approach less easy than the meditation circle. I revisit the the TTC explanation sections periodically and use the meditation sections much as Matthew does, although not as regularly. Whilst I sit everyday, I find myself practicing content from the meditation circle rather than engaging with the TTC. I don’t find the TTC material as compelling as the clear instructions of the meditation circle. I find the TTC stimulates my intellect whereas I feel I need to work more with my awareness (see my comments about evolution elsewhere!). I sit on a chair indoors, but for my regular daily practice I sit outside, cross legged on a cushion on a 6″ step – much the same position as using a meditation stool. On occasion I also still count breaths using a string of malla beads (it helps anchor my awareness), although now that I need to wrap up warm that’s difficult with fleece gloves. I’d like to include inner dissolving but would rather develop a foundation of outer dissolving first- which I’m now folding into my daily qigong practice. All I need to do now is find/make time for the tai chi mastery programme! Any advice on how to engage with the TTC without stimulating the intellect would be much appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I ordered a Tilt Seat Eco Chair from Carolina Morning. It comes in Sm, Med. and Large depending on your height. It arrives next week.

I’m currently reading The Tao of Letting Go and The Great Stillness. I may continue using the meditation beads, add features from the Meditation Circle, and use ideas from the Tao Te Ching practice sessions.

I’m eager to hear what others are doing to make further meditation progress.

[Anonymous]

……I just listened to Chapter 5 and did the practice for the first time. For some reason I found it much easier to engage with at an ‘awareness’ level, rather than being distracted by my intellect/monkey mind. The themes of Chapter 5 seems more ‘accessible’ to meditation practice, so I think I’ll be more inclined to work with it – and hopefully be inspired to revisit the earlier chapters. Along with Joan I’d like to hear how others are getting on. The Tai Chi mastery programme includes ‘meditative strands’ – the online beginners course includes an interesting and surprisingly deep meditation whilst standing in ‘single whip’.

[Anonymous]

I also tend to use the meditation circle content somewhat more. But I am really happy with the instruction part as I have a great interest in the Tao Te Ching. The reason I use it less is because for me the meditations are almost too powerful and I want to work with the more basic stuff more. Then I am also a bit unsure where these meditations fit in in the whole practice continuum.

Nonetheless it is excellent material and I hope Bruce continues with it as I find the instructional parts really good even if I do not regularly use the meditations at the moment.

[Anonymous]

Hi Joan,
You’ve got to keep in mind, this stuff is progressive and some of the more ‘basic’ things remain constant. I don’t think Bruce is going to constantly reiterate the “basics”.
As for counting, it’s primarily a tool or method for helping to focus the mind. Of course you should be present or aware to the breathing in that you don;t want to not breathe. In fact the breath can take on a different role in the way it helps you to “interface” with Qi; and then with the mind, direct the focus or your intent and the conduction of Qi. When you can focus the mind without the tool or method of counting, then why continue to use it. It’s better to use the power of mental focus to work on your next level or other meditations.

Hope this helps,
Steve

[Author]

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