Where are you??

[Anonymous]

So we were wondering, in a discussion the other day on another thread, how many are still left, and at what stage in the practice are you…I’m about in the middle of month 4, I fell a bit behind due to travelling, and taking some extra time on some of the sections. Feel free to include how your experience has been so far. If you’re still hanging in there, give us a shout!

[Anonymous]

I’ve been working through the material and have had the luxury to keep up with it without any big interruptions. I’m in the final week of Month 6. It’s been really good for me and I think will provide a really solid basis when I return to the inner dissolving practice.

[Anonymous]

I am in the middle of month 6. Bruce’s approach is much better for me compared to some of the Buddhist style methods I have tried unsuccessfully. I like the emphasis on connecting with the body vs. just sitting and watching the thoughts come and go.

Despite consistently practicing my meditation per Bruce’s instructions, there are lots of aspects that are still not working for me such as tuning into emotional triggers which preceed distraction. Fortunately, I am quite prepared to keep at it for some time yet and see what the effects will be. I do notice that my concentration and relaxation have improved so something must be working.

[Anonymous]

Hello, All
I am jay, at the last stage of month 3. I started this meditation cirlce bit late. I was so use to doing meditation using rain music, it took me sometime, to get into doing meditation without any music.
My question is that I have some sort of blockage in my right shouler blade, everytime I do concetration on my body parts, my concentration goes straight to my shoulder. Thankfully I see my shoulder getting better, but its bit hard to do full body concentration.
I have one more question, since I stand for 8 hours at work, its bit tough for me to do any standing meditation, is it ok to do grounding with your shoes on at work. Is it safe to do medition while lying face up on the bed.

Thanks in advance and wishing luck to all in this adventure.

[Anonymous]

Hi Everyone,

Im working on the first week of month 5. It seems like Ive been taking an extra day here and there on parts that I dont feel strong enough with. Also, I get a session in anywhere from 4-7 days a week; thats a factor too. Since Ive recently been doing yoga a few days a week, in addition to my chi gung practice, sitting for 30 min gives me virtually no aches or discomfort.
I feel like since I began meditating on my own about 10 months ago, Im satisfied with my progress. I realize that back before the circle, when I thought I was meditating I was actually zoned out!; completely disconnected from my body – not meditating.
As far as distraction goes I feel like it is constant and I have “good” and “bad” days. oh yeah, also, Im loving the outdoor practice sessions but flies have been been a big source of distraction on somedays- landing repeatedly on my face, hands etc. (long sleeve and pants has helped somewhat)!
Overall, I feel like I am learning what is being taught here but also feel like most of what I should be “doing” or “not doing” needs work -. Consistency.
Im very thankful to have access to this circle and all involved. For me, Bruces materials and all of you have been my only teacher since my beginning of practicing the energy arts;
so THANK YOU ALL!
All the best,
Kevin

[Anonymous]

I’m about to start month 5. Although I started with the first wave I lost a close family member in April and have not kept up with the class curriculum. Daily practice has helped immensely but I’ve fallen behind the pace of the group I started with.Many days I’ve been doing a second sitting of 10 minutes or so before lunch or bedtime to focus on some of the things I feel could really use refining: clearly connecting with the earth, stabilizing the dan tian, getting a clear awareness of some body parts , doing various liftings while keeping to the 70% rule, lifting certain parts w/o lifting the chest (this is a toughy). I’m really liking that we are putting so much time into foundational practices! The mindset created by putting six moths of daily practice into something and, by design, not even being out of preschool yet has relaxed the whole process for me.
Best to all of you,
Steve

[Anonymous]

Hi, Jay. About the blockage, you should check out Bruce’s book, Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body. It deals with the outer dissolving process for clearing blockages in the physical and energy bodies. I did this material over the course of a few years in classes and also used the book and find it a powerful and helpful qigong practice. About meditation lying down, Bruce also has some directions about how best to do this. I believe it’s in The Great Stillness. If you don’t have this book and the first one in the meditation series, Relaxing Into Your Being, you should consider buying them. Best of luck, matthew

[Anonymous]

………..hi all, I’m working on the final week of month 6. Whilst I am managing to keep up my practice and follow the programme month by month, I don’t try and perfect an element before moving on. I find the programme continually revisits key themes and embeds ‘consolidation’ throughout which really helps. On reflection, over the months my discipline has improved along with the quality of my practice. I get up well before my family, do 30 minutes of Gods Playing in the Clouds (my principal daily practice for the past 4 years) before my Meditation Circle practice. Usually I try and fit in another session during lunch at work (even if a ‘micro-session’), and at weekends I often manage a couple of hours extra – although sometimes I focus more on Qigong (Energy Gates or Dragon and Tiger), Tai Chi or Bagua. For me the main challenges are distracting thoughts (I’m getting better at recognising the warning signals!) and a lack of sensitivity at an emotional level. My physical and energetic sensitivity seem to be improving, whilst I just don’t seem to be able to connect at an emotional level. Maybe I’m just a cold fish!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your observation about not trying to perfect things and they way Bruce is weaving key themes through the various meditation directions. I’m really looking forward to seeing where it will go. I guess Bruce is planning this to be a 16 month program. I saw him in Boston in June and he said he had recorded 8 months worth at that point.

For my own practice, I’ve been doing 30 minutes of seated mediation, then 60 minutes of qigong, a little tai chi, and bagua. I’m also doing the Bagua Mastery Program and that’s a great complement to this group as well as the Inner Dissolving meditation that Bruce presents in his books and audio recordings. Have you done Bruce’s bagua? It’s deep and I can see it developing into an important part of my meditation work.

I also have problems with distracting thoughts, though these are diminishing gradually but perceptibly. Like you, emotional sensitivity is a challenge for me. I think for me, I’ve suppressed emotions for so long – not necessarily in any pathological way, but just to live in the world and be a good family member – that’s it’s proving difficult to feel some things on the emotional level.

However, the fact that I’ve been able to develop my physical and energetic sensitivity, at least to a modest level, gives me hope that the same thing might happen emotionally.

Thanks for your post.

[Anonymous]

…..thanks Matthew, I guess a number of us have comparable issues re. emotional sensitivity – perhaps our culture (including behavioural norms in family, social and work environments) requires a degree of ’emotional control’ that leads to some level of desensitising. Hopefully in due course, by practicing/attempting to become more sensitive we’ll actually become more sensitive! It would be interesting to hear from others about the feel and flavour of their experiences of developing emotional sensitivity – or the lack thereof!

Re, Bagua, I’m on the ‘Mastery’ programme although a hip replacement earlier in the year means that I’ve had to park it – I hope to start again ‘properly’ during my summer holiday (starting next week).

[Anonymous]

Right now I’m almost done with Month 4, Week 2. Meditation makes me more aware of what my brain’s doing, and helps me calm myself. Have no expectations. Am often surprised by what I learn.

I struggled the first 3 months with consistency but have stuck with practice to get myself through the upheaval caused by my remaining parent’s death in January and the subsequent discovery that I’d been disinherited. It’s sometimes difficult when sitting to keep big feelings from intruding. On the other hand, I’ve had no trouble locating where certain emotions are stored in my body! I credit practice with preventing me from getting stuck in depression/anger/etc. And I also sometimes wonder if I would have stayed with it had this not happened to me – it’s been a huge motivator. Bruce’s comments on forgiveness in Month 2 helped a lot.

I really benefit from everyone’s comments and hope you continue to contribute your experiences, no matter how small they might seem to you.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Mathew for the taking your time to share some knowledge.
I have read Bruce’s Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body.
I didn’t quiet get the dissolving process. I got lost from ice to water and water to gas. How exactly do we do ice to water on the particular organ.
I am a canadian, reaching to him in us is not an option at the moment.
If you can describe, ice to water to gas, I would greatly appriciate.

Wishing luck to all go getters

later

[Anonymous]

I am in my final week of Month 6. I haven’t taken any extra time on any sections. I agree with those of you that see the repetition that Bruce gives to major concepts so I feel I can continue on without any need to get it perfect before moving on. I’m enjoying the experience of daily practice and just that alone has its benefits.

[Anonymous]

I’m working on month 6 but also going back to prior months. I feel like I am making decent progress and I am very pleased with the content and pace of the program. I’m in it till the end.

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” Lao Tzu

[Anonymous]

hi guys sorry i haven’t been around ,i have kept up with reading the forums. i’m back to work(hurray)so got to get used to the new long hours.i left off starting month 5 and will probally start off there again after aquick review of the previous months.its probally been about three weekssince i meditated in this setting just a few minutes of standing pillar while i do my taiji.look forward to resuming thanks,
don.

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