Greetings everyone!
In this update, "Metaphysical Boxing, Understanding the Spiritual Depth of the Martial Arts." And of course an update on upcoming events and such.
*** Metaphysical Boxing
*** Teaching in Colorado Springs
*** Calendar of Events
*** Metaphysical Boxing
Understanding the Spiritual Depth of the Martial Arts
How do we redirect or transform the energy that moves towards us on a daily basis? What if that energy triggers our non-thinking reflexive fight-or-flight reaction?
In life, we are bent out of shape, usually when we are challenged in one way or another. Martial arts, in the truest of sense, teach us how to accept and work with the challenges of life with grace, ease, and lightness. Martial arts teach us to be present, calm, and alert, even in the face of direct challenges to our person. In training, we work through all the personal issues that are triggered, the heavy layers of unconscious programming and "knee jerk" reactions, until we become more and more clear to respond to each challenge with clarity, peace, and consciousness. Each incoming fist, kick, or strike becomes a metaphor for incoming energy from the universe, and in the microcosm of our sparring session, we can observe, study, and practice our response. Did we react out of fear? Out of anger? Did we tighten up, or did we remain relaxed? Were we overwhelmed with ego, self preservation, or desire only to win and subdue the incoming force, or did we gracefully respond by gently redirecting or neutralizing it?
Martial arts training, in the controlled safe setting and right attitude of self exploration and transformation, will enable those latent memories of pain and fear, stored in our biological and energetic matrix, to surface and flood our present moment awareness. We are given the golden opportunity to transform blind reaction into conscious response. We learn to dissolve our association with past pain and fear, to come into the present moment during our sparring or push hands sessions. Push hands or sparring are the vehicles for our growth, helping trigger the latent pain and self preserving ego in us, to bring it all into the light of our presence.
In presence, that which is not presence becomes transformed and transmuted into presence. This is the true meaning of Inner Alchemy, of transforming base metal (our reactions arising out of separateness) into gold (presence and felt oneness with all that is). To be and to abide in presence is indeed more precious than gold. We awaken into who we truly are. We awaken out of the bundle of preprogrammed reactions based in pain and separation. A whole new dimension of awareness opens up. A mirage is simply seen as a mirage, and the shadow as shadow. There is no doubt as to what is real. This abiding state of presence, unspoiled by the conditioning of this world, is the golden elixir of life. And it is not something that is far away, but rather, it is who we truly are.
Thus one begins to dance through life, as if intoxicated.
*** Teaching in Colorado Springs
I was invited to teach the level 1 course (IIMQ P1) in Colorado Springs, and I'm so excited to come out there to meet new people and to share all of these practices with a new community. I really enjoy the collective field created in classes, and look forward to total immersion for a few days in Colorado!
Dates and times for this adventure include Friday May 27 through Monday May 30, 9 am - 6 pm. This is a total of 32 hours of in depth training, Daoist medical theory, and application. Our location will be:
Tai Chi Boxing Association of Colorado Springs
For more information:
*** Calendar of Events
Medical Qigong Certification at Five Branches University, San Jose
Level 1 and Level 2, Fall Semester 2011
From 9 am - 6 pm, on the following Sundays:
Level 1: Aug 28, Sept 11 & 25, Oct 9
Level 2: Oct 23, Nov 6 & 13, Dec 4
Retreats
Insight Meditation South Bay (IMSB)
With Tom Leichardt and Shaila Catherine
Both retreats will be held on Saturdays, from 9:30 am - 5 pm
* Nov 12, 2011
* Feb 11, 2012
For more information:
Thanks for reading this far!
May all beings be happy and peaceful.
Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu.
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.
Blessings,
Tom (Yogeshwar)
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Where there is Love, there is no effort.
Amma
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Tom Leichardt, DMQ (China)
408.772.6009
