Tai Chi and Ba Gua as Moving Meditation at Brookline

Hey all-

Craig Barnes was in town this past weekend to do a review of Bruce's June workshop. Once people got over their disappointment that Craig wasn't going to buzz, hum, or make other funny sounds for them, they settled in to a pretty cool experience ;-)

Without trying to be Bruce, Craig faithfully reviewed the material in spirit and in a way that was accessible to the group in front of him.

The core work of the weekend was trying to get the mind to land inside the body in a stable, smooth way. Craig emphasized that the Taoist tradition starts with physical practices, not only for their health benefit, but because, if you learn to experience the various different neigong at play in the body all at once, you are inevitably also learning how to relax the mind itself. This is where meditation begins.

He mentioned that all of the high-level Buddhist teachers he has had the good fortune to study with also have smooth, connected physical energy, even if their main training has been "through the mind".

What was cool to see from a teaching point of view, was that Craig still stuck to a clear structure for the material --- mainly we worked on the Tai Chi form, and he always started with a simple sitting or standing exercise, then something like Commencement, and finally, an attempt at integrating into the whole form. We worked on the lower body "posture" as he always says (alignment, continuity, awareness), then the upper.

He managed to work in lots of technical information about tai chi, but it was always presented in the context of honing your meditation practice. For me, and many others in the room, this re-orientation towards a meditation practice is very nourishing.

Craig is the prime example of what I mean when I say there is a difference between and Instructor and a true Teacher. Craig is a true Teacher, and really knows his stuff...and has a wonderful spirit.

To those lucky people that attended this true Workshop count yourself extremely fortunate !

I recommend Craig to all my Students and anyone else if they are anywhere's near where Craig will be. He is a gift, and as time is so precious to me, it is time well invested !

Deepest Peace