--- In [email protected], Bhairitu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Vaj wrote: > > > > I recently was invited to attend a weekend basic training in > > meditation with a close, life-long friend in the Shambhala tradition. > > It was probably the most impressive basic meditation instruction I've > > ever witnessed as the teacher was a 30+ year veteran who spoke from > > his own considerable experience. They operate under the basic > > assumption that intro meditation is the most difficult to teach so the > > Shambhala people only authorize their most advanced teachers for the > > first level. For a weekend starting with an open friday night lecture > > with breakfast Saturday and Sunday, lunch on Saturday, afternoon tea > > and a reception gourmet feast on graduation Sunday the course was only > > 100 dollars. > > > > Most interesting was seeing the unity experiences people began having > > right away, in that short weekend; young college students, college > > professors, old folks, a blind lady with her guide dog. Lots of time > > to interview privately with the teacher(s) and small group discussions > > as well as along with the whole group. > My tantric guru did not allow me to teach meditation until I had been > with him for 5 years. Imagine if MMY had done that. And the basis for > "checking" is pretty much the same throughout most techniques: don't > strain on the mantra. But look at the discussions in the past here that > the concepts in checking were unique to TM which is not true at all. > I've also mentioned that the "seven steps" are a little archaic. That > may have worked in the 60's and 70's but nowadays most meditation > courses are taught in the weekend course like you describe or one on > one. With both (particularly the latter) there is plenty of time for > interaction between teacher and student. For groups, the weekend > courses seem to fit better in modern schedules. >
AFter all this time, you stil think that the essence of TM is "don't strain on the mantra?" Sheesh. Lawson
