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Week 2: The Beginner’s Path – Be here now

Week 2: The Beginner’s Path – Be here now

 

In walking, just walk.  In sitting, just sit.  Above all, don’t wobble”

-          Yun-Men

 

Goddess Path:

 

       Research the legends of 2 more warrior goddesses.  Choose one to journey with in the shamanic upper and lower realms, and do so twice this week.  Be sure to write down anything you experience in these journeys, and try to take from each journey a specific lesson.  Ask the goddess that you choose to journey with how she would go about living only in the moment…not worrying about tomorrow.  Take back a technique that you might be able to utilize in your daily life as to reduce outside thoughts, and only focus on the present.

 

Warrior Path:

              Aikido

       Preparing for kyu testing may be coming up, and even if it isn’t, it is extremely important to begin reviewing, practicing, and examining your technique.  Focus on ushiro ukemi this week.  Do at least 20 ushiro ukemi from 2nd and 3rd positions.  Be sure to make them BIG.  Don’t worry about the test ahead…only consider how you are doing your ukemi AT THIS MOMENT.  Watch the senior students, and remember the saying “He who can copy can do” by Leondardo Da Vinci.  Observe how they are doing their ushiro ukemi and see if you can copy exactly, as they are far more experienced.  If necessary, ask sensei to demonstrate and try to copy him exactly.  Above all, don’t be afraid to fail.  Always remember that you are a beginner.

 

       Practice sankyo and kotegeishi.  Observe the test tape and see if you can copy what they are doing, exactly.  Only in this way will you be able to review.  DO NOT just watch the tape…take the time to do it.



              Tell me, I’ll forget.  Show me, I may remember.  But involve me and I’ll understand” – Chinese proverb

 

       Practice jo kata number 1.  Really work on your extension.  Pay attention to each individual movement, and keep your mind focused on your kata, and nothing else.  You might want to sit in stillness prior to your practice so that your mind does not wander during your practice of this kata. 

 

       Continue to practice tai chi and yoga before work (5:30AM or earlier).  Remember to FOCUS on what you are doing.  When you find yourself thinking about the day ahead, stop what you are doing and clear your mind.  Then, begin again. 


 

       Exercises to practice: The Beginner’s Mind:

              Continue working on your “beginner’s mind” this week.  When you feel that you cannot figure something out…do not get frustrated.  Instead, understand that you cannot master everything at once, and ask for help.  This is especially true with your aikido techniques.  DO NOT be afraid to ask sensei for help.  In fact, MAKE A POINT to ask for help this week.  One can always use the help of a teacher. 

 

       Exercise #2: Cont. the Beginner’s Mind: Accepting Criticism

              The next time someone criticizes you – whether at martial arts, or at school – don’t immediately flare up as it is your nature to do.  Do not become defensive nor point out that the person criticizing you has shortcomings too (as is also your nature).  Listen, respectfully without saying anything.  Don’t even THINK about what you are going to say.  JUST LISTEN.  Consider what they have said objectively.  If you notice actual facts that are incorrect, point them out respectfully.  Also, correct any errors in interpretation, again calmly.  DO NOT, however, tell off the person making the critique.  Accept the criticism.  State how you plan to improve your performance so that you are certain you understood the cricitism, and that you recognize the solution to the problem.

              MAIN POINTS: Listen, don’t respond defensively, and try to see how you can build on criticism to improve your performance. 

 

Spiritual Path:

       Zen:       Sit in stillness at least 3 times, for at least 15 minutes each sitting.  To keep your mind still, continue, as last week, to focus on your inhalation and exhalation. 

              In one sitting this week, consider the quotation: “In walking, just walk.  In sitting, just sit.  Above all, don’t wobble”.  How does this apply to your life, and how can you apply it to the lessons you are learning this week?  Consider a course of action to avoid “wobbling”.  Prepare a technique to use for next week. 

              Read at least 10 pages of “Zen and the Brain” this week, and summarize in your journal.

 

       Tao: Last week you focused on compassion as one of the three jewels.  This week, focus on humility.  You are experiencing what it is like to be a beginner.  This novice feeling always be evident in one way or another, but this week, we specifically are working on asking for help and taking criticism.  Incorporate humility into this.  Do not show off, no matter how well you believe you are doing (in schoolwork, in martial arts, in life…), practice a non-judgmental attitude.  When you find yourself judging someone else, focus on exactly WHY you are judging him/her, write it down, and then squash that judgment.  Remember that you are no greater than anyone else, no matter your experience.

 

Magickal Path

       Set up temple this week when you are going to do your Goddess meditations.  Continue to pay close attention to the extension of your chi to create this sacred space.  Email your Sheya mentor regarding your new path and magickal ideas.  As for her help in regard to how to work on the Sheya portion of this path.  Use humility in this email. Mostly likely you will get a critique of some kind back.  BE SURE to revert to your lesson regarding how to take criticism.  Write down how this progressed.

 

Bringing it all together this week:

 

       This week you continued working on the beginner’s mind.  You incorporated humility, staying in the moment, and how to take criticism. How do all of your experiences this week with this lesson tie in to these three things?  Write as much as you need to regarding what you have learned/gained from concentrating on these things this week.  Discuss how these aspects were incorporated into your daily routine (work, coaching, personal, etc).