June Qigong Update

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Tom Leichardt, DMQ

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Jun 12, 2009, 9:07:04 PM6/12/09

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Greetings from San Ramon ashram!

This will be a short update, as being on tour staff is intense including a lot of work as well as time spent with Amma. I've been staying at the San Ramon ashram since June 4th. I arrived soon after my last finals were done on the previous day, and immersed myself in this alternative universe of selfless service, spiritual practices, and Amma's divine presence.

In this update:

*** Time Spent with Amma

*** Summer Qigong Practice

*** Qigong and Retreat Calendar

*** Time Spend with Amma

Time spent around Amma feels like entering a powerful alternate universe. All of my thoughts become very noticeable, time spent in sadhana (spiritual practice) is greatly amplified, and there are moments of slipping into the most sublime states of bliss and peace. Amma's presence truly transforms, and takes us to the heights of spiritual awareness. Her presence also allows us to see all the things we don't want to see about ourselves, but need to see in order to initiate change. Awareness is that first step, and the patterns I see in myself are not always pretty, but the end result is always change and transformation. There is grace to let go of old patterns, making space for more truth, presence, and alignment with divine will.

My seva (selfless service) for Amma is working in the kitchen as a food prep supervisor. This means that myself and several others oversee some 20 to 30 sevites (volunteers) who prepare mountains of food for lunch and dinner, and on retreat, also breakfast. We keep the cooks happy by preparing and cutting all of their vegetables on time. The ashram feeds thousands of people daily, so the work is demanding. The subtle and powerful element in seva, is that so much grace flows through all of us, and into the work, which helps transform ourselves and society at the same time. Karma Yoga (path of selfless services) has a way of deeply purifying us from the inside out, and Amma's grace reaches into what feels like lifetimes upon lifetimes of accumulated traumas, pain, and negative tendencies, allowing them to be washed away in her river of grace and peace.

*** Summer Qigong Practice

One of Francesca's and my students from the Medical Qigong program has offered to lead a qigong practice session over the summer for those that are interested in keeping momentum in their cultivation.

Depending on interest, Michael Holland may offer a weekly, biweekly, or monthly time to gather and go through the Level 1 practices. Please contact him if you are interested, and he will decide what to do, depending on your responses and preferences.

Michael Holland: beyondperso...@msn.com

*** Qigong and Retreat Calendar

As I am on tour until July 25th, I will not be teaching until later Summer. Below is a brief schedule so you can all plan ahead. I look forward to sharing more qigong, dharma, and practice with you all!

Retreats and Workshops:

1) Insight Meditation South Bay presents "Walking the Path"

Saturday, September 26th, 2009, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

More information:

http://www.inneralchemycenter.com/classes-imsb-ws.shtml

2) Qigong and Meditation Retreat at MA Center

Sunday, October 11, 2009, 9 am - 2:30 pm

More information:

http://www.inneralchemycenter.com/classes-amma-ws-01.shtml

Medical Qigong Certification: Five Branches University

1) Active Qi Cultivation

Sunday, August 30th, 2009, 9 am - 6 pm