January 26, 2005
Excerpt From Actual Master Student Exchange; Student Abu & Coach:
{weeks have had to pass before i was guided to address Abu...
i have learned to trust my Teachers That Flow Through Me, just
as my Online Students must learn to trust my silences are often my Teaching}...
Noble Master Student Abu -
time is Ripe now for me to hear what you have to say:
ABU: Dearest El Coache,
Back in November I crafted the Pratyaya Anatara (Trusting Intuition) cycle with
your blessing. I intended for it to provide a well-structured exploration of
balance. It wasn�t. Emotional turmoil and free-form adaptation marked the
overall tone of the period. As mentioned in previous emails, Morning Practice
served as the stabilizing backbone. Feelings of stagnation arose after many
weeks. The foundation of confidence eroded. But all along, a background
feeling confirmed that this was the right path. So I continued. The fruit of
the work presented itself when I reached the anchor above an ice climb in RMNP
this past Saturday. Let me explain.
COACH: please do.
you have gained my most sincere interest.
by the Way,
i love you.
ABU:
After tremendous mental growth
COACH INTERUPTS: "tremendous" relative to whom/what?
whom is judging this as "tremendous" "growth"?
ABU:
during the autumn rock climbing season, I seemed
to regress with the arrival of the ice this winter. Doubt and fear permeated
my ice experiences.
COACH INTERUPTS: well,
Doubt and Fear are the vanguards of ice climbing which is precisely why ice climbing is such a powerful Spiritual Teacher. Many of my WF Techniques and Teachings have sprung forth from my training and performance in ice climbing. ice climbing puts all intellectual spiritualism on...well...ice!
ABU:
Again and again I encountered the edge of my climbing, the
place where the abrupt meltdown would occur. My most experienced partner
hatched a plan for practice. He led a pitch of ice that was just beyond my
perceived meltdown difficulty. While lowering, he cleaned the route except for
three screws that were placed at the end of the crux sections. With the
remaining screws in place, I engaged the climbing in a way that created an
opening for learning.
COACH: this Partner of yours is a yogin
ABU:
I moved into the first crux and reached a point just
before meltdown. Rather than fall apart and run away, I reminded myself of
your recent DL; breathe into doubt and fear. So I did just that. After
remaining in the challenge but not moving through it, I down-climbed to easier
ground. Without disengaging from the climb, I moved back up. Again I
breathed. Again I down-climbed. (Again and again � eh?)
COACH: dat's right Earth Brother,
just begin, again and again ( and endlessly again!)
ABU:
Present during the
entire process, fear focused the effort. After beginning for the fourth time,
I breathed deeply into the doubt and fear. This created a Space for Trust. I
moved through the crux with the logical mind turned off. Once in this Space, I
Danced the rest of the climb. Pratyaya Antara had worked her magic, creating a
small Intuitive Opening.
COACH: not so small,
i would venture!
feeble ilg bows to your Opening!
ABU:
The following day a stunning bald eagle soared about 20 feet above me while I
was riding on a dirt road north of Boulder. This encounter marked the end of
the cycle.
eagle soars above (5)
dancing with inner Eldo (7)
practice letting go (5)
COACH:
very well, Master Student Abu...you are honoring my Teachings through the Edge of Extreme Sports...you are pushing your edge of edges, becoming more familiar with your inmost fears. you will do well in the Bardo. Now...let us begin your next stage of training...