One of Sensei's new Qigong Students gave her an article from the NY times: "Replacing Om with Glam." How to dress for meditation, seems a lot of clothing designers are making lines of clothing for the truly cool and chic. How about $995 for the right sweatpants to meditate in? (Groan,) the Tong Ren someone introduced me to turns out to be similar, a line of "toys" and books of course all to teach and practice this "new" healing technique. People suggest these money making schemes to Sensei more and more: "you should develop some clothing, cushions or mats to sell for Awakening Stillness Qigong!" Right...
Sensei says: "I want students that want to learn, not accessorize."
That being said, we are not objecting to cottage industry, to crafts and marketing, just the common confusion of what is a practice and what is beneficial. The subject goes back to the origins of buddhism, to developing discernment, to identifying what is real, what is attachment, what is wholesome. Good heavens, just sit. Just be aware. Get out of your head. Loving kindness meditation works from the inside out, and its free, (damn revolutionaries, turning capitalism on its head.) I am proud of this Sangha for pursuing the open, the natural, the real roots of wisdom.
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