Dear Friends of the Way,
We are connected to this newsletter through our common interest in two primary areas: qigong: meditative movement for health and well-being and Meditation: mindfulness practices, experiential approaches to the world’s great Faiths. Our newsletter is just one of many intersections in our personal and collective Life, let’s put it to good use. Let’s observe and motivate each other.

Observation This plays an important role in our practices. We know that the notion of a purely objective observation does not exist. A component of intention is always transmitted by the observer.
Observer A and Subject B = AB, not A+B. A observes B, and B observes A. Perhaps a better formula would be AB = AB + BA. A teacher of ‘gifted’ students has gifted students with high scores, and a teacher of ‘challenged’ students has challenged students with low scores. Physicists change the behavior of sub atomic particles by defining the ‘test’ – particles become waves and waves become particles. Dr. Emoto’s wonderful work with water crystals shows water’s response to a variety of environments. http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/e_ome_home.html
(If you are already familiar with photos of his work, you will really enjoy the youtube videos of crystals forming in response to a variety of National Anthems.) In our techno-culture every key stroke on a computer is observed, every phone call, business transaction, cell phone cameras, satellite surveillance etc.; we are constantly being observed, and we are watching back.

In our own practices, connecting with the Observer is a good starting point, it is relatively neutral, it does not judge. It merely provides a snapshot for later evaluation. The pure Observer does not respond or react; it directly experiences All That Is, Purely Is. However, by its own definition, Observer is in duality. It can only exist in relation to objects of observation. When (AB+BA) merges completely into 1, observation dissolves into a fluid, unified field. We all get this experience from time to time, the practice is to stay. Become a citizen, not a tourist.

Motivation
Observation often plays a role in our motivation. Social behaviors are motivated by observing others, or observing the reactions of others to our behavior. Most motivation is directed to our social behavior, we want something back from it, the three basic instinctual drives for sex, security and social status. Where do we find the encouragement for solitary personal self discipline directed toward fulfilling our Destiny? There seems to be a motivational power which pushes us to satisfy our instinctual drives; and which pulls or attracts us to fulfilling our Destiny. Motivation generated by the small mind is fickle, sometime overwhelming, sometimes absent; very characteristic of the restless mind. A steady and sustained motivation can lead some individuals to exceptional accomplishments. How do they do it? Why is it rare?

There is usually someone there, in the role of Observer; our teacher, coach, mentor, parent, close friends; someone who can sustain an open unified space for us to grow into. It is a social context that supports and encourages even the most eccentric, free thinking visionary. There are days when I feel overwhelmed, barely able to keep my head above water as I sink into despair, when one of you will send me an email. Instantly a smile comes to my face, life is good, all storms pass, nothing is permanent. The phenomenal power of kindness, sharing and connecting can motivate us back onto our feet and put a smile back into our heart. I feel motivated, reconnected. I am touched by another.

Fusion
Observation is the neutral, still and invisible. It remains internal and non-reactive. Motivation is active, outgoing and visible. Pure Observation can lead to Pure Motivation. Pure Stillness is Pure Movement. By the fusion, or dissolving of the duality of observation and motivation we can find the ‘doing without doing’. Through this fusion we can find the sustaining power which can keep us attuned to our Destiny, providing strength of Will to ‘carry on’ and be empowered by adversity, a motivational Power much more steady than the sporadic motivation of little mind. The Observer, quiet and calm can blend with the action of the Doer. Stillness within movement and movement within Stillness. This is the essence of our Qigong practice. We practice our external movements and internal movements while remaining in an open, powerful energy field of responsive Stillness.

Practice
How much time do we spend each day doing what makes us feel good, a genuine sense of well-being? If we spend more time every day feeling good, wouldn’t there be less time for not feeling good? And the more we practice what makes us happy, the less we practice what makes us not happy. Lists usually make it easier to go shopping or get the chores done. Why not make a list of what makes you feel really good and do that list every day. Being asked the right question can be very motivating, we want the answer to give us a sense of well-being, truthful. Feel free to write your own list, but here are a few suggestions, you can start with:
I will…
Smile at everyone I met, today.
Commit at least one random act of kindness.
Practice Qigong.
Meditate.
Enjoy a relaxed meal that I feel good about.
Get enough sleep.
Tell my family and friends how much I love them.
Here are six questions asked by Zoroaster, one of our great Avatars:
Did I do everything I should do, today?
Did I do something I should not have done, today?
Did I think pure thoughts, today?
Did I think thoughts that I should not have thought, today?
Did I say what I should say, today?
Did I say what I should not have said, today?

Pure Thoughts, Pure Words and Pure Acts.

This edition of Friends of the Way has been inspired by Qigong Tracker. I hope you will find inspiration and motivation to practice your well-being, and sign up on Qigong Tracker to be a part of this new community.

To each of you, my affection and gratitude for being a part of my Life.

Peace, Paul

P.S. Please forward to me, links of Jewish inspiration. The link I put on the blog is from a Maggid who told a Taoist story in this summer’s edition of Parabola.