I think I will try Qigong out, as my main practice. I definitely enjoy it more and I dont feel so forced into it. I still have a bit of a bad taste left in my mouth around the western zen culture but I’ve decided to continue with my shorter sitting periods, as they have been beneficial in moderation.
I cant exclude that I may have been a victim of poor logistical planning on the monasteries part as well and I plan of giving them some constructive feedback about my stay so that others wont have the same experience.

I’m sorry you had such a bad experience. The teacher who insisted that you “to be with the pain” was being irresponsible. He should have known better. You did the right thing by leaving.

I hope you won’t write off all meditation teachers or schools as a result. There are definitely better teachers out there. In the meantime, I think qigong would be a great fit for you.

Quiescent sitting meditation confers benefits that other forms of meditation do not, including moving meditation. However, many people miss these benefits anyway and would do better with standing and/or moving meditation.

This article may be helpful: https://flowingzen.com/17793/what-if-you-could-meditate-without-all-that-sitting-around/

Does it have the same benifits..brainwise. ie theta waves and calming.

Sitting meditation seems to be causing me conflict mentally. Think of this not that..i keep thinking of that…arggh.. etc

What do you think.

I been using the headspace app.

Hi Justin. I think you misunderstood my point. Just because you have energy blockages (most of us do) doesn’t mean you can’t practice sitting meditation. You can.

But for people with severe blockages, dynamic qigong is a much safer and also more productive choice. For you, because of the Type 1 diabetes, I think qigong would make a wonderful addition to your tool box. In fact, I think it should be one of your main practices! Try it for a year and you’ll see!

Thank you for this post. The counsel you offer seems very sound. It leaves me wondering, though. I’ve been practicing meditation for a few years now with a therapist–though my practice is probably more in line with the sort of “magazine tip” you mention, it’s been hugely helpful in many ways, not just mentally and emotionally but physically as well, as it’s given me an awareness of my physicality that I had ignored and neglected for so long. I’m thinking of looking for a teacher to work with in person. I haven’t had the resources, and so have mostly used free, online guided meditations and read lots of books.

I’m sorry because I’m sure you address this question every day (in fact I saw your blog post on “Can qigong heal x-rare-condition?” My question (today) regards one warning you give in particular, under section 5. I understand what you’re saying about the need for both physical and mental preparation. What puzzles me a bit is a statement in section five:
“If you still have pain, if you have any type of illness, if you take any kind of medication — then you are still dealing with energy blockages.”

I’m a type-1, insulin-dependent diabetic since age 15, though any number of chronic diseases/illnesses might produce the same question. When I read the above statement, it seems to suggest that as long as I’m taking my insulin I can’t–and perhaps shouldn’t?–consider sitting meditation as a practice to develop toward. I don’t need to tell you how quickly, without insulin, blood and body chemistry can become life-threateningly toxic. For me, it can happen in a matter of hours.

Perhaps I’m missing the larger point, which is that qigong and Chinese medicinal practices can help to clear the energy blockages which are (presumably) behind my illness in the first place. Is the path to healing for someone with a condition like mine require a shift in belief so profound that (theoretically) I’d no longer need insulin, and could then consider approaching sitting meditation?

I know that, as someone without a teacher (beyond my psychologist who is helping me to develop my meditation/mindfulness practice), I’m putting the cart before the horse, and definitely I shouldn’t “worry” about it. I’m just sincerely curious. Thank you very much for your websites and teaching. I am very grateful!

Hi Laralyn. Sitting crosslegged, or kneeling in the Japanese seiza posture, doesn’t impeded qi flow; it focuses it like a lens. That’s why it’s so advanced.

As for sitting meditation being required for taijiquan, I’d like to see that statement in context. Some taijiquan masters practiced sitting meditation, but many did not, or at least didn’t mention it.

There’s definitely no need for taijiquan beginners or even intermediate students to practice sitting meditation. If you enjoy it, and if it doesn’t cause other problems, then definitely do your sitting meditation. But it’s not for everyone. 🙂

I also wonder if you have heard this before: The book *Taijiquan: The Art of Nurturing, the Science of Power* says, “Sitting meditation is considered an essential practice for realizing the gong of ling [the agile movement of a coordinated mind and body].” A seeming paradox — quiescent seated meditation as sine qua non for Taiji form!

Many thanks 🙂 ~Lara

Hi David. I’m glad that you found something that works for you.

I am speaking for myself. Sitting meditation didn’t work for me.

I’m also speaking for my students — thousands of them — who have told me the same thing.