Canadian Seijaku training yields 13 newly-accredited Seijaku teachers

April 27 – 29, 2001

By Margo Carpenter, Course Host

On the weekend of April 27-29, 13 Seijaku candidates and four auditing teachers came together to join Ed Altman for a most valuable immersion into the world of Seijaku and the Maximum Chi Program. We even managed to have lovely weather to go with our superb three days of concentrated T’ai Chi Chih practice (we began with a half-day renewal) and Seijaku training!

The Seijaku training gave us all the opportunity to look a little closer at what is going on in our own TCC practices. Are we shifting the weight properly? Are we maintaining our alignment? Do we allow the knees to soften before shifting the weight? Are we leading with the T’an T’ien and not the shoulders? Or have we fallen victim to carelessness and inattention to these basic principles? Seijaku brought the answers to these questions clearly into focus for each of us.

Someone asked the question “Are we pushing against an inner force or an outer force?” Ed’s reply was a thoughtful — “Both”. As we worked with this thought more questions arose for me. Was the barrier we pushed against actually constructed by ourselves? Were we pushing though our own self-imposed limitations, fears and doubts? Or was this wall erected by others — designed out of misunderstanding or prejudice and built to hold us back, or keep us safely out of the way? Which walls were higher? Which were stronger?

For some of us our biggest walls come from within — a lack of confidence, a feeling of powerlessness, perhaps even a sense of unworthiness. What a breakthrough indeed to burst through these barriers and catch hold of our true selves; strong, capable and entirely wondrous. Is this not where the true power of a personal Seijaku practice lies?

As the training continued, further questions began to surface regarding what kind of baggage we carry around with us. Baggage (or tensions) that we just can’t seem to set down even when we have the opportunity to unload. An image came to my mind of the very small entrance to a walled fortress surrounding the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Israel. As with the biblical gate referred to as the “Eye of the Needle”, this tiny four foot high entrance demands the removal of all burdens from the backs of the camels before they can lower themselves to crawl through the entrance. How often do we find ourselves acting like the contrary camel that refuses to lower himself and let someone help remove the impossible burdens before entering through the gate?

It is this same stripping away of the added burdens we carry with us that makes it possible for Seijaku to carry us further into the heart of the “Holy City”. Are you ready to step through that tiny entrance? Well, there are 13 newly accredited Seijaku instructors who have done just that. They now turn to you and beckon you to join them on the journey into the inner city.

Attendees comment

. . . It was a fantastic weekend. I am now doing blended practices most mornings. I’m enjoying the Seijaku — but I’ll say this. It’s not for sissies! . . .

– Terri Manuck

. . . I really enjoyed the course, the place and the company. I have finally begun to embrace Seijaku after a week. At first everything seemed foreign, but now it is falling into place and is a great help and joy. . . .

– Lynn Shaw-Ringham

I’ve just returned to Planet Earth after having participated in the Seijaku Training held in Edmonton, Canada. . . . I will remember, and cannot say enough about, the warmth and generous spirit of each person in the group. I was a stranger in their country and yet felt so at home that I might have been with family or friends I’d known for a lifetime. The Teh [power of inner sincerity] was strong. But then such Inner Sincerrity is to be expected — but never taken for granted — in members of the TCC Community.

I learned so much that it will take a forever to absorb. I’m glad to have Justin’s tape on Seijaku so that I can continue the learning process. During the Training I often thought of Dan Pienciak’s comment that learning Seijaku helped him to understand the “softness” in TCC. That is the biggest and most helpful beginning lesson that I also learned. The rest will come in its’ time. Ed was as usual very giving, very sensitive, and very patient. He seemed to know exactly where each person was in their progress, always encouraging the growth. I continue to be impressed with him and with the combination of his youth and his awareness. . . . Thank you Ed, and thank you Justin for the great gift of TCC and Seijaku.

– Lucia Veteran