Tandem TCC Ensures a Regular Practice

As a spiritual seeker constantly searching for new ways to become what I truly am (a soul temporarily experiencing this body), I recently came across a meditation structure that I find both brilliant and effective. And I believe it may hold potential for our T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) community.

I was inspired by the meditation method created by Andrea Magrin, an Italian spiritual researcher. Although Andrea has gained considerable success in Italy, he has not yet developed any foreign branch of his work, so I cannot provide any English links to his structured resources. Nevertheless, the simplicity and organizational intelligence that are part of his approach are worth sharing here.

The Method: Simple, Structured, Effective

Magrin designed a very simple and effective meditation that combines body awareness with observation of the energy of feelings, pains, and desires. If you are curious about his sequence, see andreamagrin.com. Simplification is itself a form of procedural intelligence, something we need everywhere — especially along a spiritual path that is so often not graspable.

The Organizational Innovation

Magrin’s most striking innovation lies not only in the meditation itself but in how it is practiced. He invited his meditators to join a WhatsApp group. Today, more than 1,000 people participate. At any moment, day or night, one can simply make a request to the WhatsApp group: “Is anybody available for a connection 10/10 or 15/15?” (The numbers refer to the minutes available for practice. A 10/10, for example, represents a 20-minute practice with each partner leading for 10 minutes). Because of the sheer size of the group, within seconds someone responds.

Two participants then connect via video call, greet one another, decide who goes first, and alternate leading the meditation sequence for an agreed upon amount of time, 10 minutes each, for example. The results are extraordinary:

• The joy of meeting another seeker transforms meditation into a shared celebration.
• The sense of companionship increases regularity of practice.
• Shared responsibility empowers participants in managing this important aspect of their lives.
• Leading strengthens one’s articulation and understanding of inner experience, while following remains equally active in a receptive way.
• The process is immediate and informal — you can practice in pajamas, on vacation, or during early awakenings.
• Organizers need to only add newcomers; the participants sustain the rest.

• This tool is complementary: participants still practice on their own during the day.

Could This Work for TCC?

WhatsApp is free and available worldwide (wherever there is a Wi-Fi signal). For us, the adaptation would be straightforward. When people pair up to practice together, they would need to:

• Decide on the number of movements to share.

• Alternate leading, announcing each movement and perhaps adding one more at the end.
• Conclude by briefly sharing how we feel.

The simplicity and brevity of the format could encourage more regular practice, deepen our sense of community, and make our TCC even more accessible in daily life. I stress the importance of forming a very large group, to increase the probability of finding a practice partner. Formulating the meeting request, we will have two possibilities: Either ask for somebody now or propose an appointment (i.e., “Is anybody available for a 10/10 at 5 PM Eastern Time?”) Because this is an appointment to practice, not teaching, TCC students and teachers worldwide would be invited to participate.

Looking Ahead

Where do we go from here? I am not sure. Seek approval from our TCC leaders before experimenting further? I hope that in the near future we could build a TCC community without any language barrier by using a program that will provide simultaneous translated subtitles. For any comment or to provide your phone number to eventually join the WhatsApp group, contact me on WhatsApp at (39) 328-233-3875.

Editor’s Note: Justin would not have required that anyone seek “approval.” In a lateral, non-organization — where everyone enjoys equal authority and is responsible for themselves — I remind us to simply follow our inner sincerity and the principles of TCC. For myself, I have connected with Cristina; the Tandem TCC Group is live via Cristina’s WhatApp number.