Flying Tiger Progress Report
We are 15 days into training. According to the rules of the process, the practice is not to be pursued within 24 hours of having sex or during an illness, so we have had to omit a couple of sessions.
There is a point near the end of the routine that involves punching oneself in the belly. Usually I opt for a light tap. Last night when I performed that portion of the routine, it sent heat spreading out in all directions from the point of impact–the first time I’ve ever felt an effect from that. It has continued in most sessions since.
Most recently in our session, I switched to the proper holding up heaven hand placement instead of simply holding weight overhead. The first night doing so was excruciating, pain down to the layer of bone in my forearms. I had to lower my arms three times during the five minutes.
I expected the same to happen the next night. Instead, I used my 49 breaths in groups of seven. Seven to draw in energy, seven to circulate. Two sets and I wasn’t bad off. I forced myself to start the third, then I was nearly through it, close to the end. I started the last seven and the gong sounded, but I finished out the set.
More flashes of hot and cold pains and the feeling that I was dripping sweat, when really I broke a light sweat, accompanied the effort. Sitting meditation brought a filmy haze that seemed to fill my field of vision, relent, break into bubbles, then reappear. I observed the effect and assured myself they weren’t auras or resulting from changes in focus.
I was amazed by the number of things my mind sorts through in the short space of time. As soon as we finished, we went to wash our hands and I was hit by an intense nausea that lasted several minutes. I got a cup of tea and it tasted like tobacco. I had no idea that three hours later I’d be writhing in pain, firmly in the grip of a bout of food poisoning. Now I wonder if the things I experienced were part of the illness. The following night I was much better, but came out of holding up heaven with severe stomach pain and nausea again.
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