Aloha All,
I'd be amiss to not say that having attended a Level Two class, event, or gone through the deluxe home study course does not mean one is ready for the Level Three/"Higher Energy" class.
Like JayK working on his/her sitting meditation to prepare, Level Three isn't so much like Levels One and Two where you can do it back-to-back, practicing the steps/exercises and then building your skills after the class. In Level Three/"Higher Energy," you build on the skills and experience from having been doing the Level One, and even more so, the Level Two healing work.
Now Chunyi doesn't sit at the door checking energy levels and booting out those below a certain level, and yes, I know a handful of people that took Levels 1-4 over a period of a couple months because they had the time and the resources to do so. Where are they at in their work? Level One, most of them.
Just know coming into the class that it is a Level Three class, and a big part is generated from the questions regarding your practice and experience(as is Level Four). Yes there is training and meditations, but different than One and Two, you are building from your confidence and experience, rather than learning a series of exercises or healing process.
Don't be intimidated, you come to the class however, and at whatever skill level you are at. You'll receive benefit from being there. Some things may click, and others you may just not be able to experience.
I get quite a few emails asking what I'd recommend a person do or be able to do to be ready for Level Three, and again for Level Four. My answers tend to be something like:
Level Three - Show Up. If it's something you are drawn to do, sign up and get there.
- Wear layers - bring blankets. Whether you're inside during a winter class, or sitting along the beach during a Level Four water meditation, wear layers of clothing to adjust as needed, and bring a pillow or comfortable blankets to sit on and keep your knees and body warm during sometimes drafty meditation conditions.
- Be loving, kind, and forgiving to others and yourself. You may get to the class and some people are seeing incredible images, smelling incense, and feeling intense sensations during their practice. You are perfect experiencing what you are, and are not. Appreciate that. You may find yourself in meditation next to someone who's snoring, grinding their teeth, yawning, shaking, or has an odor. Appreciate that and bring yourself back to your mediation. Your intention may be to be still in a certain posture throughout the meditation, and you don't make it to the end. Appreciate that and bring yourself back to the mediation.
- Practice, practice, practice detecting at every opportunity Sick plant, kid, limping person in the park, your colleague's headache, etc.
- Practice, practice, practice the healing steps. "I don't have anyone to work on" isn't accurate. Stand in front of the mirror each morning after brushing your teeth, detect, and do the healing process on yourself.
- Spend time doing the hour-long version of the Small Universe meditation. The Sun and Moon meditations in Level Three are an hour long, and depending on the group, Chunyi may go a bit longer. "Can we have a shorter meditation tonight?" isn't respectful request to those who have put in the time. If you want to be done with the meditation, quietly go out of the room, or lay back on the floor and continue it while sleeping - it doesn't matter to Chunyi or the person next to you.
- Be respectful to others attending a Level Three class This isn't the place to ask whether you're doing a certain Level One or Two exercise correctly. If you have a question regarding these, retake that class, go back to your manual/course, or call for free coaching at Learning Strategies if you purchaced their home study course. Master Lin may or may not answer the question since he has Level Three materials to cover and build on. The exception here, is the 6-day Learning Strategies Spring Forest Qigong Retreat. Even though it goes into some Level Three material and even topics not taught in Level 1-4 classes, it is also set up to take questions and review Levels One and Two, so you can become more solid in your skills.
- Choose one or more days to do an apple fast during the class. Stick to what you've chosen - no more, no less.
Level Four - Same as above
- Spend time doing longer meditations.
- Start working on that lotus sitting posture if you haven't already. Yes, there will probably only be one or two people in the whole group doing it, but there isn't a better time to receive the added energetic assistance during it than when Master Lin is walking around sending energy.
- Close your mouth and open your heart. Yes, ask your questions of Chunyi, and take advantage of the opportunity of being in that energy to have quiet to yourself time, rather than expending the energy always looking to talk to someone.
Much Love, Shawn