Dear one,
I’ve recently returned from Thailand. Part of my travel I’ve spent in Tao Garden. This home base of Mantak Chia in Thailand, has been created more than 35 years ago with the intention to build community around the ancient teachings of Taoism which Mantak Chia has brought successfully to the Western world.
Today, the place looks a little run down, kinda stuck in the 80s. Some smaller and some major renovations are definitely needed. Besides the fact that Mantak Chia has turned into a well oiled business machine that creates distance and brings rather impersonal energy than personal energy, while energetically the place radiates calmness, peace and tranquility.
The moment I choose my own path
When I take the sales pitch away I can spot the pure intentions which were the initial driving force behind this project. They got their own (quite dogmatic) system which I am sure will keep on living way beyond Mantak Chia’s death. He has created an important legacy to this world and for that he may forever be respected. What I’m also noticing is an old man who loses his train of thought every other moment, starts a meditation only to suddenly ramble about something unrelated, and repeats himself endlessly. Despite his charismatic presence, he’s no longer able to truly hold space for the group.
I forced myself to sit through the first 10 hours of class hoping to catch something of value. And there definitely were interesting bits and pieces here and there that gave me new missing links or affirmed my own path. However, after day 3 I decided to quit the rest of the course and to invest it into my well-being instead.
It’s been a tough decision for many reasons. There is always the fear of missing out and the part that says I should have tried longer, sit through it, be humble and learn from the grand master. The rebellious part in me though, that doesn’t want to bow down to authority just because everyone else does, took the lead at the end and helped me together with my spiritual mother to make this brave decision—to stand up and leave and choose my own path instead.
When it just doesn't click
I’ve always been more of an experimental learner rather than someone that sits through long lectures. I need to feel, to touch, to be able to express my self's in order to receive in depth learning that is not only captured by the first brain (the mind) but also by the other two brains (the heart and the chi).
Just as the regular school system has not been the environment for me to thrive, the format of this coursed paired with the confusing way master Mantak Chia was sharing his knowledge has not stimulated me enough to sit it through.
My takeaways and the learnings I have received are happening outside the lecture hall and come in unexpected forms and shapes. Only, when we step away from what doesn’t serve us we can attract again the people and offerings that are more in alignment with our path.
What I did instead
Through a beautiful older lady from Switzerland that has been here for 3 months to recover from the recent death of her husband, I have been connected to a Thai man with Indian roots that has a little health center combining Ayurveda and Taoism.
Instead of following Mantak Chia's lectures, I have done a juice fast, a colon & liver cleanse combined with abdominal & Thai massage and I have received a good amount of shirodhara treatments instead (warm oil customized for me with different herbs and essential oils being poured over my forehead for about an hour to relax the central nervous system and to open the third eye).
These treatments have been out of this world: I connected with my dead grandmother and with my dear friend that took her life some years ago. Both of them gave me personal messages, beautiful insights and showed me that all is perfect the way it is. I danced with my own sexual energies, felt the chi (life force energy) spiraling up and down my spine and experienced multiple valley orgasms. I’ve experienced sexual alchemy the way it's described in Mantak Chia's books—just differently than expected.
When it doesn’t resonate…
When we find ourselves in a situation that doesn’t fully resonate with our being it is important to first listen to all the parts that want to voice themselves, take care of the vulnerabilities and then get back to our central self. Because that’s the place from which we can make decisions that are aligned with our core essence. From there, all will flow just magically and opportunities will unfold that could not have been planned beforehand. Just breath, feel all that is moving through you, connect to your heartbeat and trust, trust, trust…
