The following is taken from Edward's book “Waking up in the World”. This is a brief introduction to the deeper teachings shared here at The Tree.
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To navigate the waking path safely and effectively, especially in the beginning, it’s helpful to have a framework. In this teaching we will explore three core aspects of an embodied waking path through ten guiding principles. You can see this represented in the teaching mandala symbol with three concentric circles symbolising the three core aspects, surrounded by ten petals, symbolising the ten guiding principles.
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The three core aspects
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Aspect One: Recognition of our true nature — Through engaging with specific teachings and practices, we will recognise our true nature as aware presence. Through abiding as aware presence in meditation we discover the true source of natural happiness, security and inner peace.
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Aspect Two: Human growth and learning — This includes healing at the level of the body, nervous system, energy and mind. It involves learning how to heal past core psychological wounds and tensions in our body and mind, how to create new neural pathways in our brain and how to positively imprint the subconscious mind so that it starts working for us, rather than against us.
Aspect Three: Action in the world — This includes bringing our awakened understanding into all areas of our daily life, including our home life, personal relationships, community and choice of work. It also includes discovering and expressing our life purpose in a way that is in harmony with our planet.
The Ten Guiding Principles
The 10 guiding principles
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Principle One: Psyche — In this first principle, we’ll be exploring the basic territory of our psyche (pronounced sy-kee) in a simple way and from a yogic perspective. ‘Psyche’, a Greek word that means ‘soul’, refers to the less visible part of who we are. On our waking path, it’s important that we understand what the psyche is and what it’s made up of, as this is where all our inner healing and transformational work takes place. Knowledge of the psyche also helps us to understand the reason why we need the waking path and the rich potential of the yoga, meditation, intention and contemplation practices explored in this teaching.
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Principle Two: Meditation — Imagine that we want to chop wood, but our axe is blunt and rusty. It wouldn’t work very well. We would need to clean the axe and sharpen it so that it works. In the same way, if we want to use our mind effectively, then it needs training. Mindfulness is considered one of the best ways to do this. In this principle, we will learn the theory of the practice, some of the science that supports it, variations of the technique and how mindfulness prepares us for actual meditation and Self-enquiry.
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Principle Three: Intention — In this principle, we will explore how to harness the power of the mind to support us on our waking path. This involves a practice that creates new neural pathways in the brain and positively imprints our subconscious mind in such a way that it starts working for us in the background of our life. This supports the fulfil[1]ment of our heart’s deepest intentions on both an inner and outer level.
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Principle Four: Physical Body — When we are engaged in the trans[1]formational process of the waking path, it’s much more enjoyable if we are relaxed in our bodies and have good all-round physical health. If we are not feeling well or we’re stressed a lot of the time, we will lack the motivation, energy and discipline to engage lovingly with our daily practice routine. If we’re constantly worrying about our health, it consumes our thoughts, and we have little energy to focus on anything else. If we want to be a support to people in our life and our community, we also need to make sure that our own batteries are continually kept topped up through relaxing practices such as yoga, qigong and mindfulness.
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Principle Five: Subtle Body — According to the Indian yogic tradition, and in traditional Chinese medicine, as well as having a physical body we also have a more subtle ‘energy’ body. In this principle, we will explore what this is, and why it’s important on the waking path. We’ll learn how to harness its power, to benefit all areas of our inner and outer life, and to reveal our innate wisdom qualities.
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Principle Six: Compassion — In this principle, we’ll explore how expanding our circle of compassion helps us to avoid turning the waking path and our meditation practice into a selfish pursuit, as this would be taking us in the wrong direction. We’ll see how compassion practice is a powerful way to heal our body and mind, and to come home to the truth of oneness. We’ll also learn specific practices that can help us to cultivate compassion for ourselves, our loved ones and our community.
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Principle Seven: Healing — In this principle, we will learn how to heal and transform psychological core wounds in our body and mind. We will also discover that we already have the resources within to do this. This principle will help us to see that our inner and outer challenges can be a catalyst for our growth in wisdom on the waking path. As the Zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh taught, ‘Without the mud, there would be no lotus flower.’
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Principle Eight: Relationships — Having loving, connected relationships is one of our basic human needs and is, therefore, a big part of our lives. As we engage with our waking path, the changes we go through will impact all of our relationships. This is ultimately for good, but it can also come with its own set of challenges. In this principle, we’ll learn how to navigate these challenges in the best way possible. We will also see how the quality of our relationships is the litmus test for progress with our psychological healing and human growth.
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Principle Nine: Planet Earth — In this principle, we will see the direct connection between waking up and our impact on our planet. We will come to recognise our true relationship with the natural world and explore practical ways to honour this truth in our daily life.
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Principle Ten: Daily Practice — In the last principle, we will see how the practice of all the principles comes together through cultivating a short daily practice and living our life mindfully, one day at a time. We will learn how, by taking good care of today and implementing some new, good daily habits, we can trust that tomorrow will look after itself. We will learn ways to cultivate a daily movement, meditation and intention practice, and develop a way of life aligned with the wisdom teachings for what brings us true happiness, inner peace and deeper purpose in life.