Dear Burton,

 

I just want to share with you some of my thoughts and reflections after our session last week.

 

In summary, it was one of the best hours I've ever experienced in my life - truly magical and enlightening! During the next 24 hours I was in an "after shock" - I couldn't believe that, after such a short session with you, with the help of a bucket and a few tennis balls, I actually did have a glimpse of, or a firm grip on the mental and physical state of being present. The secret that I've been actively and constantly searching for the past 10 years! I've read countless books on the topic, from well known authors, self-help gurus, to philosophers. What frustrated me was that at the time of reading, the principles all made sense, but were very hard to apply in the real life situations, such as under stress, pressure or being angry. It feels as if I was walking on the sidewalk, while the solutions offered by these books are up on the roof top - they are parallel but unreachable, you see them, you understand them, but there was no way to reach them - at least no easy way.

 

After the session, the light bulb just flashed in my head - the pursuit of presence, and therefore a better quality of life can be achieved through your scientific approach! That's exactly what you have done! You've broken down a very complex concept into a simple, doable process in which the code was translated into a set of practical exercises that everyone is capable of doing. The result is crystal clear focus, and a sense of presence, leading to a new way of thinking - a state which I achieved only occasionally in the past, through long meditation and persistent yoga practices, among other pursuits. The fact that within a matter of minutes I witnessed dramatic change in results was truly amazing!

 

So if I had to describe your practice in one word, what came to my mind was "bridge" - you offered a tangible link between folks striving for improved quality of life and a large body of philosophical and self-improvement teaching that is great in theory, but nearly impossible to apply in practice.

 

What I have discovered along the way (a fringe benefit) was while I have always considered myself to be a person with an open mind and one who embraces change, I was quite resistant, judgemental and stubborn without knowing it when changes were presented or my old way of thinking was challenged. I was somewhat upset after awaking to this disappointing fact. When you pointed out that only after I have this realization would I be able to become more open, it closed the loop in terms of my experience and learning.

 

Thank you for this valuable lesson! Like you said, my old pattern was broken and that really caused me to stop and think - I appreciate it.

 

Tao