The Energy That Wants to Disappear Welcome to the first day of Sloth and Torpor. This is one of the quietest hindrances.
Not loud with shame. Not loud with pressure.
Sloth and torpor don’t shout. They whisper. They pull us into stillness that isn’t restful—just heavy.
Sometimes it’s the body is saying: “Let me shut down for a while.”
But if we meet that pull with gentleness and not resistance? It can reveal something softer underneath.
We often think sloth and torpor mean we’re failing: We are too lazy, not focused enough, not spiritual enough etc.
These states aren’t moral flaws. They’re energy in hiding.
Sometimes, this dullness masks something tender underneath: Sadness, fear, even longing.
Qigong doesn’t try to fix or push through that. Instead, it invites warmth, breath and a slow returning.
Rather than lighting a fire, we warm a candle. Rather than forcing alertness, we sto and explore: What does this heaviness need? What is it protecting?
In presence, even the fog has texture. Even numbness has shape.
Ask yourself: What is this fog made of? Is there tiredness? Is it sadness? What am I protecting?
Now just listen without pressure to answer. Notice even in dullness that there is awareness. Even here, you are still present.
Meet your fatigue with kindness. Even in the fog, awareness is waiting. I’ll see you next week, Leia
Filmed in the temple grounds in Wudang, China
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Video Summary
AI Generated
This session focuses on addressing \"sloth and torpor,\" the fourth hindrance. Rather than viewing laziness or fatigue as failures, the guide encourages participants to see these feelings as protective mechanisms for underlying emotions like grief or disappointment. Through a combination of Qi Gong exercises and mindful contemplation, practitioners learn to observe these states without shame or guilt.
Welcome. Today's day one of sloth and torpor,
the fourth hindrance. Sloth and torpor,
it feels dull and heavy.
Sometimes we might think that we're failing
because we're lazy.
We don't feel like doing it. We're too tired.
But in fact, it's hiding something else.
Sloth and torpor could be hiding.
Sadness, grief, a longing.
Disappointment. So I want you to use
this week to ask yourself what is sloth
and torpor trying to protect.
Don't shame yourself for not wanting to practice.
Don't guilt yourself
because you're not wanting to practice or you're too tired
or making yourself feel bad because you're lazy.
Just be aware that something
is behind that and that part of you is trying to protect you because of
Because of something else.
You don't have to answer it today,
you just have to bring awareness to it
and as I've already told you, make space for it.
Now we'll begin the Qi Gong part of today.
A gentle reminder to be sitting on the edge of your chair,
drop your hands, collecting lots and lots of energy
and putting it into the belly.
On day one we begin
with the two hands holding up the heavens.
Six, 12, 18 times, as many as you'd like to stretch.
Turn, breathe in, and then breathe out.
Using the opposing leg to help you do the twist at the waist.
Don't move your knees.
Depending on how much time you have,
you can choose how many repetitions you will do.
It
might
feel
hard,
and
you
might
feel
lazy.
Having your hands above
your head is very good.
For your lungs, it even builds your cardiovascular
system, explore why you feel so lazy, why
it feels like you're so tired, keep your hands up,
I've already lost count, I'm just going
to keep going because
today it's about exploring
that feeling of tiredness.
Okay, bring the hands down, sink the chi, collecting the energy.
Now this part you can
do for as long
or as short as you like.
You could have very
long meditations
in between each of these exercises
or shorter ones just five or six breaths.
Depends on how
much time you have. Now let's
do the teeth clacking 24 times.
Keep the lips closed.
Let's begin.
Good.
Drop the hands.
Collect
the energy.
Sitting
in mindful
contemplation.
Now we're going to flick
the fingers behind the ears.
You can either rest
the extra fingers on your head
or simply let them stand up.
I'm going to turn around once more
and try to give you another view of how I do this.
This time I've tied my hair up
better so you can see my hands.
24 times.
Bring the hands down, energy into the belly.
Drop the hands, sink the chi, collecting the energy,
bringing it into the heart this time,
settling it in the belly.
And now we will begin the mindful contemplation of sloth
and torpor.
Where does this show up in your life?
Don't look at it with any shame or guilt or trying to fix it.
Does it happen when you want to practice tai chi,
but your body feels too heavy?
Are you feeling a dullness in your life?
In your body, in your mind,
that prevents you from doing the activities that you want
to do, ask yourself what's behind it.
But don't worry about getting the answer.
Now let's sit for a moment in silence.
See what comes up.
Breathe with your belly.
Drop the hands, collecting the energy into the heart,
sending it and sharing it with
everyone in the group,
back into the heart and back down into the belly.
Thank you for joining me today.
And being open to walking hand in hand with sloth and torpor.
Without trying to fix anything, you're still here.
And you're building up so much awareness around
the patterns of your mind.
See you tomorrow.
