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Meandering
Through the Void
with further
reading @
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Compiled
with those in mind who, like me, need to rely upon self discipline
to be the great teacher for longer than otherwise might be
prefered.
 PREAMBLE.
Ray would Say: "Shallow people will only find shallow
water" and "Always be prepared to put more into
your practice than you will ever take out". The Ray that
I refer to is Raymond Wood, my former Tai Chi teacher.
When
we set up the taichido web-site we drew considerably upon
text provided by Ray. He had written a 200+ A4 page book
called simply "Tai Chi Chuan". This document had
hitherto been published only as home DTP and mainly given
away to friends. The majority of the first pieces published
at taichido.com were taken from that DTP book.
Most
of Ray's articles @taichido.com
have been superseded with re-writes on the same or similar
themes - by Mark or me - and now there are only feint traces
of Ray @taichido.com.
In most instances all that remains of the originals is the
title or theme.
So we
stand now alone, independent and self-sufficient; yet we
are still inspired by Ray to develop taichido.com as a free
online resource and we try to be - a virtual teacher - or
a teacher between teachers.
Ray
would also say that every subject under the sun has the
potential to be a possible start point in a new journey
of personal discovery. Unfortunately, one never knows what
is worthy of further study until one has studied it! It
would be nice to know where to start, wouldn't it? A Great
Teacher; that's what we all need isn't it? One each, that
would be nice! But then, even better one each … forever.
Taichido.com tries to fill that gap between our everyday
reality (the do-able) and our outrageous expectations.
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Preable
to "Meandering"
The pieces I present here as "Meandering" are
re-writes (in the same comprehensive manner as pieces
from Ray's DTP book) of very short pieces roughly
typed and photocopied 2 per A4 page on recycled scrap.
They were then left (way back in the early 90's) stacked
near the door of the training room in a take it or
leave it fashion. It is only now, more than a decade
later that I begin to appreciate the depth and helpfulness
of Rays unspoken and 'not worth publishing' words.
And so now, just as I did in the new articles on the
web-site, I simply say it all again in my own way
and leave them here in our virtual dojo those in the
same boat as me. For anyone who, like me, is currently
unable to benefit from the personal instruction and
guidance of a great teacher and for those who, just
like me, need to rely upon self-discipline to be the
great teacher for longer than we might otherwise prefer.
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Meandering
1
The
continuous movement of the Tao
follows certain principles. Tai Chi imitates or
manifests these principles.
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Meandering
5:
Tai
Chi cannot be practised using the rational mind. Beginners
try to make the movements with their minds, and they
cannot. Hands,
feet, timing, balance, speed etc. - these cannot all
be controlled by the mind. Just leave the body alone!
When you do not interfere with it your body will move
spontaneously and naturaly with the Tao.
Meandering
6:
The Tao is the Void to which all things come to and
come from. The nature of the Void is silence and emptiness.
Tai
Chi is physical imitation of the Tao and for this reason
you should go to it alone. |
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Meandering
7:
The Oriental discipline of Tai Chi must not be considered
as either a hobby or a sport. In each case the essence
of the art would be lost and render it to be of
no benefit, perhaps harmful; probably pointless.
Meandering
8:
You will not gain wisdom from books or words, on screen,
in print or spoken. Only experience can give you knowledge.
The Tai Chi person does not waste too much time talking
because the best help and assistance is given by example.
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In
Buddhism, "emptiness" is called sunyata.
click
here for "Shunyata"
link
Sunyata, (Sanskrit, Pali: suññata), or "Emptiness,"
is a term for an aspect of the Buddhist metaphysical
critique as well as Buddhist epistemology and phenomenology.
Shunyata signifies that everything one encounters
in life is empty of soul, permanence, and self-nature.
Everything
is inter-related, never self-sufficient or independent;
nothing
has independent reality. Yet
shunyata never connotes nihilism, which Buddhist doctrine
considers to be a delusion, just as it considers materialism
to be a delusion. see also:
Meandering
17
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Meandering
9:
 If
you have any reason whatsoever for doing Tai Chi - you
are not doing the sort of Tai Chi that does you the
most good. You must study until reasons disappear. Only
then will it flow from your nature and be 'your' Tai
Chi. Study without goal to become one with the movements
- and you 'are' Tai Chi and not just 'doing' Tai Chi.
This art is not something you can do; it is something
you must be. "Home" is defined as both a place of arrival
and a place of departure. Have no interest in where
Tai Chi might take you or when you will arrive - wherever.
Meandering
12:
The simple in-out  breaths
of Tai Chi Form are imitations of the Great Breath of
Tao; therefore correct breathing is central to Tai Chi
Form. To
do it "correctly" is to 'tune in' to the rhythm of the
Tao.
Tai
Chi breath must be deep, full, spontaneous and natural
and in accordance with the yin
and yang movements of the body.
Meandering
16:
The Tao is emptiness, nothingness, the Void. From the
Void comes all that is. Nature is emptiness. Nature
is nothing-much-ness and everything-ness!
Tai Chi is ... not trying to be anything; it
is just 'being'.
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Meandering
10:
The ability to increase the efficiency of the respiratory
system is real health benefits derived from the practice
of Tai Chi as a dance like art Form.  This
is not to say there is anything wrong with "Chuan"
as this includes all of that and more. It's just that
the fighting forms go a little beyond the necessary
for the average westerner who, let's be honest, are
not called upon to lay there lives on the line every
day of the week!
Form
practice concentrates upon techniques that utilise
this increased capacity over the long term; Chuan
adaptations can produce instantaneous bursts of energy.
In the case of the latter, energy may also be 'stolen'
from an opponent.
Meandering
13:
Get rid of those things around you that  shine
so brightly that they disturb and cause discomfort to
others. The Tai Chi person should at least attempt to
merge with the Tao - which is - to be as humble as dust.
The accomplishments of a Tai Chi person should thus
not dazzle or cause resentment in others.
Meandering
17:
Empty yourself of ego, ambition, attachment and fixed
ideas about the way the world is. It is ... as it is.
Come to terms with this Truth
(it is as it is) and life can be faced with tranquility
and be neither pessimistic or optimistic
...
just realistic.
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 Meandering
11:
In tradition Chinese and Japanese landscape paintings
there are usually mountains, valleys and rivers. Somewhere
on one the winding paths or in a boat on one of the
rivers there might be a tiny human figure. High in the
mountains there will be a temple. The mountains represent
Yang, the valleys Yin. The river represents the flow
of Chi energy through the world. The winding path is
the Tao, the Way. The temple represents oneness with
the Universe.
Meandering
14:
 You
can feel emptiness. You can hear silence.
You can do tai chi -
you decide - whenever.
Meandering
15:
The Universe is impartial and follows certain principles
in its movement.
Be
in accord with these principles and the Universe will
provide you with all that you need. "Draw
from it all you wish; it will never run dry".
Meandering
18:
When the mind, body and soul
(some may say 'spirit') become united in the Tan
Tien (Chi center) you may, like a
tree; and with deep roots and extending branches become
a connection between heaven and earth - and be as one
with all things. |
"Draw
from it all you wish; it will never run dry".
Tao Te Ching verse 06 @
thebigview.com
"The nature and meaning of the Tao received its
first full exposition in the Tao
Te Ching of Laozi, a work which along with those
of Confucius and Mencius would have a far-reaching
effect on the intellectual, moral and religious life
of the Chinese people. Although a book of practical
wisdom in many ways, its profoundly metaphysical character
was unique among the prevailing forms of thought in
China at that time."
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 Meandering
19: The
ancient Taoist believed that we all had only so much "essence"
and breath was considered one of the most vital and precious
of these essences. They believed that when one's breath became
completely depleted ... one died. Therefore, the breathing
techniques used in co-ordination with Tai Chi movement exercises
are specifically designed to persevere what breath we do have
and continue to further expand the lungs so more breath might
be produced, accumulated and stored.
Meandering
20: I
learnt how to play the guitar when I was a teenager and
then, for a year or two, about a decade later, I earned
a living as a jobbing musician. These days I earn my living
away from recording devices and PA systems. Nevertheless,
here and now another couple of decades later, rarely does
a day go by without me being inclined to find a room in
the house where I can be alone for just half an hour or
so and simply "play guitar".
There
should come a time when you can say that you "play" Tai
Chi and not forever "practie" it.
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