Peaceful
Wolf T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Summer 2007 Newsletter
Recently I have been thinking about how
we try too hard. Becoming so concerned with achieving some
goal in our study that we lose sight of balance, of humor
and even of ourselves. The following piece from Chungliang
"Al" Huang's book Quantum Soup provides a thought
about this condition.
"Remember
as school children, when we were caught daydreaming, we
would quickly add a "thinking hard" grimace? If
we seemed to be showing an effort, it somehow made everything
okay. Anything that came easy like daydreaming couldn't
qualify as thinking. Concentrating had to be dismal, so
we made a painful face.
Look at Rodin's The Thinker. Ever since I was a child I
have had to suppress a personal vision of a man straining
on his potty! I know that popping muscles and bulging veins
don't always guarantee success in either thinking or in
that daily ritual. I have met so many congested "thinkers"
and as many unsuccessful "strainers" that I feel
the time for revelation is here.
Contrast Rodin's Thinker with the contemplating Buddha.
Do you see any sign of strain in the "awakened"
one? That, just as easily as Rodin's statute, could be a
model of either letting thoughts come or letting wastes
go. Both are natural functions, like breathing. Allow them
to happen.
Oddly, in the modern world we get so removed from our natural
state that we have to read books and take courses in how
to do natural things make love, give birth, dance . . .
.
Flip over this obsession for lesson taking to see how silly
it can become. Go outside and give lessons to nature. Explain
to the grass how to grow. Shout at the leaves to change
color in the fall. Entreat the flowers to bloom in the spring.
Require all birds to pass FAA license tests and give fish
Red Cross certificates.
Wait a minute. One last lesson. Sit quietly and contemplate
nature. Learn about nonstraining."
So as you practice your Taiji or Qigong or meditate don't try too hard. Don't strain for perfection. Allow the qi to flow. Allow yourself to flow with nature and the Tao. It is not trying. It just is.
Tzu-jan (nature) - that which is of itself so. You will progress farther and more quickly on your path by "nonstraining". Let go of your attachments and just be. Laugh at yourself and play Taiji.
BE PEACE,
David
PLEASE NOTE: I am no longer often sending
information by snail mail due to cost. I am using e-mail and
our web site where all of the notices and schedules are posted..
If you want to be removed from our mailing and e-mail lists
please notify me of that. You can write me at davidtai@peacefulwolftaichi.com.
Thank you.
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
9th ANNUAL WORLD TAIJI AND QIGONG DAY: As always
a wonderful sharing with our Taijiquan brothers and sisters
on this day AND the weather was great. The event was once
again organized well by Laddie Sacharko. I led the opening
warmup Qigong (The Life Prolonging) which went well. Jonas
Sanchez, Tony Suarez, , and I did an interesting demo showing
the development of individual postures in four Taijiquan styles.
The workshops were many and varied providing many opportunities
to expand your horizons. Plan to attend next year on April
26th. Mark your calendars now!
EXPERIENCING THE CLASSICS: We will begin the
study of "An Internal Explanation of the Thirteen Postures"
by Wu, Yu Xiang in June. This class is open to anyone wishing
to take it. It will fulfill the Classics requirement for advancing
to either Intermediate 2 or Advanced Classes. See flyer.
QIGONG CLASS: I will teach the Yi Yue Nei Gong
and T'ai Chi Ch'i Gong of Master Jou, Tsung Hwa this session.
The class will meet for four Saturdays starting June 30. See
flyer for more information. This will fulfill the Qigong requirement
for advancement to Intermediate 2. It is required for going
into more advanced internal practices classes. Qigong classes
are open to anyone wishing to study this art.
SAN SHOU: San Shou, the Yang Style Sparring
Form, will be taught in August by Dr. Jay Dunbar and Kathleen
Cusick. The four day intensive will be August 2 - 5 (Thursday
through Sunday). This practice will change your awareness
of form and application. For more information see the flyer
at school or ask one of the people who practice San Shou.
It is great fun and teaches us about many of the principles
of Taijiquan.
WEI QIGONG: This wonderful treatment qigong
from Master Duan, Zhi Liang will be taught by David on Sunday
September 15th. This is a real treasure from Master Duan.
Come and learn how to draw excess energy out of your partner's
head and balance the flow throughout their body. This is open
to anyone. No experience is necessary. Just an open mind and
heart.
TAIJI FOR ARTHRITIS, OSTEOPOROSIS, AND NECK AND BACK
PAIN. QIGONG FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: I expect to
be teaching these health practices, learned from Master Jiang,
Jian-Ye, in the near future. Watch for announcement of these
workshops.
NOTE: There will be no classes from August
11 through August 19 for my mid-year break.
David
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