Deepening Practice
Patience
It is impossible to flow softly in T’ai Chi Chih practice unless the mind is allowed to remain patient. Events have their own timing and must be allowed to unfold in their own way. Like a flower blooming; there is no way to rush it. This is the inherent intelligence of the Chi (called Prajna) being expressed. This infinite wisdom is far beyond the limitations of a conceptual or calculating mind.
It is easy to understand this intellectually, yet few embody this attitude in their T’ai Chi Chih practice. The reason is that the Ego continually tries to direct the movement for its own satisfaction. It is not accustomed to playing the role of the observer and simply cannot wait to “make it happen”. Yet when we allow it to take control we also end up using effort or physical strength which makes it impossible to allow the movement to unfold naturally. A residual trace of thought is left behind which prevents the timing from being right, and the effort falls short or overshoots the mark.
Justin continually emphasizes the need to allow our T’ai Chi Chih practice to be “absolutely soft”. He further states that “softness means letting go”. Ah, but letting go of what? First and foremost, he is advocating letting go of all tension. Where there is tension, the Chi cannot flow freely and the purpose of T’ai Chi Chih is compromised. A good guideline is to remember “if it bends, it holds tension”. In other words, the ankles, knees, waist, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists and fingers are the places where tension is often found. However, as candidates in their T’ai Chi Chih teacher training course can attest, trying to find and release each bit of tension can be an overwhelming job. It seems that every time tension is released in one area of the body another bit presents itself. It’s a bit like trying to chop down a tree one leaf at a time! There is a more efficient way.
If we dig a little deeper we might examine what (or who) is behind all this tension? It comes from the mind (Ego) calculating each action and anticipating a certain result or reward. This acting with expectation creates all sorts of problems in our lives and our T’ai Chi Chih practice. When we are able to release the scheming mind we can silently observe each T’ai Chi Chih movement as it is happening without getting in the way. This is cutting off the root. We intuitively sense the flow of the Chi and patiently wait for it to express itself in the most effortless, appropriate way. The back heel rises, the waist turns and the shoulders rotate as needed, and without effort.
When practicing T’ai Chi Chih, and especially when teaching, there is room for the Ego, or T’ai Chi Chih, but not both. When we let go of the self and allow T’ai Chi Chih to take the lead we find the movements are full of mystery and wonder. More importantly, we transcend our own limitations and delve into the deepest aspects of this spiritual practice. Prajna is always awaiting the opportunity to express itself. We need only silence the mind and practice T’ai Chi Chih with patience to open up to the greatest inner resource… awareness.
Ed Altman
Peeling Back the Layers
When students first begin learning T’ai Chi Chih they are sometimes frustrated to find that the body does not always do what they want it to. Arms and legs, hands and feet, shoulders, waist and hips… each seems to have a mind of its own. Or worse, they “team up” with one another and will not follow directions at all!
At this stage of learning it is important for T’ai Chi Chih teachers to convey that every part of the body must be allowed to move independently. In other words, just because the wrist is circling in a particular move doesn’t mean the entire arm must do so. Once this principle is learned, and gradually embodied, students will find that countless problems disappear from the practice. This eventually leads to an increased flow of the Chi and a feeling of gracefulness in motion.
Inevitably, the solution to one problem is often the source of another. Students begin by learning to break out of their hardened, habitual ways of moving to free up each part of the body, but after this has been accomplished problems seem to spring up everywhere! Now every part of the body requires great attention or it goes astray. If one examines the legs for too long the arms seem to lose their shape; if the attention is placed on the arms for any length of time one finds that the body has begun to lean, and so forth. How can anyone keep track of all these independent objects in motion?
Students may now find that the message has changed, and shake their heads in disbelief when the teacher states that no part of the body may be allowed to move independently. Is this not the exact opposite of what was learned earlier?
Once each part of the body is moving freely it is flooded with Chi, the intrinsic intelligent energy of the Universe. The fluidity of this free-flowing Chi is what unites every part of the body into an integrated whole. Students now learn that the arms, legs, shoulders and waist do not move on their own; they are moved by the Chi. The flow of this Chi is what supports each part of the body and allows it to float. But what is it that moves this Chi, and can one direct it?
This is an advanced question, and it is discussed in great detail during T’ai Chi Chih teacher training courses. This is where serious students learn even more about their practice and become accredited to teach T’ai Chi Chih. They discover that the mind cannot remain fixed on any part of the movement. “Mind” must be unhindered and allowed to flow freely and simultaneously through every part of the body. If any aspect of the movement is left untouched it will inevitably go astray. It is our attention (awareness) of the whole, not the individual parts that “guides” the Chi. As the Chi responds to this subtle influence, it supports the entire body and allows it to move without effort.
When this happens one directly experiences what Justin Stone has described on so many occasions: “T’ai Chi Chih is doing T’ai Chi Chih”. The one who practices is merely an observer! The feeling of joy that results from this experience does not come from any outside source; it comes directly from within. It is available to each and every T’ai Chi Chih student, and the point of entry is consistent and mindful practice.
Ed Altman
Softness and Continuity
Without softness and continuity the Chi does not flow freely, and the overall objective of T’ai Chi Chih practice cannot be accomplished. It is not just a matter of moving the arms slowly, and if T’ai Chi Chih practitioners do not pursue the depth of this principle, their movements will remain hollow and shallow. As the arm movements of T’ai Chi Chih are a reflection of what is happening in the lower half of the body, it is of the utmost importance that softness and continuity begin with the legs and be reflected in the upper body.
When focusing on softness and continuity, there are two aspects of the leg movements to be examined. The first is the shifting of the weight, and the second is the release of tension from the legs. The shifting of the weight induces the separation of the Chi into the Yin and Yang components, and students must be mindful that the weight is shifted slowly, evenly, and fully. If the leg movements are done in a hurried or “jerky” manner the Chi will not be circulated efficiently. There have been numerous articles written in previous issues of The Vital Force which address this matter.
Once the weight is shifting properly, it is time to examine where we are working against ourselves by holding tension in the ankles and knees. Tension is commonly created in the ankles by “pulling” up the toes on the front foot, or by “lifting” the back heel artificially. This also adversely affects the alignment and posture of the entire body. Just leave the feet flat on the ground and simply shift the weight forward or back from the T’an T’ien. As the weight shifts forward the back leg gradually straightens, and at some point, any further forward movement will cause the back heel to rise without effort. Similarly, allow the front foot to remain flat on the ground and shift the weight from the center of the body to the back leg. This will cause the toes of the front foot to become lighter and rise.
It is the gradual and full weight shift combined with patience, alignment, and a lack of tension that brings results. If the heel or toe does not come off the ground as described, make sure the upper body is not bending forward or leaning backward. Otherwise, this will prevent the required full shift of the weight and lead to many other problems in T’ai Chi Chih practice.
The other problem area is holding tension in the knees. T’ai Chi Chih cannot be done on stiff legs, so it is necessary to bend the knees to do a “lower” T’ai Chi Chih practice. The knees hold almost all the weight of the body so it is very common for people to unwittingly add tension as they try to bend them. This is using effort and is not needed. Simply relax the knees by “softening the grip” and let gravity do the rest. It takes practice and focus, but when we allow the knees to bend, there is far less tension in the legs. It is subtle, but makes a significant difference.
When the heel and toe are allowed to rest until called for by the weight shift, and the knees are allowed to bend without effort, there will be much less tension in the lower part of the body. The legs (especially the knees) act like the floodgates that control the flow of the Chi through the body. When they are soft and flexible, the Chi will cause the arms to float at just the right level without effort. When returning to graceful conclusion, the softness of the knees also allows the Chi to be grounded more efficiently. It is the softness and continuity of the legs that provides the foundation for the entire body to move with softness and continuity. When T’ai Chi Chih is done in this way, the deepest benefits may be realized with consistent practice.
Ed Altman
