Conference Rededication Ceremony

We now come to the part of the conference when we re-dedicate ourselves as teachers to T’ai Chi Chih and to teh. Justin Stone never initiated a recertification policy because he believed in teh, the inner sincerity of the teachers. I would like to share some words from Justin on teh before we begin:

“It is the power of Inner Sincerity, as exemplified by TCC teachers, that has been responsible for the rapid growth of TCC… There isn’t the slightest doubt in my mind of the future of TCC; there are reasons why you are here, and there are reasons why you, the teacher, have been brought to it. It is not by accident that you are teaching TCC, and you have a responsibility to keep the practice pure and to be completely honest in your dealings with your students.”

“Please never stop trying to improve your practice; this is the responsibility of being a teacher.”

“The great treasure of TCC lies in the sincere and capable teachers. TCC’s brilliant future depends upon them. This is why I have never taken a cent from a teacher; what I want from them is not money. When I see hospitals, prisons, senior citizen clubs, etc latching on to TCC, that is the greatest reward. It is nice to see people entering the Cosmic Rhythm by learning and doing TCC.”

So with Justin’s words in our hearts let us begin… You are holding two cups of sand. The black/yin sand represents feeling the Chi and the white/yang sand represents sharing the Chi.

Feeling the Chi

Bring your awareness to the cup of black/yin sand. This sand represents your own personal journey and growth with TCC. I invite you to go back to your very first TCC class or your first introduction to TCC. Take a minute and let yourself connect to the person you were back then. Maybe remember what first brought you to TCC or what you might have been looking for. You did not really know it at the time but that day was the beginning of an amazing journey – a journey of awakening to your own inner love and light. The journey was not always easy. In fact at times it may have been very painful and challenging. But, the journey brought you many gifts; one of which is wisdom. Imagine that you are able to share some of this wisdom with your younger self, beginning on his/her journey with TCC. What words of support and encouragement would you share? Let you heart quietly share them now.

We know our journey is never over for we are always in a state of becoming. I would like you now to imagine who you have become much farther down the path on this journey. Through your dedication to your practice and to your growth you have become an even more powerful force of love and light. Imagine this future self, standing right next to you wanting to share some wisdom and guidance with you. What words of support and encouragement do you most need to hear right now? Let your heart hear and receive them.

The purpose of our journey is joy. Justin said, “No one ever reaches perfection in TCC – indeed no two will ever perform it in exactly the same way, as it is a living evolving practice – and the joy lies in the journey itself.” Take a minute now and quietly give thanks to TCC and its gifts of growth and transformation in your life. Give thanks to Justin Stone and his willingness to bring forth this powerful and loving practice. Lastly, give thanks to all your teachers and their part they played in supporting your journey.

Sharing the Chi

Bring your awareness to the cup of white/yang sand. This sand represents our journey as teachers, sharing the Chi. Not every TCC practitioner is called to become a teacher. Do you remember the moment you first felt the call to become a teacher? What did it feel like? How did you know? Some of us knew it the moment we stepped into our first TCC class. Some of us were more hesitant or reluctant. In fact our teachers may have known it before we did. It does not matter. You are here. You responded to the call to be a force of love on this planet through the spreading and sharing of TCC. That is to be celebrated. And I thank each of you for being here and for becoming teachers.

The February 2009 Vital Force focused on sharing and Sky Young-Wick wrote a beautiful article in it titled, Sharing, a Leadership Quality. I am going to ask Sky to read her words to us now.

“As a TCC teacher you may have not thought of yourself as a leader, but I think you are. …One of the things that leaders do best is sharing. They share wisdom and compassion, life’s lessons, their time and attention. They may be the one person who really listens to us. Sometimes that includes honest and difficult feedback when we need it, and at other times, it takes the form of gentle encouragement. Most importantly, I believe leaders share their hearts. Their sharing is done without ego because true leaders have humility; they live in gratitude.

I believe this level of leadership is rare. Yet, the spiritual essence of TCC naturally attracts teachers who exude these very qualities. As TCC teachers we are sharing this wonderful gift that our teacher shared with us. We give this gift to ourselves in the form of a daily practice, and then we share it with our students. We share our time, attention, honesty, and encouragement. We are filled with gratitude for this gift to share. Can you embrace yourself as a leader as well as a TCC teacher? In my mind you are all leaders. The world needs this leadership and our willingness to share the gift of TCC. As teachers we are planting seeds, and one seed can start a garden. Sharing is the key.”

Our sharing is unique to each of us. And as we have talked about at this conference it also can change over time. How do we know what to share? We feel it! The Chi guides us through inspirations, a gentle tug in our hearts but mostly through joy. Sharing what we are uniquely called to share gives us joy! It is so simple and so beautiful.

TCC will spread throughout this world through the teh of its teachers. Take a minute now and contemplate what you might personally be called to share or contribute to help the growth of TCC.

Ceremony

I love that every front page of the Vital Force states the intention of TCC. And that is, “TCC is a service to humanity. It is a form of love.” The Chi has a plan and mission for TCC in this world and I believe that it is bigger than any of us can imagine. This large Tao symbol represents the Chi’s plan for TCC in this world. We each are needed for this plan and play an important part – a part that no one else can play.

When you feel called, please come up to the center and pour your sand into the large Tao symbol. Let the pouring of your yin sand be a symbol of your re-dedication to your personal TCC practice and growth. Let the pouring of your yang sand be a symbol of your re-dedication to sharing TCC with the world as a service to humanity, as a form of love.