T’ai Chi Chih in Europe

I recently discovered that when traveling, by plane, train and bus for three weeks, it becomes impossible to do T’ai Chi Chih each and every day. But I did find the opportunity to experience T’ai Chi Chih in each country, and want to share with you my most memorable morning practice during that vacation.

Across from our hotel in Lucerne, Switzerland was a campanile and next to it was a small but lovely park with green grass and large, beautiful trees. As the bell clock chimed 6 a.m. on this particular morning, I was standing in Cosmic Consciousness. I heard birds chirping, and felt the morning sun on my face. It seemed a morning practice full of Chi. Upon finishing, I turned to discover an Oriental doing what I can only assume was his own form of T’ai Chi, or perhaps “spontaneous Chi Kung”. I stood quietly while he finished, then smiled at him, bowed, and said “Namaste”. He bowed deeply in return, smiled, and then walked slowly away. I still wonder if his energy behind me is what made that morning’s practice feel so wonderful?