Experiencing the Power of Teh

Thanks to the organization and planning of Guadalupe Buchwald and Lynn Shaw-Ringham, 43 T’ai Chi Chih teachers and students from Canada and the United States had the wonderful opportunity to flow together with softness and continuity. What impressed me was the power of teh that permeated the weekend. The inner sincerity of Ed Altman, the head of the T’ai Chi Chih community, was reflected as he shared with the group key principles of this transforming, moving meditation and also shared the challenges he has faced and challenges he is addressing in his own practice. Ed’s humbleness and sincerity set the tone for the weekend. In response to Ed’s lead, the group was focused and open, focused on the improvement of one’s individual practice and open to feedback regarding how this practice could be improved. The sense of moving as a community was evident, a community with inner sincerity (teh) and dedication to one’s practice.

Justin Stone (1992) in his presentation on pranja stated that “one has to be ready to be taught at a level where he or she can absorb what you’re teaching…there must be a proper attitude” (p.4). An attitude of sincere receptivity permeated the weekend retreat. Experiences and challenges were shared by students and teachers alike as we moved in to the flow of the “Cosmic Rhythm” (Stone, 1995, p.51), a rhythm that was entered into and passed on through each participant in the group.

I was touched by the sincerity that I personally felt and that was expressed by the members of the group. I felt the inner sincerity as we were encouraged to listen to the messages our bodies were giving us, as we were encouraged to pay attention to the soles of the feet and, to feel and sense the messages that were being broadcast through our bodies about the shifting of the weight. I experienced and understood what Justin Stone meant when he said that “the cup has to be empty” (1992, p.5) for one to receive. During this retreat I felt my cup as empty and receptive, and, I and many others, have come away feeling filled. I feel blessed to have been part of this experience and want to thank Ed for his dedicated work in continuing to transmit the purity of the form of T’ai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement and for the sincerity with which he carries out his role as head of the T’ai Chi Chih community. Ed serves as an excellent role model for the power of teh. I also want to thank Justin Stone for the wonderful gift he has given each of us, a gift that brought us together this weekend with the inner sincerity to learn and practice this form in the best way that it can be practiced.

References

Stone, J. (1992). Pranja. Albuquerque, NM: NM T’ai Chi Chih Center.

Stone, J. (1995). Cosmic Rhythm. Albuquerque, NM: NM T’ai Chi Chih Center.