T’ai Chi Chih

T’ai Chi Chih deals with the building blocks of life. It does not deal only with the ‘inside’ — as does Meditation – or with the ‘outside’ as do exercise and psychology – but with both. As the CHI (the Vital Force or Intrinsic Energy), circulates and is balanced, there occur changes in the metabolism and habits (both habit energies, called “Vashanas” in Sanskrit, and compulsions). I don’t know how many letters I have received talking about release from the smoking habit and, other, stronger addictions (alcohol and narcotics) as well as those that talk of relief from osteoporosis, arthritis, migraine headaches, etc…The stories telling of the great relief experienced have been printed in the Two T’ai Chi Chih journals. The expressions of gratitude have been very touching.

In the West, the importance of CHI, and the circulation and balancing of the CHI (called “Prana” in India and “Ki” in Japan), is virtually unknown. However, Chinese physicians are using their knowledge of CHI to perform serious pain-free operations, with anesthesia.

Most of the teachers and students who practice T’ai Chi Chih regularly report a growing sense of in explainable Joy inside, supplanting the usual feeling of dissatisfaction and world-weary tension. T’ai Chi Chih movements are gentle and soft, with what we call the ‘effort of no effort’. No special clothing or free space is needed. T’ai Chi Chih is certainly not a Martial Art, nor does it have the slightest connection with Religion, though the spiritual effects are strong and lasting.

The great modern Indian sage, Nisargadatta, advised people to get into tune with this CHI (what I call “entering the Cosmic Rhythm”), but he admitted he could not tell them how. The simple movements of T’ai Chi Chih are the way.

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The best advice I can give to anyone who wants to be happy is: “Just remember that this life is temporary, is transient-so don’t take it too seriously, and certainly don’t become attached to it.”

As we practice TCC this Chi will be molded (and accumulated), and our spiritual evolution will be greatly enhanced. We will begin to change, and so will our world.

The best way to forget worries and ease tensions is to shun the ego-center, so that no one is doing T’ai Chi Chih, but T’ai Chi Chih is doing itself. In this sense, T’ai Chi Chih becomes a meditation.