Vital Force Experiences

Though I have been unable to detect a purpose to this life, I have enjoyed the quiet of the trees and the sunlight on the water. Should I be fated to return, I would like to work to still the hatred in people’s hearts. -- Justin Stone

Your task is not to find someone to believe in or some doctrine in which to take refuge (though this is very comfortable). It is to realize Who and What You are (and I don’t mean a name). Then you manifest Who and What you really are; that is Love.” (Justin Stone, Spiritual Odyssey)

When we perform T’ai Chi Chih properly we feel the results. Since we are, essentially, a conflux of moving energies, stimulating and balancing the Intrinsic Energy (Chi) affects our whole being. The effects seem to be personal but, in truth, they are widespread. Just as our Enlightenment is saving all beings, so does the balancing of the Universal Energy affect both the outer and the inner…. We do not heal symptoms; we become whole.” (Spiritual Odyssey)

Why is it necessary to keep the concentration in the soles of the feet while doing T’ai Chi Chih? First, having a point of concentration keeps the mind from wandering…. Second, the tan t’ien, the spot two inches below the navel, is the all-important place Chi is stored. It is the seed of intuition and the most important spot from the Chinese standpoint…. The Tu Mu meridian channel that comes down the front, goes through the tan t’ien and reaches the soles of the feet, is called the Chu or bubbling spring. By concentrating in the soles of the feet, we serve the same purpose: Bringing the Chi down to the tan t’ien…. Third and most important from a health standpoint, we want to bring the heart fire, that is the Yang of the heart, down instead of letting the Yin of the kidneys rise.

"A Chinese monk once said, ‘When the mind is transparent and pure as if reflected on the mirror-like surface of the water there is nothing in the world you would dislike. When it is serene as the light breeze in the sunshine there will be no one whom you would like to forget.’ Such  serenity is rare in these hectic days. Nevertheless, it is possible." -- Justin Stone

"It is much easier and more suitable for our way of life to work from the other side, to directly cultivate the Chi itself, to free it so it circulates easily. And to balance the negative and positive aspects of this Vital Force, the Yin and Yang Chi. Looking from the other end, we will find that such practice automatically influences the mind and brings about the desired results." -- Justin Stone

"The Japanese speak of Seijaku, serenity in the midst of activity. Not escaping from the world to some mountain top … but finding the real meaning, fulfillment, energy and wisdom in the midst of everyday hustle and bustle. Building a silent and imperturbable center, while active in the disappointments and triumphs of our busy lives, is real fulfillment. Words will not do it, no matter how reassuring or clever. Passive listening as in hearing well-meaning sermons is a waste of time no matter how good the speaker makes you feel …. It takes actual practice. You must do it yourself." -- Justin Stone

"I like Paul Reps’ idea of sitting quietly for five minutes (better to make it ten) each day and just allowing yourself to ‘receive.’ No thinking, no technique, no mantra repetition, no watching the breath, but just sitting quietly in a chair. In Japan this would be known as shikantaza or just sitting. The great artisans of the past often did this before starting on some work, such as making a tea bowl or a Samurai sword…. It is my feeling that ten minutes of quiet and receiving, plus T’ai Chi Chih practice, may be enough. It is so easy to relax and do nothing. You may receive more than you bargained for." -- Justin Stone

"... every cell in the body can be brought to a point singing with Joy. Those of us who practice T’ai Chi Chih are doing just that. To become jaded and just think of it as another discipline is to miss the point." -- Justin Stone

"Empty space seems to be a vast continuum of energy, and that energy is Wisdom. Energy appears in many forms, including matter, and it’s always there for us to use in recharging ourselves — hence, T’ai Chi Chih. When we do T’ai Chi Chih our intuition seems to be greatly sharpened, and this is understandable as Energy and Wisdom are just different words." -- Justin Stone