Vital Force Experiences

"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

"To teach well, it is obviously necessary to do TCC; I know what the practice has done for me. One can’t get the benefits without practice. But, whether or not you want to do TCC is entirely up to you. There is nothing wrong in abandoning T’ai Chi Chih practice if you get nothing out of it. / With the coming of the beautiful autumn weather, there is heightening of spirit, a great feeling of “livingness” and, usually, a gratitude for being alive. / As the Zen Master Seigen said as he was dying, ‘Better than Zen doctrine, the Joy of Living.’" -- Justin Stone

"I will soon be 86 years of age and have not noticed much deterioration mentally or physically, though I cannot speak for the future. Undoubtedly this is due to TCC practice, and I’m certainly grateful for the TCC discipline making it possible to somewhat merge with this all-powerful force. If the TCC movements are practiced consistently and correctly, one can get the eternal benefits." -- Justin Stone

T’ai Chi Chih is a mindfulness-moving meditation practice that’s easy to learn. The series of 19 movements and one pose helps circulate the Vital Energy, the Chi. Practitioners experience peace, improved health, and many more benefits. Our free monthly e-newsletter offers inspiration between issues of the TCC quarterly journal, The Vital Force, in which [...]

T’ai Chi Chih is a mindfulness-moving meditation practice that’s easy to learn. The series of 19 movements and one pose helps circulate the Vital Energy, the Chi. Practitioners experience peace, improved health, and many more benefits. Our free monthly e-newsletter offers inspiration between issues of the TCC quarterly journal, The Vital Force, in which [...]

T’ai Chi Chih is a mindfulness-moving meditation practice that’s easy to learn. The series of 19 movements and one pose helps circulate the Vital Energy, the Chi. Practitioners experience peace, improved health, and many more benefits. Our free monthly e-newsletter offers inspiration between issues of the TCC quarterly journal, The Vital Force, in which [...]

T’ai Chi Chih is a mindfulness-moving meditation practice that’s easy to learn. The series of 19 movements and one pose helps circulate the Vital Energy, the Chi. Practitioners experience peace, improved health, and many more benefits. Our free monthly e-newsletter offers inspiration between issues of the TCC quarterly journal, The Vital Force, in which [...]