Closing Tradition

Tradition is the handing down of statements or customs (a group pattern of habitual activity) from generation to generation by word of mouth or by practice. Do we have traditions in T’ai Chi Chih, specifically with regards to the end of our practice?

At the close of our TCC practice we hold the Cosmic Consciousness Pose and then return to the grounding position that Justin referred to as the graceful conclusion. That is the end of a TCC practice, period.

Over the years I have witnessed many additions to the end of a practice. Sometimes it is as simple as bringing the hands together in prayer pose and nodding a slight bow, to the extreme of everyone bowing to everyone else in the class; chanting; each person repeating the word Namaste; sitting meditation or a guided visualization. All this is done as if it is the final conclusion of a TCC practice.

So, I pose the questions, “Do we have a closing routine” or “Is there a finish to a TCC practice after graceful conclusion?” What did Justin teach us by words or example to do at the end of our practice as a way of closure or honoring the end of our TCC practice? What, if any, is our tradition?

One teaching of Justin’s that has made an impression upon me is the importance he placed on gratitude. There were many times he talked and wrote about gratitude. In Spiritual Odyssey, I have noted at least five places he talks about gratitude. One quotation, “A day of profound gratitude. When we are grateful, we are joyous. Gratitude does not mean rejoicing because some desire has been satisfied.” And Justin was fond of repeating a quote from Paul Reps, “How grateful I am with no thing to be grateful for.” Both these quotations are about the essence of gratitude rather than about a tangible thing.

And at the end of our practice we often feel a sense of wellbeing and peacefulness that shines a light on the feeling of gratitude and how that manifests in our lives. So taking time at the end of our practice for acknowledgement and recognition of gratitude is in keeping with Justin’s teachings. TCC fosters awareness of gratitude.

Sitting quietly. There is so much that speaks to us in silence, so much understanding of ourselves that happens through focused inward silence. Another quotation taken from Spiritual Odyssey, “I like Paul Reps idea of sitting quietly for five minutes (better make it ten) each day and just allowing yourself to ‘receive’. No thinking, no technique, no mantra repetitions, no watching the breath, but just sitting quietly in a chair.” Over time many of our group practices, especially at conferences, have been followed by a few minutes of sitting quietly – not in meditation – just sitting in silence.

So, I feel that if we were to say we had any “traditions” that have been handed down by Justin through his teachings that could follow a TCC practice it would be recognition of gratitude and sitting quietly.

I think the community has, by virtue of the definition of tradition, created another one, and that is the bringing together of the palms into what is known as the prayer position and executing a slight bow. I, as well as several other teachers who practiced with Justin often, remember that Justin occasionally, at the end of a practice, would bring his palms together and make a slight bow, quick, simple, without pomp or flare. I’m sure this was very natural for him with his deep affection and respect for the Japanese culture.

The prayer hands position has many meanings. Apart from a religious connotation, it is a sign of respect, of acknowledgment, of silent communication. Bringing the hands in close to the body and bowing the head draws the focus inward. It provides a moment to let the fruits of our practice blossom and be felt physically, emotionally, spiritually. Ending a practice this way can bring a feeling of closure, be a concrete way of acknowledging a shared experience, or give us a moment of stillness providing an opportunity to receive or just be.

Sitting quietly at the end of our practice and acknowledgement of gratitude are awareness gifts from Justin. The community has added palms together (prayer hands) with a slight bow. These seem to be our traditions. Traditions are not laws or rules but accepted practices followed, if they serve a purpose.

The end of our practice is a very personal and private time. We have each experienced our own journey as we practiced the form and we need to be free to express that closure in a way that serves us and acknowledges the journey within and without. We need to be clear what is TCC and what is not and why we do what we do. I would ask each practitioner of TCC to examine their “routine” at the end of a practice. Is it in keeping with TCC? Is it soft, simple, direct, egoless, purposeful? Let the closure of your practice enhance the experience of the practice whether it be a murmur of gratitude, sitting quietly for a few minutes, or a simple bow with inward focus, or ending with graceful conclusion. These are our traditions.