Cultivating Inner Stillness

As Justin F. Stone eloquently stated in 20th Century Psalms, “If we have constant clamor, the tiny voice inside is drowned out.” This sentiment resonates profoundly with my experience in practicing T’ai Chi Chih (TCC).

Initially, my focus was directed towards the soles of my feet and then towards my tan t’ien. Gradually, something remarkable unfolded — my body became enveloped in a profound stillness, allowing me to perceive and feel the flow of Chi propelling me forward and backward in a gentle, rhythmic motion.

In those moments, it felt as though TCC was practicing itself, with the Chi taking the lead, and I, the practitioner, stepping aside into a state of quietude and stillness that permeated my entire being. Yet, paradoxically, I remained fully present and aware, observing the unfolding experience with conscious awareness, encompassing body, mind, and spirit.

During the subsequent meditation, we embraced thoughts that arose in our minds for a brief period, then focused our attention on a single point of concentration. Afterward, we visualized a TCC movement, witnessing the quieting within our bodies, allowing stillness to emerge and facilitating a deeper experience of the Chi flow.

The shared insight from this practice was profound: rather than forcefully pushing away intrusive thoughts, we learned to listen to the clamor, acknowledge its presence, and in doing so, we heard the faint whispers of our inner voice more clearly. Through TCC, we cultivated the ability to navigate external noise and internal chatter, ultimately arriving at a state of profound stillness that unveiled the wisdom and guidance residing within.