Embracing The Moon (& Justin)

I discovered T’ai Chi Chih the way I’m sure many others did: with Carmen Brocklehurst’s teachings on KNME (our local PBS TV station). When I went to the TCC Center to study and practice, I met Justin, the originator of TCC. I knew we were blessed to have such an amazing resource in our midst. So for Justin’s 85th birthday, I wrote a part-poem, part-prose piece called, “Embracing the Moon.” Justin liked it enough to send me a postcard about it, and I have kept that card in my yin/yang TCC journal since 2001.

Justin’s Heightened Awareness begins with a quotation about the moon: “No matter how small the drop of water, it reflects the entire moon.” It was the first book of his that I read, and it inspired my piece, a brief excerpt of which follows:

“The moon is simply the moon – an orb in the sky, but from our perspective its form is constantly changing. We watch the moon wax and wane, yin and yang, from fullness to a sliver of new moon; a graceful, cyclical, circular, ever-changing process. We embrace that motion in T’ai Chi Chih.

Justin tells a story of a time while he was in the Far East. Zen monks invited him to stay and sit zazen (meditation) with them. Justin noticed the sun was setting and he had a long way to travel. He told the monks he felt he should leave while there was still daylight. An old monk, the Master, told him not to worry, to stay and sit. “After all,” the master said, “the moon gives light too.”

Moonlight is soft, reflective light. Like the moon, I am a reflection of all that is. I am learning to embrace the moon. Today, after seeing you, Justin, at the Center for practice, I thought of this Haiku for your birthday:

Fall moonlight is soft,

reflective of All That Is.

We embrace the Moon.”

I have many delightful memories of Justin talking, sharing his “stories of the East.” Thankfully we have his books, tapes, CDs and DVDs to always gently remind us of our path and practice. Whenever I see the moon, Justin, I will think of you and that soft reflective light. Namaste, Justin.