Justin Stone Speaks on T’ai Chi Chih (November 2024)

Editor’s Note: These excerpts are from Spiritual Odyssey, available on https://justinstonetcc.com.

Practice! Practice!

The T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) teacher who does not practice himself or herself is somewhat of a fraud. Personal development is necessary before passing it on to students. My teacher from India said, “Before giving water, make sure you have water to give.” This does not apply to most TCC teachers, who practice faithfully.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

A Spiritual Discipline

It is necessary to remember that T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) is a spiritual discipline and must be taught with this in mind. The physical, mental, and psychic benefits can be great, but essentially there is a spiritual power behind T’ai Chi, and the world is becoming acutely aware of the need for such. We wish to urge the teaching always be kept on a high level and that the teacher practice his or her own self-cultivation so that he or she will exude this spiritual quality. When it is present, students will be led to a teacher in great and increasing numbers. Good luck.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Flow Slow Motion

Teachers should remember that the most important thing with beginning students is to see that they move correctly. Once they learn how to flow “slow motion in a dream,” there is no problem in teaching them the [TCC] movements. I hope teachers keep this in mind and concentrate, in the beginning, on getting the students to flow with softness and continuity.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

A Visit

When someone comes to visit me

I take my cue from him or her.

If he speaks in a transcendental manner

We dwell in Emptiness.

Should he speak from Prajna (Wisdom),

The flow will be smooth.

I am not here to preach or correct;

Offer gold and I will give back gems.

Linger in the dust

And we will speak in banal terms.

It rests with you, my friend.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

To Cling or Not to Cling

You’ve been on the spiritual path for 40 years. What have you learned?”

“I’ve learned that there is nothing to be done.”

“Ah, but if you hadn’t been on the path for 40 years, you wouldn’t know there’s nothing to be done!”

It is hard to convince earnest students that it’s all there, inside, and nothing has to be learned or accumulated. Being earnest, we want to make a special effort, and that effort can be self-defeating. Once the habit energies are put aside, only Wisdom shines through, but the habit energies and tendencies that develop from them cover the inherent wisdom.

Clinging to the habit energies (an addiction hard to break) is self-clinging. The Buddha said that suffering is caused by self-clinging, which causes greed, anger, and delusion. Look at your troubles and decide if they, ultimately, aren’t caused by overconcern with self. We can’t see the forest if we concentrate on one tree. When people write me of their problems, I usually note that all the sentences begin with “I.”

Dwelling on the past, which is easy to do, is self-clinging. Living in the present, with gratitude, is rare. When we know Who and What we are, it is not difficult.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Change

The truth is, people don’t want to give up their habitual way of thinking and responses, even when they know it makes them unhappy. For this reason, reformers and missionaries are wasting their time. Though to give people means for evolving, such as T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) and meditation, when they ask for it, is certainly not a waste. Nothing helps individuals evolve more than these two activities, and as they evolve, their thinking and habit patterns will change.