Justin’s Words

Bringing T’ai Chi Chih into the Future

By Justin Stone

Recently Sister Antonia and I met in Albuquerque and agreed that I should write an article for The Vital Force that would answer some of the questions being asked about the future. First, we agreed that T’ai Chi Chih is a service to mankind and that all politicking should be avoided as not in the make-up of T’ai Chi Chih.

Quite a few teachers have questioned us about certain statements in the recent VitalForce. There were questions about what will happen to T’ai Chi Chih when I pass away. No much, really. Sister Antonia will go on doing her excellent work as “Guide of T’ai Chi Chih,” and Sandy and Pam will continue to teach the Teachers’ Training courses and conduct the Intensives that have helped improve performance so much as be to noticeable at the recent conference. Pam and Sandy are the only two authorized to teach Intensives. Other teachers may teach Retreats, etcetera, and these will be announced in the T’ai Chi Chih Community Calendar. There will be two boxes (sections): one will be for events scheduled by Sister Antonia and Pam and Sandy and the other for events scheduled by teachers.

Any teacher can attend an Intensive, but Teachers’ Training candidates are there primarily to prepare for the intensive training. Because this will place an additional financial burden on the candidates, we are discussing the feasibility of having a scholarship fund, much as we do with the summer conference. I have pledged a certain amount to this fund and we hope other teachers will do likewise.

KG will continue her excellent work as Editor of The Vital Force, and we hope teachers will continue to submit letters and articles to the journal.

Sister wants me to assure teachers that I have appointed no one to succeed Sister as policy maker for T’ai Chi Chih. She also wants me to assure teachers that Pam and Sandy have permission to make revisions to the Teachers’ Training manual. When a Board has been chosen for The Vital Force, it will be announced in The Vital Force.

I am trying to fulfill Sister’s wishes in this article. I certainly did not appoint Sister Guide to oppose her, and I feel that by fulfilling her wishes, the future of T’ai Chi Chih is assured.