Making Use of Vital Force

The atmosphere in which we live is saturated with Vital Force. Each molecule of air is pregnant with Chi! This radiant Energy is ever available to us. It surrounds us with dynamic potential always, and directly contributes to our health and spirituality to whatever degree we allow.

T’ai Chi Chih is a wonderful, efficient means for us to more consciously connect our mind-body with the radiant Energy that pervades the atmosphere. Through regular practice, we become greater receptors, generators and transmitters of Vital Force, and we come to understand how best to utilize this Energy.

Each time we practice T’ai Chi Chih can be a new beginning, representing an improved effort and capacity for drawing increasing quantities of Vital Force into ourselves.

T’ai Chi Chih practice is an opportunity for continuing growth and expansion. It is a living, evolving involvement that demands a perpetual internal activity of release and renewal. We let go of accumulated waste energies (stale, stagnant, crystallized tension energy), while surrendering and opening to fresh, vibrant Creative Energy. This useful process requires a conscious willingness and renewed effort to motivate it. Otherwise we tend to stagnate, while living within our tensions and undigested creative energy, making little evolutionary progress.

There are many complex systems that aim to develop spirituality, and they tend to be less efficient than T’ai Chi Chih, because of their complexities. Spiritual evolution is directly fostered by our ability to receive, process and utilize Chi. The more complicated a system of spirituality is, the more difficult it is for the individual to open to and make progressive use of the Vital Force. Complex systems of spirituality often appeal to the intellect, and prompt analysis, with little if any authentic spiritual transformation being accomplished.

Some have been motivated to analyze T’ai Chi Chih, to attribute “meaningful” symbology to its movements and to draw correlations between T’ai Chi Chih and religious belief. Frankly, these conceptual overlays only add restrictions in the form of ego-tensions, that inhibit the full functioning of pure T’ai Chi Chih. Justin Stone recommends that we “fast from thoughts” while practicing T’ai Chi Chih. T’ai Chi Chih is most potent when approached through a feeling, intuitive mode of being.

A creative Prelude to T’ai Chi Chih practice

Seat yourself comfortably on the floor or in a chair. Be still and relaxed.

Breathe slowly, deeply and rhythmically, and feel that you are inhaling and exhaling through the soles of your feet, for several breath cycles.

Then place your feeling awareness within your tan t’ien (2″ below your navel), and continue to breathe slowly, deeply and rhythmically within this space for several more breath cycles.

Transfer your focus of feeling to your head top, and breathe in and out through this space.

Finally, return feeling attention to the soles of your feet, continuing to breathe slowly, deeply and rhythmically for a minute or so.

Embrace your environment with the fullness of your being. Be grounded, centered and open to the abundantly rich supply of Chi that surrounds you. Stand and begin T’ai Chi Chih practice, alertly and expansively, consciously drinking the Vital Force into every bodily cell.