My recent journeys in California

Words from our Guide

By Sr. Antonia Cooper, OSF

When I arrived in San Diego, California January 30 to begin a three-week journey to various parts of the state, I had no idea that so many surprises, joys, connections and experiences would await me.

Pam Towne hosted two T’ai Chi Chih retreats: Feb. 1-4 for 19 students and 5 teachers besides Pam and me; and another Feb. 15-18 for 18 teachers, besides Pam, Sandy and me. Both retreats were held at Mt. Calvary Retreat House, “a large Spanish-style house that is dramatically situated on a ridge 1,250 feet above Santa Barbara with a commanding view of the seacoast and Pacific Ocean.” Holy Cross Brothers, an Anglican community following the Benedictine Rule, welcomed us into their monastic space. The gardens, view, hospitality, all made it a perfect place to focus on the T’ai Chi Chih movements and practice. Plans are in place for another February TCC Retreat in 2006.

At the end of the first retreat, I left Mt. Calvary and headed for la Casa de Maria to spend the weekend with teachers from four spiritual traditions in making this my own retreat. The Way of Contemplation and Compassionate Action brings together great spiritual teachers of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism to reveal their deep contemplative practices and to show how they can lead each of us to compassionate action in the world. Fr. Thomas Keating, a Trappist Monk (like Thomas Merton) spoke on Centering Prayer from the Christian tradition; Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Ph.D. shared the Jewish tradition and Chant; Shaikh Kabir and Camille Helminski presented Sufi-Islam in simple dance, chant, to light drumming; and the Buddhist tradition was presented by The Venerable Tenzin Priyadarshi touching on Bodhisattva Ways of Life and chant. This experience further deepened my awareness that we are all one. A concluding interspiritual service demonstrated the underlying unity of contemplation and compassionate action among the world’s great spiritual traditions.

After this immersion into these traditions and spiritual practices, I headed to Sacramento, a 9-hour bus/train trip to visit with Judy Tretheway who has been teaching T’ai Chi Chih in Folsom Prison for six years now. She recently began a new class at the New Folsom Prison. Because of the “lock-down” of the “White and Hispanic” population, there were only five Black men who were able to attend. They were very attentive and eager to learn. We spent the morning in a large windowless room, made of unpainted cinder block, which is used as a Chapel for various religious services. Judy graciously invited me to lead the group. To give the men an idea of Justin’s writings, I read “The Essence of T’ai Chi Chih” from Spiritual Odyssey, pg. 23. It is important for them to realize the reality of each word in that final full paragraph, beginning with: “T’ai Chi Chih becomes a way of life.” Weeks prior to the trip, I asked Judy if she could arrange for me to accompany her to these two classes. After looking into my police record and background checks I was given the okay, but we only found that out Thursday afternoon at the check point of Old Folsom Prison. I couldn’t imagine spending year after year incarcerated there. The men who have learned T’ai Chi Chih have experienced inner freedom through the simple movements. There were over 30 men who assembled in the airy, sunlit, Chapel, which is used for a variety of religious services and meditative practices. There were a few men who have been practicing regularly for 5 – 6 years — their form is soft and flowing, and serenity seems to envelop their being as they moved in a centered and grounded way. They had practiced with James Hecker, who was accredited as a TCC teacher. I told Judy that, with individual mentoring, a couple of the men could be prepared to take an accreditation course. Pam is willing to go into Folsom to conduct a training when the time is right. Judy is investigating ways of how it can happen. So we just have to be patient and trust it will happen. I personally felt blessed for these two opportunities to be with the inmates and see how the T’ai Chi Chih practice is transforming their lives. They spoke very openly about this transformation and asked when I will return!!! Actually I may be attending our Franciscan Federation Conference this July in San Diego, which may present another opportunity to visit Judy and the men at Folsom. I received a letter from one of the men who moves quite well. He has a copy of Spiritual Odyssey and wrote me about Justin’s quote at the bottom of pg. 117.

On Sunday, Pam and I drove back to San Diego for my return flight to New Jersey the following day, but made plans to stop to see Greg Callahan who was just released from Folsom in December. Greg is interested in Accreditation as well. He is associated with an International Buddhist Temple in a Korean area of Los Angeles. Roberta and John Taggart joined us along with Gordon Dixon; his wife Gaunnie was just accredited in November in Albuquerque. Roberta and John are making commitments to meet with Greg every other Sunday to help him become more aware of how to move in preparation for Accreditation. Greg has a lot of refining to do, but he is very open to and sincere about the possibility. I am touched by the generosity of their commitment. Pam, Sandy and I were discussing ways in which to financially support people like Greg and the men in Folsom who are preparing for Accreditation.

On February 28, I was processed at our Somerset County Jail to begin teaching TCC there. This has been a desire of mine for at least five years, but guards at both state prisons where I had applied “blocked” the classes in fear that this form was a martial art. Of course nothing I said in defense of TCC would change their mind. At that time, as now, I believe that when the time is right, it will happen. It looks like the time is right!

So, you see, I have been gifted beyond my greatest expectations. Actually, I really did not go with any, but tried to live each moment fully, one moment at a time. After all, this is what our T’ai Chi Chih practice teaches us, to fully BE in the present moment.