Oneness

It’s noon on March 28, 2013 and we’ve just finished a very joyful practice with teachers and students at the Albuquerque T’ai Chi Chih Center. Teachers took turns leading the movements and giving reminders. I could hear Justin saying, “Bend your knees. Turn your waist,” in his booming voice. 

Some of us remember exactly where we were on this day a year ago.

Everyone at the practice is invited to have lunch together at India Palace, one of Justin’s favorite restaurants, where I remember celebrating several of his birthdays.

I was reminded of the TCC student-teacher relationship last night at the center where we watched “Departures,” a great movie on so many levels. The film reminded me so much of TCC because it showed that personal connections are what matter.

So much has taken place this past year, as we share the Chi in numerous ways throughout the TCC community after Justin’s death. TCC practices, classes, retreats, workshops and teacher training all have continued.

We also share memories of Justin’s teachings. On the March 28 page of my calendar is a quote from Ruth Fuller Sasaki, whom Justin talks about on his CD, Stories from the East. She says, “That is what you are, that is what I am, that is what everything in the universe is – beginningless, endless life, infinite, boundless, eternal Life. This is what we must realize.”

I remember Justin talking about the last time he saw Paul Reps. He said he knew it would be the last time he saw him and said to Reps simply, “See you later.” I also recall Justin saying to me in a dream, “Come join me in the oneness.” I believe that’s what we do when we practice TCC or meditate: we are all together in the oneness.