Pure and Simple

It was recently brought to my attention that there are a number of popular forms of T’ai Chi under the main title of “T’ai Chi for Health.” There is T’ai Chi for Beginners, for Back Pain, for Older Adults, for Osteoporosis, for Diabetes, 4 Kidz, at Work and In Flight. 

In 1974 when Justin first taught T’ai Chi Chih in Albuquerque, he began hearing how these 19 simple movements and one final pose had healing effects on the body, mind, and spirit. From the beginning TCC has been an all-inclusive practice. From what I am told, the countless benefits experienced by individuals who learned and practiced TCC were very surprising to Justin. Over the years he has shared stories about such life-changing, life-enhancing experiences. In the June 2008 issue of the New Mexico T’ai Chi Chih News, Justin writes, “I wish that, from the beginning of TCC, I had saved all the letters I have received in which the writer wrote, ‘TCC has changed my life.’ Most seem to have experienced deep spiritual feelings after TCC.” (As a footnote, could it be that no letters were kept due to non-attachment? We may never know.)

Individuals practice and become teachers because of changes they experience and want to share – changes that could not have been predicted. How can one ever possibly categorize or enumerate the thousands of ways TCC has renewed lives – on levels from subtle to sublime? How wisely Justin teaches: Just do it and see what happens. He always cautions teachers about making promises that TCC helps this or that ailment or problem. Justin has also written that because of her TCC practice, a nurse from London no longer kicks the cat or yells at her school-bound youngsters. Instead, they now enjoy a happier household. This is the result of TCC practice as it circulates and balances the Chi. As it says on page 5 of the photo textbook, T’ai Chi Chih Joy Thru Movement, “Each person will feel the surge of Vital Force in his or her own way, and it is a pleasant feeling. This heat current is also said to be very healing in nature…”

Both issues of Blooming the Flower, published by the T’ai Chi Chih Association of New Mexico, contain personal accounts of how TCC has transformed lives in as many ways as there are reports and reporters. The character of Chi is unique to each, and so are the results when it circulates and is brought into balance. Very often this transformation is noticed by spouses or friends when they express, “There is something very different about you, and I don’t know exactly what it is.” Even if no one else notices, by simply being faithful to our daily practice, we discover who and what we are. Our inner life begins to take on a whole other meaning. The “I” begins to drop away, and we really come to Know (as in chih).

An inner awareness emerged in a group of new students who gathered for a TCC retreat at the Jersey Shore in mid-June. Of the 12 women, 11 were religious sisters who had come for their yearly retreat. Each wrote a pyramid poem to reflect that experience.

now

we know

who you are

a peace dancer

leading us

to the

one

– Sr. Julie Scanlan, SC

sweet

moments

daughter on

the mountaintop

leading us

into

peace

– Sr. Marie Gilligan, SC

tone

balance

gently flow

the movements of

energy

passing

clouds

– Sr. Patricia Mayer, SC

I

came like

a staple

but advanced to

spaghetti

going

home

– Sr. Suzanne Faulker, SC

soft

drifting

hands gently

cup energy

t’ai chi chih

through me

flows

– Rosemarie McCabe

come

retreat

relax pray

do t’ai chi chih

mind-heart-soul

renewed

go

– Carol Williams, SC

rest

gentle

t’ai chi chih

reach distant stars

energy

motion

Chi

– Sr. Bess De Santis, SSJ

a

gift of

t’ai chi chih

returns balance

so gently

in God

thanks

– Sr. Kathy Quigley, SC

I

came here

not knowing

my Chi power

now knowing

I say

thanks

– Sr. Regina McCalla, SSJ

push

pulley

swimming arms

catch some raindrops

let them go…

trying’s

hard

– Sr. Anne Haarer, SC