Religion and TCC

At the Denver TCC Conference, Sr. Antonia Cooper was asked how she handles people who are concerned with what they see as being a religious part of T’ai Chi Chih.

Sr. Antonia tells people she doesn’t teach Taoism and she doesn’t teach Catholicism in her T’ai Chi Chih classes.

This is important, because so many of us have our own beliefs and religious traditions which we do not intend to change.

If people do not understand, it is their problem.

Where else but in a T’ai Chi Chih setting could those of us from such different and varied backgrounds and ways of living be together and share as we do.

Sr. Antonia led us in a wonderful closing to our Saturday night program that most people felt was meaningful and spiritual but not religious.

Sr. Alice Holden had me trying very hard not to fall off my chair as I laughed at her story of “Prinderella and the Cince.” And what integrity was shown when she openly discussed her video, paying royalties to and apologized to Justin Stone.

Donna Moore led us in a Native American woman’s personal chant…”Oh, Mother Earth.”

Lia Ridley talked about “Marika’s” pathway to dance and her “accompanists”.

If we are open enough to receive, I believe each T’ai Chi Chih related experience can add to our beliefs–our ways of life.

I consider myself a very religious person and I am not a Catholic but I appreciate and respect what I learned from many of the Sisters who are also T’ai Chi Chih teachers. Where else would I have the opportunity to meet them, share with them and such but in a T’ai Chi Chih setting?

T’ai Chi Chih brings people of the world together–to share TCC–maybe even to share the mysteries of life that everyone seems to be trying to solve. Perhaps as Justin has said, “T’ai Chi Chih may help bring more peace into the world.” At least doing T’ai Chi Chih together is a start.