Serving Is Being

Being of service is simply being; there is no exception. Like T’ai Chi Chih is a service to humanity – offering love, joy, peace, and harmony – service itself offers an opportunity to incorporate these qualities into our daily lives. As we embody circularity, continuity, softness, and substance in our daily TCC practice, so too do we need to embody these principles in our daily lives. Being – it’s all inside.

Many opportunities have come my way to open to the universe and be of service to the community. My volunteer services extend to the clinic at the Animal Humane Association (where my heart goes out to those beautiful animals); to the Spiritual Renewal Center (where I teach TCC to retreatants, help in the pantry, and set up, serve, and clean up in the dining room); and to the T’ai Chi Chih Association of New Mexico (where I serve as a board member). I do the latter because TCC has changed my life, and my gratitude reflects the feeling of giving back. The openness I feel during retreats in Albuquerque, when I pick people up at the airport and welcome them to the retreat, is a blessing.

In the last few weeks, another service opportunity has come my way, and I have accepted it with some trepidation. An acquaintance was going on vacation and asked if I would substitute for him at the Metropolitan Detention Center, which is the city and county jail. I was to be trained at PAC 2, the Psychiatric Acute Care unit, where each person decides for himself whether he wants to participate in the activity being offered. The PAC unit is very transitional; the men may be there for a period of 30 days. The number of participants also fluctuates each time; we had two participants on the day of my training. (Since the training, I’ve noticed that if I wear a TCC t-shirt, more participants join in the class than if I don’t wear one.) Recently, I was blessed by being asked to continue teaching TCC at the Metropolitan Detention Center.

T’ai Chi Chih Gardening

By Linda Braga, Castro Valley, CA

The practice of T’ai Chi Chih is like tending a beautiful garden. How does your garden grow?

Cultivate the SoilBecome a lifelong student of TCC.

Sow the Seeds of SuccessPractice TCC regularly – when you feel like it and when you don’t.

Provide Fresh Air and SunlightPractice TCC outside, inhaling Universal Chi.

Nourish with WaterEat a balanced diet with plenty of fluids, especially water.

Stake your PlantAlways be aware being suspended in the head top and rooted in the soles of the feet.

Use a HoeCreate motor pathways in the brain through regular practice so that your movements are effortless.

Weed the GardenSimplify the movement patterns and discard what is not needed.

Get Rid of PestsEmpty the mind of agitated thoughts and feelings; move with feeling awareness.

Use ClippersSnip off all extraneous movements, release tension, and let the Chi flow unencumbered.

Mulch and FertilizeEnrich your understanding and practice with books by Justin Stone and soft music.

Rotate the CropsDo not let your practice stagnate and wither.