So Simple

The Buddha said, “The man [or woman] who can keep his [or her] attention in the bottoms of his (or her) feet, whether walking, sitting or lying down can heal a thousand ills.” I use this quotation every time I give my introductory talk on the first night of my beginning T’ai Chi Chih class. It always fills me with such awe, as I realize I am setting the intention for the lessons I will teach every week, and for the pathways within us that will be opened each time each us practices.

It is a great responsibility. Justin knew this. He also often spoke of our awareness of what we were doing as we practiced TCC, and he made the following comments: “Don’t snap your hands back … keep the circle at the same level and tempo … stay at one level as you go forward and stay at the same level as you go back … remember to complete your movement … don’t let yourself be wobbly, be aware of your feet on the ground.” The longer we practice TCC, and hopefully grow in heightened awareness, the more integrated we are in every moment as we practice the movements. We find that grounding the Chi is the natural state of the movements. We are not trying to ground the Chi; we are grounded in the Chi.

Often we see students trying too hard. By watching Justin as he did his close (while he was still with us or on one of his DVDs), the great “ah ha” came when there was “no trying.” Justin simply closed, completely, and that was enough. As we watch for those times in our practice, we become aware that we are not trying to ground, but rather, we are grounded. The movement is complete; nothing extra has to be added. It doesn’t take long because it is simple.

Sometimes I hear students or teachers say, “This is the way I do it.” I remember Justin’s manner of doing TCC. There was no separation that had to be joined. Justin, the Chi: it was one and the same, so simple. In this way he demonstrated how to love and share the Chi.

Pyramid Poems

I

hear the

ancient song

of my people

in this t’ai

chi chih

one

– Anne Braudy

love

give it

do not wait

the answer is

gratefulness

for what

is

– Caroline Guilott

shine

like the

brightest star

let the true self

radiate

through the

world

– Robert

ask

not what

step inside

let go let go

all revealed

gentle

teh

– Rhonda St. Martin

the

purpose

of life is

to seek and find

our highest

self in

truth

– Robert

so

many

lessons taught

but at the end

Justin gave

mostly

love

– Sheryl Adair

the

word for

tree is not

the tree; as the

word chi is

not the

chi

– Larry Bloom

words

are not

meant to be

but mere symbols

for things we

sense and

see

– Larry Bloom

the

bubbling

spring so real

in me is real

for all and

known as

chi

– Larry Bloom

my

fingers

dance with chi

is it real or

is it me

don’t ask

be

– Larry Bloom