The Mystical Journey of T’ai Chi Chih (Part II)

Richard Brier, Mill Valley CA

My nap lasted seven long years and seven short seconds. Waking up, astounded just to be, I found my wrists making circles in the air as I contemplated my surroundings. Suddenly I saw the ancient wise man, Rip Van Stone himself. He was sitting under Father Sky, smiling to himself, muttering sacred mantras under his breath. I smiled at him and acknowledged his presence. He said immediately, in sacred Lanka-ease, “Peace, release, be still and be free, awaken as I, let go of the me.” Rip looked at me with intense emptiness and said “This is your mantra!”

He said this three times as he skipped in place to some mysterious inner rhythm. I watched awestruck at the lightness of his step and then he stopped and invited me to eat taffy with him. Miraculously, as my wrists circled, taffy flew from his plate into my mouth with softness and stick-ability. It was delicious and I call this gate Wrist Circles. It all makes uncommon sense when seen from the Chi Lanka point of view.

This song and dance continued for three days and was a constant blessing to me. My hunger was satisfied on all levels with the perpetual feast of sense and essence. So the last key is called Perpetual Fasting. My blessings accumulate as I practice daily. I felt young and old, male and female, smart and foolish, powerful and empty and innumerable other possibilities. I never knew life could be such fun, but Chi Lanka has convinced me, and Rip Van Stone was a shining example of the empty fullness and full emptiness I was deeply feeling. It has become obvious that I am the whole of life and that laughter is one of the highest spiritual practices and all we must do is visit Chi Lanka daily with soft hearts and continuous emptiness. And remember to let go on the exhale.

Finally it was time to leave Taffy Forest; I had gained weight but lost ego there. This paradox didn’t bother me as there were no scales around and no one was watching.

Skipping along chanting my mantra joyously, I had not a care, I had forgotten to worry and I no longer used my credit card. Suddenly I came upon what looked like a large clothesline hanging between two giant Sequoias with green bark and lavender roots. Long, thin flags were hanging on the clothesline, and they had sacred symbols embroidered on them, beautifully sewn. I heard echoing through this area a great chant, “om money give me some..” I thought, how worldly, this sounds like the chant perpetually practiced in Tao Chemical’s bored room!

Sitting at the foot of the giant trees were two ageless men, named MASTER YINK and MASTER YANK (FROM NEW YORK ORIGINALLY!) and they looked exhausted. Out of my ever-evolving compassion I asked if I could help them. They sang repeatedly “Please Work this Pulley, please don’t be silly!” Their job was to work the pulley endlessly. I saw their difficulty and consented to work the pulley until Mr. Yink and Yank could rest and come into perfect balance. This was the 15th step of my mystical journey and taught me patience. I was also grateful because this work allowed me to lose the weight I had gathered in the Taffy Forest. As Master Rip Van Stone had said so often “Doing the Pulley dries up the excess ego.”

After that I felt that I needed some enlightenment, so I visited Eternity Road, just past Time and Space Boulevard. I just closed my eyes and suddenly I was in the Valley of Light and as I realized this fact I felt a great light at the top of my head. It blinded me to form, but awakened my emptiness. I saw Mother Earth as a non-dysfunctional family functioning in joyous harmony. It was and is wondrous to behold. Inspired, I call this key “Light at the Head-Top.”

After this blessing I saw a lovely building, looking somewhat like the Taj Mahal, with writing on the entrance: “He or she who arrives here will travel further.” Contemplating this saying I was instantly sitting in a violet-colored geodesic dome on a beautiful throne made of Royal Blue Lapis Lazuli, just in from the Blue Mountains. Light was shining on my temples and my spontaneous wisdom then is beyond telling. I knew all would be well because Chi Lanka was balancing the Karma of the world. Knowing this mystical key awakened my faith, so I called it Light at the Temples. I was grateful and I gave thanks, three times.

I had a vision of Rip Van Stone singing to me “Joy, joy, Joyous joy” nine times out loud and then nine times silently in my heart. This bliss was vibrating in all my cells and my inward prison burst open. Oh Happy Buddha, O joyous Jesus, O brother Lao Tzu and wondrous Ramana I now know that myself is the All!

This realization changed the quality of my breathing. Therefore this step is called Joyous Breath. My ancient Super Stoneburger guru Just-in used to say “Breathe long-live long” and this experience reminded me of the masterful teachings of my first teacher.

After resting for seven days to integrate the above, I continued traveling through the miraculous world of Chi Lanka. In Chi Lanka, they have energy-scapes rather than land-scapes. After all, it is a different dimension. Or, rather, the same dimension seen differently. Nonetheless, I wandered in spiraling circular pathways when I noticed some very strange clouds. They were spinning slowly, their colors rainbow-like but different than any we know of in consensus reality. These clouds formed the phrase “Be Happy” then “Let go” then “Nothing Is” then “Everything Isn’t” then “Practice Now” then “Form is Emptiness” and lastly “This Too Shall Pass,” one after another at increasing speeds. And yet time seemed to stand still and each phrase etched itself deeply in my emptiness. I named this key “Passing Clouds.”

Then I met six masters sitting in a circle. Master Ho and Hu, who were cousins. Master Tzu and Shuh, who were twins. Lastly Master She and Chwee, who were sisters in their last incarnation. Now they just meditate at the foot of a big tree for 2 hours and 15 minutes each day, before lunch. Flowers grow in profusion whenever they speak. Unfortunately, they’ve taken a vow of silence since last Christmas.

In the circle, the six masters speak without words and carry on conversations with the birds and mosquitoes. Rumor has it that they never move, even when walking, and don’t eat even when digesting food. They are superhuman and their presence balances the internal affairs of all human beings. They are masters of transparency and are wonderful hosts. I treasure their presence and truly enjoy their absence. They are truly six Healing Folks and give sound advice always.

I spent six months there and then levitated to the top of Mt. Chi. There I stood and posed as the Tao took my photo. I instantly entered cosmic consciousness. Therefore this last Key will be called Cosmic Consciousness Pose. All and everything was there and all and everything is here. The extraordinary journey of T’ai Chi Chih is present always and only awaits our commitment to daily practice. As the sage Rip Van Stone always says, “If it isn’t fun, don’t do it!”

This whole journey took place in an instant.
That instant alone is what matters.
Peace be with you.

– Richard Brier