Trust – Reaching Into The Great Within

What part does trust by the student and also by the teacher play in learning the T’ai Chi Chih movements? Is the teacher instructing the students with Teh (the power of inner sincerity)? Is he or she following the principles that the movements impart? I heard a teacher tell Justin that he was going to leave out certain parts of the movement because he thought it was too hard for the students to learn, but perhaps it was also that he did not know how to do the movement properly, himself. Our students have come to us because the movements have called them to come and learn. It is important that we stay true to what was given to Justin, and what he so capably shared with us. Only by letting go of the surface and going to the heart of the movements can we begin to experience the depth of feeling that is possible when we reach the Great Within.

Trust also implies that we are willing to go beyond our comfort zone and to learn as much as we can about what the movements have to offer. Often, we feel that because we have explained the parts of the movement that the student is going to understand. Our explanation may be as clear as mud. Keep in mind that it is not only what we say but how we demonstrate the movements. If we say, “Move like slow motion in a dream,” but then move very quickly through the movements we have given the student the wrong feeling. By releasing our own preferences, we can begin to feel what the movements really show and be a better example to the student.

If we move with integrity, we will find that the movements contain gems of harmony, freedom, joy, beauty, love and so much more. These gifts are not always obvious in the beginning, and it is possible that we do not have any idea how to get to the gems. It may only take 8 weeks to learn where to put hands and feet, but to get to depths of the Great Within will take patience, and attention to our intention of wanting to reach those depths. If it takes a lifetime, I would say it is a lifetime well spent. In the learning, we also are given a gift we didn’t know was there. We learn to love and share the Chi. This is truly reaching into the Great Within.