We Are Caretakers Of TCC

We are the first generation to practice T’ai Chi Chih. That is our amazing good fortune. Originated in 1974, TCC is a complete and fully-formed practice and also an infant requiring our tender nurturance and care to ensure its preservation for future generations. Justin called TCC a “Service to Humanity” and entrusted it to each of us.

What does it mean that the practice has been entrusted to us? It means, literally, that each of us holds TCC in trust. It is ours to cherish and preserve and to pass to others in its original form.

How do we ensure that we bequeath to future generations the same healing practice that Justin gave us? No other generation will be as close to the origination of the practice as we are. Time, however, marches on. There are many new teachers who did not have the privilege of meeting Justin, and, perhaps, neither did their teachers. And even those who practiced with Justin over the years do not necessarily agree on every point of the practice. A few “regional variations” have developed in the practice. In 100 years will people be doing a TCC practice we would recognize?

We wish Justin was still here to guide us in resolving our differences, but he is not. The fact is, he was far from definitive in some of his instructions even when he was teaching and making corrections – and he was always making corrections. He wanted all of us to take equal responsibility for the health and wellbeing of TCC.

Justin, purposely, intentionally, did not set up infrastructure to stand in his place after death. There is no one to look up to, no higher authority to answer all our questions and issue edicts. We must take responsibility for ourselves and for the integrity of our practice. Justin taught us an ancient Chinese word for this: Teh (the power of inner sincerity). We must encourage each other to seek and to share, even if acknowledging and discussing our differences is sometimes uncomfortable.

Wouldn’t it have been easier for all of us if Justin had put in place an authoritative, hierarchical structure to administer, support, safeguard and promote TCC? Perhaps; perhaps not.

Many years ago, when I was a young lawyer with great respect for guidelines, regulations, and organizational structures, I asked Justin about this. He sadly shook his head and said he had never heard of an attempt to officially organize a spiritual practice or movement that hadn’t lead to the corruption and eventual demise of the practice or movement. The result of human efforts to implement and enforce structure is that the structure becomes the focal point and all energy gets channeled into “feeding the corporate beast.” “But what about a non-profit structure?,” I persisted. He just looked at me sadly and changed the subject. This was so puzzling to me.

Over the years, I puzzled and puzzled and puzzled some more… Justin seemed to have no problem with voluntary group and individual efforts to spread and support the sharing of TCC: He allowed his students to open the T’ai Chi Chih Center in Albuquerque and to create a quarterly print journal, The Vital Force; he formed a publishing company, Good Karma, to print and distribute his writings and TCC instructional materials. He encouraged us to charge a fair rate for our teaching services, although he never profited by our teaching fees.

Now, 20 years later, I think I get it. I don’t think it was money that concerned him. I think it was about each of us, individually, taking responsibility. So, with courage and humility, I resolve to dive deeply into my practice, to seek all the historical guidance I can find, but to keep in mind that it is just that: guidance. I will share what I have been given with those who are interested, and I will be open to what others have to share. I will always keep Justin’s generosity in my heart, and with gratitude, I commit to pay it forward.