The journey into self...

Taoism is concerned with the nature of our existence. It is not a religion in the common sense of that term.
It asks hard questions about our values, beliefs and perceptions.
It posits the possibility that much of our knowledge is based on cultural conditioning, rather than fact.

A serious journey into taoism will challenge the most ardent student.
There are no rituals, dogmas or practices to perform.
No worship.

The insights uncovered by your study will affect your everyday life.
Taoists try to appreciate, learn from and work with whatever happens in life, rather than impose order on a chaotic world.

Taking an unflinching look at who you are and how you live your life will go a long way to tempering your ego.
Taoism is not for people seeking a new 'lifestyle region'.
It is uncompromising.

As an off-shoot of taoism, zen also warrants some serious study.

Immersion in the way...

Mastering yourself is not so easy.
Taoism counsels you to remain quiet and anonymous, to avoid attracting attention.
You must become one with the tai chi, and one with everything around you.
The process refers to the ongoing loss of self and the immersion of your mind and body in tao:

1. No ego.
2. No opinions.
3. No aggression.
4. No attitude.
5. No pride.
6. No vanity.
7. No petty behaviour.
8. No cruelty.

Lose everything that stops you from being a pure, natural person.
Only when you have surrendered every thought, memory and pre-conception can you begin to feel humble and compassionate.
These qualities must be genuine, not artifice.

It may take a lifetime but it will be time well spent.

 Taoism furnished the basis for aesthetic ideals, zen made them practical.

(Kakuzo Okakura)

Why is the tao so valuable?

 Because it is everywhere,

 and everyone can use it.

 

 This is why those who seek

 will find,

 And those who reform

 will be forgiven;

 Why the good

 will be rewarded,

 And the thief who is cunning

 will escape.

 

 (Lao Tzu)

Our tai chi movements utilise three dimensions at all times:

1. Vertical
2. Horizontal
3. Forwards & backwards

Every posture, every movement, is a combination of these three dimensions.
It has to be. It is the physics. Width, height, length.

Certain body parts enable us to use three dimensions:

1. up & down, using hand and back
2. side-to-side, using the waist, hips and legs
3. movement between the feet

 Pick any tai chi exercise or movement and consider it in light of this.

Pushing is the action of moving something using the application of force.
Force requires something to push off; this is called resistance.
Resistance is the opposing force.

Tai chi never uses force against force, so it can only be applied when there is very little resistance.
We only ever apply 4 ounces of pressure.

Mastery

After a 20 year Master/disciple relationship, Peter Southwood awarded Sifu Waller 'Master' status in the Year of the Tiger.
He said that Sifu Waller should start wearing the red sash instead of black.
Peter Southwood felt that Sifu Waller qualified as a Tai Chi Master on the basis of the following accomplishments:

1. The 1300 page website giving unparalleled insight into tai chi
2. Exceptionally good shuai jiao, chin na, jing and form applications
3. His grasp of whole-body strength, how to cultivate it, refine it and teach it
4. His study of taoism and the Tai Chi Classics and his skill in infusing the art with the requisite principles
5. The production of a professional-quality syllabus, complete with logical, comprehensive grades, belts and assessment

The samurai must maintain his faith in his beliefs, even as the social or political climate shifts and alters. He must be patient, must act in a manner that may at times seem irrational or illogical, must resist the temptations of instant gratification, and must work towards fulfilling what may seem to be an impossible idea.

As a result, the samurai is often something of an outsider, a rebellious figure because he refuses to conform to the habits of the day.

(Takahiro Kitamura)  

Consider Newton's third law of motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

The more force you apply, the more resistance you will encounter.
This is clearly counter-productive.

Slow, smooth, soft movements are a sure indicator of skill.