mick@vaxa.isi.edu (Mick ODonnell) (03/15/90)
In article <14523@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> temvax!stephen@bpa.bell-atl.com (Stephen C. Arnold) writes: >There is a link between the practice of Tai Chi and Taoism. I have been >practicing Tai Chi for about 4 1/2 year now. I am starting to find emotionals >linked to movement (of my form in partical). > >Has anyone else experianced this connection and does it continue to change >into a spiritual connention (as I expect)? Is it general that Taoist practice >sneaks up on you and the you realise you doing sometime? Or is this true of >eastern religion in general. I don't have any quotes in evidence, but I have gathered that historically Tai Chi and Taoism are strongly linked. Tai Chi has been part of the Taoist practice for ages. One could say that tai chi is an expression of the Tao in movement, containing the principles of yin-yang, circularity, strength-in-weakness, holistic functionality etc. The different approaches to Tai Chi also match different aspects of Taoism. One approach to Tai Chi is more concerned with balance - bringing the bodies energies into harmony, and the mind into quietness. I feel this approach matches closely the Tao as expressed by Lao Tsu in the Tao Te Ching. The other approach to Tai Chi concerns itself with raising the bodies energies, with the use of power (for whatever ends). This relates to the latter day Taoist writings where taoist practice is, also, directed at increasing one's powers. Certainly the writings on taoist sex suggest more competition between the sexes for the sexual energy, rather than a sharing/grounding. All this is possibly wrong, due to the limitations of my knowledge, and lack of reference materials at this moment. My interest has been with practicing tai chi, not so much with following its history. Michael.
ccstb@bath.ac.uk (T Barry) (03/15/90)
Tai Chi does indeed include emotional work. There are specific ways of practising to deal with emotional energy. The same applies to some forms of Chi Gung. The best thing to do when an emotion comes up is to watch it and not get involved with it. You want to allow the emotion to dissolve away without giving it any of your energy. You can find all sorts of things comming up that have been buried for many years. It is a process that can be very entertaining/enlightening! Sorry for the brevity of this post, I'm very busy at the moment. Trevor Barry T.Barry@UK.AC.BATH.GDR
stephen@bpa.bell-atl.com (Stephen C. Arnold) (03/19/90)
In article <14558@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> ccstb@bath.ac.uk (T Barry) writes: >Tai Chi does indeed include emotional work. >There are specific ways of practising to deal with emotional energy. > >The best thing to do when an emotion comes up is to watch it and not >get involved with it. You want to allow the emotion to dissolve away >without giving it any of your energy. I strongly disagree with not taking energy from your emotions. To go back to the Taoist story of life as a river, the rappids are as valid a part of the river as any other. This energy of strong emotions can be directed well and enrich and bring much joy into ones life. Steve