OM Aphorism

Aphorisms can be used as part of a meditative practise.

John Kells has written a number of aphorisms to work on  OM. Here is one that I like.

" OM is voice to timeless Benediction "

Repeat this silently to yourself.

Listen.

Become aware.

Wisdom on Eastenders

Fantastic advice for difficult times (or any time ) was given on Eastenders, a BBC TV "soap".


Breathe and let go, breathe and let go,


Let me try that - one moment......yes, it works :)

Mid Air Root

You can be rooted even with both feet off the ground, for instance, as you are doing a jump.


So this begs the question - what is root?


What is your connection to?

What is connected to you?

Is Root in the Feet, the Mind, the Heart?

Is Root in the Soul?

I don't have a definitive answer because my experience has thrown up different answers. I leave you to yours.

Forum warriors

Sometimes I do find it interesting to read discussions on forums about tai chi.

Mostly I am left disappointed by the inane mud slinging of the keyboard warriors who bathe in their version of reality to the detriment of others.

Was it Bruce Lee who said " My Reality is not your Reality " ?

So I'm off outdoors to celebrate my own version of reality instead. Practise with sincerity and be open to discovery.

Sometimes......

.....................it is great to forget everything, all the principles, the rules, the attitudes and just do your form.

Be light, be spirited.

Let your body sing Tai Chi as there is no separation, no divide.

In this way, connect to nature. Be natural.

Afterwards I usually enjoy a cup of tea (well, I'm British so what do you expect! ) and watch the world go by.

Sometimes I have tea before as well!

Emptying

The Tai Chi classics talk about full and empty, but how can you put this into practise?

You can do this in your form.

As an example, when turning to the right from Ward off left in the Cheng Man Ching form, completely empty your right side. It's as if it was full of water which has drained into the left side of the body.

This includes the legs. The right side then feels incredibly light. When I turn I visualise an attack coming to my right side. I have to sink, empty and make space.

A common mistake is to turn but not empty, so your energy is stuck and double weighted. Visualisation plays an important part so it essential to have an understanding of the martial applications.

Yiquan 10

Here is the final poem, reproduced as before with permission from Heron Beecham.

10.

 

Practise and study hard, and you will enter a place of wonder and fascination;

Where there are innumerable gold bracelets and jade treasures stored within.

 

When we are full of vital energy the spirit will never be exhausted;

With a feeling of elation, let us drift along at will without a fixed lodging point.

 

Activities such as walking, standing, sitting or lying are valuable for practice;

This ancient and remarkable skill appears easy to approach.

 

The body is loosened so that the strength feels like it has been derived from soft mud;

The frame appears to have been suspended by a thread from the top of the head.

 

Examine the condition of each body cell silently with discerning eyes;

False versus real, round versus square, the two aspects aid one another.

 

Evil intentions do not arise from the expansive sky or the boundless sea;

Let the heavenly bodies revolve around each other in the appropriate way.

 

To set an object of pursuit and follow it perseveringly is the only requirement;

A grand achievement will surely be accomplished after many years of study.

 

Suppose we fail to adopt this approach to study yet practise day and night;

We will never succeed in the Chinese martial arts and only sigh in lamentation.