That he has at last discovered it is less a cause for pride than for laughter at himself for not having seen it before.
(Alan Watts)
What is composure?
Composure is
emotional balance.
The ability to remain emotionally stable in the event of crisis or stress
can be a valuable quality.
We encounter many things in life that might upset a person,
tai chi teaches
us to slow down and remain calm.
Inner conflict
Inner conflict prevents
outer
accord.
When the
mind feels to be at war with the world,
there can be no peace.
Peace is not a goal or target; it occurs naturally when activity stops.
Our conditioning, opinions, memories and ideas all conflict with the way
things are.
People try to
shape reality to suit their own ideas, and
conflict is caused by the resistance they encounter.
Imbuing ideas with emotion creates
upset.
In tai chi
we soften our minds and bodies in order to remove resistance, we allow
emotions to rise and fall of their own accord.
Composure in tai chi
Tai chi is
usually performed slowly and the emphasis is always upon relaxed,
comfortable movement.
This slowness is calming, and allows the mind to
settle.
When the body
naturally relaxes and sinks; the student
feels grounded and stable.
Composure in self defence
Tai chi
self
defence trains stress management by encouraging a person to remain calm
during vigorous partner work.
As physical contact becomes familiar and natural, a person becomes more
relaxed when faced with conflict.
Many uncomfortable situations can be avoided by being composed.
Composure in life
Life can be
very stressful and demanding.
Tai chi and
taoism encourage people to be relaxed and patient in the face of
adversity.
By avoiding unnecessary conflict, life feels
easier.
A tai chi person avoids situations by not getting into them, by dealing with
the potential before it becomes a problem.
Page created 11 April 2003