There are no trees on the high mountain crags;
plants and trees grow in profusion in the valley bowls.
There are no fish in the rapids;
fish and turtles gather in the still depths.
(Huanchu Daoren)
Ego in tai chi
Students sometimes become egotistical.
But why?
What about?
Because they can
move
nicely?
Or they have a number of
forms?
Or they can apply the system with fa jing?
So what?
Do you see yourself as being a big fish in a small pond?
If you cannot see the ocean, read some tao.
It is not about you
A
teacher
must be very careful not to encourage a following.
Teachers are simply a
medium of transmission; a means by
which tai chi can be passed-on through the generations.
They are not important in their own right, and only matter to the extent to
which they can perform their role.
A
good teacher deserves no praise or
flattery or gratitude; they are merely doing what they should be doing.
No one
Teachers are not
gurus or
masters, and students are not
disciples or apprentices.
We are all just people; and should not imbue the relationship with a
degree of authority it does not warrant.
Your teacher deserves respect, particularly if their syllabus is thorough,
interesting, well-considered and they tutor you conscientiously.
Respect their skill and their dedication, but do not confuse respect with
authority.
If a teacher feels that students are 'leaning' on them too much, they should
fade into the background, become
aloof and dissuade people.
Do not accept the offer of
authority; to do so would reveal a
weakness of character - your need to 'be somebody' or to 'make a name for
yourself'.
Bloated with pride?
Do not be impressed with yourself.
An integrated person has no need to show off, whereas an insecure person
requires an audience and approval.
Let go of your pride and your vanity.
Tao Te Ching
reminds us that existence is unfathomable; infinitely complex in its
diversity, incalculable in its size.
Now consider your tai chi…
A matter of degree
A good cure for egotism is the concept of 'degree'.
University education inclines the student to believe that a degree means
more than it does.
Literally speaking it is 1/360th of a circle.
The circle may represent a subject or even a facet of a subject. i.e. '20th
Century Literature'.
A degree is a slither of knowledge.
A masters degree is an even finer slither, a doctorate finer still and a
professorship is very limited.
Out of all the subjects in existence, what does that degree amount to?
It is a small amount of knowledge applied within a limited field of
expertise.
The same would apply to any area in which there are specialists who know a lot
about just one area.
Conceited
If somebody praises your tai chi, you should not feel
pleased.
Consider instead the
nature
of the compliment.
A conceited person is inwardly smug and prideful, but a humble person knows
they still have far to go.
When an inexperienced person compliments the teacher, what does the
flattery
mean?
Can a beginner understand your form?
Do they comprehend the inner workings?
Or are they merely impressed by the appearance?
Tai chi is internal.
A beginner has no conception of what the teacher is really doing and
assesses it according to their own criteria.
The student 'likes' or 'dislikes' the tai chi and
is ruled by opinion, not by
insight
and experience.
Why then should the teacher feel pleased by the compliment?
When a skilled teacher compliments your tai chi, take the remark in the
spirit that it is intended: encouragement, not flattery.
The teacher is telling you to continue the hard work - nothing more,
nothing less.
Attach no significance to praise and your ego will stay quiet.
Page created 6 April 2000