If you persevere,
you will eventually find out that the absolute rules,
which you learned in the beginning were strictly conventional
and were not in any sense fixed laws of nature.
(Alan Watts)
Real
If you feel
friendly,
open and receptive, then be so. But do not play-act.
If you are shy, uncomfortable and awkward, do not hide behind an image.
Unless you
admit your difficulties, how can you
address them and improve?
Be comfortable with yourself. Accept everything.
If there are things you want to change, then think them through but do not
fall into pretence and falsehood.
You cannot spend your life doing things to please others. You cannot please
everyone all of the time.
Image
It is important to be yourself when training tai chi. Taoism does
not embrace any kind of phoney behaviour.
It is important to be what you are and who you are.
Self-discovery is not possible if you are not prepared to be genuine.
Attention
Some people like to be the centre of
attention.
They are insecure and want you to like them.
Taoism does not encourage this kind of behaviour.
Ghost
Taoism advocates 'leading from behind'.
The teacher needs to be a background figure in the class.
They should not spend the lesson at the front, playing
guru and encouraging an audience.
This is not the way at all.
A good teacher is hardly noticed.
Their role is to facilitate the learning, to guide, correct and challenge
you.
They are not there to be your counsellor, mentor or master. The class is
about tai chi, not the teacher.
Page created 14 April 2000