Master self before attempting to master others.
(Lao Tzu)
Standards
What constitutes a 'tai chi master'? What makes somebody a
master?
People have different standards and values, insights and experience.
Whilst there may be some general consensus concerning what a master is,
there is an awful lot of disagreement.
Taoism
Taoism
is quite clear when it comes to mastery.
You must address your
own concerns before attempting to
control or
manipulate other things.
Scholars of the tao question
the very notion of
mastery.
Zen
The zen scholar Ikkyu was once given a certificate by his teacher Kaso.
The document confirmed his enlightenment and would enable him to make a
profit through his teachings.
Ikkyu tore up the document, claiming that it was meaningless.
He was contemptuous of the profiteering and corruption common in zen
monasteries at the time.
Tai chi
Can you master tai chi?
The idea of mastery suggests that you bring something under control, that
you understand and have competence in all aspects of the topic.
In the context of tai chi, such a claim seems rather unlikely.
Consider this carefully: a new starter fails to gain
skill in tai chi
because they do not
surrender to the art.
Only when you stop struggling and follow the
principles
of tai chi do you
gain any skill.
You are not taming tai chi, it is taming you.
Your
body and
mind are re-shaped by the art - you become a very
different
person.
Tai chi masters you, not the other way around.
Money
People pay more money to train with a tai chi
master.
They buy
videos, books and attend workshops on the strength of the
prefix 'master'.
Krishnamurti
Jiddu
Krishnamurti was vehemently against the notion of 'mastery'.
He felt that the act of following another person entailed a certain
ignorance, dependency and blindness.
Following a master was a denial of responsibility.
Krishnamurti encouraged people to understand the total process of their
being.
By denying authority, the onus was placed upon the individual.
Dave Lowry
Dave
Lowry is a renowned author and martial artist.
He practices traditional Japanese arts and has written a considerable volume
of insightful material.
Modest and self-effacing, Lowry's thoughts concerning mastery are well worth
reading and considering.
Surrender your 'self'
Taoism counsels you to remain
quiet and anonymous, to avoid attracting
attention.
Mastering yourself is not so easy.
The
process refers to the
ongoing loss of self and the
immersion of your
mind and body in tao.
You must become
one with the tai chi, and one with everything around you.
No ego. No
opinions. No
aggression. No
attitude. No
pride. No vanity. No
petty behaviour. No
cruelty.
Lose everything that stops you from being a pure, natural person.
Only when you have surrendered every thought,
memory and pre-conception can
you begin to feel
humble and compassionate.
These qualities must be
genuine, not artifice.
It may take a lifetime but it will be time well spent.
Page created 24 May 2000