An eye
for an eye will make the whole world blind.
(Gandhi)
A reaction
Gandhi advocated 'passively resistance' which entailed neither
fighting back nor cooperating.
Followers of Gandhi allowed themselves to be beaten senseless and did not fight
back.
Gandhi's 'non-violence' is a concept that revolves around the theme of
violence and is a
reaction to
violence.
Being non-violent means that you are still focussed on violence.
Instead of performing violence, you are repressing it.
Violence has not left your thoughts. Your thoughts still revolve around
violence.
Non-violence
Gandhi may have preached 'non-violence' but this is not a standpoint shared by
taoism or tai chi.
Being beaten to the ground for a cause is an example of idea over
reality, and however noble this may seem, it is fundamentally
unnatural.
In tai chi, countering violence with violence is something which should only
occur if you have absolutely no other choice,
no other
option.
Violence is not meant to be an
idea, a mental process, but a physiological
response to genuine danger.
Gandhi's 'non-violence' is merely a concept, an idea, a philosophy. A thought.
An opinion. A viewpoint.
What is
Taoism does not require concepts.
Taoism
is not a religion or a
philosophy.
There is nothing to believe in and consequently nothing to argue for or against.
There are no principles to defend or positions to justify and support.
We merely observe reality. What
is.
Taoism is about
observation,
harmony and
accord. Not thoughts and ideas.
Neither for nor against
Taoism advocates being neither for nor against. It also sees no sense in
resistance.
Confrontation is not encouraged.
The tai chi person will counter an attack if they have to.
This is not a political or philosophical standpoint. Countering an attack is
simply appropriate.
Ignoring the assault would potentially invite physical damage.
Instinct
Tai chi does use
violence in self defence.
It aims to only use violence for
survival, as would an animal if cornered or threatened.
Nature is
filled with violence.
But it is highly unlikely that the animals are being violent in
response to a
thought or an idea.
Violence is more
instinctual than that.
Does a shark think to kill something?
Does your body and mind respond to
assault because you have watched war movies or Bruce Lee?
No.
'Survival' and
'violence' are not concepts. There should be no thought involved.
Biological
Your body is biologically prepared and capable of violence. The process of
violence occurs within our body as naturally as breathing does.
If somebody hits you on the nose, is that a concept? Is your desire to fight
back or run away another concept?
Be honest - upon being struck, do you even
think at all?
Why are we violent?
Because violence is part of our survival mechanism and survival is the
prime motivation in life.
It is why we eat, drink, sleep, procreate and fight.
Not violent
Violence should be used
sparingly. No one "deserves" to be
harmed,
no matter who they are.
Thoughts should not be used to justify or excuse violent actions.
Self defence is completely different to
war,
fighting or
competition martial arts.
In self defence the aim is to be
expedient. Be functional, economical, direct and pragmatic.
Your
aim is not to score points or claim victory. You simply
want
to escape unharmed.
Socially responsible
Violence may be natural but it is also largely unnecessary in modern life. We
are seldom in actual danger. Our survival is not frequently threatened.
In tai chi we learn to accept the violence within
us and do not seek to repress or rejoice in it.
It exists.
But it is very rarely needed.
This is one of the reasons why self defence work in class is usually more akin
to
play than
fighting.
Thought promotes violence
For most people, violence stems from thought and
from emotion, not from their instincts.
People
build things up out of all
proportion, or become violent out of boredom and
pride.
Tai chi
exponents aim to remain calm and
composed, detached and uninvolved.
We recognise that most situations are not 'life or death', and we have the
awareness to remain non-violent.
Such awareness is sane and healthy.
Page created 14 May 2007