Fix your eyes on Bobby Jones.
Look at his practice swing... almost like he's searching for something.
Then he finds it.
Watch as he settles himself right into the middle of it.
Feel that focus.
Now he's got a lot of shots to choose from
- duffs and tops and skulls -
but there's only one shot that's in perfect harmony with the field.
One shot that's his - the authentic shot.
And that shot is going to choose him.
There's a perfect shot out there trying to find each and every one of us.
All we have to do is get out of its way and let it choose us.
(The Legend of Bagger Vance)
Tai chi and spirit
In tai chi, the word 'spirit' usually refers to
shen.
By removing the division between yourself and everything around you, oneness
occurs.
Being
immersed in the moment is vital to tai chi
practice.
Thoughts end, memories stop intruding and we allow the world to unfold
without consideration.
There is a sense of great calm and wellbeing.
This is considered to be a 'spiritual' experience because you transcend the
illusion of separateness.
Spirits and the
supernatural
Some people are interested in ghosts and spirits.
Tai chi is not concerned with this whatsoever.
Taoism recognises that most of existence is unknowable, so we do
not speculate about what may or may not be.
To understand your tai chi you
must become a pragmatic person, a
scientist and learn how your body works in
relation to everything around you.
You must begin with your feet planted on the ground.
Harmony
When you become one with your tai chi and tao, things will happen that you
cannot readily explain.
These are not supernatural events.
By removing the
barriers between yourself and everything
else, you move in rhythm with the universe and benefit from this harmony.
Page created 5 April 2002