Like a free
spirit.
Unfettered by position or possession.
(Orlando)
What is spontaneity?
Spontaneity is the ability to act without thinking.
It is the raw immediacy of action.
To be spontaneous, conscious thought must cease and you must simply do.
Both the
mind and the body must be loose and
flexible.
Tai chi teaches a person to move instantly in response to what is
happening.
Preparation
You must let go of
fear.
Planning may be necessary in many circumstances but it can also be a
hindrance.
When a person prepares for an activity they encounter a minute tensing of
the muscles and a tightening of the joints.
The subtle act of preparation actually reduces your ability to move and
slows the body considerably.
In our approach to
tai chi we seek to remove this moment of getting-ready and
simply move.
This requires
awareness and
composure.
By slowing-down the body and calming the mind you become
capable of instant action.
In
self defence, this is essential.
Freedom
When the delay of preparation is removed, you will feel the freedom of
uninhibited movement.
Both mind and body will act in a flowing harmonious manner.
Taoism
advocates finding
accord, moving unconsciously with what is
happening.
Many of the
tai chi partner exercises are specifically designed to develop
this ability.
The freedom of spontaneity allows you to act on instinct and impulse.
The past
People are chained to their past.
Rather than using
memory appropriately, they are haunted by comparisons with what
has happened previously or dreams of what may come.
Let go and
drift with what is happening.
You live in the present moment, so action must occur in the here and now.
Page created 14 February 2001