Far from wishing to awaken the artist in the pupil prematurely, the teacher considers it his first task to make him a skilled artisan with sovereign control of his craft. The pupil follows out his intention with untiring industry. As though he had no higher aspirations he bows under his burden with a kind of obtuse devotion, only to discover in the course of years that forms which he perfectly masters no longer oppress but liberate. He grows daily more capable of following any inspiration without technical effort, and also of letting inspiration come to him through meticulous observation.
(Eugen Herrigel)
Beyond exercise
In our
school, tai chi is
intended to be a physical expression of
tao.
When your body and mind
align with existence, you
move without conflict or impediment.
Exercise and martial
applications are not the
focus - it is not simply relaxed
karate or an
alternative to pilates.
Tao & zen
Tao and zen are
indescribable.
You just get a
sense of what they
are about but could never fully
articulate it because
words do not extend
to reality.
Tai chi is the same.
When you begin to
understand
what we are teaching you, the
art becomes
apparent.
Art
What is 'art'?
Art is the expression of passion,
creativity and imagination.
It is a skill acquired by experience, study and observation.
Art implies a
personal, creative power that
defies analysis.
It has a meaning beyond the description.
Is it art?
Understanding art is not straightforward.
At a certain level, it can be a subjective experience.
What may be art to
one person is worthless to another; a lot depends upon your background and
perception.
If a work of art looks pretty to you, does your value judgement reflect an
aesthetic standard or an appreciation of the
intricacies of the craft?
The craft
The craft (or
science) of
tai chi is very complex;
although it has an image that contradicts this.
Many people confuse simplicity with simplistic, and train the art as though it
were something mundane.
To practice tai chi skilfully requires years of study and involves countless
layers of detail and subtlety.
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Page created 23 January 2006