Does
Taiji fit (at least) with a kind of quantitative approach such as: The more
effort/ we practice, the better?
Taiji is not about effort only, it is
effort AND relaxing.
·
Go with the flow, Let it be,
effortless relaxing is neither the subject of Taiji
·
Although you have always to
relax, to release
it is relaxing within a form
·
Taiji gives an opportunity to
let work everything: the body (not only muscles but also articulations) and the
mind.
·
Taiji gives the opportunity to
relax all.
·
So it is about
o
effort with relaxing without
effort
o
relaxing within effort without
losing the flow of the force
o
you may continue a while this
iterative recursive way
Taiji is also about balance. Similar as the
equilibrist that uses a long stick to keep his balance Taiji offers the
opportunity to do ample movements of all parts of the body moving differently
but united, while the mind is empty, open, calm and alert. All those movements
and efforts are done in a relaxed way with relaxed shoulders, elbows, fingers,
waist, knees, ankles, also the mind
Taiji is also about following the Force
go for the feeling
not the doing
If you only increase the effort, no gain,
no better balance. Some people get even benefit of Taiji without doing Taiji. At
my work everybody knows that on Wednesday at 17h30 Wim has to go to the Taiji
training. They know: he goes or he has a bad temper during the next week.
(Although this has not been tested the last two years). So everybody has
benefit of my Taiji session, but they did not do Taiji themselves. Transcendental
Meditation claims something similar. If 1% of the world population does TM
(perhaps at the highest level where you can hop (lift in the air while
sitting in meditation)) the world would be in peace, no war anymore.
So Taiji does not fit a quantitative more
effort the better principle. Practicing is already the benefit. Especially
when you relax within effort to come to balance. There does not exist a measure
to measure the degree of balance, not for Taiji, not for something else. Enjoy
your practice, if you relax within the effort, the mountain may come to you.
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