Teachings
Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd
say:
"In this world, Elwood, you must be..." - she always called me Elwood -
"In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.
And you may quote me.
(Harvey)
Empty your cup
A lot of new starters come to class with various ideas about
tai chi that have come from popular culture, or their own experiences with
martial arts.
These ideas, notions,
opinions and
expectations
will not help them to learn tai chi.
It is necessary to come with a fresh mind. An empty mind.
Open,
receptive, attentive.
Understanding
and insight require
context and
experience.
If you are new to this style of tai chi, then you lack context and you lack
experience.
Speculation
will not aid you in your endeavour to learn tai chi. Only hard work will do
this.
Judging the whole from the part
There is an Indian folk tale about six blind men inspecting an elephant:
The first man encounters the side of the animal and believes it to be a wall.
The second man imagines the tusk to be a spear.
The third man thinks that the trunk is a snake.
The fourth man considers the leg to be a tree.
The fifth man feels an ear and believes it to be a fan.
The sixth man finds the tail and is certain it is a rope.
A beginner does not understand the syllabus. They are the blind man and the
syllabus is the elephant.
They see what they want to see. What they are capable of seeing.
Arrogance, experience and conceit are what blinds them.
Be open
In order to see existence without bias, judgement
or conditioning, it is necessary to be open.
We cannot look and listen to only what pleases us.
Gratification is not important.
Openness requires you to shed your opinions, judgements, values and
conceits.
Let-go of all that.
Learn from everyone and anyone.
Page created 18 February 1999