Zen & tai chi
I threw my
cup away
when I saw a child
drinking from his hands at the trough.
(Diogenes)
What is zen?
Zen is not a religion or belief system.
It is concerned with seeing things as they really are.
This means freeing the mind from ideas, thoughts, opinions, concepts, notions,
bias, memories and expectations.
The limitations of thought and language is a principle theme in zen.
Tai chi &
zen
Both zen and tai chi arose from the contemplative
taoism of Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu.
Some understanding of zen can aid the student in their study of tai chi.
Recommended reading:
Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers by Leonard Koren
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel
The Little Zen Companion by David Schiller
Sword and Brush by Dave Lowry
Simplicity
At the heart of all things is a simple quality.
Clarity arises when we are capable of seeing this simplicity. When we notice
small things. The details.
Instead of pursuing greater and wider experiences, we are content to remain
where we are and notice what is in front of us.
Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi qualities:
Get rid of all that is unnecessary
Focus on the intrinsic
Natural process
Unpretentious
Humility
Earthy
Simple
Natural things
Zen cultivates a taste for natural things.
Instead of glossy, flamboyant, outward show, it turns the attention inward.
You begin to notice the small, the seemingly insignificant, and you see the
wonder of the ordinary.
This way of looking at things seems most appropriate for a martial art that
conceals its power so skilfully.
The tai chi is not ornate.
It is simple, direct, flowing and natural.
Within the slow spirals, curves and gentle steps can be found a grace that is
difficult to articulate.
Slow down
It is necessary to slow down in order to see what is happening in
our lives, with our bodies, with our thoughts.
Many of the tai chi exercises are performed slowly in order to increase
awareness.
We learn to notice the hidden, the small, the subtle.
Quiet
When things are left alone, they settle of their own accord.
People become silent, calm and still.
Your body will do the same if you let it.
Repetition of forms
One facet of any zen-related discipline is the repetition of a form or
pattern; the accurate reproduction of a deliberate sequence of actions.
The aim of this practice is to lose the sense of self.
No thinking, no worrying, planning or anxiety.
Just being.
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.
Kung fu teaches a person to move instantly in response to what is happening.
When the hands are clapped, the sound
issues without hesitation. When flint is struck with steel, the spark comes out
at once.
(Alan Watts)
Zen in the martial
arts
The raw immediacy advocated by zen suits the martial arts.
Superfluity has no place in kung fu, and zen is an ideal way to trim your
art down to the fundamentals.
A student who is absorbed in the doing is said to be in a condition of 'shen',
where no division exists between the art and the individual.
Page created 2 March 1995