T'ai Chi

[Frater G]

The concept of Chi has always been somewhat of a puzzle for me. I just finished the book T'ai Chi Classics by Waysun Liao. The author translates several treaties written by various masters. I thought the book was pretty good for it framed up the concept a bit more for me. I can understand the mechanics of the energy. I know now it is the basis for all Martial Arts. According to the author Chi is an inborn energy that can be developed and amplified and transferred. There is so much written about it and all it's applications, it's astounding.

One concept that got me thinking was a statement one master made that to truly master Chi one must master "shoong", which is the total surrendering to the forces of nature. It is also mentioned that Chi is drawn from the ground. Now Chi is an energy and energy is basically movement right? This life force is a movement at some level...a quantum level no doubt. Movement is also time relative and Chi transcends time according to the masters.

Now there is nothing that is totally still except perhaps the center point of a black hole. Everything is moving...there is energy stored in atoms and sub atomic particles. I'm trying to wrap my brain around this...Chi is energy hidden within, it's within all there is...it is the dragon..the force in star wars.

So to be shoong yields to nature's forces and draws in the energy by unblocking? To flow like water...a river. This transferring of energy by the will or intent is fascinating. Could the pull of the black hole in the center of every galaxy be a catalyst you could say for relative time energy levels? No black hole no galaxy...

[vajramukti]

Feb 25, 2010 1:57:23 GMT -5 Frater G said:

One concept that got me thinking was a statement one master made that to truly master Chi one must master "shoong", which is the total surrendering to the forces of nature.

G, let me speak to this from a purely physical standpoint. Perhaps the greatest, ongoing quest of any martial artist is to develop a powerful straight punch. In any fighting stance, muscles of the body are resisting movement, hence, stance. In order to move forward and execute the punch, the muscles that are resisting forward movement must be released. It is the speed or quickness of that release that gives one initial power.

Now, if that release is immediate and complete, what propels one's body forward is gravity, which has you, within the first second of movement, moving at a velocity of 32 ft/s, and close to 64 ft/s in the next second.

Gravity is a force of nature. If all of the resisting muscles were completely surrendered to the force of nature (gravity) during the punch, then, a 200 pound man should hit his opponent with roughly the force of a pickup truck traveling at 35 mph.

Most people who have mastered that to a reasonable extent are unable to describe the physical process, so they chalk it up to "chi." "Chi" is very real, but it is a catch-all for things we don't understand, too.

For example, the statement that chi comes from the ground is a fancy and somewhat misleading way of saying that correct movement begins at ground level. Correct movement begins a wave of energy that culminates about 4 inches beyond the striking point. Similarly, someone who cracks a bullwhip could say, "chi comes from the hand," when what he means is that movement begins at the largest part of the whip, and that transfer down the length of the whip to the smallest end culminates in a very small sonic boom, but a sonic boom nonetheless. And nobody breaks the sound barrier with their hands. Not even Bruce Lee!

So to be shoong yields to nature's forces and draws in the energy by unblocking? To flow like water...a river.

So, yes. Absolutely.

This transferring of energy by the will or intent is fascinating.

But possibly misleading as well. I have seen and felt people transfer a tremendous amount of energy with very little movement, heard it chalked up to chi, and then done it myself. Couldn't explain it, but was disappointed that I did not feel the magic power leaving my body. I really want that to be true.

Here's the deal, the yielding to the forces of nature is the KEY. In martial arts, is does not matter how big the movement is or how far the movement travels. Only that the sudden, immediate, and complete release of resisting muscles happens at the right time.

Could the pull of the black hole in the center of every galaxy be a catalyst you could say for relative time energy levels? No black hole no galaxy...

Well, it is certainly the core of stability around which the galaxy is formed. No black hole, and the galaxy ceases to maintain a form.

Chi is also life-force, which is another reason for the confusion. Very simplistically, people who are alive have it, people who are dead do not. The question is...what is it? If our body is an engine, and the fuel is water, food, air, chi is a catch all for all the processes that would be the "internal combustion" part of our body, that which transfers the fuel into what makes us alive. And the soul fits in there somewhere. People with what we call "personal power" are said to have more chi. And it can be gained thru meditation.

But, again, simplistically, meditation done correctly, brings us into alignment with exactly who we really are. And by yielding completely to that force of nature that is US, we are able to efficiently (and seemingly effortlessly) express the fullness of who we are. And that is VERY powerful juju. Except that it's not juju.

Imagine yourself drawn to someone for whatever reason, and over time, find yourself getting drawn more and more, and unable to resist that person's manipulations, suggestions, etc. Then think of that person as a black hole and the people around him as the galaxy. The structure of the interpersonal dynamic of the group is built upon that one person's "spiritual gravity."

And then imagine that this is a fairly easily obtainable skill, and more importantly, not even the end result of the training. That type of unimaginable personal power is only a stop along the way.

So, anyway, I don't know if I answered your question at all, but hopefully gave you a framework for chi that may be useful.

Most people understand chi, whether in a physical (martial arts) or mental (personal power) way, as that expression of who they are that is just out of reach of where they are right now.

There is me. And there is ME+. T'ai Chi is a path to that goal, but like the path around a black hole, all roads lead to the center of YOU.

[Frater G]

G, let me speak to this from a purely physical standpoint. Perhaps the greatest, ongoing quest of any martial artist is to develop a powerful straight punch. In any fighting stance, muscles of the body are resisting movement, hence, stance. In order to move forward and execute the punch, the muscles that are resisting forward movement must be released. It is the speed or quickness of that release that gives one initial power.

Now, if that release is immediate and complete, what propels one's body forward is gravity, which has you, within the first second of movement, moving at a velocity of 32 ft/s, and close to 64 ft/s in the next second.

Gravity is a force of nature. If all of the resisting muscles were completely surrendered to the force of nature (gravity) during the punch, then, a 200 pound man should hit his opponent with roughly the force of a pickup truck traveling at 35 mph.

Gravity...I never considered that as a component of Chi. If Chi is within us it is also in everything without us. A plant draws nutrients through shoong...a black hole draws matter in a circular manner...meditation is circular which leads to the one. Chi is defined by intent you could say. What is the definite language to define it? The treaties were written in poetic language which speaks broadly. What is Chi? It is intent because to name it is to own it...the forces of nature will continue but to control is by choice.

But possibly misleading as well. I have seen and felt people transfer a tremendous amount of energy with very little movement, heard it chalked up to chi, and then done it myself. Couldn't explain it, but was disappointed that I did not feel the magic power leaving my body. I really want that to be true.

Here's the deal, the yielding to the forces of nature is the KEY. In martial arts, is does not matter how big the movement is or how far the movement travels. Only that the sudden, immediate, and complete release of resisting muscles happens at the right time.

So shoong is the case in point. That philosophy is what allows plants to grow as well as all other comparatives. Energy comes from somewhere...there has to be a genesis. The big bang set it all in motion...or many little bangs revisionists say. Nevertheless this energy is in motion...the fact that there is sentience is the determining factor in change, from the chaos to order. Chi is order in a sense.

Chi is also life-force, which is another reason for the confusion. Very simplistically, people who are alive have it, people who are dead do not. The question is...what is it? If our body is an engine, and the fuel is water, food, air, chi is a catch all for all the processes that would be the "internal combustion" part of our body, that which transfers the fuel into what makes us alive. And the soul fits in there somewhere. People with what we call "personal power" are said to have more chi. And it can be gained thru meditation.

If Chi is also life force what it it primarily? Chi...control?..intent?...the energy is there already. Let's say there is an atom...floating in space....how long will it exist? Will the electrons eventually halt? What keeps the movement perpetuating?

Shoong invites perpetual motion like black holes invite stars.

Imagine yourself drawn to someone for whatever reason, and over time, find yourself getting drawn more and more, and unable to resist that person's manipulations, suggestions, etc. Then think of that person as a black hole and the people around him as the galaxy. The structure of the interpersonal dynamic of the group is built upon that one person's "spiritual gravity."

And then imagine that this is a fairly easily obtainable skill, and more importantly, not even the end result of the training. That type of unimaginable personal power is only a stop along the way.

Power...the power over nature...the opposite of shoong.

Ego is the Olympics. It is a beautiful thing..the art of Chi...

[vajramukti]

Feb 27, 2010 2:36:25 GMT -5 Frater G said:

Gravity...I never considered that as a component of Chi. If Chi is within us it is also in everything without us. A plant draws nutrients through shoong...a black hole draws matter in a circular manner...meditation is circular which leads to the one.

I would call gravity a force of nature, not a component of chi, but rather of the application of chi. But chi is in everything within and without us...that is alive.

Chi is defined by intent you could say. What is the definite language to define it? The treaties were written in poetic language which speaks broadly. What is Chi? It is intent because to name it is to own it...the forces of nature will continue but to control is by choice.

I don't know of a definite language to define it. A teacher of mine says that chi is one of those concepts that dissolves as soon as you think you have grasped it.

So shoong is the case in point. That philosophy is what allows plants to grow as well as all other comparatives. Energy comes from somewhere...there has to be a genesis.

I would say "came from somewhere." The amount of energy in the universe is constant. Knowing that, the application of chi does not create energy, nor does meditation. Rather, it "reassigns" or "reapplies" energy.

The big bang set it all in motion...or many little bangs revisionists say. Nevertheless this energy is in motion...the fact that there is sentience is the determining factor in change, from the chaos to order. Chi is order in a sense.

What set the big bang into motion?

Life seeks order, entropy is found in decay. It makes sense that the japanese found the application of chi in such ordered, precise ritual.

If Chi is also life force what is it primarily? Chi...control?..intent?...the energy is there already.

That is where I begin to get confused. Chi is "life force" but it is not "life." Life is the application of chi, much like movement of an engine is the application of fuel. But chi is more than fuel. I think that, at some level, chi is the sentience that occurs somewhere between the fuels our bodies consume and living...chi could be what bridges "Being" and "doing." But, as I grasp, it dissolves.

You mentioned intent. Yes, but more than that, even, and somehow less. Perhaps, as an engine requires a spark to combust, chi is a divine spark.

Let's say there is an atom...floating in space....how long will it exist? Will the electrons eventually halt? What keeps the movement perpetuating?

The energy of the atom will exist in perpetuity. The atom will exist until acted upon by a force sufficient to substantially change it into something else, or to relieve it of it's energy.

Power...the power over nature...the opposite of shoong.

Ego is the Olympics. It is a beautiful thing..the art of Chi...

I am not sure that there really is power over nature. Perhaps we have power over some things in nature, but that is nature's way, and we are, after all, natural. But the attempt is the antithesis of chi.

Thanks, G. You're making me think!!!

[Frater G]

Feb 26, 2010 19:40:41 GMT -5 vajramukti said:

Gravity is a force of nature. If all of the resisting muscles were completely surrendered to the force of nature (gravity) during the punch, then, a 200 pound man should hit his opponent with roughly the force of a pickup truck traveling at 35 mph.

Years back when Frank and I trained he would hit me with so much Chi that it felt like being hit by the end of a steel pole. He was so thin yet it seemed like his bones were more dense. It was intimidating...his influence was Bruce Lee.