Why are we not relaxed

In the last 3 – 4 weeks, Master Chow again repeated and re-emphasize '放松' (relax); '无为' (inactivity), '阴阳' (substantial/insubstantial), after each step, alternating weight shift, absorbing and expanding and check where it is 'hard' or 'tensed' to ease off prior to continuing the next step.

These are repeated many, many times. Our ears are full with them, yet listening is one thing, doing it is another.

We can continue to practice, but without the really correct understanding, it is going to be fruitless. Yet, it is not something that can be understood and acted out easily.

I am one of the culprit too.

But now, I have come to realize that not only we did not practice it correctly, we actually do not understand it correctly. While we thought we have understood but just cannot do it correctly, we are not aware we actually done the opposite. For example – we need to relax, but as we keep reminding about 'relaxing' we actually 'tensed' our mind instead, leading to tightening the muscles of the particular point where we are supposed to relax.

Or the other extreme – we completely threw out the 'substance'. This again is not correct, in my opinion. It should not be totally empty, or become a vacuum. It should be just 'effortless' allowing the weight or gravitational force to take over.

Another example – alternating weight shift and 'substantial and insubstantial' – 2 realizations here:

1. We did not actually shift the weight properly. Most of the time, not enough because we did not transfer completely (we actually tensed our muscles/joints instead and thought we have transferred correctly).
2. e.g. Left hand and left leg both being '阴' (insubstantial) or '阳'(substantial), or both hands or both legs being of the same; or not knowing how to distribute between the left and right side of our body.

Taiji is a life-long exercise, it is a life-long program. It requires not just physical training, it requires lots of 'mind exploring' too.

Understanding Laozi's Teachings and I-Ching and practicing meditation will definitely help.

 

 

Please comment or suggest your views.