Learning is not something that can be easily overlooked. Most of the time, we carry old knowledge and beliefs to judge everything. Our bodies are like our minds; they accumulate habits from past experiences or from lack of exercise. When we learn something new, we tend to compare it and assume it must be a certain way without truly understanding what it is. My Qigong teacher told me that we often like to interpret things and jump to conclusions. I get it now!!! The core is about listening quietly without letting the internal chatter take over. This is the essence of the Zen story about the teacup—because a cup that is already full cannot hold anything new. The principles of Tai Chi Chuan training are often explained with simple words like "Tai Chi is harmony" or "Tai Chi is balance." While these explanations are not incorrect, they only scratch the surface. There is much more to learn. Tai Chi is not about duality, like black and white, but rather about unity and oneness. Integration, merging into non-separation, begins with this. Some people are already confused, as if hearing the words of Jesus Christ: "Love your enemies" or "Open your doors to thieves." Tai Chi is the opposite of what people generally understand. The soft overcomes the hard, stillness subdues movement. Softness and hardness are qualities of the same thing. Stillness and movement are one and the same. How can two things that seem so different become complementary or supportive of each other? Is this just an overused phrase that doesn't hold true in reality? I would argue that it's because we have overlooked our oneness. We choose conflict over peace. There's a saying that blood cannot wash away blood, yet most people believe that peace can be achieved through war. It seems strange that we would seek peace by learning combat. Although civilian self-defense differs from military training, this is often misunderstood. Self-discipline is considered secondary to practicing cool punching techniques. Duality is the separation and categorization of something into two distinct extremes. Monism is the principle that rejects duality, such as the separation of mind and matter or God and humans. In Qigong, which is the source of Tai Chi's energy, it is said that the mind guides the body. Tai Chi is a discipline conceived by scholars and is a product of intellect, not brute force. Therefore, it is not about achieving results, but about achieving them effortlessly. Master Zheng Manqing once said that practitioners who cannot advance in Tai Chi do so because they neglect the fundamentals. This means that, from the very beginning, we must understand the training methods and practice correctly and consistently until we achieve success. Where does this understanding come from? It comes from paying close attention to what the teacher points out and asking questions regularly. If we cannot evaluate ourselves, how can we improve? We are not training for expertise; we are repeating movements like a mindless person, without thought. The ability to see our own mistakes is the starting point for improvement. The errors we observe will become increasingly detailed and difficult to detect. Refining is something that must be done later. *The boxing techniques of the villagers are trained for self-defense and to prevent harm, while the boxing techniques of the military are designed for combat and killing. They are different. Therefore, when general Chinese boxing is pitted against Thai boxing, it often loses because Thai boxing is built for combat, whereas most Chinese boxing is built for self-improvement. Thus, if we are to train in boxing, we must ask ourselves which type we desire. (-- comment from Professor Xiao Liyan) **God and humans are one, yet we struggle to play the role of God well. People often seek idols to admire and worship, elevating them as perfect representatives of God. That is an old story. The face of God changes constantly, but the nature of humanity remains unchanged. *** There are many ways to do something, but sticking to the path you've chosen is the best way. Of course, it requires focus, patience, and perseverance to reach your destination. From the page Tai Chi for Health, translated by Phin Pharadam.
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