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Lao Tzu and Taoism
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Lao Tzu (born 604 BC)
taught the doctrine of the Tao (pronounced' Dow') or Naturalism,
which is drawn mainly from the recognition of the soft, yielding
ways of nature. First, according to Tao, it is only by observing, learning
from and conducting our lives according to the ways of nature that
we can expect to reach a state |
of fulfillment and peace. You should do nothing that
conflicts with the natural way: you should bend with the wind and become
a part of it, rather than attempt to resist. A snow-covered leaf does
not resist, but bends slowly and gracefully until the snow falls away.
It does not obstruct, fight or confront the snow but, instead, submits
to its greater force and ultimately triumphs.
According to the laws of nature, nothing is permanent, everything
is forever changing. Everything is born, it evolves and dies and is
reborn again, thus creating a never-ending circle. In effect, there is
no beginning and no end. This concept is reflected in the changing
seasons. Also, everything in nature has a
complementary or opposite component which is represented by the
attributes yin and yang. For example, hot and cold, night and
day, male and female and so on. Through all the changes occurring in
nature, harmony is established through the balance of yin and yang. When
yin and yang are not balanced, disorder occurs.
Taoism is in fact the major
influencing philosophy of Tai Chi. Taoism regards the physical and
spiritual as indivisible yet distinctly different aspects of the same
reality, with the body serving as the root for the blossom of the mind.
The purpose of Tai Chi is to regain the balance between body and mind to
achieve harmony.
The second major principle is
the Taoist doctrine of the 'Uncarved Block' which describes humans in a
pristine state of existence, before they are tainted by family,
education, environment and society, before they are changed by bigotry
and greed. To attain fulfillment, each of us must again become pure,
virgin, untouched - as an uncarved block. In your heart and mind you
should contemplate only those things that accord with the natural laws.
Only by doing this can you find peace within yourself.
Third is the doctrine of Wu Wei, or'Non-action'.
which does not advocate that you should be completely passive, doing
nothing or always turning the other cheek, but, rather, that you should
do only the things that need to be done and act only in ways that accord
with the natural law. It means doing things for their own sake rather
than for ulterior motives. Perhaps most importantly, it means knowing
when to stop rather than over-doing things. As Lao Tsu made the point: When
your work is done, then withdraw!
That is the way of Heaven.
The Taoist principles are intertwined directly in the
philosophy of Tai Chi. In particular, the doctrine of naturalism
influences the movements of Tai Chi and ensures that each applies the
concepts of softness, yielding and non-action. This results in the inner
calmness and tranquility of the performer as he or she moves with,
rather than attempts to resist, the laws of nature.
Nature constantly changes, and this is reflected in
Tai Chi exercises by the constantly changing movements. The shifting of
the weight from one foot to the other and the alternating movements of
the limbs help to bring balance and harmony.
Confucius and Confucianism
Confucius (551-479 BC)
formulated a philosophy of humanism which concentrates on the world of
the living, rather than on life in the next world or on spiritual needs.
His doctrines focus on social conduct and order, and ethics and morality
in particular.
Confucius taught that the goal of the individual is to
cultivate the qualities of social grace, justice and wisdom (with
special respect for family elders). His goal for society was universal
order and harmony. He also believed in the necessity of reverence and
respect for the human body.
The Confucians philosophy of order and
harmony is reflected in the postures and movements of Tai Chi. Tai Chi
exercises involve upward and downward, left and right, and forward and
backward motion. When these movements are properly balanced, harmony
results. Tai Chi promotes harmony within the self and, as a consequence,
the ability to deal calmly and fairly with others.
Buddha and Buddhism
Unlike naturalistic Taoism or humanistic
Confucianism, Buddhism is concerned with the after life and the
way to the next
world. Buddha (550-477 BC) expounded a philosophy
of no materialism: that all things are transient, that they lack
continuous form and have no ultimate content. He preached a
doctrine of love and compassion to overcome hatred and
revenge. |
He taught that to find peace, we must
learn to conquer the self and extinguish the ego. In this way, we will
extinguish the causes of all our suffering: our attachments and desires.
The essence of Buddha's teaching is
evident in the non-ego and non-materialistic attitude of Tai Chi
philosophy. These aspects are further emphasized in the Tai Chi practice
of ,emptying' all stress and tension from the body and mind, resulting
in the'non-action'way of doing things. Tai Chi teaches you to let go of
your worries and concerns as you concentrate on the movements you are
performing. In this way, it frees you from the constraints of the self.
The Buddhist teaching of proper posture, proper breathing and focusing
the mind are also directly reflected in Tai Chi practice.
As well as individual philosophers and
their doctrines, the philosophical foundations of Tai Chi encompass the I
Ching, and the concepts of yin and yang and chi (energy).
The I Ching
The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is
one of the oldest Chinese books of wisdom, dating back some 3000 years.
It consists of a series of sixty-four hexagrams and interpretations of
them, having originally evolved from ancient divinations, and was one of
the first attempts made by humans to explain and rationalize the mystery
of the universe. Originally a manual of oracles, it developed into a
book of wisdom from which both the Confucian and Taoist philosophies
drew inspiration. The name (as well as the rationale of the book) refers
to the concept of constant change, which is the result of the
interaction of two complementary forces: yin and
yang.
The Yin and Yang and the Five
Elements
The ancient Chinese philosophers believed that in the beginning
the universe was void and boundless, and t'ney called this state Wu
Chi. From Wu Chi evolved motion, yang, and its opposite
aspect, stillness, yin. The universe was created through the
interplay of yin and yang, and the state which included both these
aspects was called Tai Chi. |
YIN Passive Cold Soft Dark Moon Stillness Feminine
Water Earth
YANG Active Hot Hard Light Sun Movement Masculine Fire
Sky
It is important to note that yin and yang are
not labeled good and bad. Instead they have a creative relationship, and
are constantly interacting and changing, with one never existing in
isolation from the other. This interdependence is illustrated in Figure
3, where a small part of yin is found in yang and vice versa. As
an example: yin and yang can be related to the negative and
positive poles of a current - separate and opposite to each other, yet
both part of the whole current. Without them, the current would not
exist.
From the interaction of yin and yang arose the
five basic elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. These elements
can exist in a helpful and complementary relationship to each other, or
they can work against one another and destroy themselves. A popular
Chinese rhyme goes like this:
Wood burns to produce Fire,
resulting in ash which becomes Earth.
From Earth there emerges Metal,
which produces Water by condensation.
Also:
Wood occupies Earth,
and Earth soaks up the Water.
Water douses Fire,
Fire melts Metal,
and Metal cuts Wood.
The five elements feature in Tai Chi
movements, being represented as advance (metal), retreat (wood), shift
to the left (water), shift to the right (fire), and central equilibrium
(earth).
The concepts of yin and yang are
the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine, which aims to balance
the two forces within the body. This engenders equilibrium, and harmony
as an imbalance in the relative amount of yin and yang energy
causes illness.
The art and philosophy of Tai Chi is
based on the interplay and changeability of yin and yang. This creates a
balance of movement and provides grace to the Tai Chi exercises. The
harmony which results promotes the holistic benefits of Tai Chi.
Chi
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Another concept crucial to
understanding Tai Chi is that of chi or energy, for throughout
the practice of Tai Chi runs a central theme: the cultivation, storage
and circulation of the chi energy in the body. In Chinese this is
called Qigong (spelt by the ancient Chinese as Chi Kung) or
energy meditation. Good health depends upon the proper balance and
distribution of chi throughout the body. |
According to the Chinese, the
universe, humanity and nature are greatly influenced by chi. They
believe that the universe and everything in it is derived from chi, that
it permeates all matter, and regard it as the essential life-force of
all living things.
Chi literally
means air, breath, energy, vapor, gas. Philosophically it can be defined
as intrinsic energy, biophysical energy, or the life-force.
The Chinese view chi as an
invisible energy force which circulates throughout the body to give
life. They believe that we are born with a fixed amount of this vital
energy, prenatal chi, which is stored in the tan tien (a
psychic energy center, located three finger widths below the navel).
This energy is gradually depleted throughout life, but it is also
augmented by energy obtained from food and air, postnatal chi.
The energy or chi is circulated
throughout the body along the various meridians. According to ancient
Chinese philosophy, these are the paths along which blood and energy are
transported to the organs in an intricate pattern of energy flow
circuits.
Chi is
activated and directed by the mind and is responsible for the movements
of the body. In order for chi to be effective, it must first be
cultivated, and secondly, exercised, so that the body and mind become
one with the universe. The various meditation exercises of Tai Chi,
aided by the process of respiration, help you to achieve this.
Our personal chi is inseparable
from the chi of the universe, and continually interchanges with
it. This reciprocal flowing back and forth is the essence of fife. When
the flow of chi is strong, we are healthy. If the flow is blocked
in any area, we become iH. Death occurs when the flow of chi stops
completely.
The complete renewal of chi takes
place during deep relaxation (such as during sleep, however, an even
deeper state of relaxation is achieved during meditation.) Chi of the
universe is received by the brain during the period of profound
relaxation, when the pattern of the electrical waves continually given
off by the brain become regular.
In Tai Chi, the postnatal chi is
lowered to the tan tien, thus lowering one's center of gravity
and establishing a more balanced position. The mind and body become
peaceful and tranquil, and all movements become graceful and harmonious.
To cultivate consciously the transformation of food and air, by the
mind, into chi, and to influence consciously the movement of
chi in the body is the ability Tai Chi will give to you.
Everyone has chi power, though it is not
developed to the same degree in every individual. just as we know of the
presence of the subconscious mind, so too should we all be aware of the
power of chi. |
