Spring 2021 Living Tao Essential Tai Ji Series — Session Three
(July 2021)
Download Printed PDF All Study Materials
This session focuses on the ongoing studies of the Living Tao Core Essential curriculum to include Essential Tai Ji, Living Tao Philosophy, and Forms and Structures:
Tai Ji Ritual, 5 Moving Forces, and Tai Ji Circles to enlighten your practice with new insights.
THRIVING—GRATEFULNESS
謝天謝地Xie Tian Xie Di (Grateful to heaven and earth)
天下Tian Xia
(all under heaven – one family of human beings)
謝謝大家Xie Xie Da Jia (thank everyone) 大家 Da Jia (All in the family)
HAIKU by Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶)
“Oh, Snail
Climb Mount Fuji
But slowly, slowly!”
Japanese / Kanji: Katatsumuri soro soro nobore Fuji no yama / 蝸牛そろそろ登れ富士の山
4 MOVES IN TAI JI CIRCLES
棚捋擠按 PENG, LU, JI, AN
(”pon, lew, gee, ahn”)
NOTE: See “References” below for link to Dalai Lama film: Evolution of the Heart
EMPTY SPACES… TIMELESS PLACE… ETERNAL NOW
Sculpture by Marina Donati
*Refer to Tai Ji Ritual in September 2020 Study Materials
COMPASSIONATE PERSON – Cí Bēi
BALANCE
Oh, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet;
Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgement Seat. . .
~ Rudyard Kipling
The Ballad Of East And West
POETRY
POETRY
Last Night, As I Was Sleeping (Anoche cuando dormía )
by Antonio Machado (1875 – 1939, Spain)
Last night, as I was sleeping, Anoche cuando dormía
I dreamt – blessed illusion! – soñé ¡bendita ilusión!
that a fountain was flowing que una fontana fluía
out of my heart. dentro de mi corazón.
I said: Along which secret aqueduct, Di: ¿por qué acequia escondida,
oh, water, are you coming to me, agua, vienes hasta mi,
spring of a new life manantial de nueva vida
from where I have never drank? en donde nunca bebí?
Last night, as I was sleeping, Anoche cuando dormía
I dreamt – blessed illusion! – soñé ¡bendita ilusión!
that I had a beehive que una colmena tenía
here inside my heart. dentro de mi corazón;
And the golden bees y las doradas abejas
were making white combs iban fabricando en él,
and sweet honey con las amarguras viejas,
from my old bitterness. blanca cera y dulce miel.
Last night, as I was sleeping, Anoche cuando dormía
I dreamt – blessed illusion! – soñé ¡bendita ilusión!
that a fiery sun was giving que un ardiente sol lucía
light inside my heart. dentro de mi corazón.
It was fiery because I felt Era ardiente porque daba
warmth as from a hearth, calores de rojo hogar,
and sun because it gave light y era sol porque alumbraba
and brought tears to my eyes. y porque hacía llorar.
Last night, as I was sleeping, Anoche cuando dormía
I dreamt – blesssed illusion! – soñé ¡bendita ilusión!
that it was God I had que era Dios lo que tenía
here inside my heart. dentro de mi corazón.
Has my heart gone to sleep? ¿Mi corazón se ha dormido?
Have the beehives of my dreams ¿Colmenares de mis sueños
stopped working, the waterwheel ya no labráis? ¿Está seca
of the mind run dry, la noria del pensamiento,
scoops turning empty, los cangilones vacíos,
only shadows inside? girando, de sombra llenos?
No, my heart is not sleeping. No, mi corazón no duerme.
It is awake, wide awake. Está, despierto, despierto.
Not asleep, not dreaming, Ni duerme, ni sueña, mira
its eyes are wide open, los claros ojos abiertos,
distant watching distant signals, listening señas lejanas y escucha
on the rim of the vast silence. A orillas del gran silencio.
Alternate translation:
No, my heart is not sleeping.
It is awake, wide awake.
It neither sleeps, nor dreams.
It sees, with eyes wide open,
distant signals and listens
on the rim of the vast silence.
PREVIEWS FOR CONTINUING PRACTICE
2nd Circle
拳Quán
Fist
太極拳 “Tai Ji open fist
掌Zhǎng
Palm
太極掌 Tai Ji palm release
扇Shàn 通Tōng 背Bēi
(Fan through back)
“Fanning CHI/QI 氣 up the spine”— remaining deeply rooted on your stance.
4th Circle
金雞獨立Jīn, Jī, Dú, Lì
Golden bird one leg balancing
蛇 She / snake斜 or Xie / slanting 身 Shen / body 下 Xia / down 地 Di / earth
Slanting Body/ Snake Creeps Down
玉 Yu 女 Nu 穿 Chuan 梭 Suo
Jade Maiden Weaving
(four diagonal upper corners to connect the qi)
REFERENCES
Dalai Lama Film – Evolution of the Heart:
https://www.mindandlife.org/insight/evolution-of-the-heart/?utm_source=DedicatedEmail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Evolution
Music:
Michael Fitzpatrick, “Invocation for World Peace”; on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYiArqAeduo
The following material can be found in previous session study materials which have been posted on the Living Tao website on the “News from Chungliang” page.
September 2020 Study Materials:
- Tai Ji Ritual Guide
- Tai Ji Chakras (Zhong/Yong/An/Ding/Ne/Guan/Yin)