T’ai Chi

The T’ai Chi Ch’uan Form.

Translated as ‘The Supreme Ultimate’ the T’ai Chi Ch’uan form contains one hundred and forty movements, forty-two sequences skilfully merged together to flow effortlessly one into another. The movements are performed at a slow and rhythmic pace with deep co-ordinated breathing and full concentration. Because each movement works on the whole body, from muscles to the organs the practitioner can develop a strong body and because of the concentration a strong and agile mind, this can lead to inner peace and tranquillity.

T’ai Chi translates as Supreme Ultimate; T’ai Chi Ch’uan is the practise toward that goal.

A related discipline is K’ai Men, which is a collection of Taoist Yoga exercises, and Tao Yin, a selection of therapeutic breathing exercises.

Definitions

• T’ai Chi Ch’uan — The Supreme Ultimate
• Tao Yin — Respiration Therapy
• K’ai Men — Taoist Yoga
• I Fu Shou — Sticky/Adhering Hand or Enlightened Hand
• Chi Kung — development of internal energy
• Li Kung — development of Li energy/external energy
• Mo Kun — Taoist Wand/External Energy Control
• Mo Hsiang — Taoist Meditation

Understanding the Tao

Professor Chee Soo would often refer to the following:

• When strains are no longer felt, strains disappear.
• When stresses are not experienced, stresses vanish.
• When aggression is not recognized, it does not exist.
• When badness is not seen, it ceases to be prevalent.
• When we no longer think of goodness, it disappears.
• When we do not think of hate and evil, they both vanish.
• When we do not recognise ‘I’, it does not exist.
• When the earth is not seen, then the earth ceases to be prevalent.
• When we no longer compare one with another, then all disappear, and we understand the Tao.