Reader Response To Guide Article |
|
Article: Tai chi - moving meditation
June 10, 2002
The person responding (B.S.... see below) is correct that one needs to have total concentration on what he or she is doing during Tai Chi. However, it is incorrect to assume that this is not meditation. As a "student" of Zen Buddhism, I have learned that meditation is total concentration on what one is doing. As I sit in the Lotus position during sitting meditation, I concentrate on the sitting; on my breathing. Of course, many Westerners have an idea of meditation as an escape from the present state, which is not what most Eastern meditation is. My point is this, Tai Chi truly is moving meditation - no less that walking meditation (surely one would concentrate on his or her walking while meditating as to avoid tripping). I now step off of my soap-box.
JW
Feb. 27, 2000
I read your article on Tai chi - moving meditation. Chi Kung is moving meditation, Tai Chi Chuan is not. There is supposed to be meditation before and after performing a Tai Chi Chuan form, but during the form one should be totally alert to all that is going on, not self absorbed. However, one should not let anything of what is going on interfere with one's concentration/relaxation, and it certainly does look like moving mediation to some one watching.
The only real problem with calling it moving meditation is that too many folks take that to mean not alert, not paying attention, and the benefits of Tai Chi Chuan will not be achieved this way. "Relaxed" to the western mind often comes out to mean something like lazy or flaccid, not at all like the tai chi meaning that is more like relaxed the way a cat is just prior to it's spring.
Chi Kung has a much more meditative component, and no martial arts connection, but even so, relaxed is not lazy or flaccid in this either.
The martial arts component of Tai Chi Chuan must be stressed, even when learning Tai Chi strictly as a relaxation or low-impact aerobic for seniors, since most of the benefits of Tai Chi Chuan come from the conscious linkage of mind and body in movement, and the martial applications, even if never contemplated actual use, are important for focussing the mind.
Keep up the good work!
B.S.
