Tai Chi - A Way of Life

For quite some time now, I've been an avid reader of the Dynamic Balancing Tai Chi blog. I discovered the site few years back - just as I surf my way through the lists of blogs in Blogger_Com. Their messages convey the serenely strong and yet simple principles of Tai Chi. I think it's beautiful and will be such a waste not to share with you and explore it with me.

Since I used to be a martial arts enthusiast, that is of course before the bulging tummies, I stopped and read few posts and been a regular visitor since then. I learned that basic principle of the Tai Chi is acceptance and the power to seize an opposing force by means of a peaceful retaliation or better, avoidance. It is pushing the principle that you can not always fight violence with violence but rather use the opposing force against itself. It is I guess the most basic and fundamental of all forms of martial arts.

Like language, Tai Chi becomes a poetry of motion. Not merely a symphony of muscles and bones but is a principle of self-defense. A principle not just against a violent oppressor but against issues implicating one's life. One example is marriage, my old grandparents, they told me when I got married, 'this has been an age old advise for your marriage to work: in cases you and your wife need to argue something, like the river that flows freely towards the ocean, so should both of you accept and listen to each other's heart and work hand in hand towards a resolution.

As Confucius had said, "Like the water that fits itself into the vessel, so should one fits himself into any circumstances".

Allow me to give you a glimpse further into Tai Chi from one of the teacher's 2001 posts:

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Friday, 14 December 2001

Yes

Try being accommodating and receptive for a day. Say "Yes!" to everything: agree, accept, approve, receive. Yield and yield and yield. Let those barriers soften and fade. Be fearless.
(From http://dynamicbalancingtaichi.blogspot.com)

I encourage you to visit the site as well. They might enlighten your thoughts and spirit.

 

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My Coming Christmas Musing

Oh well, Christmas is fast approaching. For an OFW, the season of emphasized loneliness. The season is like a day when the clouds are cleared to expose a sky of a clandestine blue. It's just you in the constellation of loneliness. This is what I feel and been expecting unless the season is feasted with my two small daughters and my wife; and among family members - back home.

It's sometimes sickening because there have been too many discussions about the coming season - it's the most talked about topic in this time of the month. With all these days' fears and tribulations of both economic and socio political. Worsened by recession resulting to rampant lay-offs. There'd be not much food in the table during the Christmas season.

And as far as I want to speak something out of the expected Christmas spirit, it weakens me. But, there is an urging willingness to discover the strength to be out of the blue; appreciate the warmth of others who has probably thought of this same thought; to be content and be  able to count the blessings received during our days.

 

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Reason to Celebrate

And yet, one question was asked, "why bother celebrate Christmas? If it be for the sake of celebrating it; If it be for getting indulged; to get drunk and passed out. For what purpose? what would that say to your character?". I saw truth brought about by the question. One need not be obliged to be influenced by the occasion because the occasion is all about gesture of faith. You celebrate, because you glorify your Christ, because you believe in Him.

I hope we'll feel that food on our table on that very Christmas evening be not complete without the warm or thought of our family, friends and strangers alike. Whose hearts are to be touched by that same Lord whom we must celebrate this season with. That other than that, it would be pure vanity and hypocrisy. Then of course, if you were not a Christians or just playing to be one, what exactly are we celebrating over Christmas? We would be like a splinter of flame cast away from the very fire that burns our spirit on that season.

Somehow its true, Christmas has transformed. Christmas has become a commercial holiday while Jesus said, "Take everything you have and give it to the poor", the modern Christmas is not very Christian anymore. Regardless, one has to find a way to make it true and fruitful within us these day forward throughout out lives.

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