At its deepest level Tai Chi is a spiritual practice to achieve oneness with Tao
From: "jagbir singh"
Date: Sat Nov 5, 2005 8:53 am
Subject: At its deepest level Tai Chi is a spiritual practice to achieve oneness with Tao
>
> —- In adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com," v_koa"
> wrote:
> >
> > I was curious. A yogi from Seattle made mention of Tai Chi
> > for exercise benefits. More importantly he made mention of the
> > fact that Shri Mataji had mentioned that Tai Chi was made for
> > realized souls by realized souls for the purpose of exercise
> > without over exerting the body like contemporary fitness. Does
> > anyone know if this is true or not?
> >
> > Of course finding a teacher that is, well, the right person for
> > the job; a true tai chi master in all aspects may be tough, but
> > if found does this quote hold any credence?
> >
> > If anyone knows o has heard anything about this, please let me
> > know
> >
> > Kyyan
> >
> >
—- In adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com," jagbir singh"
>
> Dear Kyyan,
>
> Vancouver has one of the largest Chinese community. You will
> definitely find some master to teach you this ancient exercise. i
> recommend it as it is harmony with a spiritual life. Don't get too
> concerned about the specifics of a good master. Take the step in
> the right direction and the master will come to greet you.
>
> jagbir
>
And there is one more thing i have to tell you Kyyan - take the best
from ancient cultures and traditions, just as we SYs unconditionally
accept all prophets and scriptures. This includes food, work ethics,
moral values, way of living and all that makes us better humans.
i had the great fortune of being born in Malaysia before moving on
to Canada. Canada's experience with diversity distinguishes it from
most other countries. Our 30 million inhabitants reflect a cultural,
ethnic and linguistic makeup found nowhere else on earth.
Approximately 200,000 immigrants a year from all parts of the globe
continue to choose Canada, drawn by its quality of life and its
reputation as an open, peaceful and caring society that welcomes
newcomers and values diversity.
That is why it has been rather easy for me to adapt and accept other
races, cultures and, after self-realization, all religions too.
However i am having difficulty with the Hindunization of Sahaja
Yoga. Hindus will rather you take up Hatha Yoga asana exercises than the oriental
Tai Chi for health. But if you lived among both ethnic groups you
know Tai Chi is better hands down. Nothing can beat a misty dawn
workout together with fellow humans and nature - all are in a fluid
harmony as One. That is the deep realization one will eventually
have about Tao The Mother.
So i will leave you with notes on both Tai Chi and Hatha Yoga. At
its deepest level Tai Chi is a spiritual practice to achieve oneness
with Tao. Hope one day more people will awaken to the Tao within and
understand She is the same Shakti or Mother within all beings.
Jai Shri Mataji,
jagbir
The Tao buds forth all things under Heaven; it is The Mother of all.
Knowing The Mother, we may know her offspring.
He that knows his Mother, and abides in Her nature, remains in surety all his days.
With the mouth closed, and the Gates of Breath controlled, he remains at ease all his days.
With the mouth open, and the Breath directed to outward affairs, he has no surety all his days.
To perceive that Minute Point is True Vision; to maintain the Soft and Gentle is True Strength.
Employing harmoniously the Light within so that it returns to its Origin, one guards even one's body from evil, and keeps Silence before all men.
CHAPTER LII
THE WITHDRAWAL INTO THE SILENCE.
Tai Chi
Tai Chi Chuan, more commonly known in the West just as Tai Chi, is a Chinese martial art which embodies the paradoxical principles of Taoism - that the secret to great strength is softness. Tai Chi uses the power of relaxation, rather than force, to overcome an opponent. Most westerners practice Tai Chi for its health and spiritual benefits, rather than as a means of self-defence. It was invented by monks, and can be used as a form of moving meditation.
Tai Chi practitioners slowly move their relaxed bodies in carefully prescribed ways so that each position flows effortlessly from the one before. The main aim of Tai Chi is to be as fluid as a mountain stream yet as rooted as an old tree. By relaxing and pacifying the body, Tai Chi also relaxes the mind. Tai Chi not only exercises the muscles and internal organs of the physical body, but energies the subtle body that surrounds it too. Great Masters of Tai Chi are said to be able to manipulate this invisible 'ch'i' energy in fantastic ways, as if by magic.
At its deepest level, Tai Chi is a spiritual practice, the goal of which is to achieve oneness with the Tao. Although practitioners may look as though they are carefully controlling their actions, the aim is to be so relaxed as to have the movements flow effortlessly through the body. In this way, practitioners can achieve the Taoist goal of spontaneous action known as 'wu wei'.
www.elysian.co.uk/yoga-taichi.htm
Yoga
Hatha yoga is a very popular form of exercise, originating from India. The body is held in various traditional postures, stretching the ligaments and thereby leading to greater flexibility and increased well-being. In the West, this has become the whole point of yoga, but in the East yoga is much more than an exercise system. It is a mystical, spiritual union of body and mind, leading ultimately to union with God. There are many forms of yoga, of which Hatha Yoga is only one.
Yoga works with the breath also, since breathwork is believed to bring the practitioner into harmony with the universe. Yoga means 'union', and Hatha means 'sun and moon' - this particular form of yoga, therefore, seeks to unite these two polarities of life, in order to experience transcendental oneness.
Hatha yoga affects not only the physical body, but also the energy body surrounding and enveloping the physical one. This energy body contains seven power points known as chakras - spinning energy centres forming a natural mystic ladder up which the yogi must climb in order to achieve enlightenment.
Yoga teaches that yoga can awaken a spiritual energy known as kundalini, which normally lies sleeping in a coiled snake formation at the base of the spine. As kundalini energy awakens, it travels up the spinal cord, touching and awakening each of the chakras in turn. Only when it reaches the highest and most spiritual chakra, the sahasrara chakra, is the yogi fully enlightened and free from limitations of time and space - experiencing supreme bliss.
www.elysian.co.uk/yoga-taichi.htm
—- In adishakti_sahaja_yoga@yahoogroups.com," jagbir singh"
>
> Nothing can beat a misty dawn workout together with fellow humans
> and nature - all are in a fluid harmony as One. That is the deep
> realization one will eventually have about Tao The Mother.
>
> So i will leave you with notes on both Tai Chi and Hatha Yoga. At
> its deepest level Tai Chi is a spiritual practice to achieve
> oneness with Tao. Hope one day more people will awaken to the Tao
> within and understand She is the same Shakti or Mother within all
> beings.
>
There is an excellent article in our archives titled Shakti In Taoism by Arthur Avalon.
Please read it to understand the universal nature of the Shakti among major cultures and religions. It is not an exclusive Hindu deity or belief as claimed by competing religious organizations.
But credit must be given for Hinduism's sheer depth of unsurpassable knowledge and an unbroken tradition of worship that traces its roots back to the dawn of history ................ and then penetrates far, far, far beyond anything known or can be grasped by the human mind. It is indeed pointless talking beyond the rudimentary knowledge of Her presence within us.
But you will hardly know the Primordial Mother if your senses and attention are focused outwards and revolves around Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, who is just Her incarnation absolutely essential to grant knowledge, enlightenment and salvation for those desiring release from this ceaseless cycles of death and rebirth during Kali Yuga.
So whether you recognize the Primordial Mother as Tao or Shakti or Holy Spirit or Ruh or Aykaa Mayee is immaterial as all religions, holy scriptures and prophets are in harmony with Her. What really matters is one's unconditional belief and acceptance of Her Divine Message to humankind.
Jai Shri Mataji,
jagbir
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