Why don’t we get better?

Well, it is comforting to realize that we may likely succeed in becoming good people like I say is necessary to do Push Hands without ego and aggression. It is still troubling that the likelihood of Mastery is much lower because it is a moving goalpost. Each time we advance it moves farther away. To simply wave your hand through the air with a clear and still mind, to be quiet and peaceful in the breath and movement and to have grace within and without seems like it should be simple. Its just a task of stripping everything unnecessary away or relaxing or something. I think that my followers who have a sitting practice may be able to comment on the likelihood of stilling the interior, shutting off the chatter and releasing tension and worry. Even though the Meditation practices are evolved methodologies for doing just this kind of work it is still hard to release the old programming and install the upgrade operating system.

My method is to return to the Mechanical. I practice form, do stance work and do the work of slow careful repetition of techniques and postures. When things are good I practice; when things are bad I practice. I just keep punching the time clock. It is not just quantitative though it is also qualitative. I am always trying to improve my quality of practice, to be more patient and clear, to pay attention and keep my focus throughout my practice. That is what I consider my doorway; it is the hard work or the Kung Fu of it. Maharishi said there were 5 paths: Physical, Mechanical, Intellectual, Devotional and Psycho-Spiritual. Well, although Mechanical is my specialty I must plead guilty to all the others except Devotional. But I am a Warrior Monk so perhaps Kuan Yin will cradle me in the Enchanted Forest and the rest of my practice will only be to glorify her Grace… perhaps.

But meanwhile, practice, practice, practice. We must improve the methodology so we have better results. I know it seems a little un-Daoist of me but we must do more to get to this place of non-doing! Is it the curriculum? Is it the emphasis on forms rather than improvisatory movement or two person practice? Is it that Tai Chi actually requires a prerequisite proficiency in Martial Arts in order to reach the higher levels?

I mean no disrespect for my Teachers past and present by these questions. The only reason I am anywhere is because of their generosity but we must meet them halfway by creating our personalized curriculums. Imagine if the full weight of the East German state was creating the perfect Tai Chi fighter to go up against Rocky. They would hook him up to computers, feed him the perfect diet, 2.5 minutes of this, 3.7 minutes of that and within 7 months he would be beyond the Olympic level. That is what we need, (except without the whole East German part).

I begin with myself; I am the Experimenter and the Subject. If I am successful I will try my methods on my students and if that works I will move on to rats and then dolphins. Those who have charted this path for themselves have come upon this same rocky shoal for sure. Why don’t we get better?