The Simplest Tai Chi Lesson

The Simplest Ascension Lesson
 
The simplest skill with most benefit in being and toward becoming is balance. Be balanced. Without balance there would be no stability in being and no potential to become. Balance is the little mentioned and perhaps most important idea in philosophy, metaphysics, Hermetics, Tai Chi Chuan, and all processes of self-development.

    The key to balance is of course first being sensitive to what balance is. Tai Chi practice is sometimes referred to as sensitivity practice. We develop sensitivity to situational reality internally and externally. We realize our internal and external relationships and can thereby take action to initiate balance toward more refined being ad becoming.

   In the most basic capacity we must know our imbalances to become balanced. How can we know we are acting juvenile, as if we know it all, if we are not sensitive to it? The pattern might continue apparent to others, while those playing out the pattern remain oblivious to their own behavior! The only way juveniles, and adults behaving as if juveniles, develop is through awareness and then balancing the imbalances.

    Everyone talks about ascension while few speak of balance. In order to practice self-development in basic terms or subtle, metaphysical ones, in order to become, we must be balanced. If we are imbalanced there is no ascension.

    Tai Chi is subtly the most efficient manner to embody balance and then ascend, just as it is obviously the most efficient practice to heal and then strengthen. The symbol known as the Yin Yang symbol is more accurately The Taiji symbol, the embodiment of balancing the spiritual and material, Yin and Yang aspects of The Taiji or Taijitu.

    Without balance there is hardly any ascension, and likely ascension in imbalance which obviously can lead to tipping and descension. With balance ascension is not difficult. Taiji and the Taiji symbol are entirely about balance. Not so coincidentally Thoth is the god of balance as well as the god of writing and healing, but I digress…

    How do you provide for balance? First thing first is to be rid of unease and disease as much as possible. And How is this accomplished? First realize that it is possible. It is possible to initiate beneficial chemical and physical responses via movement and mind. Tai Chi is among the best practices to do so.
 
Four simple lessons to enhance balance. 

​Make attention.
Attention is the opposite of tension. As if the word is actually a-tension, attention leads to the ability to lessen tension. Be mindful of how you move and attempt to relax rather than be tense. Often this might require condensing and slowing our steps or movement so as to make for softness and smoothness thereby casually eliminating tension.
 
Relax.
Try to move in a manner that does not repeat tension or cause tension. Move in manner so that there is no to little tension. Try not to sit, stand, lie or walk for too long. And try to sit, stand, lie and walk in a balanced manner and in balanced lengths of time. The Taiji version of relaxation can be understood with your own hand. Open it up to extremity, now let it completely go subject to gravity. Neither is Taiji, neither is relaxed. Now hold your hand in a manner about half-way in between the ends of the spectrum. This is a relaxed ready attention of Taiji.
 
Stop the plop.
Whenever you sit, lie, stand, or walk do not be a slop. Be smooth if you drop and sink if you flop. Whatever you do be smooth and stop the plop. Mostly, most people, plop into their seats, their cars, their couches, and their beds. Try to be entirely smooth in your approach to each step as well as whenever you sit especially, but transition entirely from one move or place to another, like from standing to sitting.
 
Contrast
Instead of asking, ‘why me?’ ask ‘why not me?’ Instead of asking ‘what is the worst that could happen? ask ‘what is the best that could happen?’ Contrast negative patterns with new ones in order to engage positivity. One of the most important Tai Chi lessons is to take responsibility instead of being caught up in reactions. It is a simple lesson to impart yet requires practice and attention. Take responsibility instead of being made reactionary.
 
Balance toward ascension! Peace!