The Three Treasures of Daoism and Daoist Tai Chi
Three Treasures of Daoism : Jing (physical), Chi (energy), Shen (awareness) are to be cultivated within the Three Treasures of Daoist Tai Chi : Standing, Sitting, Turning. While Jing -Chi-Shen are presented in ascending order to express the process of cultivation, from chaos and dissipated energies into order and harmony, this process is itself dissolved back into simplicity.
Understanding Jing, Chi, and Shen
The 3 Treasures of Daoist Tai Chi all involve the interplay of the 3 Treasures of Daoism. However, we can easily explore them via a simplified 1-1 correspondence.
Standing Practice, Cultivating Shen (Awareness)
Standing Practice primarily involves Shen energy, of awareness. Not moving about means remaining in a single posture, usually the Zhan Zhuang of the preparatory stance with feet shoulder width apart and parallel. This stance affords practice of physical stability and, keeping the correct alignment, provides an optimal condition for the unobstructed free flow of our life energy.
Releasing Tension and Entering Wu Wei
We remain in the posture without stiffness and without superfluous movements. Letting go of stress and tension, it is Wu Wei, or “not doing” anything other than standing. Because of this simplicity, the mind’s attention is prevented from leaking energy in discursive or distracted thinking. The mind is brought back to the body, where it monitors and adjusts the posture, and follows the relaxing and deepening breath.
The Alpha State: Calm Mind and Focused Awareness
The brain’s electrical activity in this practice has been measured and found to be quietening from beta (busy-ness) to alpha (openness, hypnotic trance-like, receptive, intuitive). This alpha state, being akin to falling asleep or hypnotic, is cultivated into access concentration for meditation.
The concentration which includes all – and doesn’t exclude all – is Shen energy. We can practice like this in various other postures too.
Sitting Practice, Cultivating Chi (Energy Flow)
Sitting correctly involves respecting the straightness of the spine found in standing practice, in order to promote the free flow of energy in the central channels of the spine, throughout the torso, and along the limbs. We protect the knees whilst lowering the torso towards the ground in a sit, keeping the knees above the ankles and centre of the foot but not allowing them to move forward beyond this optimal alignment, nor inwards to knock together, nor can they move backwards to lock the knee joints. The torso is encouraged to lengthen with the curve of the spine being pulled straighter as we sit. The upper body is encouraged to align as vertically as possible during the sit, maintaining the mountain alignment of standing practice. The hands and arms can help these alignments in various corresponding ways, serving to balance, counterbalance, initiate and respond to the effects of sitting correctly.
The Chi Pump Effect and Internal Harmony
Ultimately we are training lengthening of the spine from within, both down (led by tailbone) and up (led by crown of head). Of course there is physical training of muscles and tendons. Internally this creates the chi pump effect, with our energy being pumped through the spine and whole body to invigorating effect. Interestingly, the heart is helped to pump blood by the action of muscles, and the flow of blood flushes out the heart. Spinal fluid inflates the inter-vertebral disks and bathes the brain to cleanse it. The diaphragm pumps air whilst simultaneously massaging the internal organs.
The internal structural integrity of the body conforms to the outer alignments. Our Chi energy flows freely in rhythmic harmony.
Turning Practice, Cultivating Jing (Physical Foundation)
Turning is a question of the hips and waist aligning with the direction of the standing foot when the feet are not in standing posture, but are repositioned for movement . We employ the magical geometry of 45 degrees and The Five Principles to establish proper alignments of the whole body during movement. On either foot the hips follow the cardinal direction of the weight-bearing foot. We transfer weight by spiralling into (and out from) alignment to one foot and into (and out from) alignment to the other. We are maintaining sitting alignment and standing alignment on each foot in turn.
The Role of Spirals and Body Geometry
Spiralling is seen to be a primal capacity of the human form, the way of nature to provide an optimal flow of energy. The lower body, grounded and rooted, is used like a whip handle to send spiral energy through the body, directed by the waist and drawn out through the hands.
How Movement Strengthens Structure and Flow
With every spiral movement that turns the hips, the tissues of the body are at once stretched, massaged, oxygenated, repaired and restored. Various combinations of legs and arms contribute to a comprehensive work out of the body, energy, and mind.
Primarily here we recognise that Jing is cultivated, being solid and stable in structure and function.
The cultivated Jing produces flowing Chi, which sublimates further into Shen. A living process of gathering a dissipated and chaotic body, energy, mind creates a revitalised state of being. It is like a rebirth. Yet it is discovering what was always there, the Original Body and Original Mind.
From Wu Chi to Tai Chi, The Cycle of Renewal
From Wu Chi emptiness we are born into the 3 phases of Daoist Tai Chi : Childhood, Maturity, Old Age. We cycle back around to a potential death (return to source) between each phase, and end each practice returning through apparent death to the source in Wu Chi. From every Wu Chi we settle to apprehend The Dao.
Stillness and Movement in Yin-Yang Harmony
Wu Chi stillness and Tai Chi flowing movements circle around each other like the yin-yang symbol of tai chi. In this process we cultivate each and every part of the practice.
Like a virtuous circle, it never ends.
Conclusion: The Endless Circle of Daoist Tai Chi
Within this cultivation circle there is stillness like a dot in the centre of the circle. A single point of concentration that represents your essence. As we are both the circling energies and the still point, we dissolve into the wide open space of the circle of The Dao.
We return refreshed.
Repeat ☯