It is said that the formless realm of the Dao is entered through “the gateless gate” of awareness.
The Three Gates of the Energy System
☯️ The gate of awareness is opened when the 3 gates of the energy system (or energy body) are opened. These are accessed through corresponding places in the physical body : the gate of life (lower back), the gate of healing (upper back), and the gate of awareness (centre of the head). ☯️
How We Open the Gates
☯️ We open these gates by opening the joints (of the spine). All joints are said to be “gates”. Now an “open” joint is without restrictions – ie it operates as intended by its natural design (not stiff and cramped). ☯️
Alignment, Movement and Awareness
☯️Therefore we practice alignment and co-ordinated healing movements with alignment – and with continual awareness that gives us insight into the body, its energy and processes, which cultivates control, coordination, harmony and flow.
This is opening the gates of the body, leading to opening the gates of energy, leading to opening the gate of awareness, and the gateless gate to the Dao, formless and eternal. ☯️
Transformation Through the Gates
☯️ Scientists believe that nothing can escape a black hole, not even light (hence “black” – ie no light escapes). Speculation suggests that everything entering a black hole may emerge on the other side in a different universe (a “white hole” because light emerges, perhaps as a “big bang” of creation). In Daoist t’ai chi we have a similar idea : when you open the gates and enter fully, you will never return to your old form of being, because you emerge into a refreshed and renewed Original Body and Original Mind.☯️
Tomorrow’s Workshop
☯️In tomorrow’s workshop we cultivate the opening of the gates of the body, energy, and mind, that is contained in the practice of toryu. All welcome!☯️
Good Progress Today
☯️ Good progress today. Well done everyone!
There’s a lot in those moves and you never stop perfecting them…Whether you use a handful of moves or a lot, sooner or later you realise that the movement is perfecting you!
The Three Treasures Practice
☯️ If you see the sense of this, motivation arises from within to practice. At home, most people (whether more experienced or less) do well to practice the 3 treasures, which represents the core practice : standing correctly, sitting correctly, turning correctly – ie in alignment.
Today we considered how the square and circle give us the Form. Like Leonardo da Vinci’s “Vitruvian Man”, this is sacred geometry – in motion..! ☯️
