by Sharon Davis (Shaz)

So often it is those apparently insignificant things that can be important – like a smile from a stranger or a compliment from a friend  - that little ingredient that can brighten a day … In the same vein, it is often the seemingly little lessons that can be gained from the study of T’ai Chi that make all the difference to how one views the world, and more importantly ,to how one responds to it. With this in mind, I’d like to share some of the little, but fundamentally important, lessons that I have learnt from my journey along the T’ai Chi path.

Don’t be taken in by appearances – look beneath the surface:

Probably the first lesson we learn from T’ai Chi is: not to take things at face value; we learn to look beneath the surface …

This lesson is learnt through a simple examination of the yin and yang nature of T’ai Chi. By embracing and understanding its fundamental underlying concept of duality – that T’ai Chi is both for health and relaxation, and for self-defence; both passive and violent.

How many people are initially surprised, if not disappointed, to discover that the root and function of these slow, flowing, gentle movements of relaxation are actually deeply grounded in civil combat and self-protection?

I have had prospective students walk out of a trial class in total disgust at being told that part of the Brush Knee involved a strike to the face. Who would suspect that the graceful dance-like movements, both aesthetically pleasing and calming, could be a devastating code of self-defence moves – in effect a long and graceful kata?

By accepting that T’ai Chi is outwardly apparently very yin but contains the possibility of extreme yang, we learn to see a deeper significance in T’ai Chi – and by extrapolation, we can learn to see a deeper significance in the world around us.

We learn not to assess people by outward appearances – their physical appearance, their clothes, or even what they have to say. We learn to look deeper, into the heart and soul of the person; and if we choose to judge at all, we judge them by their actions - what they do to make the world a better place.

Clothing and fashion statements are irrelevant. We learn to look past that outward projection of ‘self’ until that projection becomes like the emperor’s new clothes. We learn that a fancy car is nice, but not important. That a smart new suit looks good, but holds no more promise of honesty or reliable service than a well worn, outmoded suit. We learn, quite simply, to see beneath the carefully created image that people choose to project and to tell the difference between people who merely talk the talk (or dress the talk) and those who truly walk the talk.

We become discerning when listening to conversation: Aware of the nuances below the surface; reading the unconscious signs of body language; aware of the verbiage and political expediencies so easily promised - and forgotten just as fast. We learn to listen for the truth grounded in action.

We learn to look within ourselves too. We see through the constant interplay of emotions and fleeting thoughts, and learn to know our true selves through quiet introspection and contemplation. We look below our own projected image of self and get to know our true inner nature – enabling us to act in accord with our deepest principles and beliefs.

While we learn to look beneath the surface on an individual and group level we can also learn to look beneath the apparent chaos (wu-chi) of the world around us, and slowly discover a cyclical orderliness of seasonal change – a cycle of growth, death and rebirth. As we see the greater picture of T’ai Chi and understand its form, so we can gain an understanding of the natural pattern of our world and learn to live in harmony with man and the world around us.