T'Ai Chi Ch'uan for Health and Self-Defense (Vintage) by Liang T. T

Author:Liang, T. T. [Liang, T. T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307787255
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2011-04-06T00:00:00+00:00

8

Discussion of

the Mind-Intent

and the Ch’i

The mind and ch’i in man’s body are formless, colorless, and invisible. We must realize that the ch’i occupies a most important place in the body because it gives the blood impetus to circulate freely and nourishes the blood in order to replenish and strengthen the body. The ch’i is developed by cherishing and nurturing the fire of the kidneys (ming men huo) and the reproductive secretions. The Taoists called this “water and fire in coordination” or the “internal elixer (of immortality).” It is preserved in the tan t’ien, a point 11/3 inches below the navel. The Taoists treasured it most dearly. Ordinarily people think that the blood is the most precious substance in the body, but in reality the ch’i is of greater value than the blood because the ch’i is the master and the blood is the assistant. The ch’i protects the blood and the blood nourishes the body. Man’s whole life depends on this protection and nourishment. If there is only nourishment without protection there will be no circulation of the blood; if there is only protection without nourishment there will be no harmony. In other words, protection is of the utmost importance and nourishment is secondary. A person can live for a time with insufficient blood, but with insufficient ch’i one is in imminent danger of death. So the cultivation of the ch’i is of prime importance.

The special feature of T’ai Chi Ch’uan is that in addition to nurturing the body, it emphasizes especially cultivation of the ch’i. As the saying goes, “Externally strengthen your muscles, bones, and skin. Internally develop and fill up your ch’i.” Anyone who practices T’ai Chi Ch’uan will find that after doing the postures Pushing Hands or Ta Lü, the breathing is still natural, the countenance has not changed, and the ch’i within is circulating freely through the entire body, so that one feels much more comfortable than before practicing. It is evident that if one can cultivate the ch’i the beneficial effects will be great indeed and the defects of haste and weariness will not occur. Furthermore, when the ch’i is properly nurtured the (constituents of the) blood will be sufficient; when the blood is sufficient the body will be strong; when the body is strong the mind will be firm and sincere; when the mind is firm and sincere the sentient soul (po) will be vigorous so that one can prolong life and find the way to immortality.

Although some say that the heart (mind) and the intention are identical, there is a difference. The mind is the master and the intention is the assistant. When the mind moves, the mind-intent is immediately aroused; when the intent is aroused, the ch’i will immediately follow. So the heart (mind), the intent, and the ch’i are closely connected like a circle. When the mind is confused, the intention will be dispersed and when the intention is dispersed the ch’i will float upward. On the contrary, when the ch’i

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