Tai Ji Men and Me
Eva Wang 2011-02-22
What is qi?
Qi is simply the air we breathe, and our planet fills with qi anywhere. It’s also a basis forming part of any living thing. In our culture, Qi has been practicing in the traditional Chinese medicine, and martial arts, as well as philosophy for long time already. Nowadays, some of scientists believe that qi is a kind of energy, which can travel beyond the limitation of time and space while the air is vibrating. Through it, people can also deliver messages from heart to heart. For example, when you enter a room and see a lot of people arguing, you can feel this room full of bad qi. In the other way, just try to remember the most comfortable moment you have ever had, that feeling is kind of good qi around you.
Now I practice qigong everyday and use qi to massage our organs inside the body by doing so physical motions. During my practice, the way I breathe is very important. Why so? It’s because slow, long and deep breathing can take in much oxygen more than a rush and short breath. Try to take in much air through your lung and than deeply into your belly. Good and healthy qi will enhance your strength of body and mind. On the other hand, bad qi is going to harm yourself and others. As a result, cultivating your heart is as much important as nurturing qi. That’s why all of Tai Ji Men dizi (similar to student) are asked to unite heart and qi into one.
What’s the spirit of martial arts?
Dr. Hong says, the high spirit of martial arts is stopping the war. How can we make it? We can start it from stopping fighting with ourselves.
As you know, qigong is one of traditional Chinese martial arts. In these days, people may think that studying qigong is kind of old-fashion. The truth is not. I’ve told my daughter that culture is our root, and we should keep it. We also need to learn how to respect others from different cultures. The spirit of martial arts is helping people in need, protecting oneself and others from the evil force, and stopping the wars. Our master, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, has dedicated himself into promoting “Love and Peace of the world” for ages. For over 40 years, he has led his dizi traveling around the world to conduct more than 2,000 cultural exchange programs, qigong and martial arts seminars, and summits of elite leaders of the world to spread the massage of love and peace. Dr. Hong has founded another organization named Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL). He is also the president of Association of World Citizens in Taiwan (AWC Taiwan), which is operating as a non-governmental organization under United Nations System. The ultimate goal is to make this world better by working with others from various cultures and different countries, without the prejudice of race, religion and gender. We hope that there will be no war, no fear, and no violence in this world one day through many people’s effort. .
More information :
1. 太極門: http://www.taijimen.org/english
2. about TJM: http://www.taijimen.org/TJM2008B_ENG/html/index.php?chapter=a_taijimen&hid=8
3. about FOWPAL: http://www.fowpal.org
4. about AWC: http://www.worldcitizens.org.tw/awc2010/index_eng.php
Tai Ji Men and Me – My Story
I started to have connection with Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy through one of my best friends. She has been there for 18 yeas. When she introduced it to me, I thought it was not a bad idea, because I had seen and read many news from TV or newspapers. In fact, Tai Ji Men has organized many kinds of events as charity activities in Taiwan and in other countries. However, I thought of it as one of many nice and non-profit groups, but not much different from the others. When I was the first time to apply for being a Tai Ji Men dizi, I was rejected. Then, I did it the second time and the third time. I finally became one of them in November 29, 2009.
I can remember the first time when Shifu (similar to master), Dr. Hong, asked me what made me here. I actually had no answer. I said, it was a comfortable place where I met many friendly people. I liked being with them. So he turned me down. Then I did it the second time because I couldn’t accept the truth that the shifu denied me. I just wanted to try, but I still didn’t know why I had to try. However, I failed again. The third time, I went there to show my appreciation to the shifu. I really appreciated him to force me to think who I am, and what person I want to be. Thank him to force me to figure out what I want to learn in the rest of my life, and what the goal of my life should be. Then I started to understand it is a whole life commitment to each other (between Shifu & me). He has committed himself to lead his dizi doing something good and worth to improve ourselves better and make others a better life. He has committed him to make this world different with his whole life.
What’s the first lesson I learned?
What does Tai Ji Men teach me? It is not only about qigong, but also many lessons of life to prove my human nature and values.
At my first practice, I had been asked what the martial arts is, what the spirit is? I still got many question marks there. Then, I have been taught that the high spirit of martial arts is to stop fighting. There are many conflicts happen in our daily life. We are always fighting with ourselves. For examples, I know I have to eat vegetable and fruit, but I don’t, because I like meat and fish much more than them. For example, I know I can’t say something terrible to my beloved family, because that will hurt their feelings. When we have argument, we may forget love and say something unfair or mean to our family. Those things happen to you and me, between the family, in the community, or between countries. Then it is worse to become a war.
My first lesson to learn was stopping fighting myself. Stopping to feel regretful for myself. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done in our past, but it matters what we are going to do. We all have a past woven with mistakes, successes, and learning experiences, and it has worked to shape and form us. However, it’s our past! Just do something to modify the mistake rather than thinking or crying. When you find yourself a balance, and then, you will find your magic for healing yourself and others. As what my shifu Dr. Hong said to Pope Benedict XII, “No love no peace. Peace needs love and love needs to be balanced.” Indeed, “No Love, no peace; no balance, no love!”
What was my second lesson?
No fear, no limit!
Before I joined in Tai Ji Men, I was a timid person. I always worried about what the other people think of me, what I can do to make them like me. Before my action, I always annoyed myself by thinking that I am not good enough to do it. I didn’t want to try many new things, because I didn’t want to fool myself in front of the other people.
The master says, Tai Ji Men is a traditional martial arts menpai (similar to school) that has inherited the arts from generation to generation. The ancestor masters were very powerful and outstanding. So Tai Ji Men dizi (similar to student) must follow the path, and become as brave as the ancestors. If you believe in yourself, you will find yourself strong enough to complete every task. Fear is a stopper, and don’t let it stop you from doing something right. Sometime, fear disguises its bad intentions to confuse you.
Don’t be afraid. The master always encourages dizi, and he believes that everyone has his or her own potentiality to be developed. He asks us to be patient to ourselves, and just learn things step by step, little by little.
