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Students that are excellent at analyzing and must be detailed oriented (accountants, physicians, scientists, pilots, programmers, engineers, and many others) tend to move with much rigidity. This a natural tendency since they are analyzing their movement, while they move. Often over-expression and stiffness are the barriers that keep them from freely moving and allowing the chi to flow. Over the years, most students are amazed that we can often guess their profession or personality based solely on how they interpret and move in the first few movements. On the other side of the spectrum we have the creative mind, the one that flows without interruption. We often see this in the naturalists, painters, artists, and other creative professional minds. They tend to have to work on creating an internal balance, framework, and subtle expressions of strength and prowness. One aspect of many minds that carries over to either side, is the multi-tasking mind. This tends to a learned response to job-life demands. These minds tend to not only be working on their task, but already contemplating the next movement. We have a motto: Work on what you are paying attention to; Pay Attention to what you are working on. As individuals it is important to recognize that there is nothing wrong with finely tuning one aspect of the mind to be successful in your job or home. But it is an error to neglect the other side of our mind. Often we refer to this as finding and using the dimmer switch. First we must first realize and find this dimmer switch, this can takes days, weeks, or months. Then we must utilize it, allow another aspect of our mind to work, while the other side backs off from leading. We all are working toward not necessarily a balanced mind, but a mind that we can monitor and manage the flow. Each is a skill, and must be exercised to gain success. We know that all of our thoughts, feelings about issues, are based on our beliefs. We begin our practice with cleaning the Heart-Mind (Shen). This allows us to become of aware of any tilts in our perspective. If we believe that everything must be perfect before we move, then we move like a stone. If we believe that we need to be uninhibited and flow, we fail to develop framework. Remember that the great rivers flow freely, inside the boundries of its banks. When this flow is excessive (like in a flood), then chaos occurs. Calming the Heart-Mind is Step One. This helps us become aware of our beliefs and thoughts. No need to alter or pass judgement on what we become aware of, just watch our thoughts and feelings like watching a movie. We become aware of our worries, fears, grief, feelings, judgements, and the ease of which we are distracted. The seven primary emotions come reveal themselves. How do we do this? We use a variety of tools to massage and calm the mind. Some are through movement, others are through non-movement with the posting and meditation. Some examples are using mind-scenes, images, candles, incense, music, counting, prayer, chanting, breathing, and many others. We expose students to all possibilities, and many at the same time, to get the heart-mind to calm down, and let the chaos settle. With consistent practice, the mind will calm down. Just as naturally as the river smoothes the stone. Step Two: Why are we training? Which direction are we headed?
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Meditation - Calm the Heart Mind - Shen |
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When
first attempting to calm the mind, we must first learn to calm the
heart. Shen is the Chinese term for Heart-Mind.
The
Heart-Mind (Shen), thoughts and feelings all reside under one roof.
They are inseperable components and co-exist. As students in Tai Chi
and Kung Fu we become naturally aware of this phenenom. Students will
express themselves according to their beliefs and feelings in the
Tai Chi Chuan. We do not try to change a student, but allow them to
become aware of their expressions and make their adjustments through
time.