Tao Te Ching - Verse 5

"Hold on to the center. Man was made to sit quietly and find the truth within." 

This is the last part of the 5th verse of the Tao Te Ching (this part is from "Living the wisdom of the Tao" by Wayne Dyer). In this part, Laozi is underlining how the authentic way is the one emerging from the inside, without any external requirements. These words made me think a lot about judgment, and I am not talking only about external evaluation but mostly about self-judgment. Truth is, we are our most fearsome and ruthless judges, we have the ability to hurt ourselves with comparisons and degradation and rarely we treat ourselves with love and compassion. It's very hard to sit quietly and trust our center which is directly connected to the source of energy. We already have all the answers, but we are never really quiet and those answers cannot reveal themselves to a confused and doubtful mind. Centering is one of my favorite movement in Tai Chi and Qi Gong. When I practice Centering I really feel connect and quiet, open to listen and to trust my truth within. This is connected to the first part of this verse, which is about changes and the ability to accept them as a natural part of life. A strong attachment to things and people could lead to pain and disappointment, driving us away from our truth within. Of course, this is really the hardest part to practice, but I've personally developed my own way to deal with this: I imagine myself as an observer of my own life and I try not to be judgmental while observing all the things which are hurting me or those which are keeping me from evolving. Observation without judgment is a great way to be aware of what is going on in our lives without adding any other pressure. After observing I practice my Centering exercises and then I let my Center guide me back to my own truth. - Please remember I'm not teaching the move but just showing it. - 

Tao Te Ching - Verse 4

I'm currently reading and studying the 4th chapter of the Tao Te Ching. This verse is really intense and profound and it has taken me a while to understand it. "The Tao is empty but inexhaustible, bottomless, the ancestor of it all." This is the first part of verse 4 (translation provided by "Living the Wisdom of the Tao by Wayne Dyer"). It seems like this part is talking about the soul, the spirit and its inclusiveness. The spirit is bottomless, is infinite and connected to everything. I also like the part where it says: "it is hidden but always present". Again the Tao Te Ching seems to connect with the principles of Quantum Physics, acknowledging the fact that reality is the result of infinite possibilities and that the observer is the key to create different perceivable realities. Void, form, emptiness, and perception. This verse also reminds me of the Heart Sutra: (here a small part translated by Thich Nhat Hanh ) “Listen Sariputra, this Body itself is Emptiness and Emptiness itself is this Body. This Body is not other than Emptiness and Emptiness is not other than this Body. The same is true of Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness." For this verse, I've chosen the first move of the Ba Duan Jin: shuāngshǒu tuō tiān - hands supporting Heaven. Please remember I'm not teaching the move but just showing it.

Tao Te Ching - Verse 3

Today I'm gonna talk about the 3rd verse of the Tao Te Ching. As always I've started my research from the translated version of Dr. Wayne Dyer, but online you can find many different translations of the Tao Te Ching. This verse is very intense and strong. It's a lot about liberation and the art of 'not doing'. I'm gonna write the last part: "Practice not doing... When action is pure and selfless, everything settles into its own perfect place". This, of course, is a very famous quote and it's also really comprehensible (harder is its implementation). But the part I really like about this 3rd verse, it's the center. 

The central part talks about the sage. It's written that the sage empties the hearts (xin) and fills the cores (translation by Universale Economica Feltrinelli). Xin is not only the physical heart, but it's also everything which is connected to it. It's the place of thoughts, intentions, and emotions. Emptying the hearths, the sage leads his people to a calm and peaceful state and filling their core, he assures a state of wellbeing to all of them. The sage leads people to their natural state and helps them be, and find self-consciousness. A clear mind is more receptive and a calm heart can recognize its real path. Wayne Dyer, about this verse, wrote: "I know that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way". It may sound obvious and simple, but it's not. I think it's simply amazing how he lived and interpreted the Tao. For this verse, I've chosen a posture from the 108 Tai Chi Yang form.

It's called 'Hai Ti Chen' - grab the tip on the sea bottom. Only in calm and clear water, we are able to see and grab the tip. (Please remember I'm not teaching movements or postures, but just showing them!)