Preface to 'Tao and T'ai Chi'

T'ai Chi Chuan symbolizes the ideal transformation of body and spirit into a potent, unified existence. The first step toward T'ai Chi Kung is T'ai Chi Chuan, a discipline of body expressed through form. But even this first step has its own first step: the mind must grasp the eternal principles at the root of correct movement, the stillnesses that manifest in motion. This is the Tao. By uniting these principles with disciplined movement, Tao and T'ai Chi Kung teaches a path for the student to follow toward enlightenment....

The use of the term Kung Fu to mean 'Chinese martial arts' is one of the great errors of modern American usage in this field. In fact, Chinese martial arts are properly called 'Wu Shu' and are divided into 'inner power' and 'outer power' schools, called Nei Chia and Wu Chia, respectively. Mastery in one of these schools is either Kung Fu Nei Chia, or Kung Fu Wu Chia.

Kung means mastery or perfection. Since the T'ai Chi is the balance of Yin and Yang, then T'ai Chi Kung can mean 'the perfection of balance' or 'attunement with the Tao,' the way that the universe is supposed to unfold.

Since T'ai Chi is literally translated 'Great Limit,' in contrast to Wu Chi or the 'Empty Limit,' it refers to the Manifest Reality. It can also be translated as the 'perfection of the Manifest Reality.' These are different ways of expressing the idea of spiritual enlightenment.

This book is an attempt to reawaken the knowledge that T'ai Chi Chuan and T'ai Chi Qi Kung are major techniques of Taoist Yoga with potentials that extend beyond the physical level.

To a large degree, the practice of Hatha Yoga exercises has been divorced from he full practice of self-development (sadhana) in Indian Yoga. However, the roots, the larger spiritual framework, have not been completely forgotten. This fate of isolation from spiritual roots, however, has befallen T'ai Chi Chuan.

I am not a 'lover of tradition' who wishes to set the record straight. I am a teacher of esoteric philosophy, and as such have devoted a long time to teaching the practical application of the principles of spiritual development. This has been with the end purpose of producing recognizable transformation in my pupils, to see them evolve on the path towards spiritual Self-realization....

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