| Eagle's Quest Tai Chi
Advanced study Reading |
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March, 2010 Greetings! I hope this finds you enjoying the beautiful pre-spring weather. Debbie tells me that we may get a bad storm this Friday and Saturday. With that in mind we are trying to secure a space for us on Sunday as a snow date just in case. We will alert you to the change if it is needed. Please check in to make sure if there is a change. We will not know until later in the week. The current reading assignment is Master Jou’s fabulous book THE TAO OF TAI CHI CHUAN, THE WAY OF REJUVENATION. We will be reading it for the next month or two in a greatly detailed fashion. Our I Ching reading for the month tells us some of what may come regarding the weather, and some of what we must learn from in regards to our own behaviors. Hexagram #9 Taming Power of the Small delineates for us that there are details of an external nature that may be holding us back. Some unknown external thing is restraining a significant action on your part. The status quo can be formidable in its tendency towards inertia. One must avoid aggressive behavior, and walk on the path with a strong awareness of internal gentleness coupled with external tenderness. Successful outcomes at this time can only be generated through skillful means, and friendly persuasion. Any kind of ultimatum, that you may want to release into the situation will only backfire, and make the circumstances intensify. Keep your opinions, beliefs, reigned in, so that you do not stir up a hornet’s nest of negative activity aimed at yourself. The most important aspect of yourself that you must activate is that which gives you the most control over your environment. The advantage then is in your abilities to persuade gently and kindly towards the potential success. Do not allow annoyances to control your actions, but rather control the annoyances by restraining your emotional responses to them. When adversity raises its ugly head, be cautious in your dealings with it. Looking inward to see what and who I have become in my life is equally enlightening. The I Ching tells us that we need to look far and wide, to look inside and outside, to see into the nooks and crannies of experience to gain the fullest understanding of who we are and what we will ultimately become. When we contemplate the laws of heaven and observe the ways of people, we can see into what is truly the Way. Deeply examine your life now and see into who you are, not who you wished you had become, but who you are right now, and see into the future to who you would like to be. Integrate this future self now so that you can transform yourself into that which will serve the world better. Attend to your consciousness with profoundly deep concentration and give expression to the laws of heaven through your hidden spiritual power. These will manifest as you practice your Taijiquan. This type of concentration will allow you to influence others on levels that are unseen. This type of inner work can allow you to dominate those who would do you harm without their knowledge. This type of inner development increases peace as a result. Active yielding is a spiritual practice as well as a physical one. As things begin to transform there can be difficulties that arise. Hexagram #3 Difficulty at the Beginning speaks to us of a country that is stagnant and in difficult times, and has not yet found its way back to health and prosperity. When one moves through these challenges with a sense of stability as well as an awareness of flexibility then the test can be overcome. One must have faith and firmness in one’s actions. It is not just the perseverance of one person, but rather the cumulative effect of a mass of people who are tried and true and provide the depth of assistance that manifests the change to a better world. “Be the change you want to see in the world”, Gandhi said. It is through this witness of the way that things develop towards the new and beautiful. Attend to the details of your lives with awareness, and that mindfulness will manifest changes within you that will allow your true desires to lead you to your bliss. Seek out what is bubbling up inside you so that you can become fully cognizant of your truest self, rather than obeying the confused child whose desires are outdated and unrealizable. Let your truth be told and your actions become wise. Be who you are in your kindness and your gentleness and in your power. Look to your friends, the world is hurting. We must become the balm to their wounds. Sooth your own savage breast first, and then calm the minds and hearts of others. Firmly and Truly yours, David P.S. Remember to bring your plate, cup, utensils and water for the day. Please RSVP early, if possible, so we can plan for food. 
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