Is Taiji a social practice
or an mind exercise?
At times I fell that Taiji has a lot in common with Vipassana Buddhist meditation practices. Why? (1) Because of the slow movements of the form regardless of the style, and (2) Taiji emphasis on paying attention to the details of the movements - which is to be with the present moment.
Clearly, Taiji is similar to the Buddhist practice but without any incentives of enlightment or other power trappings. It is laughable to think that some people take the power of chi seriously…-Yes, I see the trapping in the Buddhist but this is a blog about Taiji not about the crazy music of the Buddhists.
Taiji like many religions also offers superhuman stuff. I mean, don’t you want to manipulate the Chi and have supper powers like a movie star? Don’t you want to become a master and tell others how to do the form and to xi and jin the body? Don’t you want to be a master, be your own man, even though you know that you will be soon be dead, a poor fellow or dog to be forgotten? … I guess you do…No surprises….
People try to manipulate their gods with prayers; we Taiji players, manipulate the Chi with our bones and sinus so…let us manipulate Chi and do some push hands. Right? I am ready.