5 of 10

Write now Article Tools

Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan was introduced into China around 540 A.D. by an Indian Buddhist priest named the Boddidharma. At this time the Shaolin order was formed. During the building of their Temple, the emperor's gardeners had just planted new trees, so the temple was named "young" (or new) forest, in Chinese Mandarin Shaolin and Sil Lum in Cantonese.

One of the results was that the Shaolin monks directed by the Bodidharma translated scrolls on Yoga from Sanskrit into local dialects. Another, the monks, who prior to the Boddidharma had not been fit, were turned into a disciplined group who artfully defended themselves without weapons. They were however never the attackers, and having been trained in the art of conflict avoidance, their skills allowed them to carry out their primary work as healers.

It must also be noted that Tai Chi Chuan is sometimes rightly called a moving meditation; though it always meant to be used in in-conjunction with still meditation practice as a separate event. One of the legends of the Boddidharma has it that before he arrived the monks were meditating like crazy. They sat in posture for weeks and months at a time, but could only go so far as their body suffered and ultimately stopped, their long meditation sessions. The Boddidharma saw this and sat down in front of a blank wall and stayed there for seven years. When he arose he performed the first Tai Chi Chuan forms and then taught them to the monks. By performing Tai Chi Chuan form in a moving meditation on a daily basis, the monks found they had the energy and health to go deeper into their still meditations then ever before.

The Tibetan Buddhists have a belief that of all the really bad karmic deeds, teaching knowledge without a full and comprehensive understanding of what you are teaching and its larger implications to the student, is up there with cold blooded murder. They conform to this belief rigidly, in the handing down of knowledge from master to student. If the master dies before the student realises the truth and comprehension of the teaching, it is discontinued immediately. This has resulted in a chain of information being kept absolutely pristine for over three thousand years. The point I am making is it pays to be cautious when dealing with a teacher/instructor, even if you are a new student. Like Tibetan Buddhism, Tai Chi Chuan is not a religion, it is a holistic mental/physical health and defence system that covers numerous aspects from conception

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Getting started with Tai Chi Chuan?
We want to hear your view. Write now!