Quote

Nothing is softer or more flexible than water,

yet nothing can resist it.

(Lao Tzu)

Empty actions

Charitable deeds are not meant to be a public performance.

If you display compassion in order to show others your virtue,

then your actions are empty of meaning.

No matter how much you give to the poor, if you are doing it 

only to impress others, it is not charity.

(Seven Taoist Masters)

Shadows

Durham

Sticks and stones

Just discussed the following common phrase with my sister earlier today:

Sticks and stones may break my bones,

but words will never hurt me.

How untrue these words are.

Physical damage, bruises, cuts, bumps and scrapes nearly always heal so much quicker than some words.

Words can play on your mind, be harmful, be hurtful and torment you for a very long time.

We were discussing that when my sister was at school, the teacher had told her that she would never amount to anything.

This is really bad coming from someone in their position or anyone as a matter of fact. They should be encouraging and supportive.

My sister has just achieved her second degree. (A big well done).  How untrue the words from that teacher were but they had been burned into my sister's memory for a very long time. 

The teacher who had said it had long been forgotten but the words stuck.

We should all be aware at what we say to others as words can have a massive impact on others. Be encouraging and helpful.

Think of the other phrase that is commonly used:

If you have nothing nice to say,

then say nothing. 

Dogs and humans

Who loves you most?

If you locked your partner in the boot of your car along with your dog for two days,
who do you think would show unconditional love.

Your partner would surely be very annoyed but your dog would jump for joy to see you.

I do not condone trying this experiment, just stating a fact.
So why are people cruel to animals?

Think before you buy a dog, that you can show it the love it deserves.

Where is the mind?

We think of the mind being within our head as part of our brain function.
Is it really in our head? It may well be.

The human body is surrounded by an energy field,
is the mind floating around within this area?

Is our mind connected to our body? Is it connected to our energy field?
Or is it connected to the whole of existence, the cosmos, past and present?
Maybe even the future?

Many clairvoyants, mediums and psychics will say that they can tap into these
areas to see what was, what is and what will come.

Who knows where it is? People have many ideas about this, but science has not given
us all the answers to these questions.

We do not readily accept other people's beliefs but we usually accept what we have
been told by teachers, parents and others who influence our lives.

There is always room for discovery, to seek out the new, the old, and the truth.
Do not only limit yourself to what we take for granted.

Remember that once, the earth was thought to be flat.

13 Postures

Wardoff
Rollback
Push/Press
Squeeze
Pluck
Split
Elbow
Bump
Advance
Withdraw
See the left
See the right
Central equilibrium

Quote

The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,

and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.

When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.

When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?

He is the one I would like to talk to.

(Chuang-Tzu)

Cross training

When I started training the internal arts of tai chi chuan, I found that my
previous experiences within external arts actually hindered my
progress.

It took a long time to lose the old habits of trying to use force
against force, strength against strength, I was so tense in the beginning.

The thought of mixing external martial arts with the internal art of tai chi and
baguazhang is counterproductive. How can you mix external with internal
when the principles are so different?

You must become soft and relaxed in body and mind to allow the incoming
force, not hard and blocking your opponent.

Mixing internal with external, there will always be an element of tension,
so you will never be completely soft. You will never truly let go of the old and
embrace the new.

Anger

The dragon within,

is forever trying to escape

and destroy itself.

Flowers

Act rightly

We do not act rightly

because we have virtue or

excellence, but we rather

have these because we have

acted rightly. We are what

we repeatedly do.

( Aristotle )