Friday 15 July 2016

Taking One's Time


故形氣盛而能縱橫,精神斂而能飛騰*
Therefore one finds great ease when his/her vapours flourishes, may soar when he/she has collected vitality

鬆則活變**
From relaxation comes lively changes

且夫乘物以遊心,託不得已以養中,至矣***
Further still, let your mind find its enjoyment in the circumstances of your position, nourish the central course which you pursue, by a reference to your unavoidable obligations. 




Once one's form and heart were fixed through stillness, moving could be contemplated, normal speed being the first step since it allowed the student to remain relaxed. Deep and uninterrupted relaxation being one of the most important principles in internal practices, adding any kind of pressure had to be done with method and in a progressive way. Therefore, learning motion by beginning at a normal and relaxed pace was the preferred method for internal practices. Normal speed was not only a way to going beyond just memory but also to learn how to use one's vitality.

Monday 4 July 2016

Still, Keeping at Bay


神寧氣靜
A mind at ease and calm vapours

神非其所宜而行之,則昧*
If one's spirit does not operate properly, it looses its clarity




Following the feminine and masculine principles theory**, the body (the external), and the mind (the internal), should compensate each other, meaning if one is fast, the other should be slow. If this seems quite easy, it gets complex if the concept of vitality and its materialisation (vapours) and the issue of the organs are added.