Wednesday, February 24, 2016

42/43

42 /43
TAO gave birth to One,
One gave birth to Two,
Two gave birth to Three,
Three gave birth to all the myriad things.
All the myriad things carry the Yin on their backs and
 hold the Yang in their embrace,
Deriving their vital harmony from the proper blending
 of the two vital Breaths.
What is more loathed by men than to be "helpless,"
 "little," and "worthless"?
And yet these are the very names the princes and barons
 call themselves.
Truly, one may gain by losing;
And one may lose by gaining.
What another has taught let me repeat:
"A man of violence will come to a violent end."
Whoever said this can be my teacher and my father.
Translated by John C. H. Wu
Interpretation by Bill Bernsen


INFINITUDE

Tao gave birth 
To Yin/Yang
Gave birth 
To Tai Chi Chuan
Defined 
Fulcrum/pivot
The opponent 
Is my teacher
Get a new idea
Share that idea 
With another 
Others shares it
To all 
   Art continues
One student
To two students 
To three students
To 10,000 students
Yin in their heart 
Hug with yang 
In their back
It comes from 
The Masters
Sometimes too little
More practice
Sometimes too much
Must know to stop
Sometimes to late
Discouraged
Sometimes to early
A hint
To fully arrive 
At a posture 
Align upper 
Lower body 
Like a wheel aligned
On a hub 
(Center of gravity) 
Body (steel)
 Is yang 
Gestures (silk) 
Are yin 
Steel wrapped 
In silk 
Stainless steel 
Embrace by silk
I am the yin 
Masters are Yang
Reason for receptive 
Going 
In one correction
Will lead 
To another 
Then the entire form
10,000 forms
Students 
Are the teachers
Teachers
 Are the Masters
Tai Chi Chuan 
Is the fulcrum
Violence 
Is malevolent 
Just focusing 
On Push Hands 
Will lead to
Warding off 
The art
One idea
Masters has idea
Two ideas
Masters share it with me
Three ideas
I share it with others
10,000 ideas
One 
To two 
To infinity
Stay with the one (TAO)
Two will instinctively appear
10,000 are always here 
One idea
To two ideas (yin/yang)
To 3rd the return
To fulcrum
Get an idea (one)
Give it to another (two)
New idea (three)
1+2 = 3
Head reaches up 
To the future
Hands hold 
To the now
Feet root 
To the past
Three = infinity
One new idea
In slow set
Same idea
Into Kai He style
10,000 Tung style
Epiphany 
Practice 
Gives birth 
To new ideas
New ideas result in
Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang mate 
To create
Spirit/gravity/man
This is everything 
In the universe
Must find 
Yin/yang
To proceed
To the new
Masters = no-beings
To the unworthy
Who gives birth? 
To new ideas
Simple the 
Previous idea 
Masters give birth
To oneness
Man feels
Gravity (earth/China)
And spirit (Masters)
Combined = oneness
10,000 ideas
First One Chi
Head to toe
Then hollow
Then Yin/Yang
Then Tai Chi Chuan
Then one Jing/Chi
Toe to head 
Hollow leg 
Gives birth 
To infinite gestures
First one
Then two
Then 10,000
First self
Then others
Then 10,000
Things are how 
They are 
Because 
The Masters 
Wants them 
That way
They have always
Been within me too 
If a person 
Is suppose 
To find Tai Chi Chuan 
They will
If worthy
Yin and yang 
Of idea
Results in
 New ideas
Less intent 
As a martial artist 
More at being one 
With environment 
Thunder storms 
Don’t last all day
Nor does an epiphany 
During practice
Don’t always ponder
The thunder storm
Feel the sun
See the moon
Walk the earth
Forever and a day
Small loss
Small gain 
Great loss
Great gain 
Masters give birth 
To the new feelings/ideas
Study the yin/yang 
Of the feeling/idea
Tao gives birth
 To one heart
This grows
Merges with
 A second heart
Then two hearts together
Create all 
In the universe
Relax GV14 
So yang can flow  
GV 14 
Is yang’s
Fulcrum
Masters 
Give birth 
To new ideas 
Only if 
To the worthy
Yin gesture
To Yang body
To Tai Chi Chuan
To 10,000 applications
Masters heaven 
Give birth 
To one idea 
Add the two
Because me and Masters 
Are one and two 
Which = 3 
One is Masters
Two bodies 
Three mind = infinity 

How the Masters teach 
Give me one idea 
Listen which makes 
It two ideas 
1 + 2 = 3 to infinity 
Euphoria
Spirit lifting up
Gravity pulling down
By being aligned
Perfect alignment means
Upper body
 Is calm/relax/loose
So it can stretch open
To spirit/gravity
Masters 
Give me 
One new idea 
That idea gives 
Me two 
Then to push hands 
Gives me 10,000
Nose is one
Navel is one
Elbows is two
Knee is two
Pivot points
Masters give me
One feeling
I always apply
A dot of the opposite
To understand it = two
Apply it = 3
This produces 10,000
One fulcrum
Is aware of 
Two weights
This can pivot
 To 10,000
One idea 
Brings two
Two ideas
Bring creativity
Masters’ spirit one
Plus my spirit two
One and two create all
1…2…3
Change with Change
10,000
Yin squatting 
Receives 
Sending Yang
To gestures
One idea
+ 2 ideas
= 3.14 Pi
Infinite circle
Of ideas
Masters 
Give Jing/Chi
Jing/Chi is
The oneness
With all
It is the Tao
Masters makes 
One correction
This leads “two” me
Then understanding
And more practice
Intent-fulcrum-apprehension
The oneness 
Is the idea
One pulling
Two pressing
Three calling 10,000
One new idea
Then two
Good and bad
Then fulcrum
Of ambivalence of
10,000
The reason 
For the depression
Prior to new
 Idea/feeling
Losing goes thru
The 5 stages of grief
Gaining new idea
Once understood 
Goes away 
But still be there
Wu Chi 
First
Then Tai Chi
Gain via yin
Lose via yang
Spirit up
To open
Positive gain
Gravity down
To open
Lose negative stuff
Ideas
All carry Yin 
On one side
And Yang 
On other side
Balance with heart
Secret fulcrum
If there is intent
There must be 
Apprehension
Depression do
To loss of old self
It will lead 
To a gain
New feeling/self
Masters give one idea
Understand it
Leads me
To next idea
Then infinity
The way 
Produces one
One produces two
Two produces three
Three produces 10,000
One is my idea
Two is other’s idea
Three is the first two
Plus the new idea which
Lead to 10,000
First one
Then two
Then 10,000
First yourself
Then others
Then everyone
Things are how 
They are
Masters wants them 
That way
Me too
 I am connected
If a person
 Is suppose
To find Tai Chi Chuan
They will
It is not for everyone
Feel the fulcrum
Of the mind
The point at which
I can go
Either way
With a thought
The fulcrum
Is the listening
Harmony of both
Press /pull
Sun moon light/shade 
Is Tai Chi Chuan

Yin is the
Precursor of yang
Yang is the antecedent
Of yin
First feel it
To recognize
Once felt
Then I know
What it is like
Not to feel it
The one and two
Give birth
To the new idea
This starts
All over again
10,000 times
Learn to control
Information coming in
Once it starts
If open
Then it will 
Pour
In faster
Stretch my back
Horizontally/vertically
To surround/embrace
The heart
The heart is open
To the object
Of my thoughts
The form produced
One chi in the body
Separate at the waist
Yin and yang
Start with ward off 
One chi
In a state 
Of ward off
Joints open
Use waist joint
Yin retreat
Yang advance
Always be in ward off
State of mind
Mind controls body
Then if I retreat
I think the ward off
Rollback
Or advance
I think ward off
Press/push
Ward off is like
The breath
In that it is constant
Always in balance
If the body needs
More air it will
Ask for it
Breath = ward off
In that it is
Always constant
Question force
With apprehension
No answer is given
Doing nil
With a persistence
Chi = breath
Inhale outside chi 
To understand it 
I don’t think
About breathing
In and out
It will change naturally
Tao gave birth
To the one idea
I think of the opposite
= Two, yin and yang
Variations 
Thereof 
Is infinity  
The student cannot
Turn their back
To their opponent
Without having 
The Master
In their heart
1+1=3
The plus sign
Is added
The equal sign
Is the Tai Chi fulcrum
One idea 
+ One idea 
+ New idea 
 2 previous ideas
Merge
Enter
Emotionally/physically
Tai Chi Chuan 
Is the chi
Of teaming parts
Of the body
Once it is whole
It turns into Jing
Even when it is whole
It still has two sides
Sun on front
Shadow on back
Cannot see the 
Sun or shadow 
On the inside 
Of things 
Can feel 
The heat or cold
If something on 
Inside feels cold 
Turn it to the heat 
And vice versa
Being warm
Hearted and cool temper 
Is just right
Master gave birth
To one application
One gave birth
To two
Two gave birth to three
Three to 10,000 applications
Carry yang 
On my back
Embrace yin 
In the heart
Spirit + Gravity
= Tai Chi Chuan
Down
Then up
Up
Then down
Find the fulcrum
To control up/down
The fulcrum
Is Tai Chi Chuan
Giving birth
Must find 
Oneness
First
One idea
Plus
One idea
= new idea
The 3rd idea
Yin on my chest
My heart is a fulcrum
Yang on my Tigerback
The dynamic breaths
Are Spirit/gravity
Merge the two/too
Entire body
Tai Chi Chuan 
Is passive
Otherwise 
It is not self-defense
Tai Chi Chuan 
Is the merging
Of advancing/retreating
Of projecting/gathering
It is the fulcrum
Weighting obsoletes
Equilibrium in all endeavors
The thought into 
The hand gesture
Is the fulcrum
Always the same 
As it changes with changes
Oneness
Is the Tai Chi/fulcrum
Able to weigh
Yin and Yang
Slow set
Searching for
Harmony
No fulcrum/Tai Chi
Results in expiry
Discontinuing 
The discipline
Cannot see
The fulcrum
Of the balancing 
Eagle toy
Pivot point
Of the Yin/Yang ball
Jing/Chi
Of the coil spring
Being one 
With Master
Makes for two
Three is where
I am directed
Yin in breast/heart
Yang in hand/gesture
Yin embraces
New yang ideas
Lineage gives
Birth to infinite 
Ideas
Practice makes 
Them epiphanies
Spirit/Masters 
Gravity/China 
Use worthy students
Evolve the art
Tao is an
Epiphany
Intent
Causes defeat
Apprehension
Causes 
Awareness/arrival
Be one with spirit
Be two with gravity
Be three with Tai Chi Chuan
Infinite applications
One epiphany
Begets two
Two to perpetuity
Push hands
Partner practice
Dui Lian
Investing 
In loss
Tai Chi Fulcrum
Is pure synchronization
Producing preparation
Tai Chi Chuan
Is the unification
Of spirit & gravity
The two most powerful
                                                             Things in the universe 
One correction
Leads to
Two new students
To a school
Harmony
In push hands
Always connected
Spiritually/physically
A warrior
Balances
The past and future
Gain by retreating
Listening/expanding
To root
Respond
With Jing/Chi
To control/listen
Circle back to gain
Or Fa Jing
Awareness
Creates
The fulcrum
This creates
Balance
This creates
Ideas
Awareness
Realizes
Second notion
1 +2 = epiphany
Jing/Chi
To fulcrum
To gesture
To Tai Chi Chuan
Must be yin
To merge 
With yang
Give birth
To new
Spirit creates
A gesture
Gravity supports
The gesture
Tai Chi Chuan
Multiplies it
Loss or gain
Physics 
Always applies
Root
Open waist
Oscillate torso
Yang heart
Is heartfelt
Tai Chi Chuan
Is the vehicle
To the universal
Jing/Chi
Hands/heart/hips
Hugging
Is harmony
Lineage bestows
One idea
You receive it
Now there are two
Then new idea
Hence three
Followed
With a piece
Of Pi
  From eternity
To epiphany
To infinity
Spirit plus gravity
In body/being
Is the universe 
One word leads
To two words leads
To epic poem 
Harmony
Humbling
Heartfelt
Hugging
Tao
Is elasticity
Between Yin and Yang 
Balance
An idea
On a fulcrum

Vertical gate

Waist 

Is yang

Horizontal gate

thorax 

Is yin

Unified

Heartfelt

Harmony

Vital

Harmony

With Masters’

Breath                         

My student

Is my teacher

One epiphany

Leads to

Two epiphanies

Results infinite

Tai Chi Chuan

Kai He style

Open/close

Convex/concave

Inhale/exhale

Love to let go

Reach further

To anchor

Deeper

Heart

As a fulcrum

A precise 

Gesture

Leads 

To an epiphany

Enabling

A Tai Chi
Application

Practice

Project/gather

Tai Chi Chuan

Percussion 

Elasticity

To epiphany

To eternity

Gain and lose

By means of

Tai Chi percussion

Heart

Is a fulcrum

Between

Intent/apprehension

Slow Set

one person

Push hands

two students

Adds up

To Countless

Corrections

Imagined

Practice

Brings forth

Actual 

Practice

Result in

Precise

Practice 

Tai Chi Chuan

Slow Set

One

Push Hands

Two

Self-defense

Three

Free of fear

Master bestows

Correction

Student practices

10,000 gesticulations

Advancing gesture

Becomes

Retreating gesture

With just a thought

Must feel 

Tai Chi fulcrum

To decide

Slow Set

First section

Gives birth to 

Second section

Gives birth to

Third section

Gives birth to 

All applications

Unification of

Spirit/gravity

Results in

Unlimited

Applications

2-20-24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 43 


THE softest of all things
Overrides the hardest of all things.
Only Nothing can enter into no-space.
Hence I know the advantages of Non-Ado.

Few things under heaven are as instructive as
 the lessons of Silence,
Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non-Ado.

The greatest straightness looks like crookedness.
The greatest skill appears clumsy.
The greatest eloquence sounds like stammering.

Restlessness overcomes cold,
But calm overcomes heat.

The peaceful and serene
Is the Norm of the World.


Translated by John C. H. Wu

Interpretation by Bill Bernsen



INSTINCTIVE

Push hands

Instinctively

Can enter 

Into any space

Full can take 

No more

Hollow can 

Take all

Apprehension listens 

To all

Intent focus 

On one

Spirit can fill 

Hollow soul

Gravity can hollow 

A full container

The wisest 

Application

Is no solicitation

Masters find 

Room in me

If I am hollow 

Of intent

Be vacant

Stand exposed

Stay aligned

Passive 

For the Masters 

To enter

Intent 

Is the start 

Of disorder

Calm is the source 

Of direction 

Talking 

Is the access

Of trouble

Quiet is the entry

Of commitment

 Hard and heavy 

Cannot  be moved

Soft and light 

Is limp

Without

Elasticity 

Chi or Jing 

Can enter

The body 

The Masters thoughts 

Can enter  

Whether or not 

It is up to me

The upper body 

Is soft

Lower body

Is hard

The waist is elastic

The Master 

Heaven 

As his spirit

Earth 

As his legs

Students 

As his heart

Soft, empty, silence 

Is non-ado

Once non-ado

Happens

Hard things 

Becomes elastic

Water is soft

In the form 

Of a wave

Nothing 

Is more powerful

Kow Tow 

To gravity 

Water 

Will penetrate 

Any empty space

As will pain 

And pleasure 

Elasticity

Over the rigid

Making rigid

Into elastic 

Is the secret

Must practice Slow Set

To understand

No intent 

Can enter 

Any resolve

Hollow

Silence rings loud 

To earth’s energy 

Water 

I am 75% water

So act like it 

Soft Forearms/hands 

Overcome stiff arms 

Push hands

No intent 

Can instinctively 

Enter

Into any space 

Full can 

Take no more

Hollow 

Can take all

Apprehension 

Listens to all

Intent focus 

On one

Spirit can fill 

Hollow soul

Gravity 

Can hollow 

A full container

In push hands

Softness

Comes from

No intent

Hollow apprehension

Is solid harmony

Cannot walk 

If sitting 

Cannot sit if legs 

Does not bend 

Sacrum

Opens/closes

Transferring weight

Leg to leg

Sit

Undo tense

Upper body

Silently

Heart in hand

Hands press outward

Head presses backward

Heart presses outward

Heart in hand

Hand on opponent’s heart 

Soft heart

Soft hands

Hard to find

Tai Chi Chuan 

Takes a long time

Calm fluid 

Of the inner ear

This is done 

By not doing 

(Wu Wei)

Silent and listening

Be balanced 

Like a scale

Find the fulcrum 

Of the situation 

Remember that intent 

Is the enemy

Soft eyes 

Instinctively

Sees all

Hence

Feels all 

To be soft

Be calm

Be as quiet

As ice melts

No intent = softness

Be as silent 

As a snake 

Master controls 

His students

As a rider controls 

His horse

Yin overcomes 

Yang 

In all situations 

Ward off

Inside the arm 

Is stainless steel 

Outside the arm 

Is silk sensitive/respective

Arm can 

Gently penetrate all

Try moving a horse 

With a sudden push

It will not move

But softly touch 

The horse

Then lightly press 

It will move

This is Tai Chi Chuan

Seek Wu wei

Hollow 

Of obstacles first

Then Tai Chi

Soft 

Needs hard 

To identify itself 

And vice versa 

Soft joints allow 

Chi to flow with 

Silence intent 

Without intent 

I can hear all  

Teaching 

Without words 

A hollow heart 

Will heal

A heated 

Harmful heart 

Hollow 

In body/mind 

Brings 

Change with change 

With “Tigerback” 

Appendages 

Are soft/receptive

Arms 

Soft

To listen 

Drain force 

Down

To legs

No space 

Between hand/earth

Silence is the secret 

To push hands

Silence 

The minds  

Internal dialog 

The “one chi” 

With no intent  

Will enter

Opponent’s body 

Softness = listening

Softy 

Hollow of intent 

Apprehension = silence

Think it 

Don’t touch it 

Think it 

Don’t see it 

Think it 

Don’t hear it 

Think it 

Don’t taste it 

Think it 

Is the sixth sense

The sixth sense 

Is non-action 

Think the above 

Don’t do it

Be as silent

As water

Will ripple out

When touched

Physically or mentally

Be soft 

Stretching 

Stretch to open 

Receive 

Control 

Opponent’s intent 

Like controlling 

A horse 

Legs/reins

Fulcrum 

Of the bows

Reason 

For Hernia

To get me 

To lighten up

Hollow/receive 

Is the concentration 

Master teaches

Don’t say it

Just think it

The legs 

Kowtow 

To the pelvis 

So Jing/Chi 

Can enter 

Hollow upper body

No intent 

Can deter 

Opponent’s center 

If he has intent (square) 

To stop 

Use circle 

Intent 

Is hard

Apprehension 

Is soft

Harmony

Is Tai Chi Chuan

Push Hands 

No intent 

Can cause 

Apprehension 

Without intent

Instinct

Can find 

Opponents 

c.o.g./fulcrum 

Yield 

To original 

Nature

 The more 

False intent (hard) 

More difficult it is 

To negate it

How do I repay 

The lineage 

For all that I have now

My art

My son’s education

The writing journal

Perhaps this is it 

Recording

The process 

And expressing 

The art for them  

Thought 

By feelings teach

Spirit intent

If soft/yielding (open)

The teacher’s intent

Can enter without words

Fame/wealth

Cause injury

To my spirit 

The more 

Applications 

I know

The less action 

I need to take  

Teach the above

Without words

Water 

Can enter 

Without making 

Any noise

In most cases 

It will also exit 

The same way 

The extremes 

Hot/cold 

Coming together

In humidity/humility 

To find 

Another’s center

Enter 

Hollow

Of intent

Don’t let 

Opponent’s intent 

Enter my 

Hollow space

By using

Tai Chi Chuan 

Gestures 

Don’t answer

Just keep questioning

The answer will come

In the form of

Another query

Silence is nothing

It can enter 

Into no space

If a student 

Is closed

Then the only thing

That can enter him 

Is silence

Riding the Dragon

I cannot force 

The Dragon 

With my intent

Must control 

Control the Dragon 

With Tai Chi Chuan 

Gestures

Go from hard 

To soft (know self) 

Overcome the hard 

Of other because

Experiencing hardness 

In self

Softness 

Has no intent

Therefore it can 

Center hardness

Because it can 

Enter hardness

Hardness 

Cannot hear 

The softness

The form 

Softness 

Tai Chi Chuan 

Penetrates 

Every cell 

In the body  

Do nothing 

To neither 

Speed up 

Or force it 

Only relaxes

Stay insubstantial 

It becomes part of me 

It already is

Only we have 

So much 

In the way 

It cannot be 

Fully expressed

Eventually 

The student 

Gives up to it 

Or just gives up

Master teaches 

In class what 

Is true 

Master corrects 

What others have 

Made false 

People who practice 

Tai Chi Chuan

Try to be like water

But lack 

The connectedness

Their body 

Is all separated parts

As if water 

Was separate drops

Must connect all parts

By undoing 

The broken connectors

Masters are 

Like a  river

Go for a swim

Good feeling 

I had in my arms

Master told me 

To relax 

It will go away

But still be there

Like water in a river

It is there

But moves on

Coaching 

Minus words

Practicing 

Without movements 

These occur 

Because the effect 

On the other person’s feeling

They cause them 

To go away

Just think it 

If they are listening

Have their attention

Then they will 

Go away 

Master’s teaching

He just thinks something

In general or specific

If I am listening

It will affect me

All the above 

Will occur

Only if I am 

In touch

With the Master’s

Spirited center of gravity

Intent can have 

No substance

Have apprehension

Teaching 

Without words 

Worthy will hear

With their 6th sense

Encompassing 

Of the essence 

Extents everywhere 

Master’s guideline

Are without words

Women drive men 

Men what to control 

The driving

At first 

I saw 

The whole 

Tai Chi Chuan art 

After 10 years of practice 

I saw only Slow Set

Chi/Ching/Shen

 Is what holds

It all together

Remain calm/receptive 

Masters teaching 

Will penetrate 

Even when not 

Thinking about them 

Do not take 

Action 

Let the Masters 

Work thru me

This is teaching 

Without words 

Calm the fluid 

Of the inner ear

Silent/listening

Be balanced 

Like a scale

Find the fulcrum

Of the situation

Remember intent 

Is the enemy

No intent 

Is softness

No intent 

Can enter 

Into nothing

With apprehension

Approach 

Thinking

In a Wu Wei

State of mind

Softness 

Comes from

One side 

Being anchored

As soft 

As water

Held up 

By the hard earth

Hollow 

Of intent

Negates force against force

All words contain intent

Be frugal

And apprehensive 

With voice

Silence/apprehension

Until asked

No words can enter

Mind without intent

No intent

Is softest

Apprehension 

Hears all

The lever must

Have no intent

To hurt…only help/heal

Be a whip 

In the Masters’ hand

Silence for corrections 

To ascend

Reaching the heart

Like a loop in a whip

Everything returns

To the earth/China

So relax/open/soften

Let force/intent

Sink to earth/China

No intent

Can enter all

Non-ado achieves

Awareness

Give up

To the Masters

Who are like water

Non-intent

With apprehension

Soft/pliable leaves

On top

Hard/solid trunk

Supports

Cannot see/hear

The tree growing

But I know it is

Slow Set at the speed 

Of a tree growing

Be apprehensive

About unknown

Is something

Silently

Silence

To hear

Masters

Guiding silently

Proof 

I don’t speak

Chinese

But hear instructions

Tai Chi Chuan

Contact point

Hollow like

A hub to hear

To the heel

The conduit

To China

All gestures

Are elastic

Forever changing with change

Unbreakable/silent

Don’t think

Just sink

A reflex

Masters

Instructions

Gather as a 

Whirlpool

Push hands

Receiving

The same

Yin overcomes yang

Yang protects yin

So it can enter

Infinity

Heartfelt

Gestures 

Listen with

6th sense

Silently

Listening

Gestures

Yin

Tranquil

A fulcrum

Is quiet

Listening

To all

Halt intent

Listen with

Hesitation

Listen

For hollow

Happiness

Learn something

New

Old is in the way

Undo to do

Anew

Be as wise

As water

Hollow of intent

Echo with 

Corrections

From Master

During Yu Pei Shih

Be open

Be silent

Be alert

Still

Silence

Survey

At the end 

Of the day

Empty

The epiphany

Empty

Epiphany

Enters

Quietly

Undo

To make

Anew

In due time

Hollow

Intent

Feel/fill

Apprehension

A fulcrum

Has no intent

Still/Silent/soft

Secret to

Next sentence

Be hollow

To echo

Master


Heart

Is a fulcrum

Between

Intent/apprehension

Without

Heartfelt

Gesture

Healing

Can turn to 

Harming

 One

Heartfelt

Gestures

Two

Supported by

Tai Chi

Alignment

Three

Leads to

Passive

Percussion


Spirit and gravity

Combine

In waist

Creating

Bellows

Of Jing/Chi

Slow Set

Uniting

Spirit and gravity

Gives equilibrium

To gestures/applications

 

Tai Chi Chuan

Spirit 

Gives birth to

New idea/feeling

Gravity supports it

In practice 

Resulting in 

Infinite gestures

Tai Chi salute

Gives birth to

Yu Pei Shih (alertness)

Gives birth to

Slow Set gestures

Creating applications

So, violence

Is avoided

12-14-23

 


 

 

  

43 

THE softest of all things
Overrides the hardest of all things.
Only Nothing can enter into no-space.
Hence I know the advantages of Non-Ado.

Few things under heaven are as instructive as
 the lessons of Silence,
Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non-Ado.

The greatest straightness looks like crookedness.
The greatest skill appears clumsy.
The greatest eloquence sounds like stammering.

Restlessness overcomes cold,
But calm overcomes heat.

The peaceful and serene
Is the Norm of the World.


Translated by John C. H. Wu

Interpretation by Bill Bernsen



INSTINCTIVE

Push hands

Instinctively

Can enter 

Into any space

Full can take 

No more

Hollow can 

Take all

Apprehension listens 

To all

Intent focus 

On one

Spirit can fill 

Hollow soul

Gravity can hollow 

A full container

The wisest 

Application

Is no solicitation

Masters find 

Room in me

If I am hollow 

Of intent

Be vacant

Stand exposed

Stay aligned

Passive 

For the Masters 

To enter

Intent 

Is the start 

Of disorder

Calm is the source 

Of direction 

Talking 

Is the access

Of trouble

Quiet is the entry

Of commitment

 Hard and heavy 

Cannot  be moved

Soft and light 

Is limp

Without

Elasticity 

Chi or Jing 

Can enter

The body 

The Masters thoughts 

Can enter  

Whether or not 

It is up to me

The upper body 

Is soft

Lower body

Is hard

The waist is elastic

The Master 

Heaven 

As his spirit

Earth 

As his legs

Students 

As his heart

Soft, empty, silence 

Is non-ado

Once non-ado

Happens

Hard things 

Becomes elastic

Water is soft

In the form 

Of a wave

Nothing 

Is more powerful

Kow Tow 

To gravity 

Water 

Will penetrate 

Any empty space

As will pain 

And pleasure 

Elasticity

Over the rigid

Making rigid

Into elastic 

Is the secret

Must practice Slow Set

To understand

No intent 

Can enter 

Any resolve

Hollow

Silence rings loud 

To earth’s energy 

Water 

I am 75% water

So act like it 

Soft Forearms/hands 

Overcome stiff arms 

Push hands

No intent 

Can instinctively 

Enter

Into any space 

Full can 

Take no more

Hollow 

Can take all

Apprehension 

Listens to all

Intent focus 

On one

Spirit can fill 

Hollow soul

Gravity 

Can hollow 

A full container

In push hands

Softness

Comes from

No intent

Hollow apprehension

Is solid harmony

Cannot walk 

If sitting 

Cannot sit if legs 

Does not bend 

Sacrum

Opens/closes

Transferring weight

Leg to leg

Sit

Undo tense

Upper body

Silently

Heart in hand

Hands press outward

Head presses backward

Heart presses outward

Heart in hand

Hand on opponent’s heart 

Soft heart

Soft hands

Hard to find

Tai Chi Chuan 

Takes a long time

Calm fluid 

Of the inner ear

This is done 

By not doing 

(Wu Wei)

Silent and listening

Be balanced 

Like a scale

Find the fulcrum 

Of the situation 

Remember that intent 

Is the enemy

Soft eyes 

Instinctively

Sees all

Hence

Feels all 

To be soft

Be calm

Be as quiet

As ice melts

No intent = softness

Be as silent 

As a snake 

Master controls 

His students

As a rider controls 

His horse

Yin overcomes 

Yang 

In all situations 

Ward off

Inside the arm 

Is stainless steel 

Outside the arm 

Is silk sensitive/respective

Arm can 

Gently penetrate all

Try moving a horse 

With a sudden push

It will not move

But softly touch 

The horse

Then lightly press 

It will move

This is Tai Chi Chuan

Seek Wu wei

Hollow 

Of obstacles first

Then Tai Chi

Soft 

Needs hard 

To identify itself 

And vice versa 

Soft joints allow 

Chi to flow with 

Silence intent 

Without intent 

I can hear all  

Teaching 

Without words 

A hollow heart 

Will heal

A heated 

Harmful heart 

Hollow 

In body/mind 

Brings 

Change with change 

With “Tigerback” 

Appendages 

Are soft/receptive

Arms 

Soft

To listen 

Drain force 

Down

To legs

No space 

Between hand/earth

Silence is the secret 

To push hands

Silence 

The minds  

Internal dialog 

The “one chi” 

With no intent  

Will enter

Opponent’s body 

Softness = listening

Softy 

Hollow of intent 

Apprehension = silence

Think it 

Don’t touch it 

Think it 

Don’t see it 

Think it 

Don’t hear it 

Think it 

Don’t taste it 

Think it 

Is the sixth sense

The sixth sense 

Is non-action 

Think the above 

Don’t do it

Be as silent

As water

Will ripple out

When touched

Physically or mentally

Be soft 

Stretching 

Stretch to open 

Receive 

Control 

Opponent’s intent 

Like controlling 

A horse 

Legs/reins

Fulcrum 

Of the bows

Reason 

For Hernia

To get me 

To lighten up

Hollow/receive 

Is the concentration 

Master teaches

Don’t say it

Just think it

The legs 

Kowtow 

To the pelvis 

So Jing/Chi 

Can enter 

Hollow upper body

No intent 

Can deter 

Opponent’s center 

If he has intent (square) 

To stop 

Use circle 

Intent 

Is hard

Apprehension 

Is soft

Harmony

Is Tai Chi Chuan

Push Hands 

No intent 

Can cause 

Apprehension 

Without intent

Instinct

Can find 

Opponents 

c.o.g./fulcrum 

Yield 

To original 

Nature

 The more 

False intent (hard) 

More difficult it is 

To negate it

How do I repay 

The lineage 

For all that I have now

My art

My son’s education

The writing journal

Perhaps this is it 

Recording

The process 

And expressing 

The art for them  

Thought 

By feelings teach

Spirit intent

If soft/yielding (open)

The teacher’s intent

Can enter without words

Fame/wealth

Cause injury

To my spirit 

The more 

Applications 

I know

The less action 

I need to take  

Teach the above

Without words

Water 

Can enter 

Without making 

Any noise

In most cases 

It will also exit 

The same way 

The extremes 

Hot/cold 

Coming together

In humidity/humility 

To find 

Another’s center

Enter 

Hollow

Of intent

Don’t let 

Opponent’s intent 

Enter my 

Hollow space

By using

Tai Chi Chuan 

Gestures 

Don’t answer

Just keep questioning

The answer will come

In the form of

Another query

Silence is nothing

It can enter 

Into no space

If a student 

Is closed

Then the only thing

That can enter him 

Is silence

Riding the Dragon

I cannot force 

The Dragon 

With my intent

Must control 

Control the Dragon 

With Tai Chi Chuan 

Gestures

Go from hard 

To soft (know self) 

Overcome the hard 

Of other because

Experiencing hardness 

In self

Softness 

Has no intent

Therefore it can 

Center hardness

Because it can 

Enter hardness

Hardness 

Cannot hear 

The softness

The form 

Softness 

Tai Chi Chuan 

Penetrates 

Every cell 

In the body  

Do nothing 

To neither 

Speed up 

Or force it 

Only relaxes

Stay insubstantial 

It becomes part of me 

It already is

Only we have 

So much 

In the way 

It cannot be 

Fully expressed

Eventually 

The student 

Gives up to it 

Or just gives up

Master teaches 

In class what 

Is true 

Master corrects 

What others have 

Made false 

Good feeling 

People who practice 

Tai Chi Chuan

Try to be like water

But lack 

The connectedness

Their body 

Is all separated parts

As if water 

Was separate drops

Must connect all parts

By undoing 

The broken connectors

Masters are 

Like a  river

Go for a swim

I had in my arms

Master told me 

To relax 

It will go away

But still be there

Like water in a river

It is there

But moves on

Coaching 

Minus words

Practicing 

Without movements 

These occur 

Because the effect 

On the other person’s feeling

They cause them 

To go away

Just think it 

If they are listening

Have their attention

Then they will 

Go away 

Master’s teaching

He just thinks something

In general or specific

If I am listening

It will affect me

All the above 

Will occur

Only if I am 

In touch

With the Master’s

Spirited center of gravity

Intent can have 

No substance

Have apprehension

Teaching 

Without words 

Worthy will hear

With their 6th sense

Encompassing 

Of the essence 

Extents everywhere 

Master’s guideline

Are without words

Women drive men 

Men what to control 

The driving

At first 

I saw 

The whole 

Tai Chi Chuan art 

After 10 years of practice 

I saw only Slow Set

Chi/Ching/Shen

 Is what holds

It all together

Remain calm/receptive 

Masters teaching 

Will penetrate 

Even when not 

Thinking about them 

Do not take 

Action 

Let the Masters 

Work thru me

This is teaching 

Without words 

Calm the fluid 

Of the inner ear

Silent/listening

Be balanced 

Like a scale

Find the fulcrum

Of the situation

Remember intent 

Is the enemy

No intent 

Is softness

No intent 

Can enter 

Into nothing

With apprehension

Approach 

Thinking

In a Wu Wei

State of mind

Softness 

Comes from

One side 

Being anchored

As soft 

As water

Held up 

By the hard earth

Hollow 

Of intent

Negates force against force

All words contain intent

Be frugal

And apprehensive 

With voice

Silence/apprehension

Until asked

No words can enter

Mind without intent

No intent

Is softest

Apprehension 

Hears all

The lever must

Have no intent

To hurt…only help/heal

Be a whip 

In the Masters’ hand

Silence for corrections 

To ascend

Reaching the heart

Like a loop in a whip

Everything returns

To the earth/China

So relax/open/soften

Let force/intent

Sink to earth/China

No intent

Can enter all

Non-ado achieves

Awareness

Give up

To the Masters

Who are like water

Non-intent

With apprehension

Soft/pliable leaves

On top

Hard/solid trunk

Supports

Cannot see/hear

The tree growing

But I know it is

Slow Set at the speed 

Of a tree growing

Be apprehensive

About unknown

Is something

Silently

Silence

To hear

Masters

Guiding silently

Proof 

I don’t speak

Chinese

But hear instructions

Tai Chi Chuan

Contact point

Hollow like

A hub to hear

To the heel

The conduit

To China

All gestures

Are elastic

Forever changing with change

Unbreakable/silent

Don’t think

Just sink

A reflex

Masters

Instructions

Gather as a 

Whirlpool

Push hands

Receiving

The same

Yin overcomes yang

Yang protects yin

So it can enter

Infinity

Heartfelt

Gestures 

Listen with

6th sense

Silently

Listening

Gestures

Yin

Tranquil

A fulcrum

Is quiet

Listening

To all

Halt intent

Listen with

Hesitation

Listen

For hollow

Happiness

Learn something

New

Old is in the way

Undo to do

Anew

Be as wise

As water

Hollow of intent

Echo with 

Corrections

From Master

During Yu Pei Shih

Be open

Be silent

Be alert

Still

Silence

Survey

At the end 

Of the day

Empty

The epiphany

Empty

Epiphany

Enters

Quietly

Undo

To make

Anew

In due time

Hollow

Intent

Feel/fill

Apprehension

A fulcrum

Has no intent

Still/Silent/soft

Secret to

Next sentence

Be hollow

To echo

Master


Equilibrium

Of Yin/Yang

Spirit/Gravity

Masters/China

There appears

An epiphany

Song-kai

Loose-open

Before

Loss or gain

One wrong

Gesture

Leads to

Two corrections

One by Master

One by teacher

Third in students

 Embrace/protect

Heart with

Governing vessel 14

Gestures

Reach 

Harmony

Spirit

Meets

Gravity

At tan tien

Where gestures

Are decided

Apprehension

Begot

Fight or flight

Forming

Infinite

Applications


Slow Set

Brings oneness

To spirit and gravity

Henceforth

Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Chi gestures

Spirit/Gravity

United in

Slow Set

Making

Heartfelt gesture

1-3-24

 

 


 

 

 

 

 









 

43 

THE softest of all things
Overrides the hardest of all things.
Only Nothing can enter into no-space.
Hence I know the advantages of Non-Ado.

Few things under heaven are as instructive as
 the lessons of Silence,
Or as beneficial as the fruits of Non-Ado.

The greatest straightness looks like crookedness.
The greatest skill appears clumsy.
The greatest eloquence sounds like stammering.

Restlessness overcomes cold,
But calm overcomes heat.

The peaceful and serene
Is the Norm of the World.


Translated by John C. H. Wu

Interpretation by Bill Bernsen



INSTINCTIVE

Push hands

Instinctively

Can enter 

Into any space

Full can take 

No more

Hollow can 

Take all

Apprehension listens 

To all

Intent focus 

On one

Spirit can fill 

Hollow soul

Gravity can hollow 

A full container

The wisest 

Application

Is no solicitation

Masters find 

Room in me

If I am hollow 

Of intent

Be vacant

Stand exposed

Stay aligned

Passive 

For the Masters 

To enter

Intent 

Is the start 

Of disorder

Calm is the source 

Of direction 

Talking 

Is the access

Of trouble

Quiet is the entry

Of commitment

 Hard and heavy 

Cannot  be moved

Soft and light 

Is limp

Without

Elasticity 

Chi or Jing 

Can enter

The body 

The Masters thoughts 

Can enter  

Whether or not 

It is up to me

The upper body 

Is soft

Lower body

Is hard

The waist is elastic

The Master 

Heaven 

As his spirit

Earth 

As his legs

Students 

As his heart

Soft, empty, silence 

Is non-ado

Once non-ado

Happens

Hard things 

Becomes elastic

Water is soft

In the form 

Of a wave

Nothing 

Is more powerful

Kow Tow 

To gravity 

Water 

Will penetrate 

Any empty space

As will pain 

And pleasure 

Elasticity

Over the rigid

Making rigid

Into elastic 

Is the secret

Must practice Slow Set

To understand

No intent 

Can enter 

Any resolve

Hollow

Silence rings loud 

To earth’s energy 

Water 

I am 75% water

So act like it 

Soft Forearms/hands 

Overcome stiff arms 

Push hands

No intent 

Can instinctively 

Enter

Into any space 

Full can 

Take no more

Hollow 

Can take all

Apprehension 

Listens to all

Intent focus 

On one

Spirit can fill 

Hollow soul

Gravity 

Can hollow 

A full container

In push hands

Softness

Comes from

No intent

Hollow apprehension

Is solid harmony

Cannot walk 

If sitting 

Cannot sit if legs 

Does not bend 

Sacrum

Opens/closes

Transferring weight

Leg to leg

Sit

Undo tense

Upper body

Silently

Heart in hand

Hands press outward

Head presses backward

Heart presses outward

Heart in hand

Hand on opponent’s heart 

Soft heart

Soft hands

Hard to find

Tai Chi Chuan 

Takes a long time

Calm fluid 

Of the inner ear

This is done 

By not doing 

(Wu Wei)

Silent and listening

Be balanced 

Like a scale

Find the fulcrum 

Of the situation 

Remember that intent 

Is the enemy

Soft eyes 

Instinctively

Sees all

Hence

Feels all 

To be soft

Be calm

Be as quiet

As ice melts

No intent = softness

Be as silent 

As a snake 

Master controls 

His students

As a rider controls 

His horse

Yin overcomes 

Yang 

In all situations 

Ward off

Inside the arm 

Is stainless steel 

Outside the arm 

Is silk sensitive/respective

Arm can 

Gently penetrate all

Try moving a horse 

With a sudden push

It will not move

But softly touch 

The horse

Then lightly press 

It will move

This is Tai Chi Chuan

Seek Wu wei

Hollow 

Of obstacles first

Then Tai Chi

Soft 

Needs hard 

To identify itself 

And vice versa 

Soft joints allow 

Chi to flow with 

Silence intent 

Without intent 

I can hear all  

Teaching 

Without words 

A hollow heart 

Will heal

A heated 

Harmful heart 

Hollow 

In body/mind 

Brings 

Change with change 

With “Tigerback” 

Appendages 

Are soft/receptive

Arms 

Soft

To listen 

Drain force 

Down

To legs

No space 

Between hand/earth

Silence is the secret 

To push hands

Silence 

The minds  

Internal dialog 

The “one chi” 

With no intent  

Will enter

Opponent’s body 

Softness = listening

Softy 

Hollow of intent 

Apprehension = silence

Think it 

Don’t touch it 

Think it 

Don’t see it 

Think it 

Don’t hear it 

Think it 

Don’t taste it 

Think it 

Is the sixth sense

The sixth sense 

Is non-action 

Think the above 

Don’t do it

Be as silent

As water

Will ripple out

When touched

Physically or mentally

Be soft 

Stretching 

Stretch to open 

Receive 

Control 

Opponent’s intent 

Like controlling 

A horse 

Legs/reins

Fulcrum 

Of the bows

Reason 

For Hernia

To get me 

To lighten up

Hollow/receive 

Is the concentration 

Master teaches

Don’t say it

Just think it

The legs 

Kowtow 

To the pelvis 

So Jing/Chi 

Can enter 

Hollow upper body

No intent 

Can deter 

Opponent’s center 

If he has intent (square) 

To stop 

Use circle 

Intent 

Is hard

Apprehension 

Is soft

Harmony

Is Tai Chi Chuan

Push Hands 

No intent 

Can cause 

Apprehension 

Without intent

Instinct

Can find 

Opponents 

c.o.g./fulcrum 

Yield 

To original 

Nature

 The more 

False intent (hard) 

More difficult it is 

To negate it

How do I repay 

The lineage 

For all that I have now

My art

My son’s education

The writing journal

Perhaps this is it 

Recording

The process 

And expressing 

The art for them  

Thought 

By feelings teach

Spirit intent

If soft/yielding (open)

The teacher’s intent

Can enter without words

Fame/wealth

Cause injury

To my spirit 

The more 

Applications 

I know

The less action 

I need to take  

Teach the above

Without words

Water 

Can enter 

Without making 

Any noise

In most cases 

It will also exit 

The same way 

The extremes 

Hot/cold 

Coming together

In humidity/humility 

To find 

Another’s center

Enter 

Hollow

Of intent

Don’t let 

Opponent’s intent 

Enter my 

Hollow space

By using

Tai Chi Chuan 

Gestures 

Don’t answer

Just keep questioning

The answer will come

In the form of

Another query

Silence is nothing

It can enter 

Into no space

If a student 

Is closed

Then the only thing

That can enter him 

Is silence

Riding the Dragon

I cannot force 

The Dragon 

With my intent

Must control 

Control the Dragon 

With Tai Chi Chuan 

Gestures

Go from hard 

To soft (know self) 

Overcome the hard 

Of other because

Experiencing hardness 

In self

Softness 

Has no intent

Therefore it can 

Center hardness

Because it can 

Enter hardness

Hardness 

Cannot hear 

The softness

The form 

Softness 

Tai Chi Chuan 

Penetrates 

Every cell 

In the body  

Do nothing 

To neither 

Speed up 

Or force it 

Only relaxes

Stay insubstantial 

It becomes part of me 

It already is

Only we have 

So much 

In the way 

It cannot be 

Fully expressed

Eventually 

The student 

Gives up to it 

Or just gives up

Master teaches 

In class what 

Is true 

Master corrects 

What others have 

Made false 

People who practice 

Tai Chi Chuan

Try to be like water

But lack 

The connectedness

Their body 

Is all separated parts

As if water 

Was separate drops

Must connect all parts

By undoing 

The broken connectors

Masters are 

Like a  river

Go for a swim

Good feeling 

I had in my arms

Master told me 

To relax 

It will go away

But still be there

Like water in a river

It is there

But moves on

Coaching 

Minus words

Practicing 

Without movements 

These occur 

Because the effect 

On the other person’s feeling

They cause them 

To go away

Just think it 

If they are listening

Have their attention

Then they will 

Go away 

Master’s teaching

He just thinks something

In general or specific

If I am listening

It will affect me

All the above 

Will occur

Only if I am 

In touch

With the Master’s

Spirited center of gravity

Intent can have 

No substance

Have apprehension

Teaching 

Without words 

Worthy will hear

With their 6th sense

Encompassing 

Of the essence 

Extents everywhere 

Master’s guideline

Are without words

Women drive men 

Men what to control 

The driving

At first 

I saw 

The whole 

Tai Chi Chuan art 

After 10 years of practice 

I saw only Slow Set

Chi/Ching/Shen

 Is what holds

It all together

Remain calm/receptive 

Masters teaching 

Will penetrate 

Even when not 

Thinking about them 

Do not take 

Action 

Let the Masters 

Work thru me

This is teaching 

Without words 

Calm the fluid 

Of the inner ear

Silent/listening

Be balanced 

Like a scale

Find the fulcrum

Of the situation

Remember intent 

Is the enemy

No intent 

Is softness

No intent 

Can enter 

Into nothing

With apprehension

Approach 

Thinking

In a Wu Wei

State of mind

Softness 

Comes from

One side 

Being anchored

As soft 

As water

Held up 

By the hard earth

Hollow 

Of intent

Negates force against force

All words contain intent

Be frugal

And apprehensive 

With voice

Silence/apprehension

Until asked

No words can enter

Mind without intent

No intent

Is softest

Apprehension 

Hears all

The lever must

Have no intent

To hurt…only help/heal

Be a whip 

In the Masters’ hand

Silence for corrections 

To ascend

Reaching the heart

Like a loop in a whip

Everything returns

To the earth/China

So relax/open/soften

Let force/intent

Sink to earth/China

No intent

Can enter all

Non-ado achieves

Awareness

Give up

To the Masters

Who are like water

Non-intent

With apprehension

Soft/pliable leaves

On top

Hard/solid trunk

Supports

Cannot see/hear

The tree growing

But I know it is

Slow Set at the speed 

Of a tree growing

Be apprehensive

About unknown

Is something

Silently

Silence

To hear

Masters

Guiding silently

Proof 

I don’t speak

Chinese

But hear instructions

Tai Chi Chuan

Contact point

Hollow like

A hub to hear

To the heel

The conduit

To China

All gestures

Are elastic

Forever changing with change

Unbreakable/silent

Don’t think

Just sink

A reflex

Masters

Instructions

Gather as a 

Whirlpool

Push hands

Receiving

The same

Yin overcomes yang

Yang protects yin

So it can enter

Infinity

Heartfelt

Gestures 

Listen with

6th sense

Silently

Listening

Gestures

Yin

Tranquil

A fulcrum

Is quiet

Listening

To all

Halt intent

Listen with

Hesitation

Listen

For hollow

Happiness

Learn something

New

Old is in the way

Undo to do

Anew

Be as wise

As water

Hollow of intent

Echo with 

Corrections

From Master

During Yu Pei Shih

Be open

Be silent

Be alert

Still

Silence

Survey

At the end 

Of the day

Empty

The epiphany

Empty

Epiphany

Enters

Quietly

Undo

To make

Anew

In due time

Hollow

Intent

Feel/fill

Apprehension

A fulcrum

Has no intent

Still/Silent/soft

Secret to

Next sentence

Be hollow

To echo

Master

Hollow

To heal

To heed

To honor

Hierarchy

Seek

The changeable

Fulcrum

Between

Lenient and rigid

Gain

By losing

Worry

Then worthy

Will gain

Quietly

Isolate

Ideas

To enter 

Intuition 

There is nothing

Softer than air

Or harder 

Than an error

Elasticity

Is a secret

Fulcrum

Between

Intent/apprehension

Tai Chi Chuan

No intent

Can hear

Apprehension

Tai Chi Chuan

Hard intent

Cannot enter

Soft apprehension

Hollow with 

Humility 

Spirit

Can overwhelm

Gravity

But gravity

Must support

Spirit

Tai Chi gesture

With intent

Cannot penetrate

Where there is

A fulcrum of

Apprehension

Lineage

Is silently

Instructing

Be hollow

To hear

To realize

Tai Chi Chuan

Is to comprehend

4th dimension

Knowledge 

Without words

Practice

Without intent

Apprehension

To compare

2-23-24


2-21-24

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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