21
IT lies in the nature of Grand Virtue
To follow the Tao and the Tao alone.
Now what is the Tao?
It is something elusive and evasive.
Evasive and elusive!
And yet It contains within Itself a Form.
Elusive and evasive!
And yet It contains within Itself a Substance.
Shadowy and dim!
And yet It contains within Itself a Core of Vitality.
The Core of Vitality is very real,
It contains within Itself an unfailing Sincerity.
Throughout the ages Its Name has been preserved
In order to recall the Beginning of all things.
How do I know the ways of all things at the Beginning?
By what is within me.
To follow the Tao and the Tao alone.
Now what is the Tao?
It is something elusive and evasive.
Evasive and elusive!
And yet It contains within Itself a Form.
Elusive and evasive!
And yet It contains within Itself a Substance.
Shadowy and dim!
And yet It contains within Itself a Core of Vitality.
The Core of Vitality is very real,
It contains within Itself an unfailing Sincerity.
Throughout the ages Its Name has been preserved
In order to recall the Beginning of all things.
How do I know the ways of all things at the Beginning?
By what is within me.
Translated by John C. H. Wu
Interpretation by Bill Bernsen
WITHIN
Tao
Is evasive
If I chase after it
Be open/strong
It will appear
Via ideas/art
Connect
To the Tao
During slow set
It is how I know
All that is
Within me
Once connected
To the Tao
Only attention
Is elusive/evasive
Tao does not leave
Master had Tao focus
On a grand scale
During the 1999
China tour
With 200
Tai Chi Chuan
Students
Concentration
Mothers have
For their children
Children
For their Mothers
Students
For their teachers
The body
For the gesture
And the gesture
For the body
The gesture
For the idea
And the idea
For the gesture
Return
To the beginning
Via the Tao
The beginning
Is within me
So is the Tao
Merge them
Via Tai Chi Chuan
A way
To connect
To the Masters
Is thru vitality/sincerity
How do I discern
The ways of all things
In the future
By what is
Within them
Morning practice
Is unfailing
Sincerity
The grand virtue
Is what most students
Are missing
In their art
If they do not
Have virtue
They will not
Be victorious
They are not worthy
The form
Is inside me
Just uncover it
Follow Master
And Master alone
The unworthy
Will be left alone
The essential
Of energy
Is within me
Tai Chi Chuan
Will discover it
How do I know
The applications
Of all posture
They are within me
True virtue
Is revealed to those
Who follow
The Masters
The Master only
Note
Unworthy
Not invited
The ability
To imagine
Divulge this ability
Using Tai Chi Chuan
Use it as a self-defense
This level
Of the art
Is not to be used
To hurt
But rather
To heal
The art
Is like electricity
It needs a conduit
Must be grounded
I follow Master
So should
My students
It is the lineage
The Masters
Are within me
To follow
The Masters
I must be
Loyal
Strong
Aligned
Relaxed/calm
Most of all worthy
What is the answer
It is within me
Just uncover it
Taoist art
Be in a Tai Chi
State of mind
To create
A
State of mind
Is being connection
To the Masters
Follow
The divine
Fundamental
Of vigor
Is within me
Getting control
Of the energy is
Elusive/evasive
If not
Energy
Would be static
Elusive/evasive
To those who are
Not connected
To stay
Connected
Practice
How to get
New ideas
Follow your heart
Heart = Tao
Ideas
To gestures
To applications
To ideas
A Tai Chi Chuan
Circle
Each circle
In push hands
Reveals
A new application
Within each posture
Is contained
The seed and spirit
Of an application
Tai Chi Chuan
Is within me
Fulcrum = center of gravity
Slow Set
Is the vehicle
To the Tao
Be guided to it
Via the Masters
Coalesce
Into practice
Each gesture is part
Of the form
Elusive
If not connected
Connect
To the past
Via the Masters
Who are always
With me
In the present
For the future
Wu wei
To Tai Chi
Via slow set
Evasive/elusive
Unless practiced fully
It arrives
Via the hollow
Be anchored
To be echoing
To change with change
All the gestures
Start from within
Return to within
The only way
It can travel is
Be hollow of intent
There has been
A constant
Reeling of silk
From the cocoon
Since
Tai Chi Chuan
Began
Just join the Masters
Reel the silk
How do I know this
It is within me
Inaction is being
Opened hearted
Not let other
People’s idea
Interfere
Tai Chi Chuan
Evasive/elusive
To those
That use
Only their five senses
Those that do not realize
The Master
Is the 6th sense
Elusive it is
Until
Connected to Master
Evasive constant tests
By the Masters
Latent
In the form
Are techniques
Thru inaction
Not listening
To others
All becomes clear
Masters will speak
If I am
Not distracted
By others
Tai Chi Chuan
Form is rooted
In its self
Before
I existed
Tai Chi Chuan
Existed
Ever-present
Virtue
The Tao
Is like a dream
Like shadows
In twilight
Like a magnetic field
Around a magnet
Virtue is like
A magnetic field
Attracting (gravity)
Or ward off (repelling)
Depending
On the mind
Tai Chi Chuan form
Expands
Like a tree grows
Progresses
As the clock changes
Advances
As the moon rotates
Cannot see the movement
Contemplate
Elsewhere
Then back
Notice that it has
Changed with change
Principal of life
It is elusive/evasive
With low energy
Reincarnation
Of previous
Tai Chi Chuan
Masters or students
Are the ones that make it
Don’t know if I am one of them
How do I know?
Whatever I have done
In my life up to this point
Must be right
Because I am still here
Practicing
Elusive/evasive
How can it be
If I keep
Turning to it
It is all
Hidden/obscure
Look for it
Focus
All attention/energy
To find it
Do not waste
Creative energy
On things
That are not part
Of Tai Chi Chuan
I use to spend
A lot of creative energy
Helping others
Usually too soon
Before they realized
That they need help
Thru inaction
Heaven becomes
Clear
Tao is what
I have in common
With the Masters
It is devoid of action
Of form
Maybe transmitted
But cannot
Be received
Be able
To concentrate
One part of body
For repairs/improvements
Tao = Masters
Essence
Is very genuine
Look for it
In Tai Chi Chuan
Greatest
Application is
To follow
Slow set
And only
Slow set
Causing applications
To become
Spontaneous
Slow set
Is deceptive/evasive
Secretive/shady
How can I follow
Master lead the way
Follow in silent
The ideas/techniques
Gesture coalesce
Into applications
Each gesture
Is contained
The origin
And crux
Of spirit
Entertainment
Is for those who
Cannot create
Art
Never discerns
Degeneration
Be aware/alert/Yu Pei Shih
Every time
I get a new idea
I am in Yu Pei Shih
When the genuineness
Of the Tai Chi Chuan
Arrives
The secret merger
With the lineage
Is felt
Spirit/gravity
The collaboration
Of these two powers
With virtue
In man
Causes applications
Create/reproduce
In an unending
Renovation
Transformation
From slow set
To infinite applications
No desire = tranquility
The Masters
Are spirit/gravity
The most powerful
Forces in Nature
The Master
Knows all
Including his own
Shortcoming
The control
Is like gravity
As it controls
The alignment
The spirit
Controls its virtue
Virtue is
Bravery/prudence/modesty
A new idea
Comes from
A seed/gesture
That is
Already in me
What happens
During germination
Movement/practice
Creation a little light
A little practice movement
Is on the seed
Like a plant seed it
Needs water (movement)
Light (heat) fire
The Masters
Can tell/see
If I have the seeds
Once an idea
Is fully grounded
New seeds are born
From the old
Heart is empty
Then open to passion
Fill with spirit/gravity
Body will take shape
According only
To the Slow Set
Each gesture
Contains
The application/essence
Of Tai Chi Chuan
Fast set/push hands
A way
To irrigate
The gesture
Knowing students
Is cunning
Knowing self
Is awareness
After awareness
Look at others again
This is truly strong
Getting one
New idea
A day is enough
Giving me
Giving me
Steady purpose
Master gives
Each student teacher
A steady persistence
Once steady purpose
Is understood
Stay with it
Endure long
Straightforward
Strength
In push hands
Is apprehension/authenticity
Know self-first
Then others
To just look at others
Not going inward
Results in
Loss of balance
First anchor self
Within
Then attach
To others
Makes for elasticity
The beginning
Of all things
Is within me
From the Tao
Thru Tai Chi Chuan
Makes this connection
True power
Of Tai Chi Chuan
Can only come
From Tai Chi Chuan
Masters
If one is worthy
Jing is really
Thoughts/imagination/ideas
Can be seen
Only
Thru the 6th sense
To be a warrior
One must pass
All the tests
Once uncovered
Realized that it
Is the same
Essence of old
Only the vehicle
Has Changed
Pain/pleasure
Is a conformation
Of practice
Also shows
That one is
Establishing
A connection
To the Masters
Allow the form
To control
One can adjust
To the environment
Sometimes
Doing Tai Chi Chuan
Feels like a dream
In which images
Appear
These images
Can be best describe
As a shadow
Caused by
A bright new idea
Suddenly appearing
Sticking until
They become a shadow
Of a doubt
Follow the opponent
The opponent alone
With apprehension
They will show intent
Of their action
So bright
Unable
To gaze
Directly at it
So hot
Apprehensive
To touch it
Like water
No taste
It has the smell
Of fresh air
Hear
There it is here
Signs
That of
Connection/receiving
Moment
Of fatigue
Undoing
Old problems
The Yawn
Need to replace
Loss of a substance
In body with fresh air
This is the true breath
Thru applications
Conformation
Dream
Of the answers
So are the questions
Is within me
Tai Chi Chuan
Produces
Core of vitality
Follow the leader
“Master”
If one imagines it
And strong enough
This is the essence
The idea
The reason
It is evasive/elusive
is that entertainment
is that entertainment
Interferes
Undo via Tai Chi Chuan
Things on outside
Interfere with things
Within
So do without
Entertainment
Love the art
Follow Masters
Universal
Charismatic
Heart
Heartfelt
Ideas/gestures
Tai Chi Chuan
Slow set
Is divine
Life
With lineage
Heartfelt
Fulcrum
Conduit
Connection
To the lineage
Only worthy
Are welcome
Sincerity
In teaching
Results in
Vitality
In students
Virtue brings forth
Spirit
Connecting to gravity
Then heartfelt gesture
All within man
The conduit
Between Spirit and gravity
Physics of persona
Heartfelt
Shen1 qie4
Lineage
Heartfelt
Connection
The present
Is a fulcrum
Health felt
Gestures
Heartfelt
Gesture
Heartfelt
Vortex
Heartfelt
Sonar
Eternal
Enlightenment
Via
Heartfelt
Gestures
Seeing future
Application
In present
Posture
Supported
By past
Practice
The mysterious
Is knowable
Via Tai Chi Chuan
Each gesture
Has an epiphany
To the next
Application
Feel
Spirit of
Future/next
Gesture with
Spirited
Present
Gesture
Supported by
Past
Spirited
Gesture
Lack spirit
Elusive
Endeavor