53
IF only I had the tiniest grain of wisdom,
I should walk in the Great Way,
And my only fear would be to stray from it.
The Great Way is very smooth and straight;
And yet the people prefer devious paths.
And yet the people prefer devious paths.
The court is very clean and well garnished,
But the fields are very weedy and wild,
And the granaries are very empty!
They wear gorgeous clothes,
They carry sharp swords,
They surfeit themselves with food and drink,
They possess more riches than they can use!
They are the heralds of brigandage!
As for Tao, what do they know about it?
But the fields are very weedy and wild,
And the granaries are very empty!
They wear gorgeous clothes,
They carry sharp swords,
They surfeit themselves with food and drink,
They possess more riches than they can use!
They are the heralds of brigandage!
As for Tao, what do they know about it?
A state as state;
The world as world.
The world as world.
How do I know about the world?
By what is within me.
By what is within me.
Translated by John C. H. Wu
Interpretation by Bill Bernsen
CONNECTION
CONNECTION
I have no fear
Of straying from
Tai Chi Chuan
Tung family style
I cannot
Be concerned
With others drifting
Off the path
Put the energy
That it takes
To be concerned
Into practice and
Dedicated/worthy
Students
If a drifter
Confronts me
I will be proof
That they should not
Have drifted
Tai Chi Chuan
Is the way
To find my balance
The only thing
To fear is
Loss of
My fulcrum
Once I find
The fulcrum
I am a scale
Any doubt
Cannot throw me
Off balance
Do not stray
Or be sidetracked
Shortcuts lead
To short lives
Side road
Only leads
To slide streets
Splendid living room
Lead to
Dusty practice areas
Elegant clothes
Avoid sweat
Sharp weapons
Lack Chi
Food/drink weight heavy
On my center of gravity
Stretch like a dog
Getting up
From a sleep
Chi must have
A conduit
From hands to feet
Master’s
Only fear
Is that I stray
And not stay
Changes
After the loss
Of part
Of old self
A feeling
Of helpless
Fearful
Empty
Despairing
Pessimistic
Irritable
Angry
Guilty
Changes
Are
Restless
Loss of concentration
Hope
Motivation
Energy
Changes
In appetite
Sleep patterns
Sexual drive
More fatigue
Error pone
Slower in speech
Awkward movement
The master
Gives me
One support leg
And I have to supply
The other
This leads
To a fulcrum
Studying
With Master
Is smooth/straight
Other teachers
Curve my interest
They are not worthy
Changes
Stages of recovery
Shock/denial
Anger/depression
Understanding/acceptance
It feels like the loss
Of an old friend
All areas
Must be calm
Review
Opening sternum
And public ligament
Possess more forms
Than they can practice
I don’t
Took me
10 years to learn
Knife
20 years to learn
Sword
25 years to learn
2nd Knife
35 years to learn
Double stix
Lance will take “longer”
Be a fulcrum
Balance everything
Goes to one side
While wishing
Other side
And vice versa
Slow Set
Do not stray
Or be sidetracked
Tai Chi Chuan
Is not difficult
To learn but
Hard to follow
If I am not worthy
Slow Set
Is the perfect path
Calmly traveled
Maps
The Tai Chi Classics
Shortcuts like GPS
Will not work
Because I go out
Of this world
Do not stray
Form constant
Morning practice
Clearing the path
To practice
Negating trivial things
Undoing the insignificant
Focus on fitness
Practice and creativity
I am on
My way
Do not stray
Be comfortable
In place
Less is more
Be more frugal
With money and time
Less entertainment
More practice
More ideas
Inside the body
Is what counts
Inside influences
Outside
Stay on the path
That Masters
Are guiding me
Entertainment
Strays me
From the smooth/straight
Path to the art
Entertainment
Is for those
Who do not create
I am worthy
Of this art
I choose
To practice
My only worry is
To be diverted
Don’t stray
From the Masters
The road
Is straight/narrow
With some hills/valleys
But students
Prefer shortcuts
Like spiritually flying
Over the hill
Or digging in or under
The valley
Their practice
Space is perfect
Their shoes
Not worn/torn
They attend all
The classes
But never realize
The solo practice
Is a lesson
With all the Masters
Of the lineage
Most want
Entertainment
I want contentment
The old saying
“Use it up
Wear it out
Make it do
Or do without”
This is the Tao.
Ware out
The courtyard
Ware out
The studio floor
Once worn
It’s called
Patina
Practice area
Only worthy
Will succeed
Don’t stray
Don’t roam
Don’t wander
Reason
For lack of work
Students
Friends/family
Is to prevent
Straying
Become
An infant again
Undo all that has been
Done to me
Discover who I really am
While riding a Dragon
Balance all
Confronting me
Be a fulcrum
Of facts
This is the great way
Entertainment
Causes straying
Ward off
Prevents straying
A sidetracked
From the path
Do not stray
From the connection
Practice
What the Masters contribute
Share it with the worthy
Those who follow/listen
The great way
Is plumb/aligned
With the China/Masters
So don’t lean
Don’t stray
In mind and body
Negate temptations
Simplify
Straying
Causes depression
Neglecting
Slow set
Pursuing applications
Is drifting
A new idea
A day
Is all I need
If it is from
The Masters
Hints
May be considered
As small paths
Be aware of them
But don’t take them
When Tai Chi Chuan
Forms
Are lightly practiced
Joints/sinews
Are ignored
Everyone thinks
Others paths
Are easier
Than mine
Perhaps they are
If their path
Guided
By the Masters
Morning
Epiphanies
Makes for great travel
Thru practice
During
Morning practice
Be aware
Of not interrupting
Practice
Once connected
To the Masters
Avoid sidetracks
Don’t neglect
The essential
Epiphanies
Just stay connected
To the Masters
Smooth and difficult
As being newly born
Exiting the womb
As for slow set
What do the unworthy
Know of it
Tai Chi Chuan
Applications
Demand care
Are clear
But most
Add intent
This becomes
By ways/extravagance
To keep
From straying
Practice more
Negate entertainment/news
Stray not
Body/mind
The party
Same as movie/TV
Escape/stray
Masters
Give only
What I need
I don’t need
Fortune/fame
I do not fear
Straying
Anymore
Totally connected
Need more practice
Less entertainment
This can be defined
As drifting
From duty
Straying
From slow set
Not wise
Must be aligned/plumb
With spirit/gravity
To find
The vertical fulcrum
Other forms
Are enticing
To ward off
The unworthy
From Tai Chi Chuan
Camp/seminar
Keep with Masters
Assiduous
Practice
Straying
Can cause rebuke
To preclude
Practice/practice/practice
Don’t be diverted
By fame/fortune
Courtyard bricks
Worn out
As should
Clothes/weapons
Eat for energy
Not entertainment
Do not stray
From slow set
Weapons/push hands
Without slow set
Turn against
The unworthy
The unworthy
Will waif
The unworthy
Worry
Wondering
Worthlessly
Don’t stray
From Slow Set
Be plumb with
Spirit and gravity
Heaven and earth
Masters and China
Kow tow
To the art
Negates
Straying
Fame/fortune
Is a deterrent
Practice
Aligned
With nature
Using physics
Stay connected
To the lineage
They will
Direct/protect
Temptation
Is the tyranny
Of training
Never do that
Which others
Enjoy
Perverted
Celebrity
Diversion
Stray
Not from solo
Studio
To stage
Less
Lessons
More solo
practice
Living
A Taoist
Life
Merge
With Grandmaster
To seek
The Tao
Together
What I know
Owns me
Distinguish
To understand
More
Stray less
Straying from
Slow Set
Steals
Serious
Studies
Straying
Heart/hands
From Slow Set
Can be easy
Entertaining
But hollow
Of foresight
And just not
Tai Chi right
Tai Chi Chuan
Only worthy
Imagine
Riding Dragon
Enjoying its highs
Loathing its lows
Only fear
Being bucked off
Secret to journey
Is Longtaitou
Diverging from
Slow Set
Practice is
Detrimental to
Weapons/push hands