Knowing oneself and knowing others

The two primary practice methods of Taiji are 知己之功－知彼之功－the practice of knowing oneself and the practice of knowing others. 

 知己之功 －knowing oneself－松 散 通 空－Relaxation Dispersion Connection Emptiness

The first is the solo practice where we learn individual movements, moving sets.  These forms of meditation deepen our awareness of the body, mind and spirit.  We practice knowing the reality underpinning what we constitute. Stillness of mind and calmness help develop the abililty to listen to our own changing reality and explore and manifest the principles of Taiji.  

The primary qualities in the stage of  "knowing oneself" are;

松 散 通 空 - Relaxation - Dispersion - Connection - Emptiness.  

1. Relaxation.  

The whole body should be relaxed and open, from the joints, muscles, internal organs and skin.  Every element of the body should be relaxed, open and released.  The energy, mind and intention should all be relaxed.  The spirit should be concentrated and clear.  The spirit is expressed in the eyes and should be lively and bright.    The body should be relaxed from the top down.  From the head to the feet and hands.  It is also relaxed from the bottom up. ie the feet up.   Otherwise the force of gravity will create tension in our legs and hips and feet. Some tension in the legs is inevitable to begin with but over the long term the legs must be relaxed and softened too irrespective of height of posture.  The force travels back up the outside of our legs and is then dispersed outwards in all directions at waist height, to create lightness in the upper body. 

2.  Dispersion

This is not to be confused with the phrase  "song er bu san" which means relaxed but not dispersed/scattered.  This dispersion is a quality of relaxation.  The release and opening is soft at the edges, a release in all directions spherically.   This is not the body but the energy and intention.  The spirit should not be slack but collected and clear. Dispersion is softness with direction and purpose.  For beginners health practice, this sense of relaxed dispersion of energy and intention should reach the skin and extremities of the body, head, hands and feet and not extend out beyond.  (Later on for martial practice one can extend the energy and intention beyond the body.)  

3. Connection

The relaxation allows for connection throughout the whole body from head to hand to foot.  From inside to out.  The relaxation is not collapsed or slack.  When the mind and body are relaxed, the mind can know the body and deepen awareness unimpeded. Tension will draw attention to that place. Relaxed connection allows the space around the body and inside it to connect and the skin to breath.

4.  Emptiness

Emptiness is a difficult concept to grasp for many Western people but central to many Asian and Chinese philosophies including Buddhism and Daoism. For here are some initial simple points about emptiness and Taiji practice. When the entire body is relaxed, the intention and energy are comfortable, there is a sense of effortless emptiness. Change does not disturb the mind.  We can observe the transience of changes internally and externally. The awareness deepens around the still point that is unchanging.  This is not a point in space.  This is not a destination but the practice.  "全身透空，百病不生“. A literal translation would be; When Emptiness has penetrated the whole body,  A hundred illnesses cannot be born.  In other words emptiness brings about health.  In martial terms when we Fajin or release force, the force is released in a relaxed and connected way separate from the body.  When there is emptiness the opponent cannot find points of force to manipulate in our body.

This is the first section of this article. The next and second part will deal with 'Zhi Bi Zhi Gong', the practice of knowing others. It is loosely based on Wang Yong Quan's book on Taiji.