Mind, abiding in the tan-tien...

Mind, abiding in the tan-tien
crown of head upright, as if suspended 
tail bone hangs as if anchored downward
softened feet lay flat to the earth
shoulders, hips, ankles
from top to bottom
one straight line
connecting heaven and earth

“To sung is to let go,
 letting go is to sink”.
“Upper body light, 
lower body heavy” 
In sinking always there is rising
behold, the rising river mist
Intention, not exertion
ever gently, 
we maintain the idea
mind leads, body follows
​
Careful, though the gate is wide
it can be missed by fractions

Develop your foundation friend
soften into your root

“Look left, gaze right
advance retreat
central equilibrium
the square within the circle”

“Upright, balanced, calm” 
“Four ounces deflects a thousand pounds”

Without hunger for gain
“we seek the straight within the curved”
we yield, we stick, we follow
opening, closing
a silken thread
“long, thin, slow, and quiet”
Vibrancy in the breath

In a floating cloud or rolling thunder 
in the constancy of moon and stars
in the ebb and flow of oceans,
in the palm of a baby’s hand
the one great ch’i revealed

Relax! 
we simply persevere
then gradually, 
ever so gradually
we find our root
then all becomes clear

Remember!
“principle precedes application”
that “form and function
are mutually connected”
li, ch’i, hsiang

Having bid farewell to fear
who is your opponent friend?

- JBH, 2014.