Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
– Chief Instructor Brett Wagland

Science and technology are ruling our world today.  There are so many new tools which help us to learn, work and travel.  It is an exciting time to be living.  We hear of new breakthroughs in many fields of study.  However, we also hear of more illness, strange diseases, increasing stress, various mental problems, obesity and many other health issues.  All of these are costing our economy trillions of dollars.  Providing medical services to our population is placing a huge pressure on our health care system.

Everyday, I hear from students who have overcome a back injury, stopped taking sleeping pills, given up some addiction or who no longer suffer from headaches.  The list goes on and on.  This is one of the mains reasons that the Tai Chi Academy continues to do what it has been doing for 25 years.  We love to empower people, enabling them to take control of their lives, especially their health and happiness.  Practising Tai Chi and Qigong for 10 to 20 minutes everyday can work miracles in your life.  It is difficult for beginning students to appreciate how a few gentle movements can make such a difference to their health.

Taoist and Buddhist masters in China have researched and developed effective methods which relieve our physical and mental suffering.  The majority of our problems come from our minds, usually in the form of ignorance.  We often fail to see the connection between our actions and their consequences.  When we are young, we tend to think we can do anything without any cost to ourselves or our health.  The Taoists and Buddhists urge us to learn to take responsibility for our actions.  Once we realise that certain actions will have a detrimental effect on our health or on our relationships, we resolve to change our behaviour by making different choices.  More desirable outcomes then follow.  We usually understand this process when it comes to investment.  We know that putting money into an investment with secure steady growth is better in the long term than an investment with high risk fast growth. 

We all have our physical, emotional and mental weaknesses.  Due to some unresolved emotional needs, we do not always follow the path which we know is best for ourselves.  Inner challenges are usually much more difficult to face than external challenges.  The great Buddhist master Shantideva composed a work called “A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life” in the 8th century.  He talks about the importance of mindfulness as the most important tool for overcoming our weaknesses:

        “I shall hold and guard my mind well,
         Without the discipline of guarding the mind,
         What use are many other disciplines?

         Just as I would be attentive and careful of a wound
         When amidst a bustling uncontrolled crowd,
         So I should always guard the wound of my mind
         When dwelling among harmful people.”

         (Shantideva, A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, p.42.
          Dharamsala : Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, 1979)

Without mindfulness of our behaviour and speech, we may unwittingly cause harm to ourselves and others.  In Tai Chi practice, we learn to be mindful.  When we are quiet, we listen to our bodies.  Our awareness gradually increases.  Eventually, we are able to use the intention, instead of hard force, to lead the movement.  We become more sensitive to our physical condition and emotional nuance.  The need to prove ourselves right slowly diminishes.  We are less bothered by circumstances.  There is a sense of spaciousness mentally. 

Grandmaster Feng Zhi Qiang (1928- ), founder of the Hun Yuan Tai Chi system, talks about De (virtue).  He says that the seasoned Tai Chi practitioner comes to realise the importance of respecting others and being true to his word.  Tai Chi training can be divided into 3 aspects:

(1) Training the Physical Body
This involves relaxing and strengthening muscles, tendons, joints and organs and improving coordination.  During this process, we build our qi (energy) which can be felt in our practice.

(2) Training the Mind and Emotions 
This is a challenging facet.  We will discover our lack of self discipline, perseverance, quality in training, humility and centredness.  Self determination and guidance from our teacher will enable us to develop and become stronger.  The philosophy becomes more relevant during this time.

(3) Training the Spirit 
This comes with the higher stages of practice.  Our mind and body are under our conscious control and we can use them skilfully to inspire and heal others.  We learn to go from form to no-form.  Our training has truly become an art.  Inspiration becomes a key element.  We are awakened to the universal truths that were once philosophical concepts to us.  Now they are a part of our lives.  Masters of this level appear childlike, expressing a contagious joy for living.

Training is analogous to constructing a multi-storied building.  If you do not lay a solid foundation, you will not have the strength and stability to erect a tall building.  In your practice, development comes, step by step.  See that the quality of this present step determines the quality of the one that follows.  Your level equals the quantity and quality of your effort.  Take your time.  Do your best and you will build a life of quality.  Mindfulness is the key.


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