I enjoy drinking Chinese tea, in particular oolong (black dragon) tea.
It has taken me some time to appreciate this part of Chinese culture. I
have always liked the odd cup of jasmine or dragon well tea with a
Chinese meal and that was about it. During my travels to China, I have
had the pleasure of taking part in kung fu cha (the ritual of brewing
and drinking fine oolong tea) many times. From these experiences, I
have realised that tea drinking is a real art. Tea from different
mountains and provinces has its own distinctive flavour. Some tea when
first tasted seems bitter, but then leaves a sweet aftertaste in your
mouth. Some tea becomes stronger with every cup, while others have a
very subtle flavour. To enjoy a good cup of tea or two, you need to
slow down and savour the aroma of the tea. You then drink it slowly,
drawing the essence down to the Dan Tian in the abdomen.
In our fast pace world where we multi-task and become frustrated if our
computers are not working at warp speed, we are losing our ability to
relax and enjoy our lives. In the past 100 years, the world has changed
more than during the last 2000 years of human history, and we are
finding it difficult to adapt to this change. With so much information
available at the click of a button, it has become easier for us to live
in our heads. When we think too much, we cannot feel what our bodies
are saying to us. The less we are connecting with our bodies, the
harder it is to listen to what our hearts are saying. Stress, lack of
joy, depression and many other illnesses are affecting millions of
people. It would be unwise for us to ignore the natural rhythm of
life. Taoists believe in harmonising with nature. The body needs time
to adjust to its environment. The faster we go, the more difficult it
is for us to adjust. Learning to calm down is vital for our health,
especially for the nervous system. Once the nervous system is under
stress continuously for a period of time, other internal functions of
the body, such as the digestive system, the circulatory system, are
affected.
Tai Chi is based on Taoist principles which are derived from the
observation and understanding of the workings of nature. When I was
learning Tai Chi, one of my teachers always said, mąn, mąn (slowly,
slowly) and quietly with what you are doing. Simply being in the
moment brings about calmness. Once you experience this inner
peace, there is a sense of spaciousness within. You are no longer
burdened by concepts. Your perception is pure, prior to conceptual
labeling hearing before you call the sound the chirpings of a sparrow,
smelling before you label the fragrance the scent of a rose, feeling
before you name it joy. This clearing of the thinking mind allows us to
experience our world on another level. When students stay on Mount
Wudang during our China trips, they experience a sense of peace that
pervades everything. Training in this environment enables us to be more
aware of our bodies and the energy the Chinese call qi. The more
quiet you become, the more you relax and the more you feel.
When we quiet down, we become content with simple things. Just walking
in nature can give us more pleasure than shopping in luxurious
artificial environments. It is easy for humans to lose the connection
with the heart and become seduced by the material world. The art of Tai
Chi is about balance and harmony. With regular practice, we learn to
maintain our sense of calm presence in the midst of turmoil and chaos.
During your day, take a few moments to connect with your breathing.
Gently direct your breath to your abdomen. Do this for 3 to 5 minutes.
Feel your connection with the earth, sky and the space around you. When
you are standing or walking, be aware of your balance and posture.
Relax your shoulders and chest as you go about your day. Over a period
of time, these simple practices of being in the present moment will
germinate and bear fruit that will have a lasting impact on your life.
The joy that you feel arising from within is simply because you are
living in the here and now. Slow down and enjoy a cup of tea
