Need help with Tai Chi

[seanhathaway]

The main misconception I’m reading here is the energy source used in tai chi chaun. It seems to get referred to as universal energy a lot. This is misleading, there may be some off that in some systems but for the most part the primary source of power comes from within the body. That’s why we call it an internal martial art.
Please forgive me but to set the record straight I will have to be frank.
Tai chi chuan’s primary energy source is created from conserving sexual energy.
That quite literally means no ejaculation for men, even during sex - as much as possible. This energy is stored and converted, think of this sexual energy as fuel and the tai chi practice as the fire. It is the building block of all martial power in tai chi quan and the other internal styles. Another important source of power in tai chi is called yi, it translates as intention but that doesn’t do it justice. In the west we don’t have anything comparable. It is a form of concentration that is extremely focused. It is yi that allows the chi that has been stored and converted to be guided throughout the body. An expert can send it outside of his body by touch, usually fingers into an opponents body usually through an acupressure point. It feels something like an electric shock. I can’t really explain the feeling with words and certainly cannot do it myself even after 15 years. There are very few people alive that can do this, only a small hand full of tai chi chaun practitioners world wide. But for those that can no amount of physical strength can beat them in a fight. That is why it is called tai chi chuan which means the ultimate boxing. The side effect of this training method is improved vitality, strengthened immune system even the healing of some illnesses within reason. There is no sin in that. My advice for those practising tai chi chaun for self defence is to study the chen family style. If you want to learn it for health and relaxation practice with the best teacher you can find of any style. Don’t practice tai chi chaun without an expert or very close to it as you won’t get many health benefits and worse. Also don’t bother practising tai chi chaun if you have a problem with the idea or the reality of conserving sexual energy as mentioned above. Another thing if you try to conserve this type of energy without having some kind of internal practice to refine it it could become burdensome and negative. But for those struggling to lead a celibate life I think true tai chi chaun could help them a lot.

 

[beckycmarie]

Sean, your explanation of Tai Chi gives one more reason for every Catholic to avoid it - the requirement that men not be open to life in the marital act is potentially a mortal sin. :tsktsk:

 

[seanhathaway]

Likewise you’re explanation gives every tai chi player a reason to avoid catholicsm.

 

[MtnDwellar]

I do not know much about Tai Chi. I do know that all energy comes from God. More specifically, it is through the Holy Spirit. Any practice whose principle is based upon another source of energy is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I do not know much about Tai Chi. I do know that all energy comes from God. More specifically, it is through the Holy Spirit. Any practice whose principle is based upon another source of energy is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Like electricity? :ehh:

 

[MtnDwellar]

Like electricity? :ehh:

Yes, electricity is included.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Yes, electricity is included.

Wait, so you’re saying electricity is from the Holy Spirit? :ehh:

 

[MtnDwellar]

Wait, so you’re saying electricity is from the Holy Spirit? :ehh:

God has a monopoly on power, hence the term **all **powerful. He is the source of all power. His power can be directed in various ways.

Electricity is off track. Let us say that someone is practicing Reiki or some other type of energy work. They will try to increase their energy from the universal source. If they are trying to heal, they channel energy from the source to an ailing person. We know that the Holy Spirit does the healing. It is His Spirit that does the work.

Then you may ask, Why are these Reiki people sucessful? They do have some success. The reason is that God loves us whether we believe in Him or not. The Reiki Master has the basic ingredients of a prayer. He admits that he is dependent upon a higher power. He has the desire to help someone. He focusses his attention on receiving the help. If we ask for help, we get it.

The action is not necessarily from a demonic source as some people may think. It also does not mean that the practice is not blasphemous. Even if we blaspheme God, His love for us does not change.

 

[beckycmarie]

Mtndwellar, the US Bishops recently condemned Reiki:

Reiki Therapy Unscientific, ‘Inappropriate for Catholic Institutions,’ Say Bishops’ Guidelines

Bishops take theological stand against Reiki, citing ‘danger of malevolent forces’

The guidelines warn that in using Reiki for one’s spiritual health, “there are important dangers.”

“To use Reiki one would have to accept at least in an implicit way central elements of the worldview that undergirds Reiki theory, elements that belong neither to Christian faith nor to natural science. Without justification either from Christian faith or natural science, however, a Catholic who puts his or her trust in Reiki would be operating in the realm of superstition, the no-man’s-land that is neither faith nor science,” they state.

“Superstition corrupts one’s worship of God by turning one’s religious feeling and practice in a false direction,” the Guidelines state. “While sometimes people fall into superstition through ignorance, it is the responsibility of all who teach in the name of the Church to eliminate such ignorance as much as possible.”

“Since Reiki therapy is not compatible with either Christian teaching or scientific evidence, it would be inappropriate for Catholic institutions, such as Catholic health care facilities and retreat centers, or persons representing the Church, such as Catholic chaplains, to promote or to provide support for Reiki therapy,” the Guidelines said.

Your ideas about energy are not in line with Catholic teaching. Demons can (and do) fake healings to trick people into believing Reiki, an occult practice, is good.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Mtndwellar, the US Bishops recently condemned Reiki:

Reiki Therapy Unscientific, ‘Inappropriate for Catholic Institutions,’ Say Bishops’ Guidelines

Bishops take theological stand against Reiki, citing ‘danger of malevolent forces’

Your ideas about energy are not in line with Catholic teaching. Demons can (and do) fake healings to trick people into believing Reiki, an occult practice, is good.

Hmmm. I did not express any of my ideas about energy. I wonder what you are thinking??

I have to say that Catholic teaching is difficult to discern on some subjects. Our teachers - the bishops, priests, and nuns, disagree.

I also did not say that demons cannot or do not use healing to trick people. I don’t really know what demons are responsible for. I have some strong suspicions. I believe that the nature of demons lends itself more toward havoc and destruction and the Holy Spirit is healing people all day long. When healing occurs, I am more likely to suspect the Holy Spirit. God loves all of us, even those who practice superstition.

 

[beckycmarie]

Hmmm. I did not express any of my ideas about energy. I wonder what you are thinking??

I was responding to this:

Let us say that someone is practicing Reiki or some other type of energy work. They will try to increase their energy from the universal source. If they are trying to heal, they channel energy from the source to an ailing person. We know that the Holy Spirit does the healing. It is His Spirit that does the work.

 

[MtnDwellar]

I was responding to this:

Let us say that someone is practicing Reiki or some other type of energy work. They will try to increase their energy from the universal source. If they are trying to heal, they channel energy from the source to an ailing person. We know that the Holy Spirit does the healing. It is His Spirit that does the work.

I was giving the Reiki concept.

 

[beckycmarie]

It should be noted that the Holy Spirit does not heal through Reiki any more than He heals through witchcraft. One common misconception among Christians who practice Reiki is that they are doing the work of the Holy Spirit. God heals through prayer, not through occult practices.

I have to say that Catholic teaching is difficult to discern on some subjects. Our teachers - the bishops, priests, and nuns, disagree.

No doubt some confusion has been caused by dissenters, and the MSM loves to quote the dissenters as if they are the authorities. This would be a good topic to start a new thread.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Electricity is off track. Let us say that someone is practicing Reiki or some other type of energy work. They will try to increase their energy from the universal source. If they are trying to heal, they channel energy from the source to an ailing person. We know that the Holy Spirit does the healing. It is His Spirit that does the work.

Sorry but you did say that any practice that bases its principles on another energy source is blasphemous. I’m afraid that unless you can prove that electricity and biological energy have some sort of “holy” property, I’m not convinced.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Sorry but you did say that any practice that bases its principles on another energy source is blasphemous. I’m afraid that unless you can prove that electricity and biological energy have some sort of “holy” property, I’m not convinced.

Still seems far off track for a thread on Tai Chi.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

Still seems far off track for a thread on Tai Chi.

Because one can make the argument that Tai Chi (or any other martial arts for that matter) can be approached from the standpoint of pure science (biology and physics in particular). Things like controlling your breathing and your movements, surely such things have a way of training one’s body from manipulating the energy produced by such biological functions.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Ok. I’ll respond.

Sorry but you did say that any practice that bases its principles on another energy source is blasphemous. I’m afraid that unless you can prove that electricity and biological energy have some sort of “holy” property, I’m not convinced.

I think that you almost answered your own question by bringing up biological energy. Coal, urananium or other fuels have potential energy. That potential is converted into other forms of useful energy. The potential was placed there by God. So, yes. There is a holy property. The holiness is because all of creation is from God. It is a direct perfect manifestation of His thought. If one wants to know how God thinks, he can study nature. If we thank God for electricity, we are thanking the right person.

Because one can make the argument that Tai Chi (or any other martial arts for that matter) can be approached from the standpoint of pure science (biology and physics in particular). Things like controlling your breathing and your movements, surely such things have a way of training one’s body from manipulating the energy produced by such biological functions.

I have not studied Tai Chi. If there is a biological or physical basis for what they do, then I don’t see any problem. I suspect that there is not science behind the practice. Hence, the discussion.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I have not studied Tai Chi. If there is a biological or physical basis for what they do, then I don’t see any problem. I suspect that there is not science behind the practice. Hence, the discussion.

From what I’ve read, Tai Chi is a valid form of martial arts. And if there’s anything I’ve noticed from watching popular documentaries of such arts, there’s a high chance that there is a science behind it.

 

[KrazyKaiju]

Because one can make the argument that Tai Chi (or any other martial arts for that matter) can be approached from the standpoint of pure science (biology and physics in particular). Things like controlling your breathing and your movements, surely such things have a way of training one’s body from manipulating the energy produced by such biological functions.

THANK YOU!

I’m not really sure how Taiji is incompatible/hostile to any Christian doctrines. Why can’t Taiji be a scientific instrument for discovering new things about the body? If you’ve felt someone’s “chi”, you’d know that there’s at least something that’s causing that feeling. Surely, an inquisitive mind would then like to know what that something is. We need to get our feet wet first before we discover that the source of all this “chi” is really a malicious demon…and consequently stop all of our Taiji practice. But experience is your friend here.

Good Taiji practice also does not necessarily produce these “abnormal states of the body” that are considered unacceptable. Good practice also doesn’t require one to delve into the Daoist philosophy. There’s no need to read the Dao De Jing or to levitate in order to understand good body mechanics. If anything, good Taiji helps one feel comfortable in one’s own skin. It can produce a state in the body that (In my opinion) is more normal than the ones that people today might call “normal”. Many people don’t even know how to walk. …Seriously.

 

[SeekingHisMercy]

Hi folks,
Funny that I just posted on this topic in another thread. I am a long-time taijiquan practioner and teacher, as well as a Catholic who believes in fidelty to the Magisterium to the Church. I have studied, taught, competed in, and medaled in taijiquan. I have lived in Mainland China and speak, read, and write Mandarin. I have also studied other martial arts. I am seeking guidance on taijiquan, but I am concerned because for the most part, people who are spouting off answers on both sides don’t seem to know much about taijiquan. I don’t want to come off as arrogant, but I would like to clear up some misconceptions about taijiquan and hopefully get some answers to questions I have.

First, taijiquan is a martial art. The health benefits and exercise components of it are side benefits to something that is first and foremost a fighting art. Anyone teaching that it’s just an exercise or that the health component is the most important part is not teaching what we practioners spend long hours sweating and perfecting. As an aside, for the martial artists on this and associated threads who say that this is not a viable means of self-defense, you are very ill-informed about a very well-developed system that is unfortunately taught in a very watered down format in many areas of the world. I would invite you to view real taiji teachers such as Chen Xiaowang, Chen Zhenglei, Yang Banhou, and Wang Peishang and then review your current opinions.

Second the qi (what many here are describing as chi) is foundational to taijiquan. If you’re practicing taijiquan and you’re not using qi in applying techiques, you are not practicing taijiquan. Rather, you are moving through a series of coordinated body movements that may or may not have some martial applications and health benefits.

Taijiquan is not a new age practice. It is based on Taoist principles—the “taiji” in taijiquan is the taiji (meaning “grand ultimate”–this has to do with Taoist philosophy) symbol (what you and I know as the Yin/Yang symbol). So, for all of you practicing taiji who are stating that it has no spiritual component, it does.

My big question is this–can I ignore the qi development and invite the Holy Spirit to work instead? God is certainly much bigger than anything else. Scripture does teach that with God all things are possible. I’d like to think that I can use the techniques with the help of the Holy Spirit and that those techniques would be much more formidable than anything that Taoist philosophy promulgates. If I can do this, great, if not, then those treasures in Heaven are a lot more important. Certainly, some things are not compatible with our Faith (I read about a woman once who was a Christian stripper and was stripping for the Lord…obviously, there’s a core problem here), but before I throw the whole thing out, I want to make sure that there’s not some way to have the Lord take this practice over and use it.

Lastly, I’m not here to argue. Talking with taiji players about this is pointless because it’s very rare to find one who is a solid Catholic who understands the philosophical and spiritual implications of qi. So, I’m here, hoping for good discussion and dialogue. Can I invite all in this discussion to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance? Thanks for your time and God bless.