- A Tai Chi Essay - 

PANDEMIC TIMES: 

The Challenge to Mind and Spirit

In recent weeks we have all faced the challenge of a global pandemic on a scale that we’re not too accustomed to. We may remember our school history books telling of the 1918 flu epidemic and the plagues, “The Black Death,” of Europe centuries ago, but that was in a book. Now it’s as if we’ve stepped into a scifi/horror movie. This scenario is happening to us and it’s casualties for those fortunate enough to not be infected, are mind and spirit.

Every day we hear new predictions ranging from “this will be over in a few weeks,” to “this will continue for many months with casualties in the many tens of thousands or more.” It’s very disturbing. Add to this the condition of near empty streets and being quarantined and I don’t know about you but it gives me a queasy feeling in my stomach. 

The world of familiarity has suddenly been up ended. Any sense of security and normality has been destroyed by a shifting landscape of a deadly, uncontrolled virus with its impact on economics, food supply, and medical care. Death rates and infection statistics have rising numbers and there’s not enough medical equipment or treatment facilities for all of those suffering so terribly. The atmosphere of sorrow, gloom and uncertainty are palpable in the air. 

This complex scenario makes it emotionally and mindfully difficult to practice tai chi & qigong. Yet, in a sense, this is what they were created for. These are systems for physical health and mental calm in good times and bad. They are potent weapons in the battle for rationality, serenity and endurance. They were made for the rough roads of life, and yet that queasy feeling in the pit of the stomach may challenge us when it comes to temporarily stepping out of the worry and chaos of dangerous and confusing times.

For me, Lao Tzu comes to mind, as he wrote 81 commentaries in the Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing) over 2,000 years ago that still apply to everything today.

“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain un-moving, till the right action arises by itself?”

Right now it seems that the waters of our lives are extremely muddy and that there is a desperate need for the mud to settle and the water to clear. What we need in order to start settling that mud is a reminder… a reminder of what we need, what we have, and what will allow that mud to settle.

I learned tai chi years ago from a master who knew this extremely well. He had faced great challenges in his life and knew that in times such as these, stillness is the key. It seemed that you could ask him about how to handle any problem and he would respond, “Do more forms.” Doing tai chi and qigong forms was a sort of elixir for every trial. After a period of hearing this so many times I decided to apply it to everything from an upset stomach to completing tax forms and it always helped.

In addition to tai chi forms, my teacher gave us another gift. He was one of the very few teaching Zhan Zhuang, standing qigong, in the US back in those days. Americans often find standing still and extremely focused, to be too big a challenge. Understandably, they get bored, restless, or uncomfortable. But too often their restlessness convinces them that there’s little or no value to standing practices. 

I trusted my master and persisted, knowing that he would never teach us something that was “a waste of time.” I’m glad I did because in time I was able to experience what it had to offer; something powerful, beneficial, and rewarding beyond the grasp of the impatient.

Remembering this is what gets me beyond the paralysis of the queasy feeling in the stomach. It’s a single step, like the one that Lao Tzu said is the beginning of a journey of 1,000 miles. I think it's very likely that we all have such memories, positive memories sufficient to move us to take that first step.

When you hesitate to let go of the chaotic world, remember. Remember past experiences and the principles you have learned and let them guide you to calm. Take the first step and dare to embrace stillness. No matter if you practice tai chi and/or qigong, yoga or meditation, remind yourself to be patient and settle the mud that the turbulent world has stirred up within you. It's worked in the past and it will work for you again, even in a greater time of need.

When you’ve finished, the world and it’s woes will still be there but once your mud has settled you will have the clarity you need to better deal with a crisis. 

Stay safe, stay healthy, and wash those hands.

- TaiChi_John