Joe, The long form will help you get rid of sleepiness in the morning before your sitting. In theory, I am supposed to concentrate on the arm and leg movements like the walking zen, but in practice the wandering mind always happens. Sometimes the thought goes a long way until I start to hate myself. Nevertheless, it is a good controlling practice. Anthony
________________________________ From: Joe <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 11 July 2012, 23:48 Subject: [Zen] Re: sufism T'ai Chi! I learned it, too. The first time I closely saw it practiced was during a break on an early Ch'an retreat in NY when our Sheng Yen's translator practiced it privately indoors during a break. I happened to see him. This was many days into the retreat, and it made a big impression. I knew I'd have to learn that. At home, I found that the old man who lived three floors above me, and who walked with a cane, was a T'ai Chi master, named Da Liu. I made a deal with him, or he with me, and I cleaned his floors and apartment; in return he gave me private half-hour lessons for a few months. He taught some people privately, but also taught at the Cathedral, two blocks away, sometimes outdoors in their garden, sometimes inside the Cathedral School. It's easier to learn when you are surrounded by others practicing the same form, as you probably found in China. Da Liu also taught on weekends at Columbia Teacher's College, up on 120th Street and Broadway. He has many books in print, and has made many videos of instruction over the years. He taught for "Health and Longevity", not so much for fighting, but he did teach applications like the Ta Lu, and push-hands, and Sword form. He lived 1902-2000. He was a shining example of the efficacy of his art. I marvel at all the events and changes he must have seen during his long life. When the United Nations was early up and running, he was a translator in the Mandarin section there. He had a strong interest in History. He was a Daoist, and knew the use of the I-Ching compass: people used to engage him to help them site new temples or other buildings on grounds in various parts of the country. He taught people about Feng Shui decades before it became popular in the west. I don't practice t'ai chi every day now, but I can't go long without it. We learned the Yang family short form. I never did learn the long form, but of course I know pieces of it from the short form ;-) --Joe > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > .. i practise tai chi these days...whence in china in 2005/06/08...the parks > and town squares in the early morning there were  groups of folks.."tai > chi'ing.."..
