Introduction
Tai Chi Spirituality is through the daily practice of Tai Chi to awaken to the presence of the Lord and abide with Him in stillness.
The purpose of Christian spirituality
The purpose of spirituality for Christians is to seek the Lord, encounter Him and build an intimate relationship with Him. Dwelling in His presence and living out His will allow others to feel, see and even touch the risen Lord Jesus Christ through us.
The Lord dwells with us
How do we find the Lord and encounter Him? Before His ascension, Jesus promised us: “I am with you always, yes, to the end of time” (Matthew 28:20). The Lord Jesus is truly with us each day. Yet in the hectic daily life, we often fail to notice His presence.
Reach out to the depths, enter into stillness
From the rich spiritual tradition and experience of Christianity, we learn that to seek, experience and listen to the Lord, we must reach out to the depths of our hearts (cf. Luke 5:4) and guard them in perfect stillness. Jesus taught: “But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in” (Matthew 6:6). In the Sermon on the Mount, He proclaimed: “Blessed are the pure in heart: they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).
In stillness, one is more ready to perceive the Lord’s presence. When we become utmost silent within – free from distractions and rational thoughts – we can turn inward to the depths of our being, experiencing His presence and encounter Him.
Cultivate inner peace, purify the heart
Cultivating inner peace and purifying the heart helps us discover the Lord, similar to participating in retreat, we gain inner peace in order to encounter Him.
Different people find serenity through different ways. Rev. Dominic Chan believes that practising Tai Chi can lead to inner peace. Tai Chi requires serenity of mind and attentiveness. As we practise, we focus on our breath or body so as to dispel distractions. Gradually we will move into stillness.
Thirst for the Lord
Stillness is not the ultimate goal of Tai Chi Spirituality. Its true purpose is in communion with the Lord. Therefore, for Tai Chi to become spiritual practice, we must have the motive and awareness of seeking the Lord and walking with Him – or better still, a thirst for Him. Without this desire, the practice of Tai Chi lacks its spiritual dimension.
Holy moments
Each practice of Tai Chi, undertaken with a heart mindful of the Lord’s presence, becomes a holy moment – a contemplative prayer shared in quiet communion with Him. During this holy moment, let go all anxieties, worries and daily affairs. Just anchor the heart in the Lord and rest with Him in stillness.
Contemplative prayer
Tai Chi Spirituality is a form of contemplative prayer that focuses on the Lord’s presence while allowing ourselves to rest in Him. With hearts yearning to be with the Lord, we begin our Tai Chi practice with prayer. The following are prayers we commonly use:
“Spirit of God, Come upon me, Fill my heart, Purify my soul.”
“Dear Lord, bless me with thy grace so that I may:
Centre my spirit,
Differentiate void and solid,
Be clear in motion and stillness,
Achieve perfection and comfort.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.”
Three beautiful fruits
The effects of Tai Chi Spirituality extend far beyond the holy moments during daily practice. When we consistently practise Tai Chi with the motive of walking with the Lord, we not only gain inner peace and purification of heart and deepen our relationship with Him, but we also cultivate beautiful fruits that extend into daily life and become our normality. Three fruits stand out most prominently:
1. Centering the spirit: We maintain a state of calm composure, perfect balance and serene peace. We can face busy days leisurely, cultivating virtues and Christlike attitudes, radiating His peace and love in encountering others.
2. Abiding in the Lord: Living “in the Lord”, we bear the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Our hearts are gradually transformed to share the sentiments of Christ Jesus, becoming like Him – persons filled with love. Through us, others may feel, see and even touch the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
3.Purified heart, illumined vision: A purified heart sharpens our awareness of the Lord’s presence in all things. We live constantly in His presence and draw ever closer in intimacy with Him. In daily life and service, we become more sensitive to heaven, earth, and humanity – especially to the needs of our least brothers and sisters and how to respond to them.