My process of learning Taijiquan is not unique. I know this because one of my earliest inspirations in Taijiquan study, Jou, Tsung Hwa, said so. Jou was not talking directly to or about me, but he shared his journey with Taijiquan in his books, and those stories spoke to me and my journey.
The title of this post paraphrases the Zen Koan: “First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is.”
Learning a new art or skill is like this. First you see the mountain, and think others have climbed the mountain, and you would like to follow them. You start climbing the mountain. The trail goes up and down, back and forth. You are not sure if you are on the right trail, or even the right mountain. You think back to when you decided to climb the mountain, how beautiful it was in the distance, but now, when you look around, you cannot see the mountain because you are too close to it. Finally, you reach the peak of the mountain and, looking back, you can see all its peaks and valleys behind you.
Jou, Tsung Hwa shares this experience of learning as well saying:
“If you do not make progress, you cannot blame your teacher, because no teacher can transfer awareness to you.”
A Teacher is not Your Practice
Jou did not have a teacher for most of his life. According to the introduction of The Tao of Tai Chi Chuan Way to Rejuvenation his introduction to Taijiquan came late in life. He moved away from his teachers and studied on his own. His self-study, and his desire to share it with us, made Jou, Tsung Hwa one of the most influential teachers of the past century.
He had a significant impact on me. I understood his frustration with finding a good teacher and studying by yourself. Jou goes on to say:
“If you have no teacher, do not place your highest priority on finding the right one. None of my teachers were famous Tai-Chi masters, and for over ten years I have not had a personal teacher. In that time, I have discovered the only real secret: you must develop on your own.”
This is the Zen experience of the mountain, no mountain, mountain. The decision to climb, climbing, and realizing the summit, are up to you.
