Sunday

the world beyond?

so many movies and tv series address the theme of there being another reality just beyond the reach of 'ordinary' folk
films ranging from the harry potter series to the last witchhunter or constantine or the matrix all tease the existence of something more

it is a very common theme
the yearning for something beyond the mundane
a sense that there is more to life than work a house a family holidays a pension a dog and then death

people occasionally have a 'mid-life crisis' - a reaction to the perceived limitations of the life they have carefully crafted or accepted
others indulge in fantasy beliefs - unicorns and auras - chakras and qi

but this yearning is founded on a truth
there is more than your job your house your possessions
it is not to be found in shangri-la or a monastery or a fairy dell


those who lack wisdom are convinced that they are truly awake
 they think they understand what is happening
 they think that the king is really the king
 and the servants are really servants
 
 (chuang tzu)



taoism and zen are about seeing the actuality of life
the really real
this is not some make believe world where hogwarts exists but rather the actual world that we are encouraged not to notice

why are we blinded?
a distracted person is anxious greedy confrontational and competitive
they spend money and accumulate
they buy insurance and indulge in one-upmanship

meditation is about rooting your consciousness in the immediate
in the moment
and seeing rather than looking

often taijiquan students are amazed by what they find themselves able to do
by simple biomechanical insights and skills
how a slight adjustment can significantly increase or drain power

lao tzu even wrote a book about it
as did chuang tzu and so many others

taijiquan is about discovering the is-ness of reality
and using it to your advantage
in everyday life and in combat

the journey is a fascinating one
and as lao tzu pointed out - you don't need to go to china to find reality - because it is already right in front of you

"welcome to the real world neo"

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