The correct understanding of Tai Chi Chuan practice

By Li Ya-shuan (1893-1976)
Collected and recorded by students Chen Lung-xiang and Li Ming-
dih.
Originally published in Taiwan Taijiquan magazine in 1993.
Translated by David Chen, 2002.

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Before starting to move, first make your body stand stably, center
your balance, relax your mind and loosen your body. Do not harbor
any stagnant force, wipe out all unnecessary thoughts, return your mind and body to
a neutral state; then you are ready to move. The movements should be led by the
shen (spirit) and qi, directed by the waist and spine. These are silently expressed in
the round of the routine, like running water, like a traveling cloud, like pulling silk,
like a hanging thread.

Twenty to thirty minutes of practice each time would be appropriate. After

practicing, if you feel your body and mind to be very clear and pleasant, you have
done it correctly. In this state, you should be quiet and contemplative-you won't be
too far from enlightenment.

It is important to avoid having a tense and stiffened body, or to move the four limbs
by themselves. You must use your yi/qi (mind/qi) as the impetus for movement.
Every inch of your body has to let go and relaxed, and you must sink the qi
downwards; these are the correct ways of practicing taijiquan. Some practitioners let
their arms and legs wave around independently, or move blindly with no reason. Or
they move in a flowery manner afraid that their form is not spectacular and beautiful
enough without these excessive movements, what a mistake!

After a time of diligent practice, if you feel the qi puffing in the center of palm and
fingers, this proves that your qi and blood circulation has reached the end of limbs,
you should continue the practice and let the fullness of the qi flow naturally. If you
do not get the qi sensation after a long time of practice, there must be something
incorrect with your yi/qi and your postures; you should ask an experienced teacher to
help you, don't wait until it becomes a bad habit, it would be too late to correct.

Use the xin (heart/mind) to circulate the qi; use the qi to transport the body. Turn
your observation internally, examining the coordination of the mind and body, as
well as the comfort level of the qi and spirit; after long practice, it will naturally
reach the harmony of internal and external. If your mind is only at external
techniques, then that's all you going to have.

Preserve your shen/qi inward and nourish them quietly, thus your jin (internal
power) can be stored. Only with relaxed thoroughly in your movements that the
spiritual wisdom will appear.

Never express the tension in your movement as if two warriors are about to fight
with clenching teeth and staring eyes. Some may think if there were no tension
during the training they would not be able to apply the techniques when needed.
These people don't understand that daily practice is a gongfu of storing and
nourishing the qi and shen. When the qi and shen are stored and nourished fully, you
will have plenty of power when needed. For those who like to build up tension in
their practice, they are consuming a lot of internal energy, how could they have a
chance to store the qi and shen, and how could they have the power to stun the
opponent when needed?

You must have emptiness and agility on the top, waist and spine power in the
middle, and qi in the dantian down below. These three are united as one, then
internal and external become unified; thus all movements will be harmonized. But
all of the above elements will have to form naturally; do not search them in bits and