The Inner Journey: Tai Chi's 5 Stages of Awareness and Intent

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

You may be wondering, okay so humans and primates can extend their awareness into tools, such as a branch they are swinging on, and even beyond that into the environment to know the forest they are swinging through. But how do you direct our intention? Consider how you swing a baseball bat or tennis racquet at a ball. You know how when you first pick it up, you swing it in the air a few times? You're getting to know your bat or racquet, and as you do that you are extending your awareness into it, are you not? And then when you swing at the ball, do you just blindly swing with all your strength? Or do you have an intention of where you want to hit the ball to? You do already have that intention, do you not? Because the act of extending your awareness connects you with the tool. And once connected, your intention of getting the ball to go here or there, naturally includes the tool that is a part of you now. Your intention for an outcome, that is to say, your Yi to commit to the manifestation of a particular outcome, is the intentional action of your Yi. And it is only possible when you have extended your awareness and connected to the thing, and it is immediately available and automatic, once you have truly connected with the thing. Does that make sense? I did not verbally state all of this in the video but the subtitles would've been too long so I've added it here. Hope this is helpful to help you understand something that initially seems mysterious and esoteric, but as you read and get to know this, you begin to realize that it is something quite natural, and already within your grasp. Because it is a natural process for you to be able to do this, all you need is a bit of guidance as to where to look, do you not? We will continue to explore the topic of awareness in upcoming videos! Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for reading and following our content! ☯😃

[@GreyTactic]

I suggest pinning this/your comment so it doesn't get lost in the comments section! I appreciate the video. With Yi Mastery being your last course, it can get confusing sometimes what I'm supposed to do with my Yi while practicing the earlier stages. This video helps shed some light in that regard. Thank you.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

@@GreyTacticGood idea! Thank you for the tip and I’m glad I’ve helped you understand the big picture. 😃🙏

[@kingofaikido]

I like your philosophy Zongqing. It aligns with the classics. Your question is answered in the video. If the branch moves, the money has no hold.

[@marksack429]

So, I was there last weekend when this video was being filmed. I flew out from Charlotte, NC area for the weekend to do private/intensive lessons with Chester. I have spent the last three months going through all his videos on youtube, the first 3 mastery courses and the six roads form. In 8 hours, over the course of 3 days, we reviewed and drilled down on all of the individual processes of the 5 mastery courses. I am a 63 year martial artist with 50+ years of experience in a variety of arts. About he last 35 has been focused on Wing Chun. So, touching hands and contact reflexes are really a part of my wheelhouse. This training is the icing on the cake for me. What I understand about typical Tai Chi training is that the usual way to do this is to learn the form, learn various push hands, learn applications, learn weapons (if it is actually taught) and then after many years of practice you (if you are lucky) you get to have a big "uh huh" (enlightenment) experience and can really do the internal part of the art. And, through all of that you have a teacher who has a huge investment in milking the process for all its worth. This is not my experience of Chester. Instead, he is teaching the "secret sauce" that makes this all work right from the beginning of your training. Which in turn speeds up your learning curve exponentially. (No milking and less frustration with the process) How he is able to do this is through very quick paradigm shifts. Fascia mastery is the the content and each subsequent course creates a contextual shift and builds on that by expanding your awareness through the various energetic distinctions (energies: Song, Qi, Neijin and Yi respectively). As far as I'm concerned this is the way to learn Tai Chi. Think about it... Now I have mastery that I can put into my practice and grow my practice through mastery rather than have an empty practice over 10-20 years that probably won't yield any result beyond the superficial. Thank you, Chester for this video recap and all your diligence in producing this methodology. I look forward to your next course and my next visit to Cali!

[@scottc3165]

The attitude is maybe half the battle of the realization. The spirit comes through in your teaching. Open heart, open mind. Open spirit of self discovery. Most attractive teaching.

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

Level is unlimited!

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

There is no end!

[@randomimprovise1918]

Superb explaination as always.

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you for your kind comment! 😃🙏

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

I know because i have been through alot! 😊

[@pisarropic9677]

Thank you for pointing this out, Master Chester. I'm looking forward to be continuously enlightened !

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Awesome! I look forward to the future where there are many many enlightened and fully actualized beings making the world a better and better place! 😃🙌

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

Best thing to do is to not think about anything! Because the mind is the one that stops and limits everything including energy!

[@marylewis3311]

Thank you for the breakdown 🙏❤️🙏

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Thank you very much for your kind comment! 😃🙏

[@robertjordon1984]

Great video Sifu. You keep outdoing yourself Chester every video always brings something refreshing. About the online courses are the videos accessible via the website or is itpossible to download them after purchase. Haven't purchased yet but just for future reference once Im ready. Also do you need a partner for the course or can it be picked up solo providing one has done some taichi and zhan zhuang with internal body awareness?

[@highdefinitionarchitecture8208]

I find this video to be quite educational and for some people (me haha) inspiring, but I have to say that the last part (Tao) is a really deep concept for me. My QiGong master mentioned that it’s the last part of my training (from his point of view) and it’s something that needs to be experienced, it can’t truly be explained in words (like for example QI could). What is your opinion on the concept of Tao?

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Great question! The Tao can definitely be described in words, both its structure and its relationship to each aspect of manifested reality. So maybe what the old masters meant was that words alone can not convey a true experience of the Tao, which is correct for any other true experiences, experienced at the level of the spiritual body, or upstream (closer to the source, closer to the Tao) of the spiritual body. The originators of the Phoenix Mountain Neigong referred to the Tao as the Source (Source of Creation). The Old Six Roads Tai Chi's Yi Mastery course brings you to the threshold just before the Source, the Tao. As you proceed through the Yi Mastery course, you will begin to directly experience the aspect of consciousness that manifests reality. And this aspect of consciousness interfaces directly with the first poles of Yin and Yang that form from the Tao. Because the Old Six Roads Tai Chi takes you right up to the threshold, it will totally prepare you for exploration of reality beyond. The Tao will be directly addressed in the course material that follows the Old Six Roads, and that would be something worth exploring, would it not? The Phoenix Mountain Healing Path uses the first Yin and Yang poles, along with Ling Qi, to create healing. The Phoenix Mountain Spiritual Path is a vehicle for exploring all of the gates, connections, from your physical manifested self to the Source. So the full Phoenix Mountain teachings include a Spiritual Path, a Martial Path, and a Healing Path. This parallels with the Chan-Wu-Yi trinity as described in Song Shan Shaolin by the Wugulun lineage. And each of these paths address different aspects of our Spiritual self. Just as different training in different martial arts and sports aid in your physical development in unique ways, each of these paths will help complete your growth and integration spiritually. And this growth and integration opens up your capacity to truly experience the Tao. Does that make sense? Thanks for asking this deep question! 😃🙏

[@highdefinitionarchitecture8208]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi I can sense the passion for this art in the words you wrote, I am grateful that I found you and your channel from which a learn a lot lately. Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@BumbolbeeAtobot]

Hello How to use our Yi correctly?

[@GreyTactic]

@phoenixmountaintaichi So at the highest level of taichi practice, do we utilize the Yi by becoming aware of all five stages simultaneously while performing an action? Or is the idea that controlling all the other stages/energies become unified/second nature, that simply follows a singular Yi in action?

[@ToOvOxo]

Can you please explain the phrase -If you don’t count me you’re still 2nd! 😃🙌 Reply

[@clementray1410]

So is it better to use zhou or just make there energy go to your feet like you did in your video?

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

Good question! When learning it’s easier to direct your intent to your feet because it’s more natural to sink down and feel your feet. In use it’s often more expedient to use Zhou to the elbow. Does that make sense? 😃🙏

[@clementray1410]

@phoenixmountaintaichi yeah thanks

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

As soon as you think too much about something you will get too obseesed about something and not let it go which will block everything! 🤣

[@andrewearlwu554]

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

If you don’t count me you’re still 2nd! 😃🙌

[@andrewearlwu554]

@@phoenixmountaintaichi I was looking for a different emoticon, that's why. 😓 Got complacent...😅

[@phoenixmountaintaichi]

@@andrewearlwu554🤣

[@Bluedragon-co4kb]

You have to let go of everything! Physically and mentally! To nothing! Wuji from nothing back to nothing! So whats the point? Lol 👋 😆 🤣