Monday Morning Tai Chi Training Tip # 368
Hokusai Speaks about (Tai Chi) in your Life
Greetings. I have been posting these Training Tips every Monday since the end of 2015. I enjoy doing it, and am inspired to keep it up because of the positive feed-back I receive. I appreciate it. This posting originally appeared in February of 2019. Riggan Shilstone, a Tips follower, recently sent me a book she designed with all the Tips, plus other Tai Chi philosophy and exercises from my web site. Really well done. I picked it up, opened to a random page, and came upon this poem/posting. It really struck me as so meaningful. Thanks Gregory, Riggan, and all the people who follow these Tips every week.
In this time, I have posted less than a handful of other people’s writings. Included have been a couple of poems. This one was sent to me by Gregory Johnson, one of the first Tai Chi Instructors in Tucson, Arizona, I certified way back in the 1970’s. Not sure where he got this poem, but it sure hits the target. Hope you find it meaningful, as I sure do. Enjoy. (Hokusai was an Japanese artist born in 1760).
“Hokusai says look carefully.

He says pay attention, notice.

He says keep looking, stay curious.

He says there is no end to seeing

He says look forward to getting old.

He says keep changing, you just get more who you really are.

He says get stuck, accept it, repeat yourself as long as it is interesting.

He says keep doing what you love.

He says keep praying.

He says every one of us is a child, every one of us is ancient, every one of us has a body.

He says every one of us is frightened.

He says every one of us has to find a way to live with fear.

He says everything is alive – shells, buildings, people, fish, mountains, trees, wood is alive. Water is alive. Everything has its own life. Everything lives inside us.

He says live with the world inside you.

He says it doesn’t matter if you draw or write books. It doesn’t matter if you saw wood, or catch fish. It doesn’t matter if you sit at home and stare at the ants on your veranda or the shadows of the trees and grasses in your garden.

It matters that you care.

It matters that you feel.

It matters that you notice.

It matters that life lives through you.

Contentment is life living through you.

Joy is life living through you.

Satisfaction and strength is life living through you.

He says don’t be afraid.

Don’t be afraid.

Love, feel, let life take you by the hand.

Let life live through you.”