www.Longfei-Taiji.co.uk	Longfei Taijiquan Association of Great Britain
		Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 1

East meets west? Self help vs the nanny state

As a dedicated taiji practitioner I find the government's preoccupation with our health and physical fitness a source of amusement. For some time we, as a society, have been advised to take more exercise and more recently we are being extolled to avoid the dangers of obesity. Unfortunately the advice does not come with any constructive information for the achievement of the aims and the motive behind the advice is more to do with the NHS budget than any real concern for you and I. At the same time pension funds appear to be in dire straits and we are being urged to prepare for a longer working life (are there that many jobs available to those over 65?). One change of political direction in the UK and we could be offered an entirely different set of priorities for our well being.

This is not intended to be politically contentious; even the altruistic poetry of the Tao Teh Ching (see Classic Corner) is a commentary by a sage who knows what is good for us. However it does propose a wide bridge between east and west in the approach to an orderly way of life. In the west we are consumed with the exaltation of celebrity (and the wealth and recognition that goes with it) in the areas of dancing, singing, Big Brother, in the jungle, millionaire, dragon's den, deal or no deal etc. Even our current politicians do not set good examples with their new method of exaltation (spin), grace and favour homes, above inflation income rises and vast expenses. At least we would expect the sage to practice what he preaches. We are bombarded by the printed word and electronic media to acquire more and more and to borrow "loads of money".

Perhaps the big gap between east and west is twofold and is ingrained in the practice of taijiquan: the first is the seeking of stillness in movement and activity; and the second is the practice of self help. The disciplines of individual health care, diet and exercise - can they really be imposed from outside? The words "Yangsheng Gong" in the Daoyin system imply caring for yourself in the areas of health preservation, movement, breathing and dietary consumption. Taijiquan also embraces some of these ideals, with no reference to diet. Taijiquan practice embodies the idea of stillness in motion and this is particularly difficult because the stillness required is of the mind. When Professor Zhang Guande visited the UK in 2005 he remarked that the human brain receives 10,000,000 signals in 24 hours, so remaining quiet and undisturbed would appear an impossibility. Perhaps the east with its philosophy of awareness and the need of self help in the areas of health and well being, meditation and stillness in motion may have a greater currency than the endless western spin on what is good for us.

Richard Watson

Longfei Newsletter Volume 8 Issue 1 Table of Contents