|
ANDREW ROHOWYJ
The interpretation of my experiences is influenced by my
background as a long time practitioner of Sahaja Yoga
Meditation (SY), and as a physiotherapist.
My interest in learning Tai Chi originally came from hearing
that the founder of SY had said Tai Chi was invented by a
realized soul, although as with all the great spiritual
paths had lost much of its purity over time. When Ric (who's
judgment I also trusted as a practitioner of SY) told me he
was teaching a very pure form I decided to give it a try. I
started Tai Chi in March 2004.
My Experiences of Tai Chi Chuan, as taught by Ric Lum.
Updates:
Thursday, 6 October 2011 Personal
Practice Whole Main Form
..did whole main form. Focus shifted btw various
recent lessons. And remembering mentioning to Ric about
getting a bit jammed up at turns.
His response was about
allowing hips to be relaxed (I remember when
following, observing and following Ric that the whole pelvis kind of floated or
bobbed around above the legs).
One nice experience felt a bit like having all
the cogs (like different lessons) mostly present, and
everything literally flowing almost effortlessly like clockwork.
Another was noticing timelessness, and not being aware of
when my eyes were open or closed. This was apparent when I saw
someone walk past whom I hadn’t noticed approaching.
On finishing I stood still for a while,
then got in the car and drove easily to work near by. I noticed when driving that turning my steering wheel was a bit
like the turns in the form.
Tuesday, 4th
October, 2011 Push Hands With Ric – very strong Vibrations. Flow
very good, very aware like heightened awareness of the other person.
Ric told me “ Remember this Feeling. It’s the stream - the rules
and lessons are the sides of the stream or boundaries, but the real
Push Hands is the stream in between.”
Tuesday, 27 September 2011 Push Hands
“inertia vs force” Funny stuff –
part of story.. you do nothing. “If I am not myself, who/what
is the other?”…then “ what does the Divine leave UnDone?”
..I held back and
allowed Danya to slip and won? 2 times consecutively > Ric said Danya
had right attitude – implied I broke rules to win. Difference ?
Force vs the Way.
..(I always give and don’t
receive, my default position, saves me from catching negativity from
others in my line of work.)
Next time asked to try Inertia not
resistance and felt very grounded like connected to the Earth; Ric’s
release only returned me to neutral.
Later Ric stood in middle and asked 3
of us to stand around him and to “neither resist nor assist” . I found
I succeeded in loosing balance several times; Ric said “very
good”.
Generally as per Ric’s remarks felt
my perception of push hands etc. at a new level. I am yet to fully
recognise when I am applying force, ie my default position remains,
but starting to be aware of it.
Parallel to meditation, is not realising when one is thinking, i.e. the
Ego gets sneakier the deeper one goes.
Walking with Danya we were discussing
in Push Hands apparent winning / avoiding being pushed over is not
necessarily the goal, but the learning comes more when one is pushed
over / apparent defeat. Here are
my experiences of Sunday 7th August 2011:
"Walk
With Me"
On first
following I tried to mimic the way you were walking, which felt /
looked slightly comical very uncontrolled, something of "Drunken
Master" feel about it. Like a without purpose walk which reminded
me of one those mechanical toys that wobble side to side and walk
driven by gravity down a slope. Therefore it was kind of effortless.
I noticed tension / tiredness / aching in my walk but when I was able to "Follow", the slight pain
and tiredness disappeared.
At some
point I realized the tiredness in my legs was associated with
something in the "normal" gait of my own personality..,
which when I could let go, all the tiredness would lift.
"See me,
then Follow Me": On
following you this time it became easier to remain thoughtless.
Meditation
Practice
Sitting
in the van, we were in a circle facing each other..
You suggested "no crutches" meaning to not try to do anything,
or use bandhan etc. I soon noticed nice easy attention just above
Sahastrara and cool vibrations. When you then said we can meet above Sahastrara, I think
perhaps the vibrations increased.
You
asked at the end, what did we have as take home lesson or
experience?
When walking, I hope I can remember to let go of the "normal"
gait of my personality. And
similarly to let go of the effort in "Trying" to be in meditation, i.e.
the "crutches".
Thanks
for a most enjoyable day together.
Sent: Fri, 5 Aug 2011 12:53:43 +1000
Subject: 'FOLLOW ME' this morning
Whilst
following Ric in Cheng Man-Ching form I felt I was able to do things to
a higher level than I could otherwise do on my own. Also there
was a deep focused silence as in meditation which was easier to sustain.
Friday 2nd
July 2010 CMC Neither assist nor resist Ric
asked me: “What am I doing?” My answer was: Nothing, just witnessing,
attention on Sahastrara. Following rather than trying to
cause movement.
Tuesday 29th
June 2010 Push Hands I thought of Shri Jesus words “Turn
the other cheek” related to Tai Chi – Surrender.
Tuesday, 22nd
June 2010 Push Hands -1st decided to be in
meditation. Favourite Exercise (etc ):
At one point Ric actually said something like.. Watch my
posture and see if I can show you a secret, but even after 3 or 4
tries, I still don’t think I got it.
Friday, 18th
June, 2010 CMC form
- "Islam is Surrender” > Swaying – is Mother Kundalini
> Is there anything the ParamaChaitanya cannot do?
- Get the art first before the
science. Same as getting Self-Realisation - need to know nothing.
Sent:
Monday, July 13, 2009 12:13 PM
Subject: Reporting
From memory the tune Ric was singing /
following was the Ganesha Stuthi... The qualities in
relation to constancy would therefore be maintaining a
steady constantly focused path without being distracted
easily. One of His qualities is the quality of easily
maintaining a rhythm.
Sent:
Thursday, March 15, 2007 2:26 PM
Subject: Report add on
Yesterday evening when I
went to practise Tai Chi I noticed my quadriceps (front
thigh muscles) were sore. Today they hurt just to walk.
This shows me they really had a workout in class yesterday.
Sent:
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 10:23 AM
Subject: Report
This morning we started
a new lesson in section 2. Ric explained the topic and then
demonstrated mainly using the weight shifting slowly and
with an apparently strained expression.
Then Ric said (as before) we were to concentrate only on the
lesson at hand, not previous ones. I felt a bit like he had
both shifted the goal posts, and asked me to go out on a
limb. I am a bit obsessive and worry about forgetting
everything.
So we then followed Ric. My experience was (as I stated),
heaviness and difficulty. Subsequently we practised
following Danya through a part of section 2, focusing on the
lesson. Initially I felt a sense of wobbling, but gradually
I seemed to get the hang of the changed emphasis, albeit
still controlled and a bit difficult.
Then we did section 2
together, with myself at right wing. I usually prefer to
follow, because when leading I have to remember the form and
tend to forget the lesson, concerned I might forget were we
are, which has happened.
Anyway, as we went through the form, when it was my turn to
lead, I concentrated less on the lesson and more on not
misleading through getting lost. As soon as Point was
leading again (relief), I noticed that I wasn't controlling,
but there was the sense of my weighted limb feeling very
strong and steady. I subsequently surrendered effort and
control gradually, but nevertheless in a more effortless way
whilst maintaining Attention on the lesson (but without
concentrating).
I enjoyed it much more and by the end of section 2 felt the
transition from heavy and difficult, to effortless and
light, yet earthed and strong.
I
have slipped (on slippery or loose surfaces) and fell over
about 4 times in the last 3 weeks (unusual for me). Also I
noticed when practising there was a sense of less substance,
and the novelty of the previous lesson seemed to have gone
(I suspect a bit right sided - yang in me). On my way home I
hoped and kind of felt the change in lesson may bring back
the substance, earthed ness, and heart in my practice.
Wednesday 18th January 2006
Initially my experience was of a pleasing sense of
relaxed movement. Within the first couple of lessons I
noticed my attention was more focused for meditation after
practising Tai Chi. I ended up having to travel much further
for classes, but although at the time I really didn't have a
definite reason why, decided to continue week-to-week, then
month-to-month.
I have had no bad experiences, and so can only relate
positive ones. At times when practising I would get a
sensation of shimmering vibrations on my hands, and lots of
cool. This experience is well known to practitioners of SY
as the flow of Kundalini (the subtle desire and mechanism of
our evolution within) becoming stronger.
Because I wanted to get my children to do exercise (they
tend to be a bit lazy), I asked Ric about martial arts, and
he recommended Kung Fu. I wasn't at the time able to find a
teacher of some of the purer more balanced forms (Ric's
suggestions), and settled for "close enough". This however
hindered my progress in Tai Chi (according to Ric), but I
continued for the sake of my kids. I was however surprised
and really enjoyed being able to get fit and flexible much
quicker than I expected. This was certainly at least in part
due to the Tai Chi.
I have had the experience of running upstairs with the ease
of feeling as going downstairs, and of running (kind of a
shuffle) completely without effort after practising Tai Chi.
Only a few days ago I was practising my Tai Chi on the
lawn in front of a big statue of Shri Ganesha (the elephant
headed deity of innocence and Wisdom) at the SY centre. I
experienced the feeling of many parts of the form expressing
the dance of Shri Ganesha. Immediately afterwards, when I
sat down, my previously good state of meditation (just
before the Tai Chi) became a very deep state with lots of
divine vibrations flowing. All this whilst the Founder of SY
was staying in the house I was doing voluntary security duty
for.
Ric has been at me for a long time to write my experiences
down for him, as probably rightly, many are soon forgotten.
I have tried to do them justice for now.
Thanks and Best wishes, Andrew Rohowyj.
|
