Five Moving Forces with Esalen Faculty Chungliang "Al" Huang

Christine Chen hosts a conversation with Master Jong Young Huang, a renowned Tai Chi master and founder of the Living Tao Foundation, who shares insights from over 50 years of teaching. Huang emphasizes the importance of finding one's center through Tai Chi, especially in turbulent times. He explains Tai Chi's core principles, such as balancing the yin and yang, and highlights the practice's ability to connect individuals to universal energies like fire and water. Huang encourages a beginner's mindset, advocating for daily practice to maintain physical and spiritual balance, and invites viewers to explore Tai Chi's transformative power.

• Introduction of Jong Young Huang, a renowned Tai Chi master and founder of the Living Tao Foundation, with over 50 years of teaching experience at Esalen.
• Discussion of the global reach and cultural significance of Tai Chi, emphasizing its universal applicability beyond its Chinese origins.
• Highlighting the importance of finding one's center through Tai Chi, especially during times of instability.

"I am very fortunate because I have a discipline and practice we call Tai Chi, but it is universal. It's not only Chinese, but I grew up in China; it's part of my heritage."

• Tai Chi is presented as a universal practice with roots in Chinese culture, emphasizing its relevance across different cultures and times.

"My main work for the past half a century is how to bring Tai Chi essence, the philosophy of the Dao, to offer to the world people."

• Jong Young Huang's mission is to share the core philosophies of Tai Chi and Dao with a global audience, highlighting its transformative potential.

• Centering is a crucial practice for maintaining stability amidst chaos, involving physical, emotional, and spiritual alignment.
• Referencing W.B. Yeats' poem "The Second Coming" to illustrate the concept of things falling apart and the need for a strong center.

"Centering is a practice... if you can just find that place within yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and you can tune into this focused place, then it's easier to deal with all the diversity."

• Emphasizes the holistic nature of centering, integrating various aspects of self to manage external instability.

"He says things fall apart, center does not hold... Surely, he says, especially he said the best lack of conviction and the worst is full of impassioned intensity."

• Yeats' poem is used to contextualize the current global instability and the necessity of maintaining one's center.

• Explanation of Tai Chi as a symbol and practice of balancing extremes and finding cohesion through the yin-yang philosophy.
• Tai Chi involves connecting opposing forces, such as sky and earth, to achieve inner balance.

"Taiji means extremes, opposition, the yin-yang balance... if you have this yin-yang stretch the sky and the earth out there in here, forward and back, left and right, all this dualistic contrast."

• Tai Chi is a practice of harmonizing dualities, fostering balance within oneself and with the external environment.

"A simple Tai Chi practice, you reach up to the sky, and you bring the sky energy into your body, and you connect to the opposite, which is below your feet, the earth energy."

• Describes a basic Tai Chi exercise that embodies the principle of connecting with and balancing opposing forces.

• Introduction to the five moving forces, derived from the concept of elements, representing dynamic and living energies.
• Explanation of the fire and water forces, demonstrating how they balance each other in Tai Chi practice.

"The five moving forces is a form... we call it the moving forces of nature and based on five elements."

• The five moving forces are foundational to Tai Chi, representing natural elements that are dynamic and interactive.

"Fire is coming alive, to be passionate about energy... when you feel down sometimes, you need to get in touch with the fire in your gut."

• Fire represents passion and vitality, and engaging with this force can invigorate and energize the practitioner.

"At the height of your fire, you immediately go to the water, which is a contrast... you need to soothe yourself to bring the power up there into your body."

• Water contrasts fire by providing a calming and soothing effect, essential for maintaining balance and preventing burnout.

• Encouragement for audience participation in simple Tai Chi exercises, demonstrating the practical and accessible nature of the practice.
• Emphasis on the experiential understanding gained through practicing Tai Chi movements.

"Do it in fact, very simple, everybody can do it. Once you do it, you understand exactly what I mean because you can feel."

• Highlights the simplicity and inclusivity of Tai Chi, inviting everyone to experience its benefits through practice.

• Chi is described as a life force energy that can be harnessed to bring vitality and calmness.
• Tai Chi involves balancing between aliveness (fire) and nurturing (water).
• Basic Tai Chi movements include outward and inward gestures, symbolizing external expression and internal reflection.

"The chi chi Chinese, she is the power coming from the god. You go up, you feel yourself come alive, you light up, you fire up, and you soothe yourself by bringing the energy down."

• Chi is a vital energy that invigorates and calms the practitioner, connecting them with a higher power.

"Everything out there, my outer self, and then you need to bring it in to match your inner self."

• Tai Chi emphasizes the balance between external expressions and internal self-awareness.

• Tai Chi movements are universal, transcending cultural boundaries.
• The movements involve natural human gestures like opening and closing arms, walking forward and back, and rotating the pelvis.

"It's a balancing act... it's so universal; it's not just Chinese or any other nationality."

• The universality of Tai Chi makes it accessible to people of all backgrounds, focusing on natural human movements.

"You have up and down, out and in, forward back, left and right. It's so natural."

• Simple directional movements form the core of Tai Chi, mimicking natural human actions and promoting balance.

• Tai Chi integrates the concept of chakras, focusing on energy flow throughout the body.
• The practice involves circulating energy between the sky and the earth, promoting healing and preventing disease.

"We circulate the up and down chakras; we bring sky down, we bring earth up."

• The integration of chakras in Tai Chi helps in maintaining a harmonious energy flow, which is essential for health and well-being.

"When you get this yeast, you have disease. When the body is congested, you lose the flow and you become sick."

• Tai Chi aims to prevent disease by ensuring a continuous flow of energy, avoiding congestion and promoting ease.

• Tai Chi embodies the five moving forces of nature: fire, water, wood, gold, and earth.
• These forces represent different aspects of energy flow and transformation in nature.

"We have our fire going up out, water coming back down. This is a tree branching out all around you."

• The five forces illustrate the dynamic and cyclical nature of energy flow, emphasizing balance and transformation.

"These are the basic basic basic Taiji forms which I teach all the time."

• The foundational Tai Chi forms are derived from these natural forces, guiding practitioners in their movements and energy management.

• Tai Chi practice offers emotional and spiritual relief by promoting continuous energy flow and reducing congestion.
• Practicing Tai Chi fosters a sense of oneness with nature, reducing struggle and enhancing peace.

"Tai Chi practice is just continually help you to get out of your congested self emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, physically."

• Regular practice of Tai Chi aids in emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and physical liberation, promoting overall well-being.

"There's this oneness with the earth and nature and that you're just flowing with everything."

• Tai Chi enhances the practitioner's connection with nature, fostering harmony and reducing life struggles.

• Tai Chi can be practiced daily and adapted to individual needs.
• While structured forms exist, practitioners are encouraged to recreate and personalize their movements.

"You can do every day, and you can do it spontaneously. Of course, you can learn the form, the structure."

• Daily practice of Tai Chi is beneficial, and its adaptability allows for personal expression within structured forms.

"You never do the same Tai Chi form at the same time."

• The variability in Tai Chi practice encourages creativity and responsiveness to personal energy and environmental conditions.

• Each day is seen as a new creation, a fresh start, symbolized by the act of waking up and stretching.
• There's an emphasis on the idea that even repetitive actions, like stretching, are unique each time they are performed.
• The metaphor of fire and water is used to describe energy and cleansing, respectively, highlighting the importance of revitalizing oneself daily.

"Every time it's a new creation. I wake up in the morning, maybe it looks the same, but it's a new gesture. I stretch, I open. It's not the same as the last time I did it."

• This quote emphasizes the uniqueness of each day and action, encouraging an appreciation for daily renewal.

• Tai Chi is described as an accessible practice that can be beneficial even when fatigued or stressed.
• The practice is inclusive, allowing for participation regardless of physical limitations, such as being in a wheelchair.
• It is suggested that Tai Chi can be practiced with varying intensities, adapting to the practitioner's energy levels and needs.

"You are practicing by being a human being. You have a beautiful instrument we call my body. If you're lucky enough, you can still move fairly freely, even if you are in a wheelchair."

• The quote underscores the inclusivity of Tai Chi, highlighting its adaptability to different physical conditions.

• The concept of energy, or "chi," is central to the practice, with different movements and practices enhancing or calming this energy.
• The practice is likened to music, with different tempos and dynamics, reflecting the practitioner's current state and needs.
• There is a focus on allowing energy to guide movements rather than being confined by rigid structures.

"In Chinese, we call it 'wu wei,' which is wonderful for means don't interfere. Let the body feel what you can do. Let energy take you and do not get confined by structure."

• This quote highlights the importance of natural, unforced movement in Tai Chi, guided by internal energy.

• Maintaining a beginner's mind is crucial in Tai Chi practice, focusing on exploration and discovery rather than mere accumulation of techniques.
• The practice is described as an ongoing journey of exploration, aligning with the natural human interest in discovery.
• A quote from T.S. Eliot is paraphrased to illustrate the concept of returning to the beginning with newfound understanding.

"If you think doing Tai Chi's accumulation of technique, you lose it. If you use Tai Chi practice as a discovery, you explore, you never stop exploring."

• This quote stresses the value of continuous learning and exploration in Tai Chi, encouraging an open-minded approach.

• The practice of Tai Chi is integrated into daily life, aligning with the natural flow of time and seasons.
• Emotional and spiritual elements are intertwined with the physical practice, contributing to a holistic experience.
• Simplicity is valued, with an emphasis on tuning into one's body and emotions for a fulfilling practice.

"Even when you're at the most spiritual, everything becomes so simple."

• This quote emphasizes the simplicity and integration of spiritual practice within Tai Chi, promoting a holistic approach to well-being.

• Tai Chi emphasizes the importance of balancing movement and stillness to maintain harmony and prevent burnout.
• Understanding the yin-yang balance is crucial; excessive fire energy without water balance can be harmful.
• The practice involves a continuous circular flow, symbolizing the infinity sign, to maintain balance.

"If you only use one part of the balance as I mentioned before, you can get so excited with your fire energy you burn out, but if you don't understand the yin-yang balance, if you don't use the water to balance it, it's harmful."

• This quote highlights the necessity of balancing energies in Tai Chi to avoid negative consequences.

"Once you save yourself, the safety measure is you learn how to yin-yang Tai Chi so it's always a circle, always circular, always polarity."

• This emphasizes the perpetual cycle and balance in Tai Chi practice, ensuring a holistic approach.

• Practicing Tai Chi fosters a sense of aliveness and continuous exploration.
• It encourages receptivity to the surrounding environment, such as the sky and earth energies.
• An open-hearted and open-minded approach allows for new experiences and gifts.

"I want to feel alive when I wake up in the morning. I am so grateful I'm alive. I have this body still feeling the pose, feeling the aliveness."

• This reflects the personal fulfillment and gratitude derived from Tai Chi practice.

"Tai Chi practice is to have a receptive body. For instance, right now I want to receive the sky energy. I want to be receptive."

• This quote illustrates the importance of openness and receptivity in Tai Chi, enhancing the connection with nature.

• The practice involves finding one's center and utilizing sound to release energy.
• Movement starts from the lower chakra, allowing fire energy to rise and water energy to balance it.
• Rotational movements help distribute energy around the body, creating a sphere of energy.
• Collecting and releasing energy is essential, symbolized by the metaphor of a fertile void.

"First you'll find your center... open your throat, let the fire come out of your lower chakra, lower belly... so movement goes up, the chi goes up."

• This describes the initial steps in harnessing and directing energy in Tai Chi.

"You must not hold on to this, otherwise you get congested. You need to let go because you need to empty to receive again."

• This emphasizes the importance of releasing energy to maintain flow and openness in Tai Chi.

• Emptiness is a core concept, allowing for renewal and the ability to receive new energy.
• The term "fertile void" is used to describe the positive potential of emptiness.
• Embracing emptiness leads to a new consciousness and a hopeful future.

"The word emptiness is important... we realize emptiness people don't like the word empty, so we create a word called the fertile void."

• This quote explains the concept of emptiness in Tai Chi and its transformative potential.

"You can fill yourself up with chi, and then you start all over again, another new day, another new dawn, another new spring, another new consciousness."

• This illustrates the cycle of renewal and the continuous growth possible through Tai Chi practice.

• Master Huang offers virtual classes through his website, allowing practitioners to continue learning and practicing Tai Chi remotely.
• The website provides resources and information for those interested in deepening their practice.

"You can go to get to my website www.living.onewordtao.org and you can find all the details on my website."

• This provides information on how to access virtual Tai Chi classes and resources.