HEAVEN, EARTH, AND MAN
by Jane Faigao

When one sits down in a meditation position, the head points towards heaven and the tailbone towards earth. There is a slight shift in one’s relationship to everything. The same is true in the practice of T’ai-chi ch’uan. When I shift my weight to my right leg, when the top of my head lines up with the bottom of my right foot as well as heaven above then there is a slight shift in my relationship to the world.
When we are born into this world we begin our relationship with heaven and earth. It is our physical location on this planet. Heaven/earth/human. Sitting and t’ai-chi ch’uan maximizes that relationship, makes it stronger, more direct, more poignant. My teacher, Cheng Man-ch’ing said, “Borrow a little energy from heaven. Heaven won’t mind. It has plenty. Then borrow energy from earth. Earth has plenty.” This way you get to take a little energy from both and you become stronger in body, mind and spirit.

January 20, 2001