Dr Kells has been taught Tai Chi by some great masters. One in particular, Dr Chi Chiang-Tao was peerless, with very high spiritual qualities. Dr Chi adopted John Kells as his son and heir in 1982 and gave him the complete transmission. However, Dr Kells has also received transmissions from other non-Tai Chi lineages, in particular ones originating in Europe rather than China. These transmissions were energetic and had little art or form, and almost no words – they were acquired by spending extended periods of respectful time with the masters, gradually soaking up the teaching and the energy. These teachings were beginning to express themselves in the Tai Chi by the mid 1980's, and in 1991 Dr Kells decided to embark on a research programme to see if he could find a way of fully expressing this other teaching within the framework of Pushing Hands – the energetic interactions of Tai Chi.
The Chinese approach to martial arts is similar to the Western approach to education: one spends time acquiring well-taught skills in order to further oneself in life. So the Chinese kung fu expert will spend years toughening and strengthening his hands and will eventually be able to smash through a stack of bricks. Or he will develop his ch'i to refine whatever art he practices, whether calligraphy, acupuncture or fighting. Or, if his art is Tai Chi, he will practice for years at hands-on listening in order to gain the sensitivity required to preempt the actions of his opponent. These are all skill based – you acquire something that others don't have in order to gain an advantage.
Our researches have led us to understand that whenever a skill, acquired by one, is applied to another, something happens which is not natural and is not right. It is invasive, no matter how sensitively and caringly it is applied. Real healthy connexion between two beings happens when each forgets themselves, abandons their skills and abilities and rushes in heart first. This is what happens when you are with your loved ones, why should it be any different in any other situation? So the first principle our researches revealed to us was that the heart is the true centre of the person because it is the organ involved in connecting and giving to others. The belly, the traditional centre in the Chinese arts, is the centre of your own personal power – your energy reservoir so to speak – but this has little bearing on your use and function as an interacting human being, especially if the heart cannot or will not engage with others.
Our second principle is that when two beings interact with open, willing and courageous hearts, then the actual interaction can take on a life of its own. This life has a heart (a nucleus) like all living beings, which we call the Third Heart. If both parties allow this Third Heart primacy then the relationship will take both into realms beyond the imagination of either. In fact we have found that if either enters the interaction with any agenda other than this then their heart is not properly open and the Third Heart will not properly develop. Any hidden agenda, whether it be one of control or manipulation, is ultimately damaging and counter-productive. One needs the courage to allow the relationship to dictate its own terms, only then will it transform both parties and take them forwards in life.
This leads us to the third principle. To properly honour and encourage the Third Heart (the between energy) you must give totally to each interaction. This means your energy must enter and go forwards. Or as Dr Kells has beautifully put it “The Feast is Forwards.” This is very difficult – you may be tired or feel awkward or unwilling – many things can place you on the back foot – however it is the most important habit in life to cultivate – to always go forwards with no thought of backwards. It is the one habit that transforms a victim into a warrior. Practising this principle will develop far more and better energy than any ch'i kung exercise. In a way it is the opposite of the Tai Chi approach of dwelling quietly within and listening to the other, waiting for them to act so that you can react.
The fourth principle is that if one puts the idea of the Third Heart – the life and primacy of one's interactions – first and foremost in one's life and lives a life according to them, then one gradually develops into a primarily relating entity. One has practised forwards so much that it becomes a natural fact of your being, constantly reaching out into the world and beckoning and attracting the world in, in a natural and extremely healthy constant exchange. Eventually this happens even when unawares (even when asleep), in fact words like unawares cease to have any meaning because awareness no longer has anything to do with one's rational processes – it is instead an aspect of one's interacting energy. At this stage the student can be likened to a clear channel through which energy flows from all directions, but especially from the ancient teaching and especially to the earth. Energy they have at any particular moment is always borrowed – is always passing through so to speak. Their power resides in the simple acceptance that the heart is all. This allows them to be connected before the connexion. We call this being alive.
The fifth principle is that of destiny. A difficult concept this day and age to come to terms with. It suggests that the direction mankind had gone, especially in the last 2500 years, in putting those faculties that set him apart from other species, in particular his calculating mind, foremost in his existence and in his culture, actually severs him from not only other beings, the Third Heart and connectedness, but also the real power and meaning of his life, which we call destiny. As well as you having a heart, and all your relationships having hearts, your life also has a heart which can only be got to grips with if you lead a life that joins you to the rest of creation rather than setting you apart from it. This life requires the student to actively work with all of these principles and is ultimately what we wish to teach.
The Chinese approach to martial arts is similar to the Western approach to education: one spends time acquiring well-taught skills in order to further oneself in life. So the Chinese kung fu expert will spend years toughening and strengthening his hands and will eventually be able to smash through a stack of bricks. Or he will develop his ch'i to refine whatever art he practices, whether calligraphy, acupuncture or fighting. Or, if his art is Tai Chi, he will practice for years at hands-on listening in order to gain the sensitivity required to preempt the actions of his opponent. These are all skill based – you acquire something that others don't have in order to gain an advantage.
Our researches have led us to understand that whenever a skill, acquired by one, is applied to another, something happens which is not natural and is not right. It is invasive, no matter how sensitively and caringly it is applied. Real healthy connexion between two beings happens when each forgets themselves, abandons their skills and abilities and rushes in heart first. This is what happens when you are with your loved ones, why should it be any different in any other situation? So the first principle our researches revealed to us was that the heart is the true centre of the person because it is the organ involved in connecting and giving to others. The belly, the traditional centre in the Chinese arts, is the centre of your own personal power – your energy reservoir so to speak – but this has little bearing on your use and function as an interacting human being, especially if the heart cannot or will not engage with others.
Our second principle is that when two beings interact with open, willing and courageous hearts, then the actual interaction can take on a life of its own. This life has a heart (a nucleus) like all living beings, which we call the Third Heart. If both parties allow this Third Heart primacy then the relationship will take both into realms beyond the imagination of either. In fact we have found that if either enters the interaction with any agenda other than this then their heart is not properly open and the Third Heart will not properly develop. Any hidden agenda, whether it be one of control or manipulation, is ultimately damaging and counter-productive. One needs the courage to allow the relationship to dictate its own terms, only then will it transform both parties and take them forwards in life.
This leads us to the third principle. To properly honour and encourage the Third Heart (the between energy) you must give totally to each interaction. This means your energy must enter and go forwards. Or as Dr Kells has beautifully put it “The Feast is Forwards.” This is very difficult – you may be tired or feel awkward or unwilling – many things can place you on the back foot – however it is the most important habit in life to cultivate – to always go forwards with no thought of backwards. It is the one habit that transforms a victim into a warrior. Practising this principle will develop far more and better energy than any ch'i kung exercise. In a way it is the opposite of the Tai Chi approach of dwelling quietly within and listening to the other, waiting for them to act so that you can react.
The fourth principle is that if one puts the idea of the Third Heart – the life and primacy of one's interactions – first and foremost in one's life and lives a life according to them, then one gradually develops into a primarily relating entity. One has practised forwards so much that it becomes a natural fact of your being, constantly reaching out into the world and beckoning and attracting the world in, in a natural and extremely healthy constant exchange. Eventually this happens even when unawares (even when asleep), in fact words like unawares cease to have any meaning because awareness no longer has anything to do with one's rational processes – it is instead an aspect of one's interacting energy. At this stage the student can be likened to a clear channel through which energy flows from all directions, but especially from the ancient teaching and especially to the earth. Energy they have at any particular moment is always borrowed – is always passing through so to speak. Their power resides in the simple acceptance that the heart is all. This allows them to be connected before the connexion. We call this being alive.
The fifth principle is that of destiny. A difficult concept this day and age to come to terms with. It suggests that the direction mankind had gone, especially in the last 2500 years, in putting those faculties that set him apart from other species, in particular his calculating mind, foremost in his existence and in his culture, actually severs him from not only other beings, the Third Heart and connectedness, but also the real power and meaning of his life, which we call destiny. As well as you having a heart, and all your relationships having hearts, your life also has a heart which can only be got to grips with if you lead a life that joins you to the rest of creation rather than setting you apart from it. This life requires the student to actively work with all of these principles and is ultimately what we wish to teach.
2 comments
i like all these ideas, one has to avoid despair and negativity, these things can lead you to project (from fear) some aggressive challenging aspect as if it was coming from the other person . we project our visualisations onto others. and its not even them!!! i have seen this a lot. its a learned habitual fear, and like any phobia it can be trained out of you . jo xx
Hi John I do not know if you will remember me but I took classes from you, and have not been able to find a teacher like you yet here in a
America you where my best teacher ever.You look very well in your pictures. Wish I could take classes from you again. Martin Pretorius
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