For most of us, once we've survived rebellious youth, the spirit becomes a prisoner locked by tension in the body, guarded by the gaoler in the mind. We then chose to live with a broken spirit because life is easier that way. Taiji can be, should be, a means of healing the spirit, making it whole and strong, so that destiny can be met, and can start to unfold, meaningfully. For this you really need to be part of a sangha, a group of spiritual companions, that meets regularly. Group energy supports in a non-personal, unegocentric way, and for me, this is the teacher's main function: to create and maintain, through gravity and spirit, the sangha. Energy will then develop within the group naturally, simply by existing, meeting, and most importantly, by its members each devoting private time to practice. Without this last component the group cannot stride forwards, progress. With lazy members the sangha will stumble and stutter, stagnate, and finally become just another prison.