Page 114 - The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin_Neat plip book

CHAPTER 14

THE ILLUSION OF THE MYSTICAL

Early on in my study of the philosophi cal foundat ion of Tai Chi , whi le scour ing

through a book of old adages called the Tai Chi Classics, I came upon a passage
that intrigued me. In the 18th centur y Wang Tsung- yueh describe d hi s
practice by writing:

If the opponent’s movement is quick,

then quickly respond;
if his movement is slow,
then follow slowly.

Then the 19th century sage Wu Yu-hs iang bui lt on Tsung- yue h’s words
with a typically abstract Chinese instruct ional conundr um :

If the opponent does not move, t hen I do no t move.

At the opponent’s slightest move, I move rst.

The first stanza is rather straightforward. It is about listening, be ing
sensitive to the adversary’s slightest trembl e, and sticking to him. Adherence is
at the center of Tai Chi’s martial appl icabi lity. Basically tho se four line s are

about becoming a shadow. But the last idea stum ped me. A shad ow is an effect,
not a cause. How do you move before someone you are following? The pr ecision
of my chess days made me uncomfortable accept ing thi s abs traction on faith.
What was it all about?

This question was like a Zen koan to me. I spen t count less ho ur s thi nki ng
about it, trying to wrap my head around the idea and to embo dy it in Pus h