Is There a Language of Tai Chi?

As I listen to others talk about tai chi, about chi kung, about martial styles, about anything, I find we are often saying the same thing. This morning I was wondering why we often sound as if we’re speaking different languages. Sometimes it even sounds as though some of us are speaking in tongues.

Chi (qi) energy is something spiritual in nature. Yet if you listen to the meta-physicians walking among us, everything is spiritual in nature. If that’s the case, why can we easily communicate about things physical while finding it difficult to talk about things non-physical? I am of two minds on this topic: two parallel minds, two minds that do not intersect, two co-existing minds. How very, very spiritual.

One mind says we can understand anything, or just about anything that’s important to us. The problems arise from our differing vocabularies. At times we misuse words, other times we use alternate but valid meanings, and other times still we use colloquial meanings that are understood within our own circles. No wonder we have such a hard time agreeing with one another. We can be saying the same thing, using different words, and arguing with one another about who’s right.

The other mind says, we only think we can understand some things because we talk about them often. We believe we can easily communicate about things physical, because we interact with the physical on a daily basis. We listen as newscasters, or read as inane bloggers pontificate about any and all subjects in our physical universe. We receive instructions from our bosses, or give instructions to our subordinates, and the instructions are usually followed closely enough that we seem to be in agreement. When we talk of things spiritual however, most of us have limited vocabularies. Our limited vocabularies let us know we don’t understand, so we don’t even try to understand that which cannot be understood.

I don’t have a definitive answer here, only more questions. So, I thought I’d throw this out and see if it sparks a conversation. As the infamous, ancient, and now contemporary Master of Duhism, Bob Tzu, recently posted on his blog:

“The real Truth cannot be spoken. Why? Don’t ask me, I can’t talk about it.”

Your thoughts?

John

P.S. If you’d like more wisdom from the Tzu click here: http://www.duhism.com/1216/shhhhh/,

and to give credit where credit is due, I found this picture here: http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/articles/food-safety-communication/

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