Tai Chi/Qi Gong and little birds

[Guest guest]

Once there was a bird who other birds said made one of the the best nests. It

was soon noticed by other birds who would come along to see why it could

withstand gales, stay dry and comfortable in summer and winter. At first the

bird was eager to allow others to view and try to copy his nest. But they

couldn't get it in a moment and whizzed off to the clouds and sunbeams. The bird

later tired of being bothered at any time by less than nice tourists who, if

the truth be told, often came only to try to show how weak the nest was, and

criticize the bird, because they reasoned if he had such great skill, then

surely there would be an impressive personality that they could attach to. But

the bird was not a dramatic bigger than life image of power and cunning, so they

only came so got bored.

So the bird retired to a more wilder place for a long time, until later he

felt regret at not sharing the hard to notice techniques that were the core of

why his nests were so comfortable and long lasting. Early as the sun was about

to peak over the land, in the place after night, but before day, he sang out

with the other birds and lightly chirped about an inclination to teach the

process. To his surprise later that dawn, a score of fledglings appeared,

bright and ambitious for the knowledge.

" Well " , he sang, " most of it will seem useless but I guarantee this is all in

how I go about it " . And the little birds sang, " sure, sure, no problem,

whatever you say " .

So he led them in flight to several wooded places of an air so pure that it

could have been another sky, and then some river islands where they felt they

could play forever among, and also to mouths of deep, dark, frightening caves in

the earth itself, and much more, over the next few weeks, as the season was

proper for the undertaking, to show them where and how he gathered the material

for the building. How it was selected, how it looked, when it was ready, how to

cut, gather and carry it and so on. Some of the birds sang to themselves, " Oh,

now I get it " . And they left thinking they knew the whole process, and imagined

themselves in their perfect nest. The bird sighed and thought to itself, " 'They

can only take what they are capable of " . And set about the next step with the

remaining fledglings.

He led them to various locations to discuss the pros and cons of building on

each; why too high is unstable in a high wind and open to predators of the sky,

and why the fire that violently connects between earth and heaven gathers there;

why too low can't offer sufficient views of the weather patterns and smells of

the sky and is too open to land predators. Also how to know if it will be too

dry or wet from clues in the surroundings, too exposed , too isolated, too cold

or hot. And also the creatures that should be present to ensure a stable long

lasting ecosystem. Well of course some of the little birds sang to themselves,

" This is irrelevant and childish. He is just monopolizing our attention to

inculcate us in a useless dogma, or maybe he's a bit crazy. Fire between earth

and heaven, Oh please " . So the bird saw them go and sang to itself, " They can

only take what they are capable of " . And set about the next step with the

remaining fledglings.

Having decided upon a proper setting, and time to start, piece by piece the

frame was woven. Some of the little birds were getting impatient and started to

spread thier wings, but the bird felt they were so close and was afraid they

would have wasted thier, and his, time if they left too soon, so he sang to

them, " Most plans are destroyed near completion, remember the desire for this

that you had in the begginning and be as aware now as you were then " . But only

a couple stayed, and the bird sang to itself, " They can only take what they are

capable of " . And set about the next step with the remaining fledglings.

So the fram was finished, they moved quickly to apply the moss and threads

and grasses and worked them in, and the bird sang, " Ok, now we sleep here

tonight and fix our mind on this structure, remembering all we've done, and tie

the ends together with our dreams so it will never come undone " .

Late that night, a thought appeared in one of the birds mind. It sang to

itself, " I have learnt this beginning to end, everything, every variation and

substitute in material and method. And I'm stronger. I can't wait to teach, I'll

become famous and wealthy, the morning songs will be about me, and all doors

will be open to me " . Surprised and a little embarrassed by the strength of its

own still present self importance, the little bird decided to leave in the night

without facing the bird and struck off on its own.

Early as the sun was about to peak over the land, for the second time, in the

place after night, but before day, the bird felt and knew the little bird had

gone and it sang to itself, " They can only take what they are capable of " . And

set about the next step with the last remaining fledgling.

The bird sang, " you are the last, and you have calmly listened and worked and

sacrificed and pondered my poor teaching, so we must have some connection, and I

want to tell you that I am happy you thought this worthwhile, and I hope it

serves you for your safety, but also for your joy and peace of mind. "

The last little bird sang, " I can think almost anything, but what I can see is

the perfect nest, and even more important, how happy you are in your method, and

I have to say the things you've sang to me may not be needed for just my nest,

but nests for all the creatures for generations to come. And you have made my

world more real wondrous and interesting " .

So the bird sang sang, " this is the last part, the glue that creates

something solid and whole from all the pieces, but I hesitated to show others

because it is unusual, but it will work for you I think. " The little bird

sang, " Darn straight teacher, go for it.'

So the bird showed the mood, the breath, the movement of the inner and outer

energies and succeeeded in applying the saliva which was energized and

processed, to the joints of the nest, making it a whole thing, a unity that

stood storms for a long time forward.

Kooky, huh?

 

 

 

 

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