Motion in Stillness, Stillness in Motion

That is one of the more enigmatic sayings in the Tai Chi Classics, and one of many paradoxical statements common in Daoism. On the surface, it seems impossible - how can one have motion and stillness at the same time? With enough practice in Tai Chi or other Daoist arts, one can go deeper and begin to see some ways in which this paradox is true. 

For example to reach a high  level in Tai Chi, one must understand the Yin force. One interpretation of the Yin force is gravity, and one makes gravity a friend rather than an enemy.  Gravity is a force, a weak force at that, and it does not move. It causes things to move, but of itself it is a stillness. So we have motion in stillness. In fact, our motion is all we can control to produce physical power. We cannot control gravity or our mass (at least moment to moment, but the Holidays are approaching!). From physics, we know that force equals mass times acceleration, F=MA. That is why in Tai Chi we train to relax completely and increase range of motion (the classics say to "open the joints, stretch the tendons"). We need maximum acceleration abilities, there is no T for tension in the force equation.

What about stillness in motion? In Tai Chi, the power and efficiency of rotation is a major component of force generation. If you think about it, you will see that all powerful and efficient machines and gadgets use rotation. Think about a ceiling fan, car tires, a turbine, etc. So we rotate parts of the body to generate force in the most efficient and powerful way possible. But at the core of any of these rotating objects, including our torso or any other spinning part, there is a center. An incredibly small core that is still - that is the stillness in motion.

Both of the above examples are physical in nature. There are also mental/spiritual interpretations to this paradox, but I'll save that for another day.

Guide your Chi gently,  Mike