The physical movements of the T’ai Chi form may end at the toes and fingertips, but the consciousness engendered by the intention of the movements may at the same time extend far beyond this, into the farthest reaches of which our conceptions are capable.
This may sometimes be facilitated by practicing outdoors, where immense visual distances may remind us of the infinite size of that which we may consider ourselves a part of.
By our practice, as we interact with this immense space, how could we not have, at least some miniscule effect upon it also. It is within this framework that the possibility of spirituality, and spiritual growth, may occur.
It may be postulated that we can become, in our consciousness, as large as all that we can conceive.
When we take responsibility for being a part, perhaps an active part, of something greater than our physical selves, this very step may perhaps allow for change and growth of the larger entity.
Herein may lie the basis of the spiritual aspects of our practice.
Conservation of Mass, Energy, and Spirit
Science shows us that in all our actions, mass is conserved, and energy is also conserved.
In all chemical, physical, and spacial interactions, we end up with the same mass, and the same energy, that we started with.
From these basic Newtonian precepts, extended by Einstein’s law of the conservation of mass and energy (E=MC squared), we may logically postulate that no effort is wasted.
Reincarnation
It has been said that the most basic tenet of Buddhism is that all aggregates are impermanent.
From this, we can see the possibility that if, through effort, we evolve, when we (that is, our personality), are gone, what we have done is not wasted.
The building blocks that we leave behind for the next aggregates to coalesce are more evolved. How could this not be?!
This may be described as a form of re-incarnation, not in the layman’s conception of our personality re-coalescing (An I suspect extremely rare occurrence), but just that the ideation (Consciousness), as a form of energy, is conserved.
Again, as we begin to see ourselves as a part of something greater than ourselves, and begin to operate using this assumption, sometimes, when the intention is pure, energies available to the larger organism may become available for our use.
The mechanism of the Garudas traditionally guard against misuse, requiring a transcendent consciousness to operate within the sphere of the larger entity.
Namaste
