In the practice of T’ai Chi, getting all the parts of the body to work together requires a lack of physical tensions between the various parts.
This easily observable fact stems from the blocking of energy flow through any areas of tension within the body.
A simple example of this might be seen in that if one’s shoulders are tense, this tension would inhibit the free flow of energy that begins with a hip movement, then travels through the spine and shoulders and on through the arms and hands and their various parts.
The Dalai Lama has suggested that this same understanding of how energy flows between the parts of an organism may be applied within the arena of interpersonal interactions in order to facilitate the more efficient flow of energies in this realm or area.
T’ai Chi requires some sense of relaxation at the junction between the body’s parts. This relaxation is often created (or allowed) by finding balance within the gravity field. (If you relax without balance, you fall over, or tense up, so balance is required before relaxation is possible to maintain).
In a similar way, at the inter-personal level, the relaxation of tensions that may be created by mistrust or widely differing viewpoints can be worked through by finding some Common Ground.
At this point one may wonder what, if any, commonalities might be found between people harboring radically different priorities that lead them to often opposing agendas.
Just as gravity is the same for all of us when it comes to physical movement, the cement that allows us to speak the same language here is that all people, (Us and Them), want to be happy.
In therapy, they train therapists that an agreement, or contract, is advantageous in order to work with a client. Without this, little can be done.
The Dalai Lama has said (talk attended by me, University of Miami) that when he wanted to make some suggestions to President George Bush, He first needed to build a relationship, so that his thoughts might be heard.
As one of my mentors (JB) would say, “If they don’t like you, they won’t agree with you, even if you are right.”
So in the Dalai Lama’s example, first friendship, then trust, then the possibility of an agreement are built, and all of this begins with finding some common ground.
Many times words may trigger emotional, sometimes counterproductive responses on both sides.
A smile and calm demeanor may sometimes defuse a volatile situation by nonverbally communicating this common ground of both sides wanting the same thing, to feel better with each other.
As Mr. Chow would say, “Every movement is T’ai Chi, every brush stroke is Art.”
Stay Healthy!
Namaste,
Daniel
