The Tao of Mind

What’s behind
The name taiji?

Some call it health
And some say it dance

But it began as
A martial art

In a little village in
Northern China called Chen

Somehow its popularity
Like Gresham’s Law predicted

Has driven the true essence
Underground such that

What is normally seen today
Is no more different

From other martial arts of repute
So why the fuss over the name?

Apparently the body of writing
Called Taiji Classics say that

Use intention, not use strength
Is the pinnacle of skill in taiji

Rather than just rely on
Plain ole biomechanics

Which is just as effective
But maybe doesn’t sound

As glorious to the snobbish
And the intellectually inclined

But really if the Classics be true
What then is the essence?

And this is where we have
Lots and lots of fun arguing

Over what is taiji and
What not is taiji

Somehow I feel that one
Can argue till the cows come home

But this argument will never run its course
Like a long and winding river

So rather than waste time over semantics
Find yourself a school that transmits

The teachings properly and learn it well
Then perhaps you can at least settle

For yourself once and for all
What this vexed question

Of what taiji really is
Once and for all