Words of Wisdom --- Philosophy II
By David Chen. January 2005.

• Taiji is always open to everyone,
  But not everyone is ready for Taiji.

• If you want to be relaxed, no one can stop you.
  If you don't want to be relaxed, no one can help you.

• Open your mind and broaden your vision in order to appreciate the differences in the world.
  One cannot describe an ocean to a frog in the well.

• One can open a locked door by breaking in---
       a display of power.
  Or by getting a key, though it would take a longer time---
       a display of wisdom.

• You can learn all the secrets in one hour.
  Or you can work on one principle that
       will benefit you a lifetime.

• Everyone has the wisdom.
  However,
       You need the curiosity to discover it.

• A teacher's responsibility is to point out the direction.
  It is the student's responsibility to drive there.

• Taiji practice is like driving a car.
  One can drive it for racing, traveling, daily commuting,
       or just an easy ride on Sunday mornings.
  We're all driving the same car,
       but have different pursuits behind the wheel.

• You may be driving slowly in the valley;
       just follow the map; eventually you will get there.
  If you enjoy circling in front of a cheering audience,
       you are not going anywhere.

• Learning how to push is a technical study.
  Learning how to yield is rather a philosophical study.

• Only Taiji philosophy is able to consolidate
       different physical interpretations of the art.

• Taiji training can help us out run the danger.
  Taiji philosophy can help us to not become a target.

• Technical guidance is meant to measure and explain.
  Philosophical guidance is meant to inspire and cultivate.

• To mix a hard technique with a soft style training
       is like mixing sugar and salt in a glass of water.

• Softness is not an external display of the skill,
       it is an internal quality derived from the skill.

• Softness is like a gentle wind---
       with the capability of developing into a storm.

• Taijiquan Classic stated:
  "First be extremely soft, then become extremely powerful."
  It is very difficult to be extremely soft; however,
       once reached, there's no need to become extremely powerful.

• There's an extremity in strength and power---
       as in the physical world.
  There's no extremity in softness and yielding---
       as in both the mental and physical world.

• There's a soft quality to skill,
       and there's a powerful quality to skill.
  The two qualities should not compete;
       the potential of each should be cultivated.