First of all, I would like to thank the people who are constantly visiting and promoting the site. The Philippine Tai Chi Network, although small, has helped a few people who have been searching for Tai Chi mentors in the Philippines.
It gives me joy to read people's emails and queries. This just proves that the Tai Chi community in the Philippines should continue to come together to promote this art. In this regard, I am opening a new link where we can post queries, announcements, etc... we are a community now and with that, I would like to provide a place where everyone can participate and exchange ideas. In the new PTN forum, not only can we post and answer questions but also give each other support. For the practice of Tai Chi is not something detached from ourselves... the practice of Tai Chi sinks and is manifested in the way we live.
Tai Chi is more than what is seems to be... it transforms one's heart, one's mind, and one's soul. This blog site cannot offer the people what Tai Chi really provides... this site however, provides the gateway to put the seeker's quest to the next level.
Would you like to take the red pill or the blue pill? The choice is yours.
Click here to view the PTN FORUM
A Message from Earl
The Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior
Soc: Knowledge is not the same as wisdom.
Soc: ... You know how to clean a windshield?
Dan: Yes, why?
Soc: Wisdom is doing it.
Soc: There's no higher purpose... service to others.
Soc: You need to start asking better questions.
Soc: Everyone tells you what to do and what's good for you. They don't want you to find your own answers. They want you to believe theirs.
Dan: And let me guess you want me to believe yours.
Soc: No. I want you to stop gathering information from outside yourself and start gathering it from the inside.
Dan: What are you, a part of some cult or something?
Soc: People are afraid of what's inside and that's the only place they're ever gonna find what they need.
Soc: Why can't you sleep? Is it because maybe late at night, when all the noise dies down and you're lying there in the bed, and there's nobody around but you, then maybe, you get a little scared? Scared because suddenly everything feels so empty.
Soc: People think they are their thoughts. They think they are and it brings them all kinds of sadness.
Dan: I'm not what I think?
Soc: Of course not.
Soc: The mind is just a reflex organ. It reacts to everything. Fills your head with millions of random thoughts a day. Non of those thoughts reveal any more about you than a freckle does at the end of your nose.
Soc: That's what your training even your life is all about. Developing the wisdom to apply the right leverage in the right place at the right time.
Soc: Take out the trash.
Dan: You take out the trash.
Soc: The trash is up here (points to Dan's mind). That's the first part of your training. learning to throw out everything you don't need in here.
Soc: There's never nothing going on.
Soc: Take out the trash, Dan. The trash is keeping you from the only thing that matters... this moment, here, now. And when you truly are in the here and now, you'll be amazed at what you can do and how well you can do it.
Soc: Sometimes you have to loose your mind before you can come to your senses.
Dan: What kind of a warrior trains by sitting around scrubbing toilets?
Soc: When you become a warrior, you learn to meditate in every action.
Dan: Scrubbing toilets?
Soc: Letting go of attachments. Like your pride. Giving up your addictions.
Dan: Yeah, name one thing I'm addicted to.
Soc: Talking. Especially interrupting. Knowing everything, when in fact you know nothing.
Dan: You really think that this is going to expand my awareness of anything?
Soc: All you have is right now...
Soc: First realization of a warrior: Not knowing.
Soc: Emotions are natural like passing water.
Soc: Everything has a purpose... it's up to you to find it.
Dan's realizations:
1. Anger, hatred, violence... they're really just fear. Fear then, not money is the root of all evil.
2. Chaos Theory is correct except that chaos is actually not chaotic at all but perfectly controlled.
3. If you lend somebody $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
4. When making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich you must first apply the peanut butter, not the jelly to the bottom half of the bread.
5. The people that are the hardest to love are usually the ones who need it the most.
6. There's never nothing going on. There are no ordinary moments.
Soc: There is no "better". You will never be better. Same way you'll never be less than anybody else.
Soc: The habit is the problem. All you need to do is be conscious about your choices and responsible for your actions.
Soc: Every action had it's price and it's pleasure. Recognizing both sides, a warrior becomes realistic and responsible for his actions.
Soc: Death isn't sad. The sad thing is most people don't live at all.
Soc: When you feel fear, use the sword. Take it up here and cut the mind to ribbons. Slash through all those regrets and fears and anything else that lives in the past or the future.
Soc: A warrior does not give up what he loves. He finds love in what he does.
Soc: A warrior is not about perfection or victory or invulnerability. He's about absolute vulnerability. That's the only true courage.
Soc: The accident is your training. Life is choice. You can choose to be a victim or anything else you'd like to be.
Soc: A warrior acts, only a fool reacts.
Soc: There's no starting or stopping, only doing.
Soc: Nearly all of humanity share your predicament, Dan. If you don't get what you want, you suffer. And when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold onto it forever.
Soc: The gold is a craving. "If only I had it, I'd be happy." Can't you hear it in there?
Soc: You don't surrender you dreams. You surrender the one thing you never have and you never will -- control. Accept that you don't control what will happen to you... that you may or may not and that you are something exceptional either way.
3 Rules of Life (by Dan)
1. Paradox: Life is a mystery. Don't waste time trying to figure it out.
2. Humor: Keep a sense of humor, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure.
3. Change: Know that nothing stays the same.
Dan: The journey's what brings us happiness. Not the destination.
Dan: When you get up there you make every move about the move.
Soc: Where are you?
Dan: Here.
Soc: What time is it?
Dan: Now.
Soc: What are you?
Dan: This moment.
Who is Socrates? Click here to find out.
The Peaceful Warrior
Movie Synopsis (from IMDb):
The story is about a young gymnast Dan Millman played by Scott Mechlowicz, and his struggle to make sense of his life in which he is successful but still unfulfilled. By chance he meets his "Yoda"/Schaolin priest/Boss Paul who helps him "git his haid straight" after which he goes on to be comfortable with his athletic prowess albeit not exactly olympic caliber. There is a lot of jumping around scene wise during which we don't know what is dream (part of getting his head straight) or reality showing his maturing personality. He suffers a debilating physical injury which forces him to work very hard to get back where he was ability wise earlier, but much wiser for successfully negotiating his transformation to wise old Grasshopper. This is almost a "Rocky IX" type movie with a wonderful happy ending.
Watch the Trailer here!
Who is Dan Millman? (I got the info from his site, visit Dan Millman's site for more!)
Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.
After an immersive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan's work took form, influenced by four radically different mentors (besides the man he called Socrates), which he refers to as The Professor, The Guru, The Warrior-Priest, and The Sage.
The Professor provided theory, methods and practices to illuminate the body and mind. The Guru revealed a radical path of surrender to the Divine. The Warrior-Priest offered empowering, practical tools that transformed Dan's teaching work. Finally, The Sage brought him back to everyday reality, enabling Dan to serve the real-world needs of all those seeking greater clarity, meaning, purpose and direction in their lives.
The Peaceful Warrior's Way, expressed as Dan Millman's writings and teaching work, reflect his past but represents a whole, greater than the sum of his parts or his past -- an original teaching that continues to evolve over time.
Dan's books, including Way of the Peaceful Warrior, and The Life You Were Born to Live, The Laws of Spirit, No Ordinary Moments, and The Journeys of Socrates have inspired millions of readers in 29 languages worldwide.
His keynotes, seminars, and workshops span the generations to influence men and women from all walks of life, including leaders in the fields of health, psychology, education, business, politics, sports, entertainment, and the arts.
Dan and his wife Joy live in northern California. He has three grown daughters and two grandsons.
Tai Chi Sword Magic
I got my Tai Chi sword and began studying the 32 sword form. Here's an important thought I got from Tai Chi practice (you can even use this in your everyday life):
It is not important to get your sword in a "magical" way. What is essential is how you hold it, how you use it, how you handle it, how you take care of it, and how you appreciate it when you actually have it in your hands as you execute the forms. That's where the magic truly is!
Here is a scene from the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon". Enjoy and be inspired!
Where to buy a Tai Chi Sword in Manila
When I decided to buy my very first Tai Chi sword, I was imagining it to be magical -- just like when Harry Potter bought his wand. I kept saying to myself that the sword will find me and that it will be one of the happiest moments of my life.
So on a very humid Saturday afternoon, I walked the streets of Binondo, Manila. A friend told me that there is a shop called SAMYE marketing where they sell Tai Chi swords. He told me to look for Mang Ruben... and so I did. After a few hours walking with no sense of direction, I began to pray that Mang Ruben appear before me like an angel. Unfortunately the only thing that appeared before me is an orange peeling from one of the fruit carts in the market.
I was desperate to see the shop. But after more than 2 hours of walking, what I found is a place called Oversea Jewelry and Giftshop located in Salazar St. -- I came back to it after scanning the streets of Salazar and Masangkay once more in search for Mang Ruben.
Since I had come along way to Manila to buy a Tai Chi sword, I gave up my search for SAMYE marketing and got one from the shop at Salazar St. instead.
As I was walking, I passed by a small bookstore beside Xinhua Bookstore and realized that it could be Mang Ruben's store. I looked around (feeling a bit regretful that I didn't ask) while waiting to be assisted by a woman (who by the way turned out to be Ruban's wife!). I wasn't able to see the sword selection but I think they have better stocks. Also, they have a big selection of Tai Chi resource materials (which are all in Chinese) like magazines, books, and VCDs. The woman also mentioned that Ruben is also a practitioner so if I were you, check out their store and let Ruben assist you when buying for a sword.
I got lost because I asked the wrong people from the wrong streets. Silly I know. But I had to be lost for two things: First, so I could share with you now two stores, instead of one, which sell Tai Chi swords. Second,so I could remind you all to ask when you get lost!
The prices for the sword ranges between P1,200 to P1,500 (while the collapsible sword ranges from P250-P800). They also sell fans for P400-P450 each. Ask for a bargain because they are nice enough to offer you a good deal.
Here are the addresses:
SAMYE Marketing
(Beside Xinhua Bookstore),
Masangkay St., Binondo, Manila
> Look for Ruben Tang
> Simple store with CDs, books and magazines
about Tai Chi (in Chinese)
Oversea Jewelry & Giftshop
805 Salazar St., Binondo, Manila
Tel Nos: 241-4520/241-3316
Mobile Number: 0917-8331129
> Look for Jackson Hong
