Interconnectedness, Life and Balance
Tai Chi is commonly known as a moving meditation and ‘internal’ martial art from the Far East. The philosophy on which it is based (and practically embodies) is Taoism. In Taoist philosophy, interaction and interconnectedness are the basis of a reality which is completely alive and beckons us to become more present, take responsibility and offer respect to the delicate nature of our relationship with the environment.
Such a deep philosophy sits well with the true essence of the martial art that ‘isn’t’. It is said the greatest fighters never fight; the greatest warriors never need to take up arms. In other words, violence and aggression is not needed when one can respond to a situation with understanding and skill.
Over the last 19 years, through Tai Chi, I have been lucky enough to glimpse a deep acceptance of the way things are and respond to situations without the need to become personally invested in the outcome. To be able to transcend my self-serving nature and respond with a new found clarity and sense of connectedness, I need to let go of my reacting nature and allow myself to respond with more awareness and dare I say it – intelligence. When I am feeling despondent or resistant to being positive, Tai Chi has enabled me to transform negative feelings and thoughts through its fluidity and gentle power – leaving me wondering why I had been so reluctant in the first place.
It is perhaps Tai Chi’s transformative power that I am most interested in. It can give people an accessible way of lightening the mind, strengthening the body and learning to cooperate with others. When I work with organisations, such as Unilever or leaders within the NHS, my main intention is to bring people into a quiet, receptive state, one that is alive and relaxed at the same time. From that place I can explore interaction and cooperation, communication beyond form and self-care techniques based on Tai Chi’s ‘sister art’ – Qigong (chi kung).
One of the ideas within the Tai Chi field is the idea (and reality) of ‘Qi’ – a special subtle energy that gives life to everything and animates everything in a myriad of ways. This Qi connects each living thing in a web of cause and effect – highly complex in nature yet beautifully simple in principle.
Tai Chi is a huge resource for us now as we face horrendous problems in relation to our collectively destructive effect on the earth. I recently attended Meg Wheatley’s course on leadership at Schumacher, in which she confirmed my belief in the huge need for spiritual disciplines during these times. She said that leaders she has worked with over the years can only survive the current pressures by having a spiritual discipline – without this she said they would quite simply burn out.
It is true to say that if we are not resourced, balanced and intelligently calm we can not be of much use to others, or the planet. For some, their discipline is spending time in nature and reflecting, for some it could be swimming or even walking, for some it is Buddhist meditation (both myself and Meg Wheatley are practising Buddhists). The connection between self-care and intelligently helping humanity and planet is made clear to me via Tai Chi. It perfectly embodies a way of being that supports awareness of the subtle and a gentle (yet determined) state of mind that helps us to persevere in these challenging and sometimes dark times – bringing light and insight.
One of the most interesting Tai Chi lessons I ever had once was from a tree. I was practising in the countryside of Wiltshire about 12 years ago and afterwards sat down to reflect and enjoy the scenery. As I did so, I noticed the branches of a majestic copper beech flow in a summer breeze. It was one of these golden moments when, with a calm and lucid mind I was able to witness the completeness of movement shared between the yielding of the branches and the power of the wind – inseparable, playing upon each other with an awesome harmony that was both inspiring and reassuring at the same time.
Trees really embody Tai Chi – their roots deep in the earth, the branches and crown reaching out into the sky and connecting with the cosmos, linking the whole. Perhaps that is why we love them so much – they seem to embody the union of heaven and earth and represent so much to our environmental and spiritual movements.
Matthew Rochford, June 2010
Participant on Leading in Times of Chaos, May 2010 with Margaret Wheatley
http://www.taichination.com/
Transformation, from person to planet and from self to service
Trees have through the ages become icons of strength, intelligence, honesty, and heritage. Some of the most important aspects of us, as people and as a community of whatever size and species, are mirrored by these impressive co-habitants of the planet. But, we have to become the things we want to see.
Schumacher College offers space for this transformation; it allows us to contribute to the work that is needed, to truly ‘be the change we wish to see in others’. The College is also a place of balance, marrying intellectual study with the practice of service. You are invited to test yourself – your skills, assumptions and knowledge – and then put this to use within the context of the external challenges we see all around us. This is a personally transformative process. Within the framework of a global alumnus, this approach has potential for planetary change.
The depth of this transformation is hard to describe and impossible to quantify. In times such as these where a natural reaction to crisis and stress is anger and violence, the transformation at Schumacher is the powerful yet non-violent counter. It is indeed about the response needed to these crises through understanding and then skill.
I feel that more than ever, as we approach 20 years of service, that this whole world transformative approach supporting responses to crisis through understanding and skill is needed now more than ever. Tai Chi for me has been instrumental in seeing the body as whole and in need of service. So Schumacher does for the mind. It’s true to say that if we are not resourced, balanced and intelligently calm we can not be of much use to others or the planet. Schumacher provides a place to take care of the self – in preparation of service to others and the planet. (Professor Brian Goodwin, who died last year, would close morning meetings at Schumacher by saying ‘We are in service to each other and the planet.’)
For the last 19 years Schumacher College has been diligently exploring how best to service the world through transformative learning. Starting with the person is a necessity. Each person comes to Schumacher as a complex individual, unique and with their own rich narrative. The understanding and skill necessary for transformation on a global level requires a transfer of attention. Each one has to convert, if they have not already, their self-service into the service of each other and the planet .
As we approach 20 years of service, this whole-world transformative approach is needed now more than ever, supporting our response to crisis through understanding and skill. It’s true to say that if we are not resourced, balanced and intelligently calm we cannot be of much use to others or the planet. Schumacher provides a necessary place to take care of the self.
So perhaps now is the time to re-iterate with confidence what is so special about Schumacher in these times. It is transformative – truly transformative. To shift from the personal to the planetary, even on the individual basis is immense. How is it done? From where does this power come? It is an intricate mixture of some of the finest and most generous teachers in the world, the people that embody the community -volunteers, facilitators, staff and of course the participants themselves, the place – to embody the needs and talents of all those within it, the land, the food, the time… One could go on.
Schumacher should be a special place to all those that want to use it. Each person that passes through will receive their own special recipe for transformation. For some there are distinct moments of change, others have an experience which is only understandable once back amongst family and friends, or their work. For others the experience may never be ‘understandable’ but their internal resources are suddenly stronger, helping them in service. Schumacher is therefore here for us as people to ‘become’ what our planet needs us to be.
Anna Lodge, July 2010
Participant on Creative Partnerships with Cynthia King, April 2007
Marketing Manager, Schumacher College
Anna wrote this piece in reply to that written by Matthew. Would you like to write the next link in the chain of stories about transformation and how Schumacher College links to your work, life and passions? Please let us know: 500 – 800 words on a theme of your choice to inspire others who have been or want to come to Schumacher that you would like to share with the wider community through our online resources. Email: publicity@schumachercollege.org.uk
