Welcome to the taichido monthly email Newsletter where we give you news about taichido and master Gary Robinson gives his thoughts on aspects (both practical and esoteric!) of tai chi and related areas.

In this issue...
This month Gary briefly looks at the difference betwen the two websites that come under the umbrella of taichido - our 'taichido.com' site, which is the main tai chi site, and his own 'doshi home' satellite that is more personal and is primarily buddhist. Buddhism is an integral part of tai chi - but do you need to be a Buddhist to practice it?

The big happening this month at taichido.com is that I am in the (hopefully) final throws of completely redesigning the front end of the site, which should make it far more streamlined, less clunky, and - lets face it - less wading around in such a long page. I am very excited about the radical changes that will appear as I near completion throughout this month, and hope that you are too - any feedback, let me know! (especially if there are problems...) Email me at mark@taichido.com if you have a view. As promised, too, we should be able to publish the next installment of the Tai Chi Netguide - basic warm up techniques with video animations, which are remarkably simple but very effective. Mark Allen, webmaster for taichido.com

Webmaster Mark's rebuild of www.taichido.com has become necessary to accommodate the vast and constantly growing resource that the site has become; whereas my own rebuild is just another attempt to reach the high standards of design, clarity and ease of use set by him. I have a long way to go to reach that standard, and I doubt that I ever will, however this does not concern me unduly because website-building is not my prime responsibility here (taichido) - it's Mark's! Thus I remain personally reassured that high standards are maintained, and new goals are constantly set by Mark's simple 'presence' and participation in Taichido in general.

These two sites do anyway serve completely different purposes and where Taichido leads, Doshi Home supports. The former is also designed and published to a worldwide audience/readership, whilst the latter is much more of a local affair with a homely atmosphere. What they do both have in common is the fact that each are completely free to view and both encourage the practice of Tai Chi and therefore self discipline ... therefore ... peace.

One other noticeable difference in the sites is the allocation and proportion of subjects on each. The Taichido website is orientated predominantly towards Tai Chi and all forms of support and encouragement of such, and any 'instructional' items are specifically designed to be accessible, understandable and useable 'at a distance' and as and when is fitting for the virtual or cyber-world.

The emphasis is different at "Doshi Home" and the contents reflect my personal interest and practice in Buddhism and those things 'in everyday life' important to perhaps only myself. I do hope that it is not 'only me' and I'm completely alone but then again, if so, this does not bother me unduly because it is 'who I am' and 'what I do' anyway and the studies on this site will continue regardless as cause and effect of my motivation.

This separation of subjects is in part necessary if only to make it abundantly clear that Tai Chi is not Buddhism, and you do not need to be or become a Buddhist to fully enjoy the benefits that Tai Chi offers; same as you don't have to do Tai Chi if you are a Buddhist!

The Buddha did however himself declare "there is no way" and therefore proposed that we each seek a 'middle way' (click here for article featuringThe Middle Way and the Noble Community). He then packaged this all together as 'The Noble Eightfold Way' (click here for article featuring The Four Truths and The Eightfold Way) and henceforth would in fact discuss only subjects and practices that might lead to universal peace through compassion; with 'right view' as the first essential of the eightfold way. This eightfold (not eight part) way (called "Noble" in reference to He that taught it and those that practice it) should not be regarded as a way of eight ways, but a unitary way that leads to emancipation/enlightenment, Heaven/Nirvana.

Whereas the Buddha said "there is no way" - the Tao Te Ching says: "the way cannot be spoken of," and in turn Taoism urges 'the way of least resistance' and to 'dwell in the gold - not the glitter'.

So where does one find this 'way of no way' or 'way least resistance'; what is is gold and what is glitter? Should we now look also towards Confucius and what he says, or towards the Martial Art code that defines itself as "Budo" meaning all and everything ?

There is a well known phrase: "When a finger points at the moon; contemplate the moon, not the finger". Does it really matter who said this, when and why? Are these not the very questions (who/when/why?) that encourage attention to the finger, rather than the moon? And what do we look at when two or three fingers point? It is counter productive to look (did we not just agree?) at one finger - so why look at three! ? We should of course continue to look in the direction that they together point. Look to the place where all of these ways intersect and you might find ... ... ... Nothing.

Is this 'Nothing' the "Way that Cannot be Spoken Of" ? If you do find the answer here - at the Heart of Nothing - then chances are it is ! Or then again, is this 'Nothing' the Wu Chi/No Mind of Martial Art ... or the "non-ado" of Taoism ?

You may yourself choose any code or practice to live by and there are many to choose from. Most, by their very nature present a pretty complete package, but none are in fact at all complete (or really even begun!) without some measure of motivation and self-discipline. I have no idea what motivates you or what your personal ambitions are, therefore I can urge no more than that you simply "Walk Your Path". If your intentions are good (not selfish or self-centered) and your view is not distorted by greed, prejudice or arrogance, then progress towards a peaceful planet for all is at least possible. For my part - I do try nowadays to make sure that articles bound for www.taichido are not littered by personal opinion and confirm only that what I teach is: "Tai Chi with nothing added and nothing taken away". Mark and I also call this "Taichido" or "The Way of Tai Chi". We claim no invention or creation but simply declare ... it's 'a' way !!!

Chinese New Year falls this year on 12th February. It shall be the year of the Horse. The last was Snake. There are no articles on any of of sites pertaining to these years because: a) one has not happened yet! and b) my increased involvement in the web activities of taichido has allowed little time for fanciful indulgence in such interesting but distracting myth and/or superstition.

Of all these previous articles, at least one was written with pen and paper and precedes any personal knowledge or experience of the Internet. Come to that, it precedes my friendship with Mark! It becomes clear that through his influence my style has changed and if I may say so myself - improved (practice!). In respect to the growth of readership of www.Taichido.com, I am happy to indulge less nowadays in matters of speculation or personal whim and try to avoid such distractions.

I do however thank you now for for participating with me in the 'distraction' of this newsletter and facilitating an 'encounter' as important and as personal as any other and invite you to join me in the enjoyment of whatever happens next. Walk Your Path !

Yours in Budo
and Gassho, Gary

Within the item "The Kuan Yin Prophecies" as below it is explained that to celebrate the returning of light as sybolised by the appearance of the fist moon of spring; Schools, Dojos, Temples etc. did at one time in China hang banners outside premises to state their aims and intentions for the upcoming year. "The Kuan Yin Prophecies" was our own cyber version of this which was symbolically 'hung' from our website in 1999.
As compensation for the lack of any update since please accept these (the attached) examples of Japanese calligraphy and translated saying as a small and token gift of gratitude in celebration of free and honest communication that would be impossible without You; and in anticipation of more 'mysterious' times to follow!

Further reading @ www.taichido.com> The Kuan Yin Prophecies Author/Design Mark Allen Self Defense - A state of Mind Doctrine that Exists in Martial Art Basic Zen Author Ray Wood Thoughts on a Chinese New Year Author Gary Robinson Further reading @ doshihome>yinyangjournal> Times Seen and the extensions Tiger Time and Time Again @ doshihome>taichido> First Full History of Taichido Founding Statement   image right: please accept this little sample of Japanese calligraphy

Don't postpone until tomorrow what can be done today