Interesting readings
Philosophical Background
Tai Chi is deeply rooted in Taoist philosophy. It is good to have an overview of the different philosophies from that time. It was amazing that a series of saving religions appeared worldwide: Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, and later Islam. And this without any evidence that these had any connection with each other.
The Path
The Path: A New Way to Think About Everything
- By Professor Michael Puett, Christine Gross-Loh
This book gave me some clear insights into how Chinese philosophers think about learning to live a good life. You will be amazed by how these masters of more than two thousand years ago can teach us about the art of living. A sparkling introduction to Chinese philosophy
Living the Wisdom of Tao
Living the Wisdom of the Tao
- By Dr Wayne W. Dyer.
This book is a reference book, which you should not read from beginning to end. However, you will understand the depth of the book better after many years of Tai Chi exercises.
Nevertheless, this book offers you an opportunity to internalize and directly experience Tao Te Ching's great wisdom, a collection of verses authored by the Chinese prophet Lao-Tzu. The words Tao Te Ching translate as 'living and applying the Great Way.' Although just 81 short poems, the Tao encourages you to change your life by literally changing the way you think.
Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching - Lao Tsu
- By Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English
An elegant, two-colour, pocket-size edition of the bestselling spiritual classic in its finest translation.
The Tao of Physics
The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism
- By Fritjof Capra.
I read this book twice with 40 years in-between. Once during my time at the University of Physics in Antwerp and 40 years later. It was a shock to realize it was the same book.
The Tao of Physics brought the mystical implications of subatomic physics to popular consciousness for the very first time. Many books have been written in the ensuing years about the connections between quantum theory and the ideas of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism, but Fritjof Capra's text serves as the foundation on which the others have been built--and its wisdom has stood the test of time. Its publication in more than twenty-three languages stands as testimony to its universal applicability and its enduring significance. "Physicists do not need mysticism," Dr. Capra says, "and mystics do not need physics, but humanity needs both." It is a message of timeless importance.
T'ai Chi As A Path Of Wisdom
- by Linda Myoki Lehrhaupt
Unlike most Tai Chi books, which focus strictly on how to do the Tai chi forms, T'ai Chi as a Path of Wisdom presents a personal, practical view of this intriguing martial art. Lehrhaupt shares illuminating stories from her own life and the lives of her students that show how Tai Chi can be a vehicle for profound self-discovery and spiritual growth.
In learning to master each body posture, Tai Chi students often confront self-doubt, frustration, and the desire to compete and compare themselves to others—problems that arise in daily life. Lehrhaupt shows how these and other obstacles provide valuable opportunities to deepen awareness and recognize the striking continuities between practice and everyday life.
Each section of the book includes practical exercises designed to enhance students' understanding of Tai chi movements, and a helpful appendix that answers many frequently asked questions about Tai Chi training, such as how to find a teacher and how to balance practise with family life. Full of valuable insights and guidance, T’ai Chi as a Path of Wisdom will be a helpful companion for all students of this increasingly popular martial art.
The Five Elements - Wu Shing
- by Dondi Dahlin
The Five Elements brings the wisdom of an ancient healing system to modern readers, helping them understand themselves--why they do what they do--better.
Dondi Dahlin shows us that we are all born with individual rhythms that go beyond the influence of our genes and upbringing. The five elements originated in ancient Chinese medicine over 2,000 years ago--when scholars theorized that the universe is composed of five forces: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Understanding these elements helps us stay in balance physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. By explaining the efficacy of wood, the depth of water, the joy of fire, the compassion of earth, and the wisdom of metal, this book helps people understand themselves and form lasting connections to others, answering the age-old question of why we do what we do.
I Ching, the Book of Changes
- by James Legge
I Ching was among "the five classics" edited by Confucius, and the philosopher is reputed to have wished for fifty more years of life to study it. The Book of Changes, as it is known in the Western world, dates back to before 1,000 B.C. and ranks among the most important works in the history of Chinese culture. The ancient text has provided inspiration to countless spiritual seekers of many persuasions.
One of the few divination manuals to survive into modern times, I Ching is of enormous significance to the history of religions and philosophy. Its profound influence extends to the worlds of business, psychoanalysis, literature, and art. This volume is the standard English translation by the great Sinologist James Legge, prepared for the series Sacred Books of the East. It contains the basic text attributed to King Wan and his son, the Duke of Chou, Appendixes usually ascribed to Confucius, an informative Preface by Legge, and extensive footnotes.
The Five Elements - Wu Shing
- by Dondi Dahlin
The Five Elements brings the wisdom of an ancient healing system to modern readers, helping them understand themselves--why they do what they do--better.
Dondi Dahlin shows us that we are all born with individual rhythms that go beyond the influence of our genes and upbringing. The five elements originated in ancient Chinese medicine over 2,000 years ago--when scholars theorized that the universe is composed of five forces: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Understanding these elements helps us stay in balance physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. By explaining the efficacy of wood, the depth of water, the joy of fire, the compassion of earth, and the wisdom of metal, this book helps people understand themselves and form lasting connections to others, answering the age-old question of why we do what we do.
Scientific Background
Tai Chi has been in an obscure corner for many years, along with many other spiritual movements. Fortunately, much has changed in this last decade. Science has come to meddle with the acclaimed benefits of Tai Chi. Good thing, too.
Although it is not easy to evaluate this martial sport only with the mind, our brains are only a (small) part of our entire body. So to understand Tai Chi, you have to DO it.
Despite everything, many good publications and books have already investigated a solid foundation of this exceptional sport.
The Field by Lynne McTaggart
During the past few years, science and medicine have been converging with common sense, confirming a widespread belief that everything--especially the mind and the body--is far more connected than traditional physics ever allowed. The Field establishes a new biological paradigm: it proves that our body extends electromagnetically beyond ourselves and our physical body. It is within this field that we can find a remarkable new way of looking at health, sickness, memory, will, creativity, intuition, the soul, consciousness, and spirituality.
The Field helps to bridge the gap that has opened up between mind and matter, between us and the cosmos. Original, well researched, and well documented by distinguished sources, this is the mind/body book for a new millennium.
"One of the most powerful and enlightening books I have ever read. A magnificent job of presenting the hard evidence for what spiritual masters have been telling us for centuries."
-- Wayne W. Dyer
My Morning Routine : How Successful People Start Every Day Inspired
Chosen as one of Amazon’s best business books of 2018, one of the Financial Times books of the month upon release, and one of Business Insider’s best business books to read this summer.
Some routines are all about early morning exercise and spartan living; others are more leisurely and self-indulgent. What they have in common is they don’t feel like a chore. Once you land on the right routine, you’ll look forward to waking up.
This comprehensive guide will show you how to get into a routine that works for you to develop the habits that move you forward. Much like a Jenga stack is only as sturdy as its foundational blocks, the choices we make throughout our day depend on the intentions we set in the morning. Like it or not, our morning habits form the stack that our whole day is built on.
Whether you want to boost your productivity, implement a workout or meditation routine, or just learn to roll with the punches in the morning, this book has you covered.
-- Benjamin Spall , Michael Xander
The Miracle Morning - by Hal Erlod
What's being widely regarded as "one of the most life-changing books ever written" may be the simplest approach to achieving everything you've ever wanted, and faster than you ever thought possible
'Hal Elrod is a genius and his book The Miracle Morning has been magical in my life' Robert Kiyosaki, bestselling author of Rich Dad Poor Dad
What if you could wake up tomorrow and any - or EVERY - area of your life was beginning to transform? What would you change? The Miracle Morning is already transforming the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world by showing them how to wake up each day with more ENERGY, MOTIVATION, and FOCUS to take your life to the next level. It's been right here in front of us all along, but this book has finally brought it to life.
Are you ready? The next chapter of YOUR life-the most extraordinary life you've ever imagined-is about to begin. It's time to WAKE UP to your full potential...
'Every once in a while, you read a book that changes the way you look at life, but it is so rare to find a book that changes the way you live your life' Tim Sanders, New York Times bestselling author of The Likeability Factor
'To read The Miracle Morning is to give yourself the gift of waking up each day to your full potential. It's time to stop putting off creating the life you want and deserve to live
-- Hal Elrod - 2019
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain
Did you know you can beat stress, lift your mood, fight memory loss, sharpen your intellect, and function better than ever simply by elevating your heart rate and breaking a sweat?
The evidence is incontrovertible: aerobic exercise physically remodels our brains for peak performance.
In SPARK, John Ratey, MD embarks upon a fascinating journey through the mind-body connection, illustrating that exercise is truly our best defence against everything from depression to ADD to addiction to menopause to Alzheimer's.
Filled with amazing case studies (such as the revolutionary fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, that has put the local school district of 19,000 kids first in the world of science test scores), SPARK is the first book to explore comprehensively the connection between exercise and the brain. It will change forever the way you think about your morning run.
-- John J Ratey with Eric Hagerman
Widen the Window : By (author) Elizabeth Stanley
Training your brain and body to thrive during stress and recover from trauma.
A pioneering researcher gives us a new understanding of stress and trauma, as well as the tools to heal and thrive.
This groundbreaking book examines the cultural norms that impede resilience in America, especially our collective tendency to disconnect stress from its potentially extreme consequences and override our need to recover. It explains the science of how to direct our attention to perform under stress and recover from trauma, exploring how our survival brain and thinking brain react to traumatic situations differently.
By directing our attention in particular ways, we can widen the window within which our thinking brain and survival brain work together cooperatively. When we use awareness to regulate our biology this way, we can access our best, uniquely human qualities: our compassion, courage, curiosity, creativity, and connection with others. By building our resilience, we can train ourselves to make wise decisions and access choices - even during times of incredible stress, uncertainty, and change.
With stories from men and women, Dr Stanley has trained in settings as varied as military bases, healthcare facilities, as well as her own striking experiences with stress and trauma, she gives readers hands-on strategies they can use themselves, whether they want to perform under pressure or heal from a traumatic experience, while at the same time pointing our understanding in a new direction.
Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife
By: Dr. Eben Alexander
The #1 New York Times bestselling account of a neurosurgeon's own near-death experience--for readers of 7 Lessons from Heaven.
Thousands of people have had near-death experiences, but scientists have argued that they are impossible. Dr. Eben Alexander was one of those scientists. A highly trained neurosurgeon, Alexander knew that NDEs feel real, but are simply fantasies produced by brains under extreme stress.
Then, Dr. Alexander's own brain was attacked by a rare illness. The part of the brain that controls thought and emotion--and in essence makes us human--shut down completely. For seven days he lay in a coma. Then, as his doctors considered stopping treatment, Alexander's eyes popped open. He had come back.
Varia
Simple things you can use and/or make you laugh.
Adjustable Tripod
What could help in following the training is a simple tripod. I will make a video on this topic soon.
