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Xu Xiangdong is a world-renowned master of Chinese martial arts, at the Bamboo Grove Buddhist Monastery in the suburbs of Beijing. More than a martial artist, Xu is a Chinese philosopher who studies the relationship between mind and body. I find his insights powerfully expansive for understanding and appreciating meditation. For example:
Additionally, this Buddhist koan style sentence presented to him by his teacher, continues to reverberate in his mind: “In which way do you see farther—with your eyes open or closed?” This koan reminds us that we all tend to believe that the eyes are the only way to see, but many times our mind is restricted by our body.
- What is the best state one can reach when practicing Chinese martial arts? Stillness—your body is not moving, but you are moving.
- Qi is the energy that moves the blood in your body, but qi follows what is in your mind. When you are happy, angry, or when you see someone you fancy, your body reacts differently.
- In Chinese martial arts, when you have the sword in your mind, you have it in your hand; when you don’t have it in your mind, even if you are holding a sword, that’s not a sword.
Additionally, this Buddhist koan style sentence presented to him by his teacher, continues to reverberate in his mind: “In which way do you see farther—with your eyes open or closed?” This koan reminds us that we all tend to believe that the eyes are the only way to see, but many times our mind is restricted by our body.
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