Another question and answer for # 8 of Master Liang's "musts."

 

Hi Sifu,

I'm curious about the explanation for number 8, "You must invest in loss".

I only have a vague sense for what this refers to. It feels broadly related to the concept of yielding and not focusing on/expecting immediate benefits. Is this the right line of thought? Is there a way to apply this "must" in the context of practicing the solo form for instance?

Thank you,

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for your question. At first look I was going to give the simple answer of yes, Master Liang was referring to Pushing Hands and all that we gain from our losses and failures. He always said in the beginning, it was better to lose and stay relaxed, than win and be tense. My upcoming book on Pushing Hands goes into great depth on this concept. Now, your addition was most profound and unlocked insight into a deluge of losses in my Solo Form!

How many times have I lost my place? Forgot where I was in the Form sequence, or transitioned to a different/wrong section or part?

When and where have I lost my balance? When was my step heavy and uncontrolled, or I had to ground my foot without fully kicking? When did tension rise up quickly, cause me to gasp, and make me "fall up?"

Where did I lose my breath, or hold my breath, or interrupt my breath? When did I override my wise breathing center to force an exhale when my body wanted to inhale? At what point did I let my breathing become short, shallow, uneven, and in my chest?

What made me lose my flow, my smooth movement, my reeling silk? When did I stop, splice, or disconnect, forgetting to use my whole body?

When did I lose my meditation, my focus, my intuitive movement? What made me “wake up” and say, where am I?

Here’s one that really threw me, which forms, practices, techniques, training methods, and even styles, have I lost? I used to know the required 10 Hand Forms of Northern Shaolin. Now they are gone…

So, with all this loss, what’s my investment? When I lose my place, I try to find out what made me lose focus, or shift from meditation and intuition to conscious thought? I see if I lose my place at the same part of the Form, or what external distractions call me from my meditative state.

Losing balance, I can check to see if my alignment was off, or if I hurried before I was ready.

Using breath as a gauge or meter, I can see when my movement is harmonious and my breath becomes automatic and perfect, or if my postures are disjointed, jerky, and bothering my breathing.

The times I’m not smooth, flowing, or effortless, I can learn from them and see what is off in my balance, mechanics, concentration, etc. and make corrections and refinements.

I have now learned what meditation, focus, and intuition FEEL like, through those times I lost it in my Solo Form. I noticed how my sight changed from when I was in a meditative state and then came out to my rational, analytical mind. When I stopped looking inward, lightly gazing at my surroundings, to when I switched to actively seeing, identifying, and naming what was outside me.

As far as the forms, techniques, and skills I used to possess, I know they are deep inside and still inform my body, mind, and spirit in some way. I just might not be able to show or explain as clearly as I can my main practices and skills.

Thank you again for your question, feel free for a follow up!