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The Soul (uppercase) is eternal. The soul (lower case) is temporary. Both are real, but one is our true Self while the other is fleeting. Holding tightly to what is temporary while ignoring what is permanent is defined as foolish by the sages. Spirituality exists to elevate us above materialism. And yet, as temporarily embodied beings, our physical forms are also important and should not be ignored. Balance is required.

The material body is the vehicle through which we journey to our destination during the present phase of our ongoing existence. Taking good care of it is therefore vital to the well-being of both our upper and lower-case souls.

Hence, the diverse traditions place great emphasis on what we eat and how we live while we are within the body. The Abrahamic religions often place more focus on material actions than on spiritual ones, believing that material actions empower spiritual ones. Taoism follows a similar assumption. Some others often place the spiritual above the material. As the New Testament translates the words of Yeshua's brother James (James 2:18):

Someone may say, ‘You [claim to] have faith and I have [good] works; show me your [alleged] faith without your works [if you can], and I will show you my faith by my works [that is, by what I do].’

While in the body, we use that vehicle as an instrument to achieve our desires, including our spiritual aspirations. There are many methods known to tune our instrument. We have spoken of Hatha Yoga in India. It can be very effective. There is another ancient system that we can utilize, known as Tai Chi Chuan or Taijiquan. It arose in antiquity among the Taoists. It is a Chinese martial art and mind-body practice that involves slow, flowing movements patterned on nature, controlled breathing, and a meditative state of mind. Tai Chi effectively promotes physical and mental well-being. Like Omnism and Sanatana Dharma, Tai Chi transcends religion. The "Tai" (太) means "supreme," "Ji" (极 or Chi) means "boundary," and "Quan" (拳 or Chuan) means "fist" or "movement." Taijiquan refers to a method of movement that cultivates and frees us of our boundaries. This includes negating religious power. The Chi also refers to the vital energy or life force that flows within each body and throughout the multiverse. Chi, therefore, sets the 'boundaries' of material existence and seeks to free us from them. Without chi or life energy, physical existence ceases. Both "prana" (Sanskrit for "life force") and "chi" (Chinese for "vital energy") refer to the essential life force or energy that flows through the body and maintains good health. The two simply originate from different cultural and philosophical traditions, namely yoga/Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, respectively. For all practical purposes, they are the same.

In the Greek and, subsequently, Christian conception, chi is the pneuma. In Hebrew, the nephesh level of the soul carries the same essential meaning as the Greek pneuma. Chi, therefore, is the biblical ruach or wind of life.

In John 3:6 and 3:8, Yeshua (or Jesus) makes an interesting point with the word pneuma. The word can mean "spirit" (in lowercase) or "Spirit" (in uppercase) or "wind" (in lowercase or uppercase), depending on the context. Nicodemus, to whom Yeshua was speaking, would have been very familiar with the concept. Wind, or breath, is often symbolically associated with the Ruach HaKodesh, or Holy Spirit of God, in biblical thought (Job 33:4; John 20:22; Acts 2:2). The term would have reminded Nicodemus of the dry bones teaching at Ezekiel 37:1–14 which states that the wind blows across dry bones and brings them back to life, causing them to be "born again" literally and metaphorically.

In verse 7 of John 3, Yeshua explained that as a rabbi, Nicodemus should understand the necessity of spiritual rebirth. "Flesh" and Spirit are opposed to each other, so the only way for a person to replace material consciousness with spiritual consciousness is to achieve a new nature by being metaphorically "born again." By purifying the Chi! The work of the Spirit requires purification of the body and its life airs, pneuma or chi. This process requires many physical rebirths or reincarnations (gilgul neshamot in Hebrew), until one is ready for spiritual rebirth and elevation of the lowercase soul to it true uppercase identity. Accomplishing spiritual rebirth is the goal of all religious and spiritual methods of Light. Tai Chi empowers one to intentionally elevate the chi and use it for physical and spiritual healing.

Let’s watch a short introductory video on Tai Chi from Begin with Breath Tai Chi:

I recommend the Begin With Breath Tai Chi classes. They are a regular part of my daily practice.

Excerpts from Lao Tsu in Tao Te Ching:

The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao.
The name that can be named is not the eternal name.
The nameless is the beginning of heaven and Earth.
The named is the mother of the ten thousand things.
Ever desireless, one can see the mystery.
Ever desiring, one sees the manifestations.
These two spring from the same source but differ in name;
this appears as darkness.
Darkness within darkness.
The gate to all mystery.

The highest good is like water.
Water gives life to the ten thousand things and does not strive.
It flows in places people reject, and so is like the Tao.

In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep into the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In daily life, be competent.
In action, be aware of the time and the season.

No fight: No blame.

Carrying body and soul and embracing the One,
Can you avoid separation?
Attending fully and becoming supple,
Can you be as a newborn babe?
Washing and cleansing the primal vision,
Can you be without stain?
Loving all everyone and ruling the country,
Can you be without cleverness?

Understanding and being open to all things,
Are you able to do nothing?
Giving birth and nourishing,
Bearing yet not possessing,
Working yet not taking credit,
Leading yet not dominating,
This is the Primal Virtue.

In the pursuit of learning, every day, something is acquired.
In the pursuit of Tao, every day, something is dropped.
Less and less is done
Until non-action is achieved.
When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.
The world is ruled by letting things take their course.
It cannot be ruled by interfering.

Continue

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* John of AllFaith January 09, 2025

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