Let me dispel right away any hope of miracles by using Chi energy, or by performing Taoist rituals. The advantages derived from Taoism come from its philosophical principles, not from mystical elements.
I am afraid that, for many people, the concept of Taoism is insolubly linked to the concept of Chi energy because that’s the first thing they have ever heard about Taoism.
Martial arts TV shows and movies are partially to blame for this, but it is easy to understand their rationale: There is great cinematic value in the images of Taoists performing exercises to allow Chi energy to flow more freely and smoothly.
Chapter 42 of the Tao Te Ching enunciates the idea behind Chi energy, namely, that the Tao gives birth to every element, entity, or creature in the world. Chi energy is the dynamic aspect of the Tao, the impulse that directly influences events in real life.
In Plato (427-347 BC), we find references to “demiourgoi,” in the literal sense meaning artisans or craftsmen, and in the figurative sense, meaning the force that created the universe.
One generation later, the writings of Aristotle (384-322 BC) speak of a prime mover that stands at the beginning of every chain of events.
Tomas of Aquinas (1225-1274) took over Aristotle’s prime mover concept and linked it Christian divinity. As a result, the concept of divine energy or divine influence in Christianity is similar to the concept of Chi energy in Taoism.
Chuang-Tzu and Chi energy
Why does Chi energy possess a great cinematic value? Why does it appear so often in martial arts TV shows and films? I am referring to Tai Chi exercises and Chinese acupuncture.
Both possess great evocative, emotional value because they are linked to the well-being of individuals; both project an aura of exoticism and ancient wisdom.
While Tai Chi exercises aim at helping Chi energy circulate better within our body, acupuncture aims at re-establishing the flow of energy where it has been interrupted, so that our body can heal itself.
The practice of Tai Chi and acupuncture are intriguing and visually impressive. That’s why they constitute the ideal calling card for Taoism, especially for people who have never heard of Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu.
The Tao Te Ching and the stories by Chuang-Tzu contain plenty of praise for energy flow and plenty of warnings against stagnation. For instance, they speak highly of rivers that flow freely and people who show flexibility and adapt themselves to new circumstances.
Chuang-Tzu recounted the story of a butcher who possessed remarkable skills. By using smooth movements, and without forcing his knife, the butcher was able to cut an ox to pieces in little time. Chi energy, the ability to move in accordance with the Tao, was the key to his extraordinary performance.
The Tao Te Ching and Chi energy
Chapter 78 of the Tao Te Ching explains how to employ Chi energy to our advantage. Softness, flexibility, and adaptability play the central role in this respect. It means knowing when to take a step back and yield to prevent pointless conflicts.
Lao-Tzu frequently employed the metaphor of water to give advice on ethics. The wise individual does not waste his time and energy for no reason, he explained. When confronted with an obstacle, says Chapter 78 of the Tao Te Ching, we will do better if we figure out how to dissolve it or circumvent it.
Taoism teaches that Chi energy expresses itself through two poles, named Yin and Yang. The Yin encompasses the cool and dark aspects of reality, and the Yang the warm and bright.
When Chi energy flows freely and smoothly, the Yin and Yang will alternate. Their polarity helps life move forward and keep Chi energy circulating. If, for whatever reason, the energy stops flowing, Yin and Yang will become unbalanced and go out of sync. Such unbalances tend to create dire problems.
In practical terms, Taoists will steer away from situations or people that embody rigidity or stagnation; they will circumvent exaggerated constraints instead of attacking them frontally; or they will try to dissolve those constraints by adding water (in a metaphorical manner) to the environment.
Practical applications of Chi energy
Personally, I find it very helpful to assess projects in terms of energy flow. When required to make a difficult choice, I will take pen and paper, make a list of the key elements, and assess each of them in terms of Chi energy.
Will this element help the project flow better, faster or more economical, or is it going to make everything more difficult, slower, and more expensive? Will it add energy to the project, or will it draw it to a standstill?
The elements falling in the first category (better, faster, less expensive) correspond to the concept of Yang, and those in the second category (harder, slower, more expensive) correspond to the Yin concept.
I am not sure if Lao-Tzu, Yang-Tzu and Chuang-Tzu would endorse my approach to using Chi energy in daily life, but I am more involved in projects of all sorts than in Tai Chi exercises and Chinese acupuncture.
Traditional Taoist stories show their heroes employing Chi energy to breathe deeper, achieving harmonious movements in walking or other daily activities, or accelerating their learning in any area of life.
The daily applications of the Taoist Chi energy concept are limitless, and I can only encourage the reader to give it a try. The Yin and Yang can prove useful as tools for understanding the world, and for improving our individual life.
If you are interested in putting effective ideas into practice in all sorts of situations, I recommend my book “Consistency: The key to permanent stress relief.”