This excerpt is from Sun's "A True Explanation of the Meaning of Martial Arts."

I translated it several years ago for a class, some may find it interesting.

"When practicing martial arts, one must not be stubborn. If you focus only on acquiring power, you will be trapped by power. If you focus only on acquiring qi, you will be trapped by qi. If you focus only on becoming heavy and rooted, you will be bound by it. If you focus only on becoming light and free, your spirit will be scattered because of it.

Because this is so, by practicing forms smoothly you will naturally acquire power. When you are centered and balanced internally, you will naturally create qi. When the spirit of the intent returns to the dan tien, your body will naturally be as heavy as a mountain. When your spirit and qi unite as one, they will transform into the void and you will naturally become as light as a feather.

Because of this, you must not focus on any one aspect to the exclusion of the others. In this way, over time, you will achieve what you seek. Having something as if it were nothing, being full as if you were empty, not forgetting what you are doing yet not interfering with the process; in the midst of non-forcing, you will achieve what you seek without focusing upon it. Follow the Way without care, that is the sum of the method."

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Nice! Thanks Tim.

that's great. Coincidentally, I stopped focusing on power, qi, strength and working out... I am now almost as heavy as a mountain.

Shane

I am almost as strong as a hill.

Happy Holidays Tim,
Thanks for posting this. I really found it of interest. Two specific lines stood out: the one about not being stubborn and the one about not focusing exclusively on any one aspect of things.

It is a good example of wisdom which applies to both martial arts and to life in a broader context.

take care,
Brian

Happy Holidays to you and Elizabeth Brian.