conversations.from: human
conversations.value: a description for a book titled Teachings of the Tao about Taoist, Teachings, Tao with the genre: Politics & Social Sciences, Philosophy
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: In Teachings of the Tao , translator and Taoist practitioner the author demonstrates the vital dynamism of Taoism as it extends over more than 2,000 years of Chinese history. the author offers brief, manageable selections from a wide array of fundamental Taoist literature that addresses such topics as meditative practice, calisthenics, and the fantastic biographies of Taoist masters. The haunting shamanic poems, devotional chants, and instructions on ethics set this collection apart from others. Teachings of the Tao is an excellent way to learn more about Taoism without getting mired in wordy full-length treatises.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Reverse the sentences.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Teachings of the Tao is an excellent way to learn more about Taoism without getting mired in wordy full-length treatises.. The haunting shamanic poems, devotional chants, and instructions on ethics set this collection apart from others. the author offers brief, manageable selections from a wide array of fundamental Taoist literature that addresses such topics as meditative practice, calisthenics, and the fantastic biographies of Taoist masters.In Teachings of the Tao , translator and Taoist practitioner the author demonstrates the vital dynamism of Taoism as it extends over more than 2,000 years of Chinese history
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: the first five paragraphs for this book
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: Teachings of the Tao
  It is said that Chang San-feng originally devised a set of thirteen movements, which was later expanded to one hundred and eight by his students. Therefore, in the literature of t'ai-chi ch'uan we find many references to the Thirteen Postures, although the complete t'ai-chi set today consists of one hundred and eight moves.
  The following excerpts are chosen to illustrate how t'ai-chi ch'uan, an internal martial art, can be used to cultivate physical health and mental clarity.
  Use the mind to move the ch'i to let it sink. Then the ch'i can be absorbed into the bones. Use ch'i to move the body, letting it happen naturally. Then ch'i will follow the mind with ease. Let the spirit be directed upward, and nothing will feel cumbersome.
  What is meant by being suspended by the top of the head? It means that intention and ch'i should be lively and movement should be agile, rounded, and light. What is meant by alternating the substantial and insubstantial? It means that each movement should be grounded in relaxation and stillness and fully directed toward one point.
  When you stand, the body should be balanced and comfortable. The feet and arms should be ready to respond to the eight directions. Move the ch'i like a pearl circulating nine times. The energy should flow in the body without obstruction. The movement should be as strong as steel tempered a hundred times. The foundation should be impregnable. Move with the stealth of a ghost. Be focused like a cat stalking a mouse. Be still like a great mountain. Move like a flowing river. Hold your force like a pulled bow. Let the force out like a speeding arrow. In its indirect path maintain straightness. Hold your force and only let it out after the opponent has made his move.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: another paragraph
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: When you stand, the body should be balanced and comfortable. The feet and arms should be ready to respond to the eight directions. Move the ch'i like a pearl circulating nine times. The energy should flow in the body without obstruction. The movement should be as strong as steel tempered a hundred times. The foundation should be impregnable. Move with the stealth of a ghost. Be still like a great mountain. Move like a flowing river. Hold your force like a pulled bow. Let the force out like a speeding arrow. In its indirect path maintain straightness. Hold your force and only let it out after the opponent has made his move.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Add another sentence about focused, stalking.
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: When you stand, the body should be balanced and comfortable. The feet and arms should be ready to respond to the eight directions. Move the ch'i like a pearl circulating nine times. The energy should flow in the body without obstruction. The movement should be as strong as steel tempered a hundred times. The foundation should be impregnable. Move with the stealth of a ghost. Be focused like a cat stalking a mouse. Be still like a great mountain. Move like a flowing river. Hold your force like a pulled bow. Let the force out like a speeding arrow. In its indirect path maintain straightness. Hold your force and only let it out after the opponent has made his move.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: the last five paragraphs
conversations.from: assistant
conversations.value: What is meant by being suspended by the top of the head? It means that intention and ch'i should be lively and movement should be agile, rounded, and light. What is meant by alternating the substantial and insubstantial? It means that each movement should be grounded in relaxation and stillness and fully directed toward one point.
  When you stand, the body should be balanced and comfortable. The feet and arms should be ready to respond to the eight directions. Move the ch'i like a pearl circulating nine times. The energy should flow in the body without obstruction. The movement should be as strong as steel tempered a hundred times. The foundation should be impregnable. Move with the stealth of a ghost. Be focused like a cat stalking a mouse. Be still like a great mountain. Move like a flowing river. Hold your force like a pulled bow. Let the force out like a speeding arrow. In its indirect path maintain straightness. Hold your force and only let it out after the opponent has made his move.
  Force should come from the spine. The feet should move according to the body's movement. Let go and then hold on. Coming and going should be like a cascade. Alternate advance and retreat. Only in softness can you be firm. Only when you can breathe can your movement be agile.
  Cultivate the ch'i and let it rise. Then there will be no problems. Let the force be indirect and hidden, and there will be plenty to spare. Let the mind be the commander. Let the ch'i be the herald. Let the spine be the pivot. In the beginning, aim to expand. Later, aim to contract. Then you can hide your action.
  Thus, it is said, "Start first with the mind. Then follow with the body." Relax the abdomen. Draw the ch'i into the bones. Calm the spirit and still the body. Let this be planted in your mind. In every movement there is stillness, and in every stillness there is movement. Moving forward and backward, let the ch'i run along your back, drawing it into the spinal column. Internally, the spirit is stable. Externally, the composure is leisurely. Walk like a cat. Move like pulling silk. Focus and attention are in the spirit, not in the breath. If it is in the breath, there will be problems. If there is effortful breathing there is no strength. However, when there is no breathing, the breath is pure and strong. Then the ch'i will be like a wheel and the spine will be like the axle.