The Eight Gates Theory
and Practice
The
Principle of Polarity is the foundation of Taoist philosophical thought.
Everything is dual, everything has poles, everything has its pair of opposites,
and there is a yin and yang in all things. In Taoism the yin is seen as a
broken line __ __ the yang is seen as a straight line _____. The yin and Yang
represent the negative and positive dualism existing within all things, from
the protons and electrons of the atoms to the conscience and subconscious of
the human psyche.
The Taoist I
Ching also known as the book of change is the most ancient and profound of the
Chinese Classics, for over 4000 years it has been used as an oracle of fortune,
a guide to success, and a dispensary of wisdom. The combination of yin and yang
lines which form eight trigrams (the eight gates) that can be arranged into 64
hexagrams which are used to consult the I Ching.
The 64
hexagrams of the I Ching correspond to the sixty-four combinations found within
the genetic code. The I ching influenced James Watson and Francis Crick’s
discovery of the genetic code. The eight gates: Heaven, Earth, Fire, Water,
Thunder, Mountain, Lake and Wind also service as the foundation of the Taoist
art of Taijiquan (Tai Chi).
The circular
movement of the eight gates can be used for health and self-defense, while
doing my Taoist master training in the mountains of south Korea I learned an energy balancing
technique that makes use of two of the eight gates the electromagnetic field of
heaven and the biopsychic field of earth; the exercise is called Heaven and
Earth.
I will partner
with my friend and tai chi instructor Grand Master Abdul Musawwir, to teach an
eight week two part workshop titled “The Eight Gates Theory and Practice”, in
the spring semester at the City College Continuing and Professional Services
Program. In part one I will teach the Yin and Yang theory of Polarity and how
to consult and interpret the I Ching.
Grand master Musawwir will teach the Taoist practice of moving in the Eight Gates
for health and self-defense in part II
Call 212
650-6605 or 212 646 329-6727 for additional information on the spring workshop
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