Giving and Receiving in T'ai Chi By William Ting (Ting, Kuo Piao)

The concept of "give and take" is familiar to everyone. However, most may not realize how vital this relationship is to the process of continued survival. Giving and receiving is a universal law expressing the physical manifestation of the principle of yin and yang. Receiving embodies yin, giving expresses yang.

If there is not a mutual relationship between giving and receiving, things cannot exist. Absolutely everything as we know it embodies this law.

When giving and receiving are inharmony, things flourish. If this relationship is unbalanced or disrupted, disorder develops, and things fail to thrive.

We are all familiar with the living cycle of plants. Plants must receive water and sun in order to develop and grow. In turn, they give oxygen, food and beauty back to their environment.

This interaction of giving and receiving must be harmonious. Too much or too little of either action will upset the balance and cause conflict and collapse.

Look again at the example of the plants. If given too much water, plants will rot. If they do not receive enough water, plants will wither and die.

At the extreme end of either spectrum, the ability for the plant to yield oxygen and food will be impaired and those that depend upon their bounty will suffer the consequences of this imbalance.

All existence in this universe, as we know it, is a web of interconnection and interaction as a result of the association between giving and receiving. Because the two must interact, they form, by nature, a dynamic relationship and as such are the causes of movement, adjustment and change.

We adjust for balance through the interaction of giving and receiving. When the state of balance is most equal, their action is circular, cyclic and evolving, thereby producing continuance and union.

In the absence of balance, their interaction becomes predominately one sided and separate. If allowed to continue as such, it will eventually reach a limit and come to an end. If there is too much giving and not enough receiving, exhaustion develops. If there is too much receiving and not enough giving, waste and rot set in. Either way, if harmony is not restored, things begin to perish. Pay heed to the signs of deficiencies and excesses; they are the symptoms of imbalance.

Extreme yang becomes extreme yin and vice versa, often dramatically. As the fury of a storm adjusts atmospheric pressure and earthquakes release energies trapped deep inside the earth, so also does tyranny beget revolution and corruption lead to reform.

All relationships seek balance. We need to learn how to make adjustments and create harmony before imbalances lead to extremes. This is done through the interaction of giving and receiving.

Because giving and receiving are expressions of natural law, they are fundamental to the philosophy of qigong and T'ai Chi. This concept did not originate with T'ai Chi, but because T'ai Chi is based on the Tao, or the "natural way," in practice we seek to embrace the concept.

T'ai Chi and qigong always express the circular, spiraling motion, because this is the best way for giving and receiving to happen simultaneously, in the same proportion, at the same pace.

The purpose of studying and practicing T'ai Chi and qigong is to bring our whole being into unity, balance and harmony. Through this journey, we should experience not only improved health and longevity, but this balance should produce the same ingredients of abundant energy, vitality, strength and integrity necessary for the martial arts as well.

This should not be a casual endeavor on the part of the serious practitioner; it requires diligence on many levels. Not only should your practice of T'ai Chi and qigong physically embody giving and receiving in form and posture, it should also be utilized mentally and energetically as well.

Mind, Body and qi are the three absolute essentials for existence as we know it and, as such, comprise the first level of the "3 Levels and 9 Steps" as set forth by my teacher, Lu Ji-Tang.

Mind

Mind is the first step and governs all the rest. The mind absorbs concepts and ideas and, in turn, provides information for the body to receive. The body acts upon this information in many ways; through movement, sensation, or emotion and in return, gives feedback to the mind. Through this exchange of giving and receiving, the mind and body communicate with each other.

Very seldom are mind and body instantly in accordance, so first efforts may be slow and clumsy as we experience a back and forth process of adjustment.

When the body can accomplish precisely what the mind conceives, this is an indication that a match or understanding has been reached between them and therefore, the exchange of giving and receiving is more direct and spontaneous.

Since the mind has the power to influence, it is important in practice that we encourage the mind to be calm. When the mind is calm, the body relaxes, creating a stage or atmosphere for feeling the sensation of qi (energy).

Greater awareness is a product of a calm mind and, as a result, puts the mind in a much better state to manage qi to maximize its benefits. However, even though the mind does have the ability to control and direct qi according to the mind's discretion, it is my suggestion that it is always best to encourage qi to circulate on its own. By calming the mind and relaxing the body, we create the conditions for opening the path- ways through which qi can enter and flow. In this way, all parts of the body are flushed with qi. The parts that suffer the greatest need will have the opportunity to absorb the most qi while allowing the rest of the body to receive benefit from this circulation.

Body

Our body is the physical container for our being in this world. As such, it is how we gain experience, defined both as knowledge and also as the capacity to feel.

When we practice T'ai Chi or qigong, we cultivate a knowledge and awareness of yin and yang and thereby distinguish the feeling between what would seem to be contradictory perceptions such as strong and weak, light and heavy, forward and backward, receiving and giving. This discernment is essential to effectively manage the coordination of opposites into an achievement of unity and balance. Ultimately, the entire body should harmonize yin and yang, receiving and giving.

What is not always understood is that each individual part of your body should also feel receiving and giving at the same time for the body to achieve complete wholeness and only then will you realize, "if one part of the body moves, every part moves together."

At first, this may be a bit difficult to understand, but it is essential. Let us look at it on a circle diagram; it is always easier to grasp concepts that are simple and basic.

Illustration 1 shows a circle with an arrow marked "R" for receiving and "G" for giving, going around the outside. In this example, you can see that both arrows are going in the same direction, which correlates to the way you would turn a circle or a ball; the whole thing rotates together.

Most people can visualize this and transfer the concept to the body's movement. From a whole body standpoint, it is not too hard to imagine the body turning with the right side giving (extending) while the left side is receiving (yielding) or vice versa. However, this is just an elementary stage, and the true essence of T'ai Chi is much deeper.

Illustration 2. Now within the circle are arrows going in the opposite direction, still marked "R" and "G". This illustrates the principle of connection. For instance, even though your hands may be moving separately they still should feel as if there is a connection between them.

 Illustration 3 shows that even though one side is receiving and the other giving, within each portion there should still be both giving and receiving. Visualize dividing each half into quarters and it is still the same thing; each portion has both giving and receiving. No matter how many times you divide it, the principle remains the same.

Illustration 4 reveals that because each portion has absolute giving and receiving, the whole has achieved greater concentration of detail and total unity. A person who can accomplish this will reveal a high level of skill.

Let us consider these diagrams again as they pertain to the body in the play of push hands. If the left side is receiving, (yielding, defense), the right side should be giving (expanding, offense) at the same time. However, each portion within the whole must embody both receiving and giving simultaneously and while this is harder to comprehend and apply, the skill lies within depth and detail.

Consider the push hands scenario in which the left side is described as the receiving portion. While the left side is receiving, within the left side should still also be giving. The same phenomenon should be found, in equal proportion, on the opposing right side. Thereby, you establish connection within yourself through your opponent. Ultimately, your goal is to distinguish giving and receiving in every part of your body.

For instance, in the portion between the shoulder and the fingers, the shoulder is receiving and the fingers giving. Between the shoulder and elbow, the shoulder is receiving, and the elbow is giving; between the  elbow and wrist the elbow is receiving and the wrist is giving; between wrist and fingers, the wrist is receiving and the fingers are giving.

However, let us further clarify exactly what is happening in regard to receiving and giving, between the wrist and the fingers, between the elbow and the wrist, between the shoulder and the elbow, between the shoulder and the fingers, or between any two body coordinates you would like to name.

What is the dynamic that is happening between the receiving and the giving? It is Absorption and Expansion. These are concepts you should assimilate to make it much more difficult for an opponent to either land on you or escape from you. In application, it should not matter where your opponent makes contact with you. At every point, you should be able to distinguish giving and receiving.

This is what is meant by the translation of the classics, "Clearly differentiate the substantial from the insubstantial." This one phrase has been greatly misunderstood in that too many students interpret "differentiate" as dividing substantial and insubstantial into separate places. Instead, we should identify substantial and insubstantial as a unified implementation of two aspects of one function happening within the same time and place.

As yin is within yang and vice versa, so should substantial be within insubstantial and vice versa. Substantial represents yang and insubstantial embodies yin. For the purpose of this article, replace the word substantial with giving and insubstantial with receiving. Now the phrase would read, "Clearly identify giving from receiving."

Although we classify giving and receiving as opposites, if you are following this discussion, you should realize that qualities of giving and receiving depend upon each other and, in doing so, create circulation and expansion, not separation. This interplay between giving and receiving is also necessary to create the expansion (giving) and fullness (receiving) that is essential for generating peng jin, which is "Inside supports the outside; outside protects the inside." If this is not happening, imbalance will manifest itself as either stiffness or collapse. Refer to my article Emptiness and Fullness that appeared in T'ai Chi Magazine Vol. 24, No.4, for an in depth discussion of this concept.

Qi (Energy)

Qi is what activates and animates us. We receive a measure of qi, (called prenatal qi) from our parents. After birth, we continue to receive qi, (referred to as postnatal qi), provided by our environment, from countless different sources, most notably from air, food and water.

Through our ability to absorb and assimilate qi (receiving), we can be productive (giving). When we practice T'ai Chi and/or qigong, we intensify our ability to receive qi from earth and heaven by calming the mind and relaxing the body.

Please note that whenever I refer to heaven it is not to suggest a religious context, but rather a poetic reference to the environment that surrounds us.

To facilitate the flow and circulation of qi further, we practice expansion, which is a form of giving. Refer to my article Relaxing and Expanding, (T'ai Chi Magazine Vol.25, No.1.)

Because of this relationship, the practice of T'ai chi and qigong has demonstrated to be an effective discipline for training not only in the martial arts, but also for preserving health and well-being.

For health, utilizing giving and receiving assists the communication between Mind, Body and qi. Muscles relax, joints open, breathing deepens and energy increases.

From a martial aspect, this communication is just as essential. For example, in the play of push hands, if you "give" too much, your opponent may steal your momentum, and you will lose your root. However, if you 'receive" too much, your opponent will find your center and capture your root. You basically uproot yourself either by overextending or by collapsing. On the other hand, if you want to get to your opponent's center, you do have to let them "in." Like dangling bait before a fish, just when they think they have it, you hook them with it instead. The trick is not to reveal your own center.

By simultaneously expanding, sinking and turning, you absorb (receive) what they give to you and return (give) their force back to them. If giving and receiving are performed separately, as in redirect first, then strike, it becomes two distinct motions. From a martial aspect, there is no unity. To save time and gain the advantage, yielding (receiving) and striking (giving) should combine to be one motion.

Ultimately, the ability to be aware of receiving and giving, the ability to feel receiving and giving and the ability to utilize receiving and giving, reveals the level of unity between Mind, Body and qi. To be of true lasting value, however, we need to take the benefit of balanced giving and receiving out of our practice space beyond the T'ai Chi classroom and bring it into our daily lives.

Whether you are aware of it or not, the process of “give and take” is inherent within every relationship. Social relationships between husband/wife, parent/child, employer/employee, teacher/student, etc., can prove to be particularly problematic, yet by applying a few simple guidelines, we can bring the benefit of giving and receiving to absolutely everything we do. 

Giving and receiving must be equal. You cannot receive more than you can handle, nor can you give more than you have. For example, the student/teacher relationship must match. A teacher should balance what they give to the level a student can receive. Giving and receiving should be one motion; that is what engenders unity. The concept is circular; always expanding, sinking and turning. Being limitless, there is no beginning and no ending.  

Giving and receiving is continuous. During movement, the interchange may be obvious. However, in stillness, it must still be there, albeit subtle, in mental awareness, body integrity, breathing and through circulation of blood and qi. This is the embodiment of "stillness within motion; motion within stillness."

In summary, the concept of receiving and giving is a fundamental aspect of the universal principle of yin and yang. Although, yin and yang has come to represent duality, they are but opposite features of one entity, whether it is an object or a concept. As such, they must be mutually dependent upon each other to define each other.

Our ability to form perceptions is based upon this relationship between yin and yang. We also exist in the diverse realm of time and space, and so yin and yang cannot be a static relationship but rather, ever evolving.

When yin and yang are most equally balanced, health and serenity prevail. The farther away yin and yang separate from balance, the more chaos and stress is likely to arise. Giving and receiving express the dynamic nature of yin and yang and are the means by which we process and adjust.

Harmonizing yin and yang is emphasized in the practice of T' ai Chi and qigong. Achieving this harmony is a result of bringing the interaction between giving and receiving into closer balance.