Doors, Doors, Doors………….

I am not a door salesman. I am an architect; and I am a Taichi practitioner. I started both careers 34 years ago in 1982.

But this is a topic for next time. This article is more ambitious. This is about culture.

Chinese culture is a culture of doors. Each door leads to a world of its own story. Finding the right door is the first step to an enchanting discovery.

Lao Zhi [ 老子 ] named the secret to the creation of capacity of emptiness “ the door to creation of marvels, and the root of heaven and earth” (谷神不死，是謂玄牝，玄牝之門，是謂天地根)

In the summary of his study of Yi Jin, Confusious [ 孔子 ] referred to the symbol of movement (乾) and the symbol of capacity (坤) “ door to Yi Jin “ (乾坤其易之門耶)

Zhuang Zhi [ 莊子 ]is the most radical of all. In his world there are rooms and spaces but no doors, no hinges. Zhuang Zhi was at the crossing over from Tao [ 道 ] to Zen [ 禅 ]. But his world was still not door free. He still had doors in mind. To be doorless was still a pursuit.

But even Zen cannot get rid of their doors. Doors of Zen opens to those destined. (佛門廣大,祇渡有緣)

And many…………………. Doors with labels, doors in disguise, doors they tried to get rid.

But the essence is not about the doors. The essence is the energy stored behind.

This, is culture.

Generations, some had stumbled into these doors, some traveled a life time trying to get to these doors, some find doors but couldn’t get in, some found marvels and color, some got enlightenment, some got stunned……………………..endless stories. New energies got in. Some energies got released only to inspire more new energies to build up. This, is culture.

Some cultures are more vibrant and outgoing; some are aggressive; some are subtle; some are timid.

All cultures had faced some glorious days, and some ages of darkness. Some survived; some become history. But the energies kept behind the doors stay well alive.

All cultures have gone through challenges because of the change of values, advancement of technology, destruction of warfare………just the same as we are going through today. I have heard much concern on survival of some, and one in particular, the Chinese culture, has caught much of my attention. Not simply because of my deep involvement in it but also because of my own growing concern in this area.

Some talked about presentation, some talked about packaging, some talked about changing materials to suit. But my mind is with the energies roaming alive behind those doors. These energies are genuine. Most of them are not inventions but discoveries. They are there if we see it and they are there even if we don’t see it. The real problem is that these energies have experienced too much misrepresentation. They do not need repackaging , reinterpretation, or justification. These energies need to be released with there full power and true color.

Their disadvantage is that they are not current. Their advantage is that they are unique because there are not current. Current or not is never the issue. Failure to reveal their true power is.

Anybody wants to do something about this must realize: the true value and messages behind these doors go way beyond the boundaries of words, images and notes. They are energies waiting to be released between the lines, at the end of the ink strokes, at the center of the concentration of all colors, and at the purity of whiteness where no color dares to stain.

Some energies, we can release; some we just have to pass on. Like fire.

I have faith. The quest will never stop.

Ben Chin, April 30 2016.

Note: to find out more about the author and his “ True Color of Taichi Studio “, please look up website: http://www.bentaichi.com