In Taoist alchemy, Wu Chi is described as "that which precedes
Yin and Yang ". If we understand that Yin and Yang represent all that is dynamic in life, all movement and change, then Wu Chi is that which exists before and independent of change, something constant and eternal. This is one of the most difficult of Taoist
principles to address because it's an attempt to define something that exists outside of the realm of concept or logic.
In a practical sense, Wu Chi represents a sense of stillness within movement. There is an actual experience of being able to move utilizing qualities of ease, timing, and balance in which the experience is very dynamic, and yet essentially, at one's core, there is a feeling of stillness.
In the
Classics there is a teaching that states, "Be still like the
mountain". Lao Tzu taught the principle of "Wu Wei " which is the essence of the state of Wu Chi. Wu Wei is described as the "action that comes from non-doing". Once again a difficult idea to discuss, but possibly one that each of us can identify with in some past experience of being in just the right place, at just the right time, with just the right action. In such an
situation there is the sense of doing very little but accomplishing a lot. This would be a touch of Wu Chi.
For many of us raised in Western culture the philosophy and life strategy of T'ai Chi is very different than our upbringing. In fact I feel that one of the primary benefits of T'ai Chi is on the level of challenging attitudes and past conditioning. These old conditionings cause us to view life in a very limited way. For example, one of the basic tenets of Western culture is that of work ethic. We are taught to work hard, placing the emphasis on what one does, one's actions. How very different than the Taoist emphasis which is placed on who one is, one's state of being. The feeling is that when that
state of inner being is balanced and calm, then one is productive without a great deal of doing or effort. This hints at the master level of accomplishment known as Wu Chi.
