A delightful variety of entries related to or arising from over thirty years of taiji and related practices. This is his second book of his meditations and it is well worth the investment-- More than a personal journal of daily meditations, 101 Reflections is instructional as well as inspirational. . . . What makes this set of reflections most valuable, however, is that while Gilman shares his expertise, experience, and philosophical approach; his is not a didactic voice. While he is not afraid to draw his own parallels between taiji practice and living fully in one's life, his intention seems to be only to share, not to insist . . . . it offers something for everyone. . .is deep, lyrical, and grounded in practicality.
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About the Author
Michael Gilman, a long time teacher in the human potential movement, was born in San Francisco, California in 1943. After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Theatre Arts, he worked as a television director, actor, and dancer. Mr. Gilman began his studies of Tai Chi Chuan in 1968 with Master Choy Kam-Man in San Francisco. Master Choy's father, Choy Hok Peng, a long time student of Yang Chen Fu, is credited with introducing Tai Chi to America in the 1940's.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Elements of Style,
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This review is from: 108 Insights into Tai Chi Chuan, Revised: A String of Pearls (Paperback)
When I was teaching college English, I had my copy of Strunk and White at arm's length, at all times. I feel the same way about Gilman's book. It is simple, straightforward, and profound. I have practiced Uechi-ryu karate for 25 years, and written a book about trying to learn an eastern art with a western mind. Two years ago, I hit one of the plateaus, familiar to every student of martial arts, in which progress seems to stop. My teacher said that tai chi was related to our circular style and might offer me some insights. It took about six months of daily practice for my body to approximate the 108 positions- the level Gilman calls "advanced beginner's mind. . . . a place, where we don't have to think about what movement comes next or how to do it." After that, both my karate and tai chi took off! I found Gilman's book about a year ago. It is just what the title claims. I have probably read a few hundred books and articles on martial arts, and I am content if I find one or two insights that can improve my practice. Gilman's book is full of insights:"If you have a thought in your head: you cannot see, you cannot hear, you cannot taste, you cannot feel, you cannot think. In order to do any of these things completely, the mind needs to be quiet and still, open and receptive. Thoughts block reality because they are of the past. . . . We can, of course, do many things at one time, yet we are not fully present if thoughts are also present. Practice Tai Chi until the thinking mind disappears into the movement." Sure, I know that. But I forget it everytime I practice karate or tai chi. Instead of living in each movement, I drift to the movement that is about to occur, or, worse, to thoughts and feelings that float through any meditative experience. And every bit of drift robs movements of their martial arts integrity. Gilman reminds me to keep my balance, to move, to breath, to stay centered. He gives me images to help: "Imagine you are enclosed in a large bubble that extends about one-and-a-half feet beyond your body. When you do your form or do Push Hands, work at the edge of this bubble. Don't let your opponent inside. Think of it as your castle. Once outside your castle you are quite vulnerable. When playing Push Hands, make sure you have good reason to move your troops outside the castle. Also, be very careful when letting your opponent inside. . . ."ÿ
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like Having Your Tai Chi Teacher in your Back Pocket,
By Gregory T. Candy (Newington, CT USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: 108 Insights into Tai Chi Chuan, Revised: A String of Pearls (Paperback)
This book is great supplement for someone who is currently studying tai chi, and for the accomplished tai chi player as a both a review and an aid if they in-turn teach. For me, it is like having my teacher in my back pocket. The book collects all the kinds of observations my teacher makes in class about form, performance, or chi while we're doing it. Gillman takes these little gems of advice and compiles them into wonderful and articulate collection. The subtitle "A string of pearls" is in that spirit and an appropriate subtitle.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Should be part of every tai chi practitioners library.,
By Tony S (Stuart, Florida USA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: 108 Insights into Tai Chi Chuan, Revised: A String of Pearls (Paperback)
This book offers 108 cogent insights into many aspects of Tai Chi. This is NOT a step-by-step training guide and should not be thougth of in that way. There are many training books on the market that address the details of each form. This wonderful book helps you better understand the higher principles of Tai Chi and how to apply them through your "play."
Every serious Tai Chi practitioner should have a copy of this book in their library. I found this book along with my copy of The Way of the Owl to be great companions. These resources help you to achieve a deeper understanding of our life energy and how it applies to our daily lives.
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