The Vatican II sect parish of St. Mary's in New Jersey advertises the following:
Tai Chi is an art,
and slow-moving meditative exercise from China to improve health and well-being,
and is based on the ‘Law of Nature’ which integrates body and mind.
The flowing by movements unlock powerful inner strength, the power for healing and wellness.
Barbara Schaflin is a Certified Instructor and member of the Tai Chi for Health Institute, specializing in Tai Chi for Arthritis for Fall Prevention; Tai Chi for Diabetes; Tai Chi for Memory; and Tai Chi for Rehabilitation.
Developed by Dr. Paul Lam, a world leader in the field of Tai Chi for Health improvement, his Tai Chi for Health programs are supported by organizations and government bodies around the world including the Arthritis Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), and the National Council on Aging (NCOA.org).
Over 500 medical studies show that Tai Chi improves many aspects of health, from calming the mind to reducing high blood pressure, improving balance to prevent falls, relieving arthritis pain, helping people with heart conditions and diabetes, and much more. More importantly, Tai Chi brings a general sense of well-being.
Would you like to learn a low impact exercise to improve your overall health and well-being? Why not give it a try! Participants can choose to stand or sit during class.
Classes are held at the PARISH OF SAINT MARY, One Phalanx Road, Colts Neck, N.J.
(See stmaryscoltsneck.org/tai-chi-for-health).
Tai Chi is occult. Yet some, like Paul Lam, are making it out to be "different" and acceptable to the Catholic religion in his "revised form." Many in the Vatican II sect are falling for it, and some parishes (like St. Mary) are leading unsuspecting souls into danger. This post will expose the dangers of Tai Chi--equally present in both its "pure" and "revised" forms.
(N.B., I take no credit for the information presented. All I did was compile sources, both online and in print, and put it into a terse, readable post to warn of the occult danger of Tai Chi---Introibo).
What is Tai Chi?
Tai Chi (pronounced “tie chee”) is a mind-body practice that originated in China as a martial art. Also known as “moving meditation,” a person doing Tai Chi moves his body slowly and gently, while breathing deeply and meditating. Practitioners believe Tai Chi helps the flow of an alleged vital energy or life force called “chi” (pronounced as "key" or "chee" and sometimes spelled "ki" or "qi") that supposedly regulates a person’s body, mind and spirit. Chi must be able to move freely for good health. Tai Chi also aims to harmonize "yin/yang," which are believed to be two opposite and complementary forces in the universe.
The motions of Tai Chi are designed to imitate motions found in nature, such as the movements of animals, thereby uniting human beings with the natural world.
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes for Health say that while accounts of the origin of Tai Chi differ, the most consistent explanation concerns a 12th century Taoist monk (the pagan religion Taoism--pronounced "Dow-ism") named Chang San-Feng (or Zan Sanfeng) who observed the movements of five animals – a tiger, dragon (!), leopard, snake and crane. He concluded that the snake and the crane, through their movements, were the most able to overcome strong, unyielding opponents. Chang developed an initial set of exercises that imitated the movements of these animals. This form of movement has been practiced in China for centuries and is still a daily routine for tens of thousands of people there, especially the elderly.
It was first introduced to the United States in the early 1970s and has since grown in popularity. Tai Chi proponents are trying to make it the new Yoga — an “exercise” that will draw many people because it seems exotic and healthy. Tai Chi sessions are usually group classes that last about an hour. Typically, an instructor guides the class through a series of 20 to 100 Tai Chi movements that together comprise a "form." A form can take up to 20 minutes to complete. Each form has a nature-based name that describes its overall action—such as "wave hands like clouds" or "grasp the bird's tail."
While performing these movements, students are asked to focus on the point just below their navels, believed to be the center from which chi flows. The teacher encourages the class to perform all movements in a slow, meditative manner and to focus on deep breathing. At the end of the class, there is usually a wind-down exercise, relaxation, and meditation
Practitioners recommend practicing Tai Chi for about 15 to 20 minutes twice daily at home, since it is claimed that regular practice is essential for mastering the forms and achieving lasting results.
People practice Tai Chi for a variety of reasons; to improve their physical condition and sense of balance, ease pain and stiffness (particularly from arthritis) and improve sleep. Like yoga, Tai Chi is pagan in origin and occult.
Tai Chi and the TAO
Tai Chi is based on belief in the Tao, which is the religion of Taoism, a religion that arose from early Chinese shamanism. In the ancient Chinese religion of Taoism, the impersonal Tao is the source of all that exists. However, the Tao supposedly cannot be described in words. In the famed Taoist text from the 3rd/4th centuries B.C., the Tao Te Ching, it states “the Tao that can be spoken of is not the Tao”. (Logic has no place in Eastern pagan religions. Saying anything about the Tao, even claiming it cannot be described, is, in fact, describing it).
The Tao is defined as literally ‘the path’ or ‘the way.’ It is a universal principle that underlies everything from the creation of galaxies to the interaction of human beings:
The Tao (or Dao) is hard to define but is sometimes understood as the way of the universe. Taoism teaches that all living creatures ought to live in a state of harmony with the universe, and the energy found in it. Ch’i, or qi, is the energy present in and guiding everything in the universe.
(See education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/taoism/).
Following the Tao involves the principle of Wu-Wei:
Wu Wei means living by or going along with the true nature of the world – or at least without obstructing the Tao – letting things take their natural course.
(See bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/taoism/beliefs/concepts.shtml).
According to Taoist teachings, the truth of the Tao can only be understood indirectly, through experiences, or through a process of enlightened living. Happiness is gained by living in the flow of the Tao, which is the flow of the universe. This belief has no personal God (though Taoism has non-eternal deities and divine beings, which may come from the blending of Taoist teachings with indigenous animistic religions).
Referring to the Tao, Taoist teacher Wen-Tzu states that:
The Way has no front or back, no left or right: all things are mysteriously the same, with no right and no wrong.
(See Further Teachings of Lao-Tzu, [1992], pg. 109).
There is no life and death because “Life and death are one, right and wrong are the same,” (from the Chuang Tzu as quoted in World Religions, Geoffrey Parrinder, pg. 333).
From this and other sources, we see that the Tao is impersonal, cannot be described, is a principle, is amoral, and is part of the created universe that guides and unites all. It is the heresy of pantheism condemned at the Vatican Council of 1870:
1. If anyone shall deny One true God, Creator and Lord of things visible and invisible; let him be anathema.
2. If anyone shall not be ashamed to affirm that, except matter, nothing exists; let him be anathema.
3. If anyone shall say that the substance and essence of God and of all things is one and the same; let him be anathema.
4. If anyone shall say that finite things, both corporeal and spiritual, or at least spiritual, have emanated from the Divine substance; or that the Divine essence, by the manifestation and evolution of itself, becomes all things; or, lastly, that God is a universal or indefinite being, which by determining itself constitutes the universality of things, distinct according to genera, species and individuals; let him be anathema.
Yin and Yang
In pagan Taoism, Yin is the female principle and Yang is male. Each is associated with nature as specified through Taoist teachings: Yin is darkness, watery, receptive, the moon; while Yang is light, dryness, active, the sun, and so forth. The Yin and Yang forces are the substance of creation and the matrix of every aspect of life, including a person’s physical organs and the unseen forces within the person.
In such a view, balance is the ideal:
Central to the historical context of chi in TCM is the idea of balance and harmony. Ancient Chinese physicians sought to understand the dynamics of yin and yang, the complementary forces that exist in all aspects of life. Chi was seen as the mediator between yin and yang, and balance in chi was essential for overall health.
(See polltopastern.com/post/the-world-of-chi#:~:text=Balance%20and%20Harmony&text=Ancient%20Chinese%20physicians%20sought%20to,was%20essential%20for%20overall%20health.).
To achieve balance is also seen in the popular Star Wars movie franchise from George Lucas, who was influenced by pagan Eastern religions, particularly Taoism and Buddhism. The Force in the movie is like chi, and the dark and light sides of the Force correspond in many ways to Yin and Yang.
Balance between yin and yang is continually sought through various techniques in order to bring about harmony between heaven and humanity, and humanity and earth. This is also true of Eastern pagan/occult "energy healing" like Reiki and Tai Chi.
The Dark Force of Tai Chi
The movements in Tai Chi are meant to manipulate both outer and inner chi in order to attain a harmony between self, nature, and the heavens, as well as to balance Yin-Yang. This information is easy to find on the Internet:
The practice of Tai Chi is the physical interpretation of the Tao philosophy — a teaching built upon the belief in unity of all things found in the universe.
In this opening session, you’ll learn the pivotal, spiraling, coiling force of Tai Chi as it first emerges in form. You’ll learn how this opening Tai Chi movement activates the Yin and Yang energies of the body and moves Qi throughout your being… and dive deep to discover the role of the mind in harmonizing the Yin and Yang polarities. (See theshiftnetwork.com/course/01HLiang02_23).
Taoism spawned a set of deeply occult practices (sorcery) that involve the manipulation of chi, and the line between what appears to be the uplifting side of Taoism and the darker side is very thin. On a page offering a video on “Taoism sorcery and its Cultural Practices,” the author writes:
The practice of Taoist magic will be presented through its two branches: outer alchemy (waidan) and inner alchemy (neidan). We’ll talk about the greater spiritual objectives of practicing Taoist magic and what thousands of years of experience and wisdom have to say about how to achieve those objectives.
Starter tips will be offered, such as beginning work with Jiu Tian Xuan Nu, the Lady of the Ninth Heaven, recitation of Kuan Yin’s Great Compassion Mantra, and other thoughts for branching out in a direction that’s going to make the most sense for you. (See benebellwen.com/2019/01/10/taoist-sorcery-and-its-cultural-practice).
Taoist sorcery has been around a long time and is based on the same pagan/occult beliefs and principles as Tai Chi. Tai Chi incorporates pagan/occult meditation, and is sometimes called "meditation in motion," because you must use "mindfulness" to become aware of your movements and "inner self."
Tai Chi, like yoga, uses Eastern meditation and is based in pantheism, the heretical idea that reality is identical with Divinity, and that all-things compose an all-encompassing, immanent "god." The goal of the Tai Chi/yoga practitioner is to unify himself/herself with the "Divine-self" or "God-Self." Through Tai Chi meditation, the person tries to lose contact with the conscious mind for an altered state of consciousness. This disassociation is meant to allow a person to become "one" with "the Divine." Even those who do not get to such altered states, have unwittingly opened themselves up to a decidedly pagan worldview and possible demon possession. The idea of being "divine" is the opposite of Christianity which tells us we are sinners in need of Redemption by the God-Man Jesus Christ.
When Tai Chi techniques are labeled as "relaxation techniques" or "ways to reduce stress and exercise for health," it is misleading. Traditionalist Catholic meditation is the conscious, focused, reflective, cognitive attention to God, such as when one meditates on the mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary. Tai Chi meditation results in an altered state of consciousness.
According to the Tai Chi Foundation:
Tai chi, a centuries-old Chinese martial art and mind-body exercise, with its slow, deliberate movements and emphasis on relaxation and balance, is often seen as a form of gentle exercise or method of stress relief. However, for some practitioners, it can also be a gateway to mystical experiences.
Mystical experiences are often described as moments of unity with something greater than oneself, a sense of oneness with the universe, or a connection to a divine or spiritual realm. These experiences can be profound and transformative, leaving lasting changes in one’s perspective on life and the world. So, how can tai chi help one approach mystical realms of consciousness? There are a number of factors that may help:
The Harmony of Body and Mind
In addition to being a martial art, tai chi can be thought of as a graceful practice that harmonizes movement and awareness. Practitioners often describe a sense of flowing meditation, where each movement seamlessly connects with the next. This synchronization of body and mind creates a conducive environment for transcendent experiences.
Mindfulness in Motion
The slow, deliberate movements of tai chi encourage practitioners to be fully present in the moment. This heightened state of awareness becomes a gateway to mystical experiences, allowing individuals to go beyond the ordinary and connect with deeper aspects of themselves.
Energetic Flow and Qi
Tai chi is rooted in the concept of Qi, the universal life force energy that flows through the body. By engaging in the gentle, rhythmic movements of tai chi, practitioners aim to cultivate and balance their Qi. This balanced flow of energy can help open pathways to a heightened sense of awareness and interconnectedness with the universe.
Stillness Within Movement
Despite the dynamic nature of tai chi, a unique stillness is embedded within each movement. This paradoxical combination of movement and stillness is a metaphor for life itself, encouraging practitioners to find tranquility amid the chaos—a key element in pursuing mystical experiences.
Connecting with Nature
Tai chi incorporates postures and movements inspired by nature, mimicking the ebb and flow of the elements. As practitioners move in harmony with these natural patterns, a deep sense of connection with nature emerges. This communion with nature becomes a conduit for mystical experiences as individuals tap into a larger, universal energy.
The Journey Inward
Beyond the physical postures, tai chi is a journey inward. Through consistent practice, individuals may find themselves peeling away the layers of the ego and becoming more aware of different dimensions of their consciousness. This introspective aspect of tai chi invites practitioners to explore the less ego-filled depths of their being and connect with the universal essence that transcends individual identity.
(See taichifoundation.org/unveiling-the-mystical-tai-chi-as-a-gateway-to-profound-experiences; Emphasis mine).
Therefore:
- Tai Chi is based on a pagan, pantheistic worldview that is heretical
- The movements of Tai Chi are incorporated with pagan/occult meditation intended to induce altered states of consciousness and promote false "mystical experiences"
- Tai Chi is an occult/pagan doorway to accepting a false, heretical worldview and opening up oneself to demonic forces--even to possession
- What is sold as "healing" and "health" is really occult practices
When it comes to spirituality, people also think of healing – they’re right. Part of spirituality is that it’s a healing tradition. Medicine and spirituality have been interconnected for a long time. There are other healing traditions that came from the Greek physicians, the shamans*, as well as the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners. These healing traditions do not serve to cure disease, but they serve as a means to actually release and enhance the spirit.
Shamanism is an ancient healing tradition and moreover, a way of life. It is a way to connect with nature and all of creation.
Let’s take a look at breathing because breathing is associated with spiritual growth. If we exhale and we put our mind and thought to consciously exhale deeply, that’s a release, you’re releasing your spirit. And when you release the spirit, it’s no longer bound. When we inhale consciously, you actually then begin to expand and enhance your spirit.
(See artoftaichi.com/blog/how-tai-chi-contributes-to-your-spiritual-growth; Emphasis mine).
Is The Tai Chi of Dr. Paul Lam Non-Occult and Safe for Traditionalist Catholics to Use?
In a word, NO.
According to Dr. Paul Lam of the Tai Chi Association of Australia, correct breathing techniques are an important part of Tai Chi meditation and should focus on the giving and taking of energy. The premise of this meditation technique is very easy: Lam recommends that when inhaling, you should think of taking life energy into your body. When you exhale, release that energy. This breathing technique can be applied to almost all tai chi meditations and movements, according to Lam.
(See gaiam.com/blogs/discover/4-tai-chi-meditation-techniques; Emphasis mine).
From Lam's own website:
Tai Chi is a mind-body exercise originating from ancient China, where it started as a famous martial art. These days, it’s practised around the world as an effective exercise for health.
It’s impossible to describe this complex art in one sentence. Tai Chi can be many things for different people, but regular practice will improve your wellbeing.
At the heart of it, Tai Chi is a moving meditation in the form of a series of gentle exercises that create harmony between the mind and body. The ultimate purpose is to cultivate our inner life energy (qi) to flow smoothly and powerfully through the body. This is a spiritual experience, as much as a physical one. (See taichiforhealthinstitute.org/what-is-tai-chi; Emphasis mine).
Health Benefits?
Yes, there are peer reviewed studies that show Tai Chi improves balance and lessens joint pain, yet there are exaggerated claims, such as the ability to lose large amounts of weight in a short time. There are two serious considerations: (1) the basis of Tai Chi is a "life energy force" that has never been scientifically proven. Many of the effects from Tai Chi can be replicated or even exceeded by brisk walking, stretching, and resistance training. Studies show that standard aerobic and strength workouts offer comparable improvements in fitness, blood pressure, and weight control.
(2) Your soul is more important than your body. "For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?" (St. Mark 8:36). Why use a method of movement seeped in occult/pagan ideology and practice (thereby opening yourself up to demonic forces) when you can get benefits as good or better from regular forms of exercise?
Conclusion
There are clergy in the Vatican II sect that support and promote the practice of Tai Chi, an inherently pagan and occult practice. It cannot be divorced from its origin and is a real spiritual danger. Just as the sacrament of Extreme Unction with its primary effect of saving the soul has been replaced by the invalid "Anointing of the Sick" with a primary focus of bodily health, so too does the Vatican II sect elevate false and evil teachings and practices for the promise of health. Don't fall for it.
Yoga for middle aged bros.
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