Spiritual Odyssey: Selected Writings: 1985-1997 (2nd Edition)

Decades of study in the Far East, preceded by full careers in music and finance, provide Justin Stone with a rich and layered background from which he draws material for all his books. Friendships with Chinese teachers led to years of teaching T'ai Chi Ch'uan, after which he originated T'ai Chi Chih (not a martial art), a spiritual discipline rapidly spreading throughout the world. His spoken CDs on spiritual adventures in the Far East and on T'ai Chi Chih, as well as jazz piano recordings have been welcomed by tens of thousands. To Justin, the basis of all this (and his career as a modernist painter) is his own spiritual practice. Daily meditation at his house, with doors open to sincere seekers, and public talks on metaphysical subjects help spread the Dharma to those who are ready. Justin says he is overwhelmed by the gratitude of those who practice with him. He has never taken a tithing from any of his T'ai Chi Chih teachers, feeling his job is simply to pass along freely whatever he knows. The essays in this collection, previously published in the quarterly Vital Force Journal or monthly New Mexico T'ai Chi Chih News, lead readers through an unfolding spiritual odyssey. Subjects include T'ai Chi Chih practice, Eastern philosophical thought, aspects of meditation, and insights about spiritual practice.

Decades of study in the Far East, preceded by full careers in music and finance, provide Justin Stone with a rich and layered background from which he draws material for all his books. Friendships with Chinese teachers led to years of teaching T'ai Chi Ch'uan, after which he originated T'ai Chi Chih (not a martial art), a spiritual discipline rapidly spreading throughout the world. His spoken CDs on spiritual adventures in the Far East and on T'ai Chi Chih, as well as jazz piano recordings have been welcomed by tens of thousands. To Justin, the basis of all this (and his career as a modernist painter) is his own spiritual practice. Daily meditation at his house, with doors open to sincere seekers, and public talks on metaphysical subjects help spread the Dharma to those who are ready. Justin says he is overwhelmed by the gratitude of those who practice with him. He has never taken a tithing from any of his T'ai Chi Chih teachers, feeling his job is simply to pass along freely whatever he knows. The essays in this collection, previously published in the quarterly Vital Force Journal or monthly New Mexico T'ai Chi Chih News, lead readers through an unfolding spiritual odyssey. Subjects include T'ai Chi Chih practice, Eastern philosophical thought, aspects of meditation, and insights about spiritual practice.

Justin F. Stone (1916-2012) originated T'ai Chi Chih ("knowledge of the Supreme Ultimate") in 1974. After spending many years in Japan, India, and China studying spiritual disciplines and mastering T'ai Chi Ch'uan, Justin created this new discipline so that everyone, including elderly people, could easily learn and practice the simple movements. Everyone can receive, and deserves, all the benefits that come from circulation and balance of the chi, or Intrinsic Energy. More than 2,200 teachers worldwide are accredited in this discipline. Justin also was an accomplished painter, ASCAP composer, and financial adviser. He originated a language-learning method for Japanese and taught East Asian Studies at two universities. Justin lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he led regular Tuesday morning T'ai Chi Chih classes for teachers at the T'ai Chi Chih Center in Albuquerque and held informal meditation sessions at his home. Justin believed: "The circulation and balancing of the chi is the great secret of life. And this T'ai Chi Chih discipline, a moving mediation with far-reaching benefits, works with the chi. It's a very valuable exercise that affects the inner organs as well as the muscular structure. The slow, soft movements of T'ai Chi Chih have real effects on blood pressure, weight control, and other physical elements, but T'ai Chi Chih goes much deeper than that. Students who realize that practice is absolutely necessary often experience profound changes during a beginning course. Since most students feel the effects of the practice very quickly, it is not necessary to accept results as a matter of faith."