British author Neil Gaiman remembers Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground for his career-long “determination to use the least amount of words to convey the most.” It makes sense that Reed was also a Chen-style tai chi master. Dead of liver cancer at 71.
The main thing is not to want anything. To welcome what comes and to play with that.
Something else: If we hope to prevent our children from becoming little doings, indistinguishable from the herd, we will need to teach ourselves how to do nothing.
We were made for this, summoned and destined for this—to ‘play’ (as the Chinese say of tai chi) with adversity in a composed and skillful way.
While unpacking the intricacies of the tornado kick, my esteemed Chen teacher paused to say, “The mind is inherently lazy.” (Mind was hoping to keep this a secret.) Later, with the same placidity: “The legs are strong but stupid. Kicks are for ending fights, not starting them.”
Men's Work 