We realize that the “Tai Chi and Meditation Centre” is a somewhat cumbersome and not very marketable name, because people generally want to practice something specific within their very limited time (and now money) budget - either Tai Chi, meditation, qigong, yoga etc. They shy away from too much commitment and undertakings that seem too “complex”. Those who have known us over the last 25 years, know that our previous organizational names were even more puzzling. Firstly, “Emerge” (tagline: Emerge and meet yourself) and then “Emerge Internal Arts”.

The common thread or the “method in the madness” in these names is the attempt to convey the fact that human beings are complex, multi-faceted and capable of higher levels of consciousness and action beyond the conventional, “hard-headed” reality. Moreover, there are traditions and systems which explain all these (presently obscure) dynamics in detail. If this seems to be fanciful, consider that even “hard-headed reality” is pushing us to expand our minds and hearts. In spite of greater income, information and “prosperity’ in the privileged West, people are feeling greater stress, confusion, alienation and insecurity, whether from external threats, health issues or just the volatility of the markets. In addition, we have created a global society together with global problems and challenges, but we are far from the global consciousness necessary to rise to these challenges.

Society cannot radically change if individuals do not radically change. Individual problems tend to be repetitions of basic behavioural and attitudinal dynamics, which cannot change if individuals do not radically change. Thus, the secret of initiating real Change lies within the capacity of you and me, right here and right now in the present moment. We need the will and the method or tools.