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From
Vogue to Tao By Misha Goussev, September 1999 Previously published in The Wharton Journal (www.whartonjournal.com) |
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Retreat Meditation Hall, Big Indian, NY
Meditation Stupa, Big Indian, NY
Misha at the Chinese Emperor’s Throne (not for very
long) |
My pre-Wharton vacation plans were rather unusual.
Unlike most of my classmates who went off to travel and explore the world, I
decided to spend some time in solitude in a Taoist temple in the Catskill
Mountains, in Big Indian, New York. This decision was not spontaneous, since
I had long been fascinated with the East and eastern traditions. However, it
did puzzle some of my friends, and I was promptly labeled “monk.” The decision was made, and I was on my way to the
place where the world of the spirit is reality and the mystical chi energy is
pulsating from the earth at this major power spot. It is worth mentioning
that the location of the temple has a long history. For many centuries,
Native American tribes performed sacred rituals on this spot and would never
stay overnight, as they were afraid of contact with supernatural powers. Not surprisingly, I was in a rather deep
philosophical mood as I approached Big Indian, preparing myself for the time
in solitude, away from worldly temptations. It was raining, and to tell the
truth, the closer I got to my final destination, the more appealing the idea
of being on a hot tropical island became to me. I finally arrived. My doubtful state of mind did
not last very long because I soon discovered that the temple was full of very
beautiful young people (mostly girls) dressed in very exotic clothes. “It is
not going to be that bad after all,” I thought to myself. I was a little
surprised, however, to see this beauty following the way of the Tao in such
numbers. The explanation soon followed: Vogue
Italy magazine had come to the temple for a shoot with an eastern theme
for its September issue. The little heaven did not last long, unfortunately.
A few hours later, the Vogue crew
packed up their equipment and disappeared just like in the Cinderella fairy
tale, which made me wonder whether they had ever existed. The next day, the fleeting memory of glamour was
shattered by the experience that was by far more tangible and real. A huge
black bear came out of the woods to the center of the temple to announce its
presence and show us who was really in charge. The contrast was so shocking
that I was literally numb with awe and admiration for a few minutes. The fear
came later. Nothing really dramatic happened afterwards. The bear slowly
looked around and then, without paying any attention to the humans, lazily
crossed the main field and disappeared into the woods as well. At this point,
I realized that the time spent here would be nothing like anything that I had
experienced before. Thus, what is Tao and what do Taoists teach? While
the purpose of this essay is not to discuss the philosophical concepts of
Taoism in depth, I would like to say that Tao is sharply focused on achieving
harmony between one’s personal life and the universe (universal way). Taoists
believe that one lives a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life through the
achievement of such harmony, and one can even eventually achieve immortality
through meditation and special exercises. The Taoist system is based on the
concept of the chi (universal energy) that permeates everything in the
universe. To put it more poetically, chi is the language of life itself and
Tao teaches how to ‘speak’ the silent chi language of animals, trees,
flowers, etc., or hear the inner music of the sun, moon, and stars. While talking to trees and rocks might be a
stretch for most MBA students, I would probably not be incorrect to suggest
that most of us would like the idea of healthy, happy, and fulfilling life.
Moreover, while achieving immortality is not my immediate goal (completing my
Wharton MBA is), I certainly wanted to explore and possibly benefit from the
many thousands of years old spiritual wisdom and tradition. Being at this temple felt just like the pre-term,
without the beer. The extremely international group of people represented a
vast range of backgrounds: actors (Seinfeld),
psychologists, doctors, healers, engineers, writers, etc. Classes, which
included meditation, exercises, and lectures, started at 6:30 AM and finished
at 10 PM, interrupted only by short breaks for meals. A day felt like a week
and 5 hours of sleep was the norm. Despite the intense workload, nobody was
terribly concerned with doing homework and preparing for exams. The place was
happening. Taoists pay a lot of attention to the well-being
of the body in order to achieve the well-being of the mind and soul. The
following are some Taoists practices that I had a chance to study. Healing love teaches meditation
techniques to control and transform various energies in the human body. I am
sure that this class would have had a very high bidding price on the Wharton
auction, since it has a lot to do with human sexuality. Chi kung provides a system of exercises for healing and
increasing vitality. Tai chi,
probably the most widely known Chinese practice, has many labels: martial
art, meditation, dance, exercise, etc. In truth, it is all of the above. It
is beautiful, tranquilizing, soothing, energizing, and invigorating at the
same time. Some people consider it one of the most advanced forms of
meditation. From my experience, I can say that my tai chi moves attract a lot
of animals of all kinds (birds, squirrels, rabbits, etc.) who come just to
watch me. My friend and famous Russian poet Igor Michalevich-Kaplan[i],[ii]
wrote the following poem about tai chi and I translated it: Tai chi -
the movements are precise and calming, The
strong arms floating in the air of nirvana, And
healing wounds, And
guarding from the spirits of the dark to play a
wicked joke. Yes,
youth, still strive To
harvest energy for passion - to exist
and live, To live
so long to watch yourself to kneel In front
of merciless age and call
for the final journey… Therefore, what did I take away from all this? I
would not call myself a Taoist, neither would I say that I share all Taoists’
philosophical concepts, but looking back, I can say that the time spent there
was time spent in a different dimension of life. Every single day was charged
with adrenaline and joy. The sense of unity with nature and other people took
on a different and much more tangible meaning. I felt the life giving power
of a healer’s touch. I heard incredible first-hand stories that can only be
found in mythology and science fiction books. I felt humble and small facing
the ever-present mystery of creation. I felt the cold breath of eternity and
the finite nature of human life, and as a result, an extremely strong sense
of appreciation for the gift of life that we all share. ▪ |
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