Peace

Principle:  Intention

Chen's Taiji doesn't have "setup" moves, which readies for another movement. Every movement in Chen's has the potential for action because it has intention. The phrase "the I (Mind) leads the Chi" covers this notion of continuous intention throughout the set.

When Sifu covered the topic of intention, he spoke of the heart as the originator of intent. However, he said of more than the actual physical human heart. He is speaking of the right side of the brain. The side concerned with visual, artistic, oral, and non-verbal information. It's the "dumb," non-verbal side that evaluates the situation and then informs the body. It can tell if a movement "fits," is right or is appropriate. It is an irrational, intuitive process far faster than thinking, which is far too slow.

When pushing hands, the heart/mind is the information center that responds to the situation and creates a response. As Sifu always reminds us, you can't think about it; you must feel it. Once felt, that feeling informs the Ji into action.