... a mostly random collection of thoughts that range over 40 years of practice, teaching, and learning
Being mindful is about being present, now. here. In this second. It’s also about turning down the noise. If you engage in “battle” to do this, you cannot succeed. Why not? Because you are fighting yourself. You have to acknowledge…
What we give away merges into who we are. I just sent away some comic books from the 1960's. DC Comics. Superman. Batman. Legion of Super Heroes. Wonder Woman. Detective. And more.... They were mine. I didn't plan to give…
What is qi (气)? Literally, it means air. It also means breath, not the act of breathing (呼吸), the breath itself. But that's not quite accurate either. Qi is pervasive. Every living thing and some that once were living and…
In practice and in basic self-defense, it's important to trust your intuition - about your surroundings, about your circumstances, about those you meet. When we are in a familiar place, we tend to not be quite so alert. We have…
We don't often think about being present, being fully present in this place at this time, now. Most of us are busy thinking about how to solve this or that problem at work, picking the kids up from wherever they…
Buddhist teachings tell us that wanting is more of a problem than not having and 'not wanting' is the key to happiness. That is one of the most important points in learning to calm the heart. If you don't want what…
The weather Saturday morning was perfect for this time of year in Florida. Sunny and cool with a slight breeze. Ducks on the water. Fisherman on the pier. We spent some time on different stepping methods and on the fundamentals…
I don't remember landing in Shanghai so much as landing in Hong Kong. 1990. The airport in Hong Kong was not on it's own island. We came through a multitude of tall buildings, 20 stories or more - at least…
There are some stories no one else can tell. I need to tell them. 1999. Wudangshan. I had asked my teacher, Prof. Liu, if we could go to Wudangshan (The Wudang Mountains). In 1995, I had asked. That is another…
Self-Discipline starts with knowing who you are and what you can do. It's a very self-centered process. That notion - self-centered - has a negative connotation for many. Someone who is self-centered is seen as selfish and self-absorbed. The difference…
