As some of you may know I studied Toaist Tai Chi and Shotokan karate. One of the reasons I was so drawn to the martial arts was because of the combination of physical and spiritual practices in one. I really felt there were spiritual benefits to practicing either one or both art forms.
I also found myself watching and reading about Shaolin Monks. The thing about the Shaolin Monks is their strength, flexibility, concentration and skills bordering on mystical.
I think Tai Chi and Shaolin forms are very similar with similar goals and perhaps come from the same root. Since I strongly believe that body awareness and skill can lead to soul awareness, it makes sense that I am attracted to Shaolin Monks.
What is history behind the Shaolin training?
Buddhist priest from India called Bodhidharma came to see the emperor of China
Buddhism was already established and Sanskrit texts were being translated into Chinese
Bodhidharma (Tamo in Chinese) was initially refused to enter the Buddhist Temple
Bodhidharma meditated in nearby cave and received attention from the shaolin monks because he bored a hole in one side of the cave with his eyes
When Bodhidharma was allowed to enter the temple he notice that they all were out of shape (of course he had been walking a great distance to get to China, so clearly he was in better shape)
He noticed they had very little energy and spent most of their days hunched over texts
Bodhidharma taught them exercises that would help chi energy flow and strengthen them
Thought to have been modified from yoga and based on the 18 animal movements
Shaolin borrowed from Buddhism as well as Taoism for its philosophy
Here is a very intense shaolin video:
This video is a fascinating look at what can be achieved with years of Shaolin training. It is really interesting to think about what one is capable of with training and dedication to the physical and spiritual arts...
Has workout DVD called Banish Fat Boost Metabolism and 30 Day Shred, No More Trouble Zones
Why Is She The Biggest Winner?:
She believes whole heartedly that her clients will succeed; and it affects their belief system
She is really tough on her clients and doesn't let them get away with anything
She genuinely cares about her clients and their success
She is a living example of overcoming obstacles, especially weight
She is compassionate and understanding at the right times
She is not afraid to show herself, whether crying or getting angry, on TV
She understands the psychology behind weight loss and uses it on her clients
She doesn't ask anyone to do anything she wouldn't or couldn't do
She exudes confidence
She knows how to listen and hear her clients
She loves what she does
She practices what she preaches
What makes her so successful is that she has been in the shoes of her clients, at one point she weighed 175 pounds and she is only 5 feet 2 inches tall.
Here is a clip of her talking about why she loves what she does. I highly recommend checking this clip out, because she basically talks about marrying her values with her life's work and she is so passionate about it that it is inspiring.
In my last post I talked a little bit about the definition of fasting and what the benefits of fasting might be, but now I want to get into where fasting came from.
You can check out my first article called Fasting And All Of The Facets Part 1: Day 205 by CLICKING HERE.
Here are my reflections on fasting:
It may not have been a choice for our ancestors, no food means fasting must happen
Because of forced fasting due to lack of food, it became a ritual during certain seasons; perhaps when food sources were low due to weather changes during the season
Our ancestors noticed that when they were sick they lost their appetite and healed from the ailment much faster
Our ancestors noticed some spiritual experiences resulting from long periods of fasting and decided it had spiritual value
Our ancestors saw that if they fasted to make a statement about some injustice people responded with honoring their requests
The Top Five Reasons For Fasting Historically:
Spiritual Practice:
"Fasting will bring spiritual rebirth to those of you who cleanse and purify your bodies. The light of the world will illuminate within you when you fast and purify yourself. What the eyes are for the outer world, fasts are for the inner." ~Mahatma Gandhi, 1869 - 1948
Healing purposes:
"Historical records tell us that fasting has been used for health recovery for thousands of years. Hippocrates, Socrates, and Plato all recommended fasting for health recovery." ~by Dr. Ben Kim (CLICK HERE for more)
Chinese medicine recommends fasting for better health
Political:
Hunger strikes are a common way for non-violent protesters to get what they want or make a statement
Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi both adopted this practice with success.
Weight loss:
Fasting for weight loss is extremely common, but there is a fine line between starving yourself and cleansing yourself. Some of those who take it to extremes find themselves anorexic.
Religious practice:
Any religion you look at whether it is Christianity, Buddhism, Judism, Hinduism, Jainism, Muslim...etc. ..have fasting as part of some religious practice
"When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to others to be fasting, but to your Father, who is in the secret place; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly."--Jesus Christ, c. 8-4 B.C.-29? A.D.
"She or he who does good of her or his own accord shall be rewarded, but to fast is better for you, if you but knew it."--Mohammed, 570?-632 A.D.
"The biggest problem facing the world today is not people dying in the streets of Calcutta, and not inflation, but spiritual deprivation. . .this feeling of emptiness associated with feeling separate from God, and from all our sisters and brothers on planet Earth."--Mother Teresa, 1979 Nobel Peace laureate
"The Buddha's spiritual awakening is directly related to fasting, but from the reverse. That is to say, only after the Buddha stopped fasting did he realize his mahabodhi, or great awakening." found in Urban Darmha...CLICK HERE
I am personally a big advocate for fasting. I used to fast seasonally, whereby I would do a 3-7 day fast in the fall and the spring. I would either do the lemonade fast or a water only fast or carrot juice only or juice only fast.
My favorite fast so far was the carrot juice only fast.
As some of you may know I have been trying Brad Pilons intermittant fasting that he explains in his 90 page book called Eat Stop Eat. He suggests fasting once or twice a week for 24 hours drinking only water.
Check out this clip with Gandhi...
Until next time…
Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up
Dakota
Today’s Mantra:
Fasting is important, more important perhaps, than many of us have supposed,... when exercised with a pure heart and a right motive, fasting may provide us with a key to unlock doors where other keys have failed; a window opening up new horizons in the unseen world; a spiritual weapon of God's provision, mighty, to the pulling down of strongholds.
One of my favorite topics is how to incorporate spiritual practice with exercise. I found this interesting form of Yoga that is called the Five Tibetan Rites. It is made of a series of exercises that are pretty yoga like. The exercises are supposedly over 2500 years old. In the bookThe Eye of Revelation, by Peter Kelder, he claims to have met a colonal who told him about his travels and learning of the Five Tibetan Rites.
The book is a 32 page book mostly based on conversations he had with the colonal.
The Rites are considered a form of yoga similar to ones you might find in India. The Tibetans emphasized a continuous sequence of movements similar to Taoist Tai Chi, but starkly different from the yogic static postures of today.
There is some question as to whether Tibetans consider them as being authentic Tibetan practices.
Kelder claims that the colonal met some lamas who had said they found the fountain of youth in the Five Tibetan Rites.
The lamas believe there are seven spinning psychic vortexes in the body. When we get older, the vortexes spin less, which results in poor health.
When anyone does the Five Rites every day their vortexes can be restored, which results in very positive outcomes.
It is thought that the Five Rites might be from the Kum Nye system.
Doing the Five Rites for ten minutes every day can improve eyesight, memory, restore natural hair color from grey, hair growth and more.
Some other benefits include:
Reduces double chin
Belly becomes slender
Strengthen arms
Energetic
Increased muscle tone
The following is what researchers say the five Tibetans do for the body:
Stimulate the reticular activating system of the brain.
Balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain, which means you think more clearly. (You should definitely do the Tibetans before an exam or an important presentation!)
Balance the body's hormonal system.
Strengthen bones, as the exercises are weight-bearing.
Improve the body's immune system.
Build muscle strength.
Reduce body-fat percentage.
Boost metabolism.
Align and strengthen the spine, plus make it more supple.
Lighten menopausal symptoms.
Lessen premenstrual symptoms.
Help relieve the discomfort of arthritis and other aches and pains.
These benefits almost sound exactly like what Taoist Tai Chi can do for the body...only it takes one hundred and eight moves instead of five. Hmmm.
Here is a long 13 minute video on the Five Tibetan Rites. I think this particular video has an emphasis on breath, form and timing. It is very well done. It looks easier than yoga; for those of you that don’t care as much for yoga as a form of exercise. Who says slow movement isn’t exercise.
It has a spiritual quality that is undeniable, too.
Does it make you want go out and get a yoga matt and try it?
Until next time…
Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up
Dakota
Today’s Mantra:
This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples: no need for complicated philosphy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple: the philosophy is kindness."
You have to check out this four minute workout by Arnel Ricafranca. He recently had his youtube channel blocked. He has his own website and was really bummed when his youtube videos got blocked. Since the incident he has been posting new youtube videos almost every day.
I think the quality of his videos are much better now than they were before, although I wonder if he will get booted again because of music copyright...we shall see... here are a couple of his videos..
This is the four minute video...
This guy uploaded 34 videos in 2weeks...if that isn't motivation I don't know what is....I think this is how he makes a living...or he has a lot of free time on his hands..
Here is a video posted by Arnel that has only been on-line for 2 weeks and has already had 20000 views---He also has a social network called ARNEL.TV...CLICK HERE to check out Arnel.TV
Until next time…
Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up
Dakota
Today’s Mantra: Sometimes the worst mistakes become the best inventions
