An Exploration of Inner Space

2013-11-16T14:42:00.000-05:00

What are the Best Exercises for Heart Health?

What are the best exercises for heart health? My best guess would tell me that the best exercises for a healthy heart would be cardiovascular in nature. Though I have to wonder if anything overly-strenuous on the heart muscle could lead to damage, but most people know their limits and know to seek the advice of a competent physician before starting any exercise program. It is a matter of balancing between pushing ourselves a bit past our comfort zone in order to improve our stamina, and not ignoring the cries of our body, thus possibly leading to some cardiac damage, however minor.

To balance the yang of cardio exercise, some gentle stretching and or movement exercise like Yoga, Chi Kung, and/or Tai Chi would help reduce stress and alleviate the pressure on the heart due to emotional causes, such as anxiety and worry, and the general stresses of life. The calming effects of these types of exercises can also lead to a more positive outlook after making them a regular part of one’s life.

Resistance exercise also has a part to play in maintaining a healthy heart. Resistance exercise can increase the flow of blood to muscles which also exercises the heart.

Take heart you can improve the functioning of this very important involuntary muscle.

2013-11-11T11:00:00.000-05:00

The Value of Ground-Fighting

The value of ground-fighting is in never having to use it. Let me clarify. In a street altercation, where your opponent is some bad-ass out to prove how tough he is by beating you to a pulp, immediately resorting to ground-fighting will leave you badly beaten or dead. This is the reality because two scenarios are highly possible: 1. your assailant has a concealed weapon (often a knife) that will be used on you in a pinch and/ or 2. Your nemesis has friends waiting in the shadows anxious to use your head as a football while you are triangle-choking their comrade.

Though I don’t advocate ignoring the importance of knowing how to handle yourself on the ground in a fight, such skills are best used when you have been brought to the ground and need to get yourself into a position to get up and get out. In tournament and submission fights, ground-fighting is the best, but in a situation where your life is possible at stake, or you could be seriously hurt or maimed, then the first choice is to de-escalate the confrontation with words, and then depart. If that fails, then just flee. If this too doesn’t work, best to hit the opponent hard or knock the person to the ground (on their head if necessary, to slow them down), and then run. Only in the direst situations should you break out the ground-fighting skills, but only in order to put yourself in a position to get back to your feet, and find the opportunity to flee. Your pride isn’t worth you losing your life, or any other negative outcome which could be inevitable when confronted with someone who means to harm you, maybe even kill you.

Your continued health and long-life (one not spent behind bars), are the most important things to guard, not your pride, or macho posturing. Live long and prosper.

2013-11-09T11:00:00.000-05:00

Nature as a balm for the soul

Raking the multi-coloured leaves, the earthen scents, the cool caress of the wind, all the world illuminated by the sun’s light - my focus upon the task at hand. Being in nature, even one’s own backyard, soothes one’s soul, and lifts one’s spirits.

Perhaps it is the unseen energies emitted by the trees, grasses and other plant and animal life. It could be a feeling of returning home to the bosom of one’s mother that comforts the jaded heart of the “civilized”? Maybe being in the presence of something greater and much more ancient, and imbued with an inherent mystery such as which lies at the core of nature’s beingness, leaves us feeling awestruck. Perhaps we can touch the silent spaces within us as they are a reflection of the deep silence and mystery of nature, and for a moment know that we are as vast in our internal spaciousness, and as deep in the calming ocean of our souls as a Great Lake, no matter what the mad rants of our monkey mind would have us believe otherwise.

It is this deepening of Presence, I believe that instills a calming within us and clears our minds of its often useless, repetitive chatter.

2013-11-02T18:35:00.002-04:00

Why do I love comic books? There are so many reasons why.

1. Firstly, I feel as though I am visiting my old friends from childhood, especially when I’m reading comics with some of favorite childhood heroes, namely the X-men. When I was a child I felt very close to the X-men of the Chris Claremont days. I was privy to some of their most intimate secrets; I could share in their joys and their sorrows, the comical experiences of their lives as well as the tragic.

2. I can be introduced to new characters that I can relate to as an adult. Mature themes have a more personal relevance to me as an adult, than as a pubescent adolescent. Some examples of this are Kabuki by David Mack, American Vampire, and The Unwritten.

3. We can all appreciate the art found within the pages of some comic books and graphic novels. The beauty of Alex Ross’s paintings or David Mack’s mixed media creations is astounding.

4. The stories themselves can be of surreal beauty, especially in the hands of a master for example, Neil Gaiman, Mike Carey. Stories, in any form have the ability to teach us, activate our empathy, send us on a roller coaster ride of emotions, stimulate the bubbling of ideas within us, and inspire us. What a wondrous thing.

5. Some comic books are rare collector’s items that increase in monetary value. This shouldn’t be the main reason to purchase them, but when one discovers a comic book of high resale value; it can put a smile on one’s face, even if you never intend to sell that particular comic book.

These are some of the main reasons that I love comic books. If I think of any more, I’ll post them in another blog.

Ahimsa: The path of compassion

2012-03-05T13:04:00.000-05:00

Ahimsa is a Sanskrit word meaning non-violence. It is a very important concept in Hinduism as well as Buddhism. Ahimsa was the main teaching of Mahatma (“great soul”) Gandhi and was what he based his political strategy upon. Gandhi’s teachings revolve around the existentialization of the concept of Ahimsa.

Ahimsa is also the basis of vegetarianism as a moral and ethical practice rather than a practice of health consciousness. It has its metaphysical roots in the theory of reincarnation and karma. If one follows the theory of reincarnation, one cannot harm any living creature because it may very well be your long dead uncle Phil.

Further, in relation to the law of Karma, to harm another living creature is tantamount to bringing bad karma upon oneself. Some schools of thought see karma almost as a physical substance that makes the soul heavy and unable to float to its place in the heavens or its union with the divine (re: Brahman). Ahimsa is also very important to the Jains.

There is also a story, which may be heretical, but nonetheless points out how the practice of ahimsa could be taken to extremes. The story goes like this: it is said that there are places of lodging in India which will pay you to stay there. This is done because they do not wish the bedbugs to go unfed, as that would be tantamount to harming them or doing them violence.

All kidding aside, Ahimsa is important as a practice, even in our so-called modern Western culture, at least in relationship to other humans, though this same benevolence and compassion would ideally be bestowed upon animal and plant-life as well. The importance of such a stance of non-violence in relation to others is obvious when one wishes to have harmonious relationships. This non-violent stance includes the abstinence from words that can harm.

This brings to mind the 3 gates in Sufi wisdom that words must pass through before they can be spoken. These gates are actually questions that must be answered in the affirmative before your intended words can pass your lips. The first is: “Are they true?” the second is “Are they necessary?” If your words have passed the test of these two questions, then they must pass the third gate which is the question “Are they kind?” If your intended words of speech cannot be answered in the affirmative when subjected to these questions, then they should not be spoken. These three gates are a form of ahimsa, in that the last and most important question is “Are they kind words?”, because kind words do not harm, they heal.

Kundalini

2012-02-28T12:39:00.002-05:00

Kundalini is a Sanskrit word meaning “she who is coiled”. The kundalini is an energy that is said to lie dormant at the base of the spine. It is believed that this sleeping serpent energy can be awakened in order to bring forth creativity, emotional well-being, spiritual… even supernatural powers that defy scientific explanation, and profound peace. One can awaken the serpent energy through meditation, certain breathing and movement practices, and sometimes it is awakened spontaneously.

The awakening of the kundalini energy is a profound practice and focus of Tantric Hinduism and Buddhism. It is also practiced within other cultures besides India, though it is given differing names in each different cultural and geographical domain. In Taoist thought the arising of the Kundalini energy is related to the achievement of the greater Kan and Li, which Chinese thought describes as a channeling of internal chi in a specific path up the spine, over the head and back to the dantien point that is believed to lie two inches below the navel. In order to safely do this, it is always prescribed to touch the tip of one’s tongue to the roof of one’s mouth. Yogic practice advises to allow the energy to exit through the top of the head at the crown chakra and then come down upon one in a shower of energy.

There can be potentially negative consequences to the arising of the kundalini energy in an abrupt manner, or in someone who is not completely ready for it. These consequences range from varying degrees of physical, psychological, and emotional discomfort (what the Taoists refer to as ‘chi sickness’) to insanity and death. This is why it is called the quick path, or the warrior’s path to enlightenment. This is not for the faint of heart.

On the positive side, kundalini can grant an experience of oneness with all life, a meeting with mythological archetypes, supernatural powers called siddhis in Sanskrit (psychic powers, physical strength, etc.), the transparency of the ego – if not its complete obliteration.

Some people who have experienced the awakening of the kundalini and have written about their experiences include Gopi Krishna and Glenn Morris. Gopi Krishna was a householder in India who unintentionally awakened the serpent power and almost died because of it. He felt as if he was burning up from the inside out and could only cool the fire with a strict diet that he happened upon through trial and error. Glenn Morris is an American Martial Arts enthusiast who had intentionally achieved the awakening of the Shakti (energy) through meditation. Even with his planning, he still experienced some detrimental physical effects that took him years to heal completely. Gopi Krishna recounts his experiences in his book “Kundalini: The evolutionary energy in man”, Glenn Morris tells of his spiritual experiment in his book “Path Notes of an American Ninja Master”.

Everyday Meditation Practices Anyone Can Do

2012-02-27T13:44:00.000-05:00

Everyday Meditation Practices Anyone Can Do

Usually when people think about meditation they think about sitting in a lotus or half-lotus posture with eyes closed, thumb and forefinger touching in a mudra (symbolic, ritual gesture usually performed with hands and fingers) reminiscent of the Buddha with the hands resting on the knees while chanting the sound “Om” over and over. Though this is a valid form of meditation, it is not the only way to meditate, nor the easiest or most effective.

Meditation is essentially one-pointed attention. The following is a list of some of the easiest meditation practices anyone can do.

The first meditation practice that anyone can do is also the easiest to put into practice. This is simply the practice of doing one thing at a time. This narrowing of focus on one task is a form of meditation.

The second meditation practice that anyone can do is related to the first in that it is an extension, and deepening of the first practice. In this meditation practice, one is not only doing one thing at a time but is actively using all of his senses to become completely immersed in whatever activity they may be doing, whether that is eating, making love, painting, mowing the lawn, or any task at all, from the most mundane to the most exciting. When you wash the dishes, for example, you should get all of your senses involved in the experience. You should feel the tickle of the suds on your hands, smell the lemony freshness of the dish soap, listen to the rush of water from the faucet, and see the sheen of the clean dishes, to the exclusion of thought.

The third meditation practice that anyone can do is a more formal practice. This practice involves sitting comfortably on a chair, or cross-legged on the floor in a quiet place if possible and just noticing intently one’s in and out breath. Feel the rise of your belly as your diaphragm expands, pulling fresh, oxygen-filled air into your lungs. Feel the pulling inward of your abdomen as the stale air is expelled out your mouth or nose. Notice how the cycle repeats itself endlessly.

The fourth meditation practice that anyone can do involves an attention on the arising and passing of thoughts without mentally grasping onto any one of them. This involves a detached observation of one’s thoughts…like a silent witness. This is similar to the third meditation except for the focus of one’s attention is now one’s own chaotic thoughts rather than one’s breath. This is a difficult meditation to do well because of the tendency to follow the thread of one’s thoughts as a participant to their bitter conclusions, but one must remain detached…almost aloof.

The fifth meditation practice that anyone can do is chanting a sacred sound or word, or any word or phrase that has importance or significance to you, in any language. This could be as simple as repeating the word “Peace” over and over again in a slow, methodic way in unison with one’s breath, or the repetition of a phrase in some obscure language such as Sanskrit or Tibetan.

Everyday meditation is a practice that anyone can do and should do, not just to relieve stress or seek some holy spiritual grail, or as a grounding technique, but for all these reasons, and for the sheer peaceful joy of doing one thing at a time.

Negative Emotions

2010-08-02T09:22:00.000-04:00

There is a certain benefit in just observing one's negative emotions as they bubble to the surface of consciousness. The benefits include a sense of peace in the face of turmoil, the eye of the storm, if you will. A further benefit is a greater understanding of oneself. Of course, this means that one cannot let these negative emotions take over one's mind and lead one off on a mental rampage. One must simply witness without judgment and not react. This is a difficult activity, but gets easier with practice.

Eckhart Tolle

2010-07-27T09:15:00.000-04:00

I've been listening to Eckhart Tolle's "The Art of Presence" in the car as I drive to work, etc. I find his ideas resonate with the teachings of one of my martial arts masters, Peter Ralston, which in turn finds some of his inspiration from the works of Taoism and Zen. Tolle's work places great emphasis on the witnessing consciousness, or the essence of your being. He says that we are not our individual stories, or the thoughts and emotions that torture us, or even give us joy. He teaches that our true nature is of the observer, the witness...Presence itself as our inherent nature. He also talks about the pain-body which I will go into more detail on a later post, but which is basically an aggregate of all the emotional pain that one has experienced, a share of the emotional pain of humanity, one's culture, one's race, one's family, and even of the part of the world where one lives in. He speaks of the pain-body as if it were an entity unto itself, that tries to get into our minds and take us over whenever it wants to feel more pain, and only continual vigilance and observation, not suppression, of this pain-body will eventually dissipate it and release the trapped emotional energy that makes it up.

The benefits of meditation and commitment

2010-06-26T21:56:00.001-04:00

Meditation is of the utmost importance to all human beings as stress release, as inner exploration, and as focus practice. What I mean by inner exploration is twofold: firstly it is an endeavor to understand one's deeper psyche, one's true motivation, one's true self; secondly it is an exploration of what has been called the inner worlds by some, using oneself as the doorway.

To achieve anything of lasting importance requires commitment, steady progress, intent, and a plan. The most important of these ingredients is commitment to doing something everyday to that gets you closer to your goal, no matter how small that action may seem at the time.

Sexual Energy and Spiritual Energy

2010-04-19T13:33:00.003-04:00

Sexual energy and Spiritual energy seem to be intimately linked. I find that the more I practice meditation and other spiritual practices, the stronger my libido becomes. This is almost nerve-wracking. It seems the increased flow of energy or 'chi', if you will, wants to be used or released, one way or another. It has taken a great amount of self-discipline not to translate these urgings into actions.
It has been said that spiritual energy is a higher octave of sexual energy. Whether this is true or not I cannot be sure, but my experience would indicate that the two energies, or instincts, have a relationship of some kind. This requires further study on my part.

Faith

2010-04-14T08:33:00.002-04:00

Faith has come up a lot in recent weeks in my life as a topic, mostly as a cure for fear. There is a sort of strength one with faith in God, the Universe, oneself, etc. is imbued with such that what once seemed daunting becomes manageable, even enjoyable as a challenge. It is not always easily attained this faith, but through repetition of affirmations with emotion, and the calming balm of present-moment awareness it is achievable. Also, I've noticed that faith can literally move the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your goals - talk about moving mountains! Just when you think you have to move around some obstacle, circumstances come to light that actually remove the obstacle from your path. Thus, I say: Keep the Faith!

Meditation and a headache

2010-04-12T11:37:00.002-04:00

I've often found it hard to push past the pain of a headache in order to meditate. Other pains do not hinder a session of meditation as much as the pain of a headache does. Perhaps because my focus is on my breath or mantra chanting, or the visions that dance before my inner sight, which all tend to be located (at least I experience them phenomenologically as such) in the vicinity of the head. Today seems to be no different. I stayed up much too late watching the Oliver Stone film "The Doors", but had to get up early this morning. I am paying the price today.

Present Moment Awareness

2010-04-08T09:26:00.000-04:00

To have your consciousness focused entirely on what the present moment has to offer is one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish, but also one of the most satisfying if achieved. One of the main reasons that it is so difficult is that the mind has a tendency to wander, to follow some thread of thoughts that are not part and parcel of what the here/now experience entails. To aid in present-moment awareness I find it best to concentrate on one's breathing as a subtext to the moment-to-moment experiences. Strangely enough, repeating a mantra over and over again in one's mind seems to do the same thing, though not to the same degree. One mantra that I find myself mentally repeating over and over, almost obsessively, is one I picked up from Leonard Orr's book Breaking the Death Habit, though I don't recall the meaning, is "Om Namaha Shivaiya". This is just a stab in the dark, but it could be a praising of the name of the Hindu god Shiva. That is just my guess, Leonard Orr doesn't say this. It does seem to have a calming effect on me, and this is purely a subjective observation, but I believe it has changed potentially negative experiences to the positive.... or maybe being calm in a stressful situation can change that situation to a more positive one. Just a thought.