Now And Zen

One final post...

2024-04-16T22:33:00.000-04:00

This will be the final entry of this blog.

The author of this blog, John Schmaing, passed away on the evening of April 12th, 2024, with close friends and the love of his life at his bedside. As one of John's close friends and long time student, I was asked by John to provide one final entry on his behalf, to let his readers know what happened.

John was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, Glioblastoma, in early January this year. John's symptoms had been intense headaches and occasional "fogginess" over the past months leading up to diagnosis, becoming much more noticeable to friends and coworkers during that time.

John had surgery a couple days after diagnosis to remove what they could of the tumor in his brain, which spread like a web, so there was only so much that could be removed without compromising vital functions possibly causing paralysis. John was then left with a couple options for treatment: radiation and chemotherapy. John opted to try everything he could to fight the cancer's spread.

John endured 6 weeks of radiation treatments at a facility with an 80 minute drive each way from his home. John was no longer able to drive at this time, walking with a cane and some loss of sight on his left side. This meant that a handful of us had to coordinate to take turns driving John to these appointments, and helping him and his long time companion Mona take care of everyday aspects around their home. Thankfully John's coworkers in the school system where he worked were amazing in this endeavor.

For those of us that drove John to his appointments, it provided time for us to spend with John talking about his life, from growing up in Montana, to his time in the Air Force, his period when he owned an operated a martial arts school, and to his career in public school as a Paraprofessional and Physical Science Teacher, all while still teaching martial arts privately and in small classes locally.

John's decline over these past few months has been difficult for many of us, who've always seen him as a strong, capable and intelligent man. He could still kick a soda can off the top of my head not that long ago. He was also a prolific writer on this blog. At times I'd suggest he write an actual novel, considering how well his storytelling would manifest for those of us lucky to read it here. While unable to physically continue to practice his forms, John would meditate and imagine going through the movements, saying they were still a part of him.

His hope for the future was to make sure the love of his life, Mona, was taken care of, which she will be, and to continue to teach and refine his martial arts system, a hybrid of many he'd studied and practiced over the years: Shaolin Kempo Karate, Judo, Wrestling, Kung Fu, Taijiquan, and Ninpo. I happen to be one of the many students that studied his system, and along with a couple other masters of his system, are tasked with continuing what he started.

In this new digital age there are times where a content creator, be it blog, YouTube channel, and others seem to disappear without any notice or explanation. I hope that this gives a fitting end to my long time martial arts mentor's blog. With that said, I'll leave a link below to John's YouTube channel "John Schmaing: School of the Silent Warrior", where you can see some of the content John and some of us recorded over the past 4 years, helping us for reference on aspects of his martial arts curriculum.

https://www.youtube.com/@johnschmaingtheschoolofthe1190

Finally, thank you, dear reader, for logging in and reading John's posts over the years. I will leave you with his usual way of ending these...

Peace and Balance...

-Adam Cloutier

The Sky

2024-04-04T17:24:00.001-04:00

Look at the sky. Remember why. Look at the trees. Swinging in the breeze. Look to God. Old, and in your heart. Remember who you are.

Amen

life

2024-03-18T16:10:00.001-04:00

Weriting has always been a way for me to express my innerself these days it is sick Sofolks do for you, pray and live

peace and balance,

John

culture

2024-03-02T12:41:00.002-05:00

Human beings are social creatures, we developed in groups learning the methods of communication that drove us to develope our great culture. Today I point out to the sky calling on my God to be my strenghth. we all have the need to conect with something greature than ourselves mine is based in all human kind has created and my faith in Wakan Tanka to guide me, and the great Love I see coming from my family and friends we are all one being the spark of God My Mona and I are truly blessed in LOve, and I dearly love her so. mitakuyeoyatsin, hetchetu yelo, HO

peace and Balance,

John

Time traveling Fa1mily

2024-02-23T19:23:00.003-05:00

Tragedy often brings families together, the families may transend time. sit is this family who has come together during our time of need. I look into eyes and recognize eons of lives and the love that travels t3hrough time with them. We are time travelers that 1will al1ways be family, and I am forever grateful. My beautiful Bride and I will car`ry this love with us forever. Wo pilamaya ye,

Peace and Balance,

John and Romona

Falling well

2024-02-17T19:36:00.001-05:00

for a lifetime I trained to take falls. recieve energy and give energy in a positive, safe, and healthy way to help people find their best holistic self. I guess you can say I teach the art of life. learning how to love and live wholly . who ould hqve known, but today I had a fall and that training came into play and my body reacted and no harm was done. Today IAM Greatful for my father's tutalege so many years ago. thank you Dad, I love you,

peace and Balance,

John

Belief

2024-02-14T20:07:00.003-05:00

I have been told in the past that because I don't believe thee same way NOTHer individual does that I am going to "the other place" where that is wasn't specific, however like I sais then I write now, " I don't believe in "the other place" I do believe in etanding or sitting beside the creator embraced in the love of the universe, being embraced by Jesus the Christ, Wakan Tanka Tunkasila "Great apirit Grandfather in all the guises of God for we are all his/her children we are all brothers and sisters on our home the Great Mother Earth, Ina Macha kunsi ye. I EMBRACE THE LORD jESUS, THE budha and all within my reach, we are all family. mitAKUYE oYATSIN hETCHETU YELO. ho. "for all my relations it is So, HO,

Peace and balance,

John

The Miracle of Spring

2024-02-10T21:19:00.004-05:00

The group sat under the shade of an ancient Bhodi tree on an early Spring morning, it had just been raining litely as mist was still hanging in the air. The sun was shining through the branches as they spoke. Gatama stood and adressed the field his contagious amile gleeming through the sunlight. A Chuckle began in the back with Harckonin the eldest and ended wth Govindana his brother. the chuckle turned to laughter AND gATAMA WAVED his arm to the field and in an instant the field bloomed into color. Pinks AND oranges, yellows and reds, The miracle of Spring. Joy and Bliss rose from the groupGatama bowed to the group and sat under the tree with the group, they bowed back and the tree flowered. Gatama smiled at them knowingly. All was good.

Peace and Balance,

John

it's time for a miracle

2024-02-08T19:12:00.002-05:00

Why does man climb rhe mouneain? Because ir'a rhere of course. The mountaun becomes that impossible challange that ddrives man onward and yes, upward beyond the limits of everyday mundane things into the relms of the imagination to his dreams into the creative source where he can comune with God and embrace the Christ Jesus and prove that miracles are real Amen

Peace and Balance,

John

comprehension

2024-02-06T12:34:00.001-05:00

The ability to make heads or tails out of everyday goings on ia considered our comprehension level.

These days my comprehension isn't what it once was. On Monday I will undergo a 3 hour zoom examination to establiH A BASE LINE BEFORE i BEGIN TREATMENTS. lOOK OUT WORLD.

tHE COMPUTER END IS THE TOUGH PART. aS MY TYPING HAS SLOWED DOWN TO A PROVERBIAL CRAWL, BUT IT SLOWLY RETURNS, WHICH TICKLES ME PINK, PRACTICE IS THE WORD BEFORE I know it my usual flow of verbage will be pouring forth.

Thank you for reading me.

Peace and Balance,

John

hER yARD AND sPRING

2024-02-05T18:46:00.002-05:00

The sky was blue again today. The temperature is raising and we are supposed to have a spell of nice weather. I am anticipating an early Spring and being able to get out and smell the flowers and see the birds playing in the yard. Mona has managed to create a space where the little feathered brother's and sisters flourish and play. their songs, the music of the season. Mona's magic mixing together with our saccred space, soon the Three will again celebrated Coffee and fire to share the healing with all.

The Three very soon will look to the skies again and call out to the Grandfather's for guidance, inspiration, and big medicine for ALL, to heal, help and possibly send the Happy to all who will accept it. Mona was the start and The Three will emerce in the Medicine to spread the joy to the ALL. HO.

The Three are mystic Brother's.

What she started many years ago has created bliss in our yard a sacred space that is growing because of the Three's aBILITIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH IT AND HER NURTURING KINDESS.

rOMONA YOU HAVE MY HEART i lOVE YOU.

pEACE AND bALANCE,

jOHN

acts of kindness

2024-02-02T18:41:00.002-05:00

Mona and I have been considering ourselves very fortunate. We have an extended Family that grows every day out of kinsness and the love of friends. This must be very close to the teachings Jesus was sharing all those years ago. I am humbled by his holy pressence. Thank you all for lighting the way

Mona ia my guide. you are an example. thank you

Peace AND balance,

John

Sleep

2024-01-31T20:40:00.006-05:00

i ADMIT IT i'VE BEEN EXTRWEMELY TIRED. uNDERSTANDABLY SO i THINK. IT's THAT SPECIAL TIRED WHEN YOU FEEL REALY WARM AND COZY AND WAKW YOURSELF SNORING. mOST OF YOU ARE SAYING RIGHT NOW" i DON'T SNORE." of course you don't. I find thqt giving myself a little latitude and letting it go leads to good ddreams and rest. Sosleep well my friends. Dream the happy and ;et the body heal,

Peace and Balance,

John

mORE dREAMS

2024-01-29T19:10:00.004-05:00

hAD aNOTHER INTERESTING dREAM wHERE A FELLOW GRANNED ME BY THE LAPELS OF MY gI TOP AND PULLED ME IN CLOSE. i COULD FEEL HISTWIST LIKE HE WAS GOING TOTHROW ME OVER A HIP OR EHOULODER. AI SAID TO HIM, SS"DON'T DO THAT. REGRABBEB HIM BY HIS LAPELS AND STARTED WALKING STRAIGHT THROUGH HI GUARD TAKING HIMOFF OF HIS FEET. THERE WAS A PERIOD OF HAND WRESTLING FOR CONTROL. yOU GRAPPLERS WILL UNFERSTAND THAT IN THE END i WAS ABLE TO DO A FRONT CHOKE WITH HIS gI AND WON, THE MATCH. WHY i'M DREAMING SUCH THINGS IN MID AFTERNOON HAS TO DO WITH MY LEVEL OF TIRED. THIS IS A REAL AND WORKABLE TECHNIQUE IF PRACTICED PROPERLY hAVE FUN, DON'T GET HURT.

pEACE, AND bALANCE.

jOHN

hITCHhIKERS

2024-01-28T17:13:00.001-05:00

tHINGS hAPPEN, THAT CHANGE OTHER THINGS. wHEN ONE FOLLOWES THE OTHER IN SHORT SUCCESSION THE REVOLUTION OF THE 2ORLD CAN CHANGE IT'S DIRECTION. introwpect and deep thought are the consequense. Aurther Dent battling the Vorlon Destructor fleet Doug Adamsfigured out the computer AND THE ANSWER WAS 42 WITH 2 WHITE MICE AT THE HELM. aFTER ALL WE ARE ALL JUST hITCH HIKERS ON A RIDE.

pEACE AND bALANCE,

jOHN

wE aRE sTRONG

2024-01-25T19:43:00.002-05:00

gENERATIONS cOME QND GO, EA CH H AS IT'SN CHALLANGES AND HOW THESE CHQLLANGES QRE MET MAY DETERMINE THE EVOLUTION OF 1 PEOPLE. wE aRE STRONG. nOT TO BREAK INTO hELEN rEADY LYRICS, BUT OUR BLOOD HOLDS TOGETHER THE WALLS OF jERICHO IN PLACE. wE ARE STRONG. hOLD YOUR HEADS HIGH cHILDREN, FOR WE ARE STRONG

PEACE AND bALANCE,

jOHN

Dream good dreams.

2024-01-24T18:53:00.002-05:00

About a year ago I was listening tomy own voice ringing back to me from the room I was speaking in, something didn't sound right. The accent was off, and I sounded like I was sluring. At the beginning of the week I found out a reason. The reason was in my brain. NOw I deal with the inevitable. and my voice returns. It's nice to understand your own talk. KInda handy in a pinch.

I've been wishing my family good and powerful dreams. My beautiful wife takes care of me and is my angel. My dreams are simple, full of wonder hope, and thoughts of my Romona, who occupies my every moment. She is my breath. Fullfill your dreams my friends they guide you to the future. your greatness

Peace,and Balance,

john

tHE aLL sEEING eYE

2024-01-23T19:07:00.001-05:00

It has been said that when you stare out at the Abyss, the Abyss often stares back at you. In our minds ete we can see the eye of Hoeus stARING BACK IN OUR GENERAL DIRECTION. tHAT EYE BOTH CARING and cold always watching. Knowing things unknown. The voice of Christ singing in his peace to our hearts. The eye, all knowing. I stare AT THE ABYSS. jESUS HOOLDS ME TIGHT ALL KNOWING, AND MY ARMS ARE WRAPPED AROUND MY WIFE AS OUR HOLY MASTER PROTECTS US FROM FRIGHT. aMEN,

pEACE AND BALANCE,

jOHN

Good Pasta

2024-01-22T13:30:00.002-05:00

We are born with family and throughout our lives we hAVE FAMILY ADDED TO OUR FOLD. tRUE FRIENDS ARE GATHERED, BUT EARNED THROUGH THE EXPERIAANCES THAT MERG OUR LIVES TOGETHER UPON THE TAPESTRIES OF LIFE. wE USE THE EXPRESIONS OF bROTHER'S AND SISISTERS FROM OTHER MOTHERS, BUT THE TRUTH IS EVIDENT IN MANY FACTORS. I HAVE SUCH A FRIEND, A BROTHER FROM ANOTEHER MOTHER WHO HAS STEPPED UP AND TAKEN CARE OF MY DEAR WIFE AND FAMILY WHILE I HAVE BEEN DOING THE RECOVERY THING. hE IS AN EXCELLENT COOK, WHO IS A VERY MODEST COOK. i HAVE BEEN APPRECIATING THE FARE OF GOOD FOOD AND FANTASTIC FRIENDSHIP THAT MAKES THIS OLD HEART SING. wHEN THE TIME COMES i TOO WILL STEP UP AND BE THAT FRIEND i SEE IN HIM. tHANK YOU Niel, I have a greater appreciation for humanity. It is who we are. Good Pasta,

Peace and Balance,

John

TrueTrue Family

2024-01-21T20:09:00.001-05:00

The vthroughalue of Family is unmeasurable. I have been going through a burning of the spirit. Because of my recent diagnosis of Brain cancer I can feel stronger the forces of mt family surrounding meq and guiding me to higher purposes. My Beautiful wife Romona and I share a gem in our Son Lee who helped me finely get this blog back and functional. Lee is and has been an angel for me these past few datys. I dote on him because I am so proud of who he has made himself to be. He is no longer a chid but, a true man of hte north. We will walk the Red road together and I will induct him into the "Family guisness, so to speak, he to will be Shaman. a Medicine carrier as his mother is. I am so proud of who he is. FAmily is the pivitol point of any tribal society. The out pouring to us fromour community and extrended family is miraculous and gives me the face of Jesus in my minds eye to call friend and family. For my wife, and our Son Lee who has become my hero. The love I hold for these two beautiful people is unmtched.

To our community I thank you eternaly.

MOna my bride and Lee our son, let's walk the Red Road Together.

Peace and Balance,

John Grandmaster, "School of the Silent Warrior.

Blessings of the heart

2024-01-16T18:59:00.000-05:00

SoSometimes tyou build bridges sometimes those bridges build thems selves. Humanitt has a responsi ility to reach out to itself on levelss that are most oten ignored or pretendedaway. I have recently been going through a burning of the soul if you will. Because of this eexperiance I have whittnessed what happens when a lifetime of reachng out to huamnity omes to a pivitol point. ihave seen Sheva The Great Audi Guru Dance on the head of a pin. I have whatched a great small community come together with a unifiying perpose. I unfortunatley am that purpose. This beautiful small town has brouht resources togathr and helped an old man take care of his one purpose in life, his family. After recievin News so dense tht ShEVa did inseed so hia Dance, I whatched this town open up her heart to us in a what that from my point of view looks Biblical. I would like to send to the employees of SAU3Berlin Public sschools a Blessing from th Grandfathers, and ONe of the Three tht watches. You are all true lovers of the path That is also thatbis obviousAnd I thank you for yuor great gifts of life and the repect bestowed upon my Heart, my Romona and our Boy Lee. You have all eearned a forever space at our table. Iwho have also been called WU, "The Silent Warrior thank and bless you.

Peace and Balance,

John

popeye's advice

2024-01-07T17:48:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I know stuff that is happening befor most others. I get these feelings and just know. For instance a brother in the arts was ill and I felt somethings wass up and reached out. I found out he had receently tested positive for Covid. He is on the mend and will be piking up dome antivirals at the phrmacy.zhowever I still worry. i know things will be zok, but things are things and I sm eho I am. Wise Wise words from Popeye.

Peace and Balance,

John

Misssing Pizza

2024-01-06T15:32:00.002-05:00

tHERE IS A FAVORITE PIZZA PLACE DOWN THE STREET AND AROUND THE CCORNER THAT LATELY IS VERY HARD TO ORDER FROM. THEY HAVE EITHER BEEN CLOSED OR TH PHONE JUST ISN'T AVAILABLE.

Romona and I enjoy their food and have the occasional craving That craving hasn't been filled as the phone isn't answered or I find a closed sign in the window. So, we patiently waitand makeplans to call the other place. Ghp where are you?

Peace and Balance,

John

Key strokes and cold hands

2024-01-05T20:44:00.001-05:00

I Like to write stuff. So if I set down in front of my computer to write and spread my thoughts accross the multiverse, and my fingers don't do the thing a minor panic will set in. As was the case yesterday I e tried to type and my fingers forgot how to find the keys. So, I was smearing my doc with jiberish. Today they seem to be working and I have my letters in somewhat of an order. I can even find my start position to type. That is a big deal. of course today the tips are warm, yesterday I had cold hands. A nice warm hand makes all the difference. yep. my advise, Warm your hands up before trying to negotiate a keyboard. The bennies are insermountable.

Peace and Balance,

John

kick start

2024-01-04T19:17:00.002-05:00

sOMETIMES wE all need a littlr nudge, a kick in the pants if you will to get the dust out and get the memory functioning. This push in the right direction can come in the guise of willing friends and students, and I am grateful that I hav students that have progressed far enough in thier journys to be that pu push sh sh sho shove sshove shove when I needed it. Thanks Adam, Thanks Tim. you truly are masters of the School Of The Silent Warrior.

Peace and Balance,

sjohn