“SELFISH ELEGANCE�”; A WF WAY PRINCIPLE OF AWAKENING
“Whenever i act inelegantly – be it in thought, speech, or action – it leads, inevitably, to some degree of pain and suffering for me. In contrast, whenever i consciously choose to behave elegantly, it eventually results in my happiness. Could the spiritual journey be so simple as an ongoing exercise in selfish elegance?”
– Coach Ilg
“The cultivation of Sacredness thwarts substance abuse of all kinds.”
– Coach Ilg.
Coach Ilg, shown here skillfully applying his WF Tenet of Selfish Elegance, as he hoists a rare beer with elegant posture and after a gratitude ritual for the beer. He has allowed himself this ‘brewski’ as a reward after a small spiritual victory attainment. “Although i absolutely ADORE beer…hey, i am Germanic…Shiva has destroyed my inJoyment of it because drinking it makes me immediately fat and screws up my Pranic Vayus instantly,” says Coach, “so, not drinking beer for me remains a matter of discipline. When i do have a beer or two, oh man! It feels sacred…which is precisely, to me, how drinking should remain; be it an ILG SUPREME from SUNRIDER HERBS, or a beer while watching a hockey game; both instances should feel special, if not sacred. The cultivation of Sacredness thwarts substance abuse of all kinds.”
Within the Staff Teaching Temple, we love this shot of Coach, taken by Ananda recently near Granite Mountain, Arizona, one of Coach’s earliest rock climbing haunts. We love the juxtaposition of the beer against his mala beads and Tibetan handbag! Our Coach, the creator of the Path we love so much, typifies his free wheeling philosophical nature backed by his unmatched hard core fierceness of Practice. We bow to our smiling ‘Teacher Who Bridges East/West Fitness Technologies Like No Other’.
– WF Temple Manager Ananda
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For us to survive on the spiritual path, there are many challenges to face, and there is much to learn. We have to discover how to deal with obstacles and difficulties; how to process doubts and see through wrong views; how to inspire ourselves when we least feel like it; how to understand ourselves and our moods; how really to work with and integrate the teachings and practices; how to evoke compassion and enact it in life; and how to transform our suffering and emotions.
On the spiritual path, all of us need the support and the good foundation that come from really knowing the teachings, and this cannot be stressed strongly enough. For the more we study and practice, the more we shall embody discernment, clarity, and insight. Then, when the truth comes knocking, we will know it, with certainty, for what it is, and gladly open the door, because we�ll have guessed that it may well be the truth of who we really are.
– Sogyal Rinpoche
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These teachings are the "Rasas" or "sap" of Wholistic Fitness. You’ll find insights to ponder, student chi to keep your own chi topped off, and plenty of proven training techniques to test on your own body, mind, and spirit! Also, you’ll find my very popular Race Reports, and news of our Sangha’s (community’s) latest transpersonal fitness adventures!