“There are those who look on death with a naive, thoughtless cheerfulness, thinking that for some unknown reason death will work out all right for them, and that it is nothing to worry about. When I think of them, I am reminded of what one Tibetan master says: “People often make the mistake of being frivolous about death and think,’Oh well, death happens to everybody. It is not a big deal, it is natural. I will be fine.'” That is a nice theory until one is dying.”
– Sogyal Rinpoche
When we are young, bold, and unaware it becomes all too easy to think that old age and death is something that we do not need to train for in the same way we might train for, say, earning money or a slim, sexy body. Setting up such an ignorant view early in life is not usually our fault. Our parents usually do not train us for aging gracefully and dying consciously. So really, unless we are Blessed by Dharma Teachers early in our life, such ignorance (avidya) becomes as well rooted as a dandelion in our mentality. Buddha called this, “afflicted vision.” 
I was Blessed throughout my early life with Dharma Teachers and thus, i did things that developed my Bardo Training awareness such as meditation and free solo rock climbing and winter mountaineering. those three things have a common denominator; they zoom up front the actual face to face encounter and dancing with the possibility of death. this keeps the spiritual athlete humble and focused on Bardo Training practices.
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out where our weakness’s, wounds, anger, and fear reside.
Just get some structural bodywork, do some hip openers, backbends, try to meditate, or do an ultra endurance feat.
There are all sorts of ways to realize all our crap that we have attempted to run away from, mask, or ignore.
So no, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out where our weakness, wounds, and fears reside.
It will take, however, our Inner Genius to help us transcend them.
May your Practice be inspired today,
om so ti,
coach
photo 1) my nephew, Mogeus, gets an Auric Bath, African style. photo by two man ilg
photo 2) i found this fantastic ‘cable route’ up a sandstone pillar near Window Rock, Arizona the other day. i scampered up it rejoicing in my memories of my former profession of climbing while Ananda, who took the photo, calmed her nerves by reciting the Sacred Mantra.
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!