“People often make the mistake of being frivolous about death and think, ‘Oh well, death happens to everybody. It’s not a big deal, it’s natural. I’ll be fine.’” That’s a nice theory until one is dying.”
How a WF Master Student ‘actively recovers’ from chopping 36+ minutes off her time in a 75-kilometer winter quadrathlon; Padma crankin’ some sweet 3+ Waterfall Ice in Utah the other day…
This world can seem marvelously convincing until death collapses the illusion and evicts us from our hiding place. And what will happen to us then if we have no clue of any deeper reality?
Whatever we have done with our lives makes us what we are when we die. And everything, absolutely everything…
As ilg heaved, huffed, and puffed my fatigued hip flexors through the deep, sacred snows i actually arrived at such a point whereupon i felt i was literally fucking the snow with each uphill hip-flexor driven stab into the expansive, soft, and all-too accommodating virgin powder…the universal symbolism upon my sweating, heaving, driving body/mind/spirit not being lost to the rather obvious analogy; at times, the intensity of cardio work spurns sexual passion which of course is but an often sub-conscious, samskaric longing for an end to duality and a return to wholeness.
The purpose of reflection on death is to make a real change in the depths of our hearts. Often this will require a period of retreat and deep contemplation, because only that can truly open our eyes to what we are doing with our lives…
December 22nd: Amma (Joy) chanting the Sacred Mantra to our daughter as the drug begins to put Dewachen into a Bardo Realm…a harrowing experience that no parent ever wants to see…photo by ilg (who was chanting as well)
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Coach’s Teachings
Most teachings are for Wholistic Fitness Members only. Some are complimentary.
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!
You have access to thousands of posts going all the way back to 2002. The Archives makes for ideal Svadhyaya, and if you don’t know what that important term means ... all the more reason to dive into these amazing WF Scriptural Recordings!
Checking out one or two archived teachings every day or so is an AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE way to stay connected with your Tribe AND maintain consistency and motivation in what matters most: your own practice.
Note: We'll be fixing broken image links, and cleaning up the categorization of archived posts, over time.
Photo of Coach and daughter Dewachen, living the Path (upside down!) by www.jamesqmartin.com