LogFAQs > #948390265

Josiah_Is_Back posted...

I am a fairly serious gymgoer. The ultimate underlying reason for that is because my body is the vessel for my mind, so the healthier I keep my body, the longer I live, and the more time I have to learn.

Concomitant to that, I also appreciate the discipline required to succeed well in this venture, as well as the aesthetic benefits.

So you already associate mind and body. All that's missing is acknowledging the combination of the two as "spirit".

For me, spiritualism is the recognition and understanding of (not only the universe but) oneself. If we claim to be "higher beings", then stagnation in ability and skill is no way to exhibit that.

For many, the hurdle starts in the physical - yet, it is (truly) just a reflection of one's mentality. Since you have the intellect, you've invested in your body to reflect your mind. Nobody can read your mind, but they can read your body (language).

But now that you have achieved (I'm assuming) a pleasing aesthetic, the next step would be to achieve (better) function.

Just because you "look good", doesn't mean you: have proper motor functions, can defend yourself physically, or practice a healthy diet.

If you truly love learning things, then you owe it to yourself to never be complacent with what you currently know. There is always something new to learn and practice.

"Learning" creates knowledge. Connecting that knowledge forms and shapes "experience". And consistent experience(s) results in "wisdom". Nothing is to be isolated. Everything has purpose.

The smallest, seemingly insignificant instances in the past are what determine one's personality. Remember what influenced you to be who you are today - that is (true) meditation.

A personal example: I used to slouch a lot, but by being aware of it, I'd realized (after a year of consistent attempts to correct it) that the problem was my (learned) posture. Nobody taught me how to stand upright, and I always assumed that my posture was... optimal. But whenever I walked beside strangers, I'd noticed that they covered more distance than I did, despite being of same height and with equivalent walking speed. (Yes, I was the guy that observed other people.) I wondered, "How (and why) can people cover more distance, but at the same time, walk with a slower pace (than I)?" This question would go unanswered for, like, 10 years.

Now, after investing mind and body towards martial arts, I learned that it has to do with one's center of gravity. When I first conceived that question, my posture was perpetually leaned forward, and my center of gravity was always in front of me, whilst those who covered more distance (than I) had their center of gravity right at their hips. While they walked properly, I was always catching myself from falling forward, and because of that, I would never utilize my legs' full range of motion - which is achieved by pushing off your toes after your legs are behind you. If I had used the full range of motion with my posture leaning forward, I'd look like I was lunging (lol).

After this epiphany, I understood anatomy a little more, and utilized that attained knowledge to optimize walking, as well as striking for combat.

By investing in the most minute of details, the bigger picture becomes clearer. Hope this did something.