Amazing Speech

This really should be seen by every Government employee, lobbyist, interfering government bureaucrats the world over.

We are free, though the current world system is doing its best to convince us otherwise.

Watch this great speech by Charlie Chaplin:

A Wish Seen Through- documentary from VAST-Bhutan

An inspireing story about the elderly from a village in Bhutan. It reminds me how lucky I am when I watch videos like this:

'When asked what their wish was, senior citizens in a village in Bhutan replied that they wished they could go on a pilgrimage to central Bhutan. Voluntary Artists Studio Thimphu (VAST) decided to fulfill this wish. 8 young volunteer artists took 27 elderly men on a road trip to Bumthang. Camping, interacting, and visiting holy sites along the way, for these senior citizens it was the trip of their dreams.
For more information: www.vast-bhutan.org'

Notice anything familiar?

It's all quiet here as I am focusing on training and watching the world get more and more surreal.

I thought the following video might be appropriate for the times we are living now. If you haven't seen the whole movie or read the the Graphic Novel then I highly recommend it.

Amazing Strength and Balance skills...

Strength is great but strength with balance and flexibility is far more useful and in this case inspiring. Hope you enjoy this video check out his you tube account he has lots of tutorials:

Thank you HBO

Who would have some thing this good could come from mainstream TV.

APA - State of Mind

This is an addition that I think the more you read it the more it rings true. Thank you Chris.

APA-State of Mind

The warrior is someone who never says he is.
The master is someone who says he is all there ever was.
All the great ones say their student defeats whoever the masters are
The great master warrior is everyone's best student learning all that he could be

by Chris Mar

Testing ourselves...an inspirational real life story

I saw this and had to share..

www.DickProenneke.com - "Alone in the Wilderness" is the story of Dick Proenneke living in the Alaska wilderness. Dick filmed his adventures so he could show his relatives in the lower 48 states what life was like in Alaska, building his cabin, hunting for food and exploring the area. Bob Swerer has taken the best footage from Dick's films and he has created 3 videos about Dick, "Alone in the Wilderness", "Alaska, Silence and Solitude" and "The Frozen North". You can purchase all of them in DVD or VHS format from the www.DickProenneke.com website.

embed wont wont work so here is the youtube link:

An Article from Ross at Rosstraining.com...

I started with Ross's manuals back in 2003. I really like his approach and find him to be a great inspiration.

Here is an article he put out in 2009, let me know your thoughts as always and please visit Ross at his site here

Pick Your Passion
By Ross Enamait - Published in 2009

In past articles, I've discussed important attributes such as patience, perseverance, diligence, and intensity. Clearly, these are significant variables that must be considered when working towards any meaningful goal. Yet without passion, each variable is limited. How much patience will you exhibit without passion? How much intensity will you put forth? What about perseverance or diligence? When it comes to maximizing potential, passion is an absolute must.

Swiss philosopher Henri Frederic Amiel summed up the significance of passion with his words below,

"Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark."

Merriam-Webster defines passion as a strong liking or desire for, or devotion to some activity, object, or concept. Passion is a driving force. It is the spark that ignites the flame. It illuminates the path on your road to success. Without passion, the road will eventually darken. You'll lack direction, focus, and desire.

The Power of Passion

Passion often defines the individual. It isn't something you can fake. You either have it or you don't. For example, consider the young fighter who literally fights his way out of poverty. His passion steers him through adversity, propelling him towards a successful career. But what happens when the fountain of passion runs dry? Perhaps the fighter experiences the taste of money and loses the fire that once burned within. All of the natural talent and prior years of training cannot make up for a lack of passion.

Many professional athletes become victim to their own fame. They find a life that they never knew existed. They are no longer fighting to better their lives, as they are now surrounded by fame and wealth. During these times, they must follow the advice of Abbe Yeux-verdi,

"Renew your passions daily."

A perfect example of this concept comes from legendary boxer Bernard Hopkins. Earlier in his career, I'm sure he was passionate about bettering his life (financially) and that of his family. This is no longer the case however as he's already earned millions. Yet his passion still runs strong, even into his 40's. Hopkins is not distracted by money. He remains passionate about winning and cementing his own legacy.

Therefore, you don't need to choose a single passion today that you must then live with forever. There is a good chance that your interests will change over time. You are free to seek out new passions. Using myself as an example, my passion has certainly changed over the years. I renew my passions regularly. Passion for a day is never enough. You cannot ride the coattails of past passion and expect to find future success.


Pictured in November 2008 with top ranked cruiserweight Matt Godfrey

I have not competed in many years. I am happy in my role as a trainer and coach. I am obviously passionate about improving my athletes, but I still must find my own passion for training. I cannot live through my athletes. I must come alive on my own.

What I do in the gym is for me and only me. I don't train with my athletes. We often do entirely different things. I need to chase down my own goals. No one can pick these goals for me. I decide for myself. The fact that I train fighters doesn't mean that I still train as a fighter. My passion has changed significantly over the years, and I'm sure that it will continue to change into the future.

Flawed Approaches

Understanding the significance of passion isn't enough. We must take it a step further and bring passion to our training. Do not falsely assume that passion is exclusive to competitive athletes. We are all entitled to passion. We can all use it to our advantage. I have not competed in many years, but am as passionate as I've ever been about training.

Unfortunately, many fitness establishments fail to elicit passion among their participants. They go about it all wrong. These establishments often fall into one of two flawed categories.

I. Guilty By Association - The first group tries to guilt you into training. They use scare tactics regarding health and longevity in hopes that they'll scare you into changing your habits. Their message often translates to something such as, "Join our group or face a life of pain and misery!"

II. Pick Our Passion - The next group tries to pick your passion. They tell you what to be passionate about. It is their way or the highway. Their message often translates to something such as, "Train our way as we have exactly what YOU need to function in this world!"

Both models are flawed. No one should be tricked into training, and no one can pick your passion for you. Exercise is not a punishment, and it isn't something that you should be forced to do. I thoroughly enjoy my time in the gym. I am passionate about training. I don't get paid to train. I make my living training others. They don't care what I do in my free time. My training time is my time. I have my own passions that I pursue each day in the gym. It isn't work to me. It is something that I crave.

The fact that exercise offers health benefits is an added bonus. It isn't why I train. I'm not running from death or trying to postpone the inevitable. I embrace each day and live life to the fullest. Passion is what drives me, not fear of death or poor health. I am never more alive than when I'm busting my ass in the gym.


January 2009 - Enjoying the cold!

In the picture above, it was 7 degrees Fahrenheit outside. This picture was taken from my garage gym. I had run out of propane for the heater the day before. I don't know what the exact temperature was inside the garage, but it was cold! I honestly didn't care. Sure, I refilled the propane tank soon after, but not before putting in a few hardcore workouts in the cold garage. I am too passionate about my training to miss a day because of cold weather. I come alive when testing my limits and seeing just how far I can go.

I often receive emails from readers of the site who have watched video of me training. A week doesn't pass without someone asking where I find my motivation. It is as if they think I'm crazy for training so hard. They cannot comprehend it. Meanwhile, I am the one who is truly puzzled. I cannot imagine training without passion. I cannot imagine putting forth a half assed effort. My mindset is very simple. Go hard or go home. It's an easy choice that I make each day.

And please do not be confused. I'm not writing this article to tell you what to do and why to do it. I hope to help you find YOUR passion.

In the words of Dr. Howard Thurman,

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

A Useful Analogy

When discussing passion in regards to training, I like to use a career vs. job analogy.

Job - A job is an activity that you perform for money. Your primary reason for working a job is to earn a paycheck. Some jobs are better than others, but most of us have had jobs that we dreaded. We weren't there to pursue a lifelong ambition. We were there to get paid. I had a work-study job back in college that was as exciting as watching paint dry. Boring is an understatement.

Now consider your time in the gym. Does it feel like a job? Do you dread the work? Are you working aimlessly with no real direction? If you answered yes, it is time for a change.

Career - I'm now fortunate to have a career that I truly enjoy. A career involves pursuing lifelong ambitions. I don't consider my career to be a job. I love my work. I don't have a job where I check the clock every few moments to see how much closer I am to my next break. There is never enough time in the day, and I'm always eager to get started the next morning. I work very hard, but the work is something that I welcome. I enjoy it. I am passionate about my profession. I am also fortunate to be passionate about my time in the gym. I don't approach my training with a job-like mentality. It is something that I truly enjoy.

Now consider your time in the gym. Are you working towards specific goals? Are you eager to overcome your next challenge? Are you excited about hitting a new personal record in the gym this week? If you answered yes, you bring passion to the gym. You welcome the hard work, as it brings you closer to your next goal.

Define Yourself

In the words of Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel,

"Nothing great in the world has been accomplished without passion."

Wilhelm's words ring loud and clear for me. I don't want to be ordinary. I want to stand out. I want to excel. I am passionate about everything that I do. I will never settle for anything but my personal best.

To make the most of your training, you must bring passion to the gym. Passion is more important than even the most sophisticated forms of periodization, program creation, restoration, and supplementation. If you are not passionate, you are indifferent and lost in a job-like mentality. Indifference means that you don't care one way or another. If you are indifferent about your training, don't expect anything but nothing.

Fortunately, it isn't difficult to find something that you can be passionate about. You are free to choose whatever you enjoy. No one can pick for you. Regardless of what some may say, you are not defined by the activity that you choose. You are defined by how you attack the activity. A passionate powerlifter is no better than a passionate ultra-marathon runner. He is different. Different is different. Different is not better or worse.


Running in a road race back in the 1990's (right side)

There was a time in my life when I was passionate about running. It wasn't uncommon for me to run several miles every day of the month. I ran in several road races and loved every minute of it. My interests changed over time however. Eventually, the running bug left me and I moved on to something else. In fact, I regularly shift gears in terms of passion and goals. I get bored easily. If I no longer enjoy an exercise or activity, I will move on to another challenge. Whoever said that variety is the spice of life was certainly on to something.

When I do shift gears, I remain the same person. Take for example my running craze. It was still me. I'm not better than I was 15 years ago simply because my passion has changed. Today's passion is different. It isn't better or worse. When I ran regularly, I put forth my best effort. When I trained this morning, I also put forth my best effort. I gave it everything that I had. The only difference between now and then is that the direction of my effort has changed.

Over the years, I've trained extensively with bodyweight exercise, free weights, odd objects, and just about everything else that is remotely related to exercise. I am not defined based on what I'm using for a particular month or year. I am who I am based on the effort that I put forth each day. Unfortunately, many fail to realize this simple fact. There are groups that will judge you based on how you train. These elitists feel that they are better than you if you don't do what they are doing. They are blinded by their own ignorance. They've actually convinced themselves that they are the only people in the world who understand the meaning of hard work.

Take for example the trash talk that often is seen on large message boards between different training groups. I often see bodybuilders dissed by others. Personally, bodybuilding is not my cup of tea, but that does not mean I don't respect those bodybuilders who bust their ass in the gym. I've met many bodybuilders over the years who work as hard as anyone I've ever seen. Their dedication to training and diet surpasses many of the professional athletes that I've trained. These bodybuilders are working just as hard as you. Perhaps their work is different, but that doesn't mean they are not putting forth a 100 percent effort. It isn't as if the bodybuilder approaches the bar and decides to only put forth a partial effort simply because he is a bodybuilder. Once again, you are not defined by the activities you choose. You are defined by how you attack the activity. I don't respect athletes for what they do. I respect athletes for how they do it.

In the words of T. Alan Armstong,

"If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen for you, to you and because of you."

Where To Look

I can't tell you what to be passionate about. It isn't for me to decide. You must find something that you enjoy. Your work will be exponentially more effective if you find an activity or sport that you truly enjoy. Do not let anyone choose for you. Find out for yourself. Get your hands dirty and see what lights your fire.

I also suggest charting progress and working towards defined goals. When I ran regularly, I always tried to run faster. When I lift weights, I try to lift heavier weights. When I work with bodyweight exercise, I try to work with more challenging variations. I'm always working towards a new goal, regardless of the training style. I'm don't train aimlessly. I am training for something specific. You don't need to train for a sport to have precise training goals. And even if your sole focus is to improve aesthetically, I still suggest working towards precise goals. Performance based goals can be quantified. Your body will come along for the ride by adapting to the demands imposed upon it. Professional athletes offer the perfect example to this concept. These athletes train specifically for their events. They are not training to look good, but it isn't uncommon for this to happen, simply based on the work that is put forth in pursuit of their goals. It's a win-win situation, and you are able to chart legitimate improvements in performance. Perhaps you are lifting 10 more pounds than you were last month, or perhaps you've gone from 5 reps on the pull-up bar to 10. These are quantifiable improvements that you can track over time, as opposed to staring into the mirror and guessing whether you look 5.3 or 7.4 percent better than you did last month.

And even if you are training solely for looks, what happens when you are finally happy with your appearance? For example, suppose a woman decides that she wants to fit into her old bikini. She busts her ass for 4 months before summer and achieves her goal. What does she do now? Does she enter a 15 year maintenance period without any defined goals? The visual goal has already been realized, so what else can she look forward to? Without a measureable goal, it is common for the individual to lose passion. When passion fades, expect results to fade as well.

When you focus on performance based goals however, you will never run into this problem. I am always finding new ways to challenge myself. Each challenge provides a unique outlet for my passion. I don't know what I'll be doing this time next year, but I do know that I'll be working hard on whatever the goal may be.

Once you determine the power of passion, it isn't something that you'll ever want to lose. My passion towards life drives me forward. It is a burning desire to constantly improve. Great things are fueled by passion so why settle for anything less?

If you want to stand out in life, you'd better be passionate. Find your passion and pursue it relentlessly.

There are no limits!!!

I used to read this blog years ago and have recently rediscovered it, have a look and see what you think.

In this clip he runs second, look at the size of him! Real power house and nice guy.


Bodyweight skills.... over at Beast Skills

A message from Danny

Hello everyone hope you are all well.

Here is a great message from Danny illbaca one of the best at what he does in the world currently. Check out his message and post your opinions in the comments.

If you like it go here and vote for him.....




One of his older but classic videos:



A more recent look at the physical skills:

A Poem from a friend - Thanks Chris

Have a read and reflect on the following poem I hope you enjoy it and gain something from it as I and my european friends have.

As always comments are welcome and if you find anything that inspires send me a link. Thanks.

I am nobody
I am master to no one and I serve everyone
I obey who ever gives me the tools to survive
for as long as I can and always pay my debts in full
always grateful for every moment of suffering
that teaches me more about my own weaknesses
And with those tools
I earn my keep.

I see clearly where I am and where it will take me
regardless of what others may think
because my head is clear, positive and healthy
I am confident
that what does not work can be fixed
what cannot be fixed can be done without
and what I can do without
only makes me stronger
for lack of need or want
I become free within the power of my will

I do not need doubt
nor do I curse the others
I embrace the darkness
and I am comfortable with the unknown
what I cannot see
I am not blind to
because I take each moment before it arrives
and release the now as it passes

I never take advantage of another's dependency
instead make sure to appreciate who they are
when I am in a position to help
I want to be sure someone wants my help
each friend I have
is the last friend I need
because with one or many
I am nobody but I am the same
Consistent with my purpose
To search and find, to find and know
To know and become
and realize what I have become.

Time for another tune I think.... listen to it all!

Wow great dedication and deffinate inspiration, check out this lady's press ups

Just saw this over on Rosstraining.com on the blog.

ROss has some great stories of peoples accomplishments forever remonding us there are no excuses!

Thanks to Ross.

Inspirational

I saw this over on Rosstraining.com so credit to him for posting.

What an amazing story, I love these videos it shows you that no matter the situation you can do something about and there are never any excuses.

Let me know what you think but I had a tear in my eye by the end.

Tough Guy

According to the latest on toughguy.co.uk they are close to getting a franchise agreement set up so that the even can be held in different areas of the world with a Championship in the UK at the original site in Wolverhampton.

If this happens it will be great its such a positive event and the man behind it Mr Mouse is a very spiritual, focused individual, I should know I had lunch with him and his wife at his house. Good memories.

If you are not familiar with this then check out the site or watch this video of someone's first time at the event. If you are in the UK go for it.

Re Post: Should be thought about more deeply

I am reposting this as I think it is such an important subject instead of laughing at it we really should look at what this means to our lives and there meaning even if it is only partially true.

Here it is:

Here is a article about Jalu or Rainbow body. Its from the Noetic Sciences website so please check in at there site and have a look at all the good work they are doing if you find this interesting:

The Rainbow Body

by Gail Bernice Holland

When David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, proposed investigating the "rainbow body," a phenomenon in which the corpses of highly developed spiritual individuals reputedly vanish within days of death, he received an enthusiastic response from Marilyn Schlitz, IONS' director of research.

In a new joint initiative with the Esalen Institute, IONS is expanding its research on "metanormal capacities"—behaviors, experiences, and bodily changes that challenge our understanding of ordinary human functioning—because they raise crucial questions about the developmental potential of human beings.

"Brother David told us that he had taken this project to various institutions and foundations looking for support," recalls Schlitz. "His intention was to corroborate these claims, and accumulate data that would not only help us understand more about the rainbow body, but also look at its broader implications. He had been told that this type of research is unacceptable within mainstream science. But I said, 'This is exactly the kind of project we're interested in at IONS. As long as the research can be conceptualized within a rigorous critical frame, we are open to examining any and all questions that can expand our idea of what is possible as humans'."

Steindl-Rast's own curiosity about the rainbow body began when he heard various stories of Tibetan masters who had, through their practices, reached a high degree of wisdom and compassion. It was reported to him that when they died, rainbows suddenly appeared in the sky. "And I was told that after several days their bodies disappeared. Sometimes fingernails and hair were left. Sometimes nothing was left."

These stories made him reflect upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is central to his own faith. "We know that Jesus was a very compassionate, selfless person. When he died, according to the gospels, his body was no longer there."

In today's world, Steindl-Rast points out, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is interpreted differently, depending upon one's spiritual leanings. For fundamentalists, the resurrection—the act of rising from the dead—happened only to Jesus, and couldn't happen to any other human. The minimalists, on the other hand, says Steindl-Rast, focus on Jesus' spirit living on, and believe that the resurrection of Jesus had nothing to do with his body.

Yet, a large number of people (including himself) are open to the concept that the body, too, is significant in the spiritual realm, and that certain spiritual experiences are universal.

In 1999, he decided to explore the strange phenomenon of the rainbow body and a possible connection to the resurrection of Jesus. "I sent a fax to a friend in Switzerland, who is a Zen Buddhist teacher. I knew that many Tibetans live there, and so I asked him if he could inquire about the rainbow body. Two days later, I received a fax back stating that a Tibetan had unexpectedly approached him, and when the rainbow body was mentioned, the Tibetan said, 'It happened to one of my teachers just recently, and a famous lama who witnessed the events wrote an account about them'."

At this point, Steindl-Rast contacted Father Francis Tiso, an ordained Roman Catholic priest who has not only studied ten languages, including Tibetan, but is also familiar with Tibetan culture. (Francis Tiso holds the office of Canon in the Cathedral of St Peter, Isernia, Italy, and is assigned to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, where he is parochial vicar in Mill Valley.)

"I was aware," says Steindl-Rast, "that Father Tiso occasionally went to Tibet, so I asked him if he was planning to travel there in the near future. He told me he was leaving that very day."

Steindl-Rast asked if he would stop in Switzerland and interview the Tibetan. Despite the short notice, Tiso took a detour to Switzerland, and thus the research journey began.

The rainbow body is a complex phenomenon that will probably take years of study. "If we can establish as an anthropological fact," says Steindl-Rast, "that what is described in the resurrection of Jesus has not only happened to others, but is happening today, it would put our view of human potential in a completely different light."
Recent Rainbow Body Experiences

Through his Swiss contact, Tiso received the name of the monk whose body had vanished after his death: Khenpo A-chos, a Gelugpa monk of Khams, Tibet, who died in 1998. Tiso was able to locate the village, situated in a remote area where Khenpo A-chos had his hermitage. He then went to the village and conducted taped interviews with eyewitnesses to Khenpo A-chos' death. He also spoke to many people who had known him.

"This was a very interesting man, aside from the way he died," observes Tiso. "Everyone mentioned his faithfulness to his vows, his purity of life, and how he often spoke of the importance of cultivating compassion. He had the ability to teach even the roughest and toughest of types how to be a little more gentle, a little more mindful. To be in the man's presence changed people."

Tiso interviewed Lama Norta, a nephew of Khenpo A-chos; Lama Sonam Gyamtso, a young disciple; and Lama A-chos, a dharma friend of the late Khenpo A-chos. They described the following:

A few days before Khenpo A-chos died, a rainbow appeared directly above his hut. After he died, there were dozens of rainbows in the sky. Khenpo A-chos died lying on his right side. He wasn't sick; there appeared to be nothing wrong with him, and he was reciting the mantra "Om mani padme hum" over and over. According to the eyewitnesses, after his breath stopped his flesh became kind of pinkish. One person said it turned brilliant white. All said it started to shine.

Lama A-chos suggested wrapping his friend's body in a yellow robe, the type all Gelug monks wear. As the days passed, they maintained they could see, through the robe, that his bones and his body were shrinking. They also heard beautiful, mysterious music coming from the sky, and they smelled perfume.

After seven days, they removed the yellow cloth, and no body remained. Lama Norta and a few other individuals claimed that after his death Khenpo A-chos appeared to them in visions and dreams.
Other Rainbow Body Manifestations

Francis Tiso remarks that one of his most intriguing interviews was with Lama A-chos. He told Tiso that when he died he, too, would manifest the rainbow body. "He showed us two photographs taken of him in the dark, and in these photographs his body radiated rays of light."

Because Lama A-chos emphasized that it was possible to manifest the rainbow body while still alive, not just in death, Tiso plans to return to Tibet with professional camera equipment to try to photograph this radiating light.

Other incidents of metanormal occurrences upon death are also being studied. For instance, two of Tiso's colleagues were present for the postmortem process of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, who died eight years ago. "This man was a very large-boned individual," says Tiso, "and it was reported that seven weeks after his death the flesh was reduced. That could have been done by chemical substances. However, the bones also shrank."

Shrinkage of the body occurred with another guru, Lama Thubten. His miniature-sized frame is now kept in a monastery in Manali, India. Tiso has ascertained that incidents of bodies shrinking or disappearing shortly after death were documented centuries ago, such as in the classic story of Milarepa, a Buddhist saint from Tibet who lived in the eleventh century. Milarepa's biography was translated into French by Jacques Bacot in 1912, and into English by Walter Evans-Wentz in the 1920s.

"In the ninth chapter of this literary classic," explains Tiso, who wrote a dissertation about the Buddhist saint, "it states that his body completely disappeared shortly after his death."

Even the earliest biographies of Milarepa, says Tiso, attest to this phenomenon. In addition, accounts exist about the great eighth-century tantric master Padmasambhava and how his body vanished.
The Significance of Practice and Culture

When conducting this type of research, says Tiso, it is important not only to interview as many people as possible, but also to study biographies and any written explanations of these events. When he arrived in Tibet to investigate the death of Khenpo A-chos, Tiso was fortunate enough to obtain the bulk of his biography by Sonam Phuntsok within an hour of his arrival.

What is at stake, explains Tiso, is not simply verification of a phenomenon, but understanding the values, spiritual practices, and culture in which this phenomenon is embedded. "We need to examine these institutions and practices in a new light in order to recover for humanity some very profound truths about the expansion of the human consciousness and our potential as human beings."

This opportunity is present in the Nyarong region in Tibet, where several incidences of the rainbow body are said to have occurred. The research team is now studying their way of life, especially their spiritual practices. Tiso has also obtained copies of spiritual retreat manuals, which have been particularly helpful.

Lama A-chos told Tiso that it takes sixty years of intensive practice to achieve the rainbow body. "Whether it always takes that long, I don't know," acknowledges Tiso, "but we would like to be able to incorporate, in a respectful way, some of these practices into our own Western philosophical and religious traditions."

At the same time, continues Tiso, the research team plans to expand the scope of this research beyond the confines of the Tibetan culture, so they can compare the rainbow body phenomenon with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To our knowledge, says Tiso, the bodies of most Christian saints did not disappear or shrink after their deaths. "Highly realized saints in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity tend to move in the direction of incorruption, so that the body does not decay after death."

However, he adds, bodily ascensions are mentioned in the bible and other traditional texts for Enoch, Mary, Elijah, and possibly Moses. And there are numerous stories of saints materializing after their death, similar to the widespread phenomenon known as the "light-body."

"In my church of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Italy, we have a large number of accounts, going back centuries, that indicate that these saints appeared in dreams and visions, rescued people from harm, and cured them of diseases. Even today, people still tell me they have these visions," says Tiso.

In 1984, when Tiso was meditating with his eyes open in a chapel in Italy, he, too, had an extraordinary vision. Jesus Christ, he says, appeared before him in the form of a violet light-body. At that time, Tiso was considering taking a teaching position in the United States, but in this vision Christ indicated he should stay in Italy. "It was important not to make a mistake at that point in my life," reflects Tiso. "I did stay in Italy, where I was eventually ordained, and I lived in a hermitage chapel for almost twelve years."

Tiso has also had several Tibetan teachers appear to him in dreams. When he gives public lectures he speaks frankly about these experiences, because he feels it is important for people to understand that they are more common than we think. "I think that as people mature in their spiritual practice, they begin to have visionary experiences."
Research Implications

Countries such as China, Tiso notes, and certain political movements in Western Europe, have chosen to abandon and even physically destroy anything to do with the contemplative life. "We're now being asked to examine those institutions and their practices in a new light in order to recover for humanity some very profound truths about who we are as human beings."

This research is clearly controversial because it tackles the age-old questions of life after death, the immortal soul, and reincarnation. Furthermore, it suggests that the alleged resurrection of Jesus Christ was not an isolated case, but shines as an example of what may be possible for all human beings.

Both Tiso and Steindl-Rast emphasize that these experiences are said to occur only in highly evolved individuals who are the embodiment of compassion and love. They speculate these qualities—conscience and consciousness—are a driving force of evolution. "It is my great hope that the rainbow body research will make us more aware of this possibility," says Steindl-Rast.

Tiso holds the opinion that in today's world, where consumerism, exploitation, and economic injustice are still out of control, there is an urgent need to reinforce the more loving, altruistic, and spiritual dimensions of the human being.

In the future, he says, we should consider establishing new models of monasteries and retreat centers for individuals who wish, with idealistic motivations, to intensify their spiritual practices. He also proposes initiating a "holy" laboratory to document the progress of individuals.

As for the rainbow body, Tiso and his team hope to actually witness and scientifically document the entire experience while it is occurring.

"What is important" says Schlitz, "is that we broaden our scope of what we believe is possible. We want to discover if there are ways we can begin to develop spiritual practices that, even though they might not lead us to personally experience the rainbow body, could lead us to some other manifestation of our highest potential."

Gail Bernice Holland is an associate editor of IONS Review, and former editor of Connections. She is the author of A Call for Connection: Solutions for Creating a Whole New Culture (New World Library, 1998). Contact: gbauthor@noetic.org

Daily Inspiration from the Brooklyn Monk

Hi everyone everything is moving along nicely with with my current projects so I am getting more time to post here.

As I am put in my blog description part of what I want to do is draw attention to those really doing good work and and in much need of more attention. So even though at the moment we are not getting that many visitors I am confident we soon will once the first book offering comes out.

So here is some more from Antonio a real adventurer and doing great things for the people from regions we dont hear from in the mass media.

Check it out:

How refreshing

I had a very productive day today got all the training done got my all my marking done for work and had a great conversation with Steve Cotter, thats right the guy who can do amazing things with Kettlebells see it all here on his site or here on youtube.
What a nice guy! We talked about many different subjects from the martial arts to motivation, intention and how all this relates to life as a whole. I was impressed with his videos before but after speaking to him I have to say I was left very impressed with his outlook and humility. We hadnt talked before but he was very open and gave me very clear answers to all the questions I raised. The interview will be out soon I just wanted to get something up to say, what a nice guy, if he does a course near you go visit I dont think you will be dissapointed. I know when he comes closer to Taiwan, I think he sometimes visits Hong Kong I am going to try and attend his course.