Sure, cried the tenant men, but it's our land. We measured it and broke it up. We were born on it, and we got killed on it, died on it. Even if it's no good, it's still ours. That's what makes it ours-being born on it, working on it, dying on it. That maks ownership, not a paper with numbers on it. We're sorry. It's not us. It's the monster. The bank isn't like a man. Yes, but the bank is only made of men. No, you're wrong there-quite wrong there. The bank ...
I am on vacation for the next week. My wife has flown to California for a couple of days to see her sister, so its me and the three kids (ages 6,3, and 2). As they play in the next room, it hits me that the best thing about my current job is not being there. The impact of that thought is now rippling through me. What a thought. Most of my time awake is time spent contained in a corporate cube. Certainly the job is serving the purpose of a salary and benefits, but with what goal in mind? When ...
I was recently reading Don't Know Mind, The Spirit of Korean Zen by Richard Shrobe and came across the following quote from Nelson Mandela's inaugural speech in 1994: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing ...
It is Sunday afternoon. All three of my children are sleeping, and my wife is at the Shop Rite. How wonderful these rare moments of peace are. How taken for granted they were in the past. Ah, the sound of little feet. No sooner begun, then done. Domo Arigato to the universe for that all too short glimpse of quiet.
HI Paul Well, I think we’re getting close, and this has been interesting. Boris continues to practice kung fu like his dad used to do, but Vanessa is starting to really wear down from all of his kicking and maneuvering and her lack of sleep. I thought she lost her mind last week when she tried to return to her family in the Philippines by bus. I guess she would have eventually figured out that buses don’t float. Talk about mind altering hormones and instability, ...
Time is a precious commodity and maximizing your use of it is crucial. I 've been using the workout below to maintain and improve my fitness level. I'll do this for 2 to 4 weeks at a time, and then switch off to another program just to keep things interesting. Give it a shot, especially if you are presed for time and looking to get the most for your time spent. I'll do this routine Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. I get at least 8 hours of sleep at night and eat 4 to 6 , mostly small meals, ...
Happy New Year to everyone. Recently, I saw the movie Slumdog Millionaire. It was a very powerful and moving experience. I had planned to see a different movie but got to the theatre too late. I was initially pissed, but am now glad it worked out the way it did. I would highly recommend this movie. Best of luck to all in the new year.
HI all Looks like our return to Thailand is going to be delayed. Again. We’ve run into unexpected issues. Again. And, again… The house is coming along nicely, but there have been some complications. The walls and ceilings have finally been refurbished, textured and painted, but we’re having difficulty with the cabinet section. We’re not having trouble picking out what we like. We’re having trouble finding contractors that stay in business long enough to finish. ...
“Absorb What is Useful, Reject What is Useless.” 1) Why did you decide on Kung fu? I would like to say that I made the choice for kungfu or Chinese MA, but it's more that it choose me because my fascination with it. 2)Do you plan on using it for self defense? Of course. I also enjoy fighting in some strange way because of the almost primitive feeling it gives me and I tend to feel more whole and complete because of that. ...
I got cut off in the middle of the last post. I am potty training my son, and we had a close call. Not to worry, all is well. Everyhting went where it was supposed to go. Whew! So after the pushups: 1 min rest 15 dips 1 min rest Next, I roll one die, and that determines the time for the next three exrecises. Farmers Carry or Pressing Exercise 4 min 1 min rest Speed rope, varying intensity ...
For strength and endurance I have been following the ROP Program outlined in Enter the Kettlebell. If you are looking to feed your need for variety, or something to shake up old patterns of training that have become boring, give it a shot. I have found the routines in the book to be phenomenal tools for overall strength and conditioning. For a two to three week period I'll follow the book, then take a break from it. The workout below is one of the routines I do when I'm on a break. Give it a ...
The Pathless Path It’s something that we all tend to do, something that every human experiences since time memorial. We fall off the path. It’s actually not that hard to do, and so many people do it, that we hardly realize it, some may never realize it and slip further. However, if the Universe tends to take a liking to you, It will probably smile on you and then bitch-slap you in the face to wake you up. I have myself, come to realize that there are some things ...
The Beginning I’ve always wanted to start a blog with regular updates on various thoughts, opinions, suggestions and articles. Pretty much whatever else comes to mind that I feel is worthy enough to comment on or point out in life. This therefore is the beginning of my blogs here on Russbo. The beginning then is really a continuation of a thought pattern that I feel is necessary to get out in the open for others to see and read. I am going to try and keep it ...
Oh yeah, I'm back in a cube wearing a headset in a phone unit (customer service for an insurance company). I must be paying off some bad f***ing karma or maybe I just need the benefits and salary (or both). I found a quote and hung it in my cube (my home away from home ha ha ha!!!!). If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. - Marcus ...
The happy man is not he who seems thus to others, but who seems thus to himself. - Publilius Syrus
The happy man is not he who seems thus to others, but who seems thus to himself.
I think of that line from a Stone's song, "...You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need." Looks like I'll be going back to work for an insurance company. I had been working in the insurance industry up until 01/08 when my father and I sold his agency. When the papers were signed, I thought, finally, free at last. One problem, the plans I had made leading up to that point, running my own realestate ...
Ok. I screwed up and posted that last entry too soon, and then I couldn't figure out how to edit it. So here goes again, an example of the Journal entry is as follows: 6-13-08 Friday Zazen 45 minutes Kinhin 2 minutes Bow to Buddha Eye Exercises Chanting Verse of the Kesa Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra Dedication Sho Sai Myo Kichijo Dharani Emmei Jukku Kannon Gyo Daihishin Dharani ...
I've found keeping a Journal of my training to be a tremendous help in focusing my efforts and maximizing the time I have available. In the Journal I'll write such things as, physical conditioning routines, martial art specific training, eating habits, and anything else I want to throw in (i.e. quotes, thoughts, ideas etc.). I wonder how many of you keep a Journal and how you organize it? Below is a sample entry from my Journal. 6-13-08 Friday Zazen 45 minutes ...
A Dream Within A Dream is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The other day I came across a collection of his poems and short stories which I had taken out from the library in 7th grade. Needless to say, I never took the book back. I just loved the writing. I'm sure I got in trouble, but I don't remember exactly what happened. This poem was, and is, one of my favorites.
Take this kiss upon the brow! And, in parting from you now, Thus much let me avow- You are not wrong, who deem That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away In a night, or in a day, In a vision, or in none, Is it therefore the les gone? All that we see or seem Is but a dream within a dream. I stand amid the roar Of a surf-tormented shore, And I hold within my hand Grains of the golden sand- ...
If anyone reading this lives in the central New Jersey area (USA) and would like to drill techniques (primarily submission wrestling) please contact me at jtubridy@patmedia.net. I realize most of the members here are Kung Fu oriented in their practice. This could be an opportunity, at the very least, to learn escapes from the ground to get back to a standing position. Any experience level is welcome. I am not interested in egos or much sparring (I get enough sparring at the school I attend). ...
Hagakure, The Book of the Samurai. I re-read this book from time to time. Recently, I came across a quote which I had highlighted in the past. Master Ittei said,"If one were to say what it is to do good, in a single word it would be to endure suffering. Not enduring is bad without exception." Life certainly is beautiful, but the flip side of that beauty is suffering. Sometimes on an overwhelming scale, and we have no choice but to endure and ...
"I AM NINJA My Magic is Training... My Body is Control... My Srength is Adaptability... My Weapons are Everything That Exists... MY WAY IS NINJUTSU" Extract from the Ninja's Covenant, from Jay Sensei's Tiger Scroll of the Koga Ninja I found this quote referenced in 'Ninja The Shadow Warrior' by Joel Levy. A friend of mine picked up the book from a discount bin at Barnes & Noble and gave it to me. It was an enjoyable ...
This is from 'The Life of Pi' by Yann Martel (Chapter 56). I must say a word about fear. It is life's only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life. It is a clever, treacherous adversary, how well I know. It has no decency, respects no law or convention, shows no mercy. It goes for your weakest spot, which it finds with unerring ease. It begins in your mind, always. One moment you are feeling calm, self-possessed, happy. Then fear, disguised in the garb of mild-mannered doubt, ...
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