[ensonar]

Now i have an important question (for me) to ask you: i remember when reading one of your posts, you mentioned a brief encounter with kung-fu. I am just beginning to learn the Magical Passes (from the book and also the DVD), and read there that Juan Matus recommended Marshall art, and that one of the ladies in his group (or earlier) traveled to the East to study it. I have always been fascinated with marshal art (mostly the discipline and spiritual part of it); do you think that the Magical Passes can substitute entirely kung-fu, Tai-chi-chuan etc? I hope it is, and want your opinion.

amos.

I don't want to in any way imply that I am an authority on this matter. But here's an opinion from my personal experience.

I have practiced the magical passes very intensly at times and then not so intensly at other times. I know that there is enough force and magic in them to completely take the place of any other form of physical exercise. However, my personal preference is to have numerous physical activities going on at the same time.

I read somewhere that Don Juan had suggested that Carlos practice martial arts to gain discipline and force in order to apply that to his magical passes. And I have found this to be true for myself as well. But I don't think it necessarily has to be martial arts. It could be anything I suppose. Yoga, running, walking, weight lifting, swimming, sports... anything physical, done impeccably, could give more impact to your magical passes and vice-versa.

And it certainly doesn't hurt to eat well too

[amos]

Thank you enso�±ar, you clarified it perfectly.
I'm in a good shape and try to take care of my body (the only thing i really own and responsible for); however i have to figure out how to efficiently utilize those 24 hours. It is not enough to love and want to do something in order to master it, it take practice (time). I haven't found yet in 'nagualism', anything that is not basic, core truth, so, you just saved me a lot of energy and i know where to direct it now.

How long did it take you to master the magical passes (or at least get to the point that you can flow it)? How often and for how long do you practice it?

You mentioned eating well; i try to learn it too (so much junk and lies to unlearn first...), but one thing i asked myself many times was, why i don't see anything in the teachings of Juan Matus. Do you have any answer to that?
I do find an excellent source for health (and eating well) in the Chinese wisdom, especially in the Taoist way of living.

[ensonar]

Well I wouldn't say I've mastered anything. I learned some from the videos and most of the "Magical Passes" book. I usually practice them as full sets doing each pass several times (depending on how much time I have to do them). And then also throughout the day I'll do a short pass here and there when I find a spare moment and space.

I'm not sure why eating wasn't mentioned much in Castaneda's books. Perhaps it's because there's no big secret to eating well. Don Juan said that "the body has to be perfection before the will is a functioning unit." This would very obviously imply eating impeccably as well.

I think that eating well is understood by modern man (and so is eating garbage ). We actually had a food discussion on another thread, and I posted this link there, but here it is again:

http://www.whfoods.com/

There's nothing really special about that site, I just found it recently and liked it. I'm sure there are many other good ones out there.

One thing I have noted though is that Nagualists are generally not vegetarians. There's an interview somewhere where Taisha addresses this, and I personally asked a Tensegrity instructor about it during a period when I was trying out vegetarianism. He told me that none of the serious practitioners were vegetarians, and that the body needs the energy supplied by meat.

[amos]

Thanks again Enso�±ar;
I did look and bookmarked that website.
Come to think of it, i remember encountering more than once, where Juan Matus talk about eating and other 'bodily' stuff. I did highlight most of them, the problem is that every second line in those books has been highlighted and i don't know how even to start looking. After finding and reading The Wheel of Time, i realized Castaneda made most of my highlighting obsolete by providing it in a genius way in this book. I may find more of the 'non spiritual' stuff in Magical Passes, but i may have to go back to the different books one day.
By the way, i read in the magical Passes that in the turn of the 19th century, a Chinese sailor arrived to Mexico and became a Nagual. I'm reading now a book called The complete Guide of Chinese Health & Healing. I'm only, so far reading about food, but their wisdom refined during 1000's years reminds me the wisdom of the Mexican shamans, also refined for 1000's years. Thanks to the secrecy, the Spaniard couldn't destroy it like they did to the rest of the America's cultures (the Mayans etc).

You say there is no big secret to eating well, i wish it was true; most of our 'modern' eating habits and 'knowledge' comes from propaganda of the manufacturers (as well as the pseudo research of greedy or not honest researchers). Just look at the common/standard American diet. What is better butter or margarine, cow milk or soy milk etc etc. I used to drink gallons of milk when i was younger; i was told it was good for me. Even in the website you mentioned the milk is glorified as well as "low fat diet". One of the reasons for the American obesity is the low/no fat diet industry's propaganda.

Was there any other forum or thread discussing 'Real Estate'? I mean people recommendations of places in/close to nature with low cost of living.

[ensonar]

You say there is no big secret to eating well, i wish it was true; most of our 'modern' eating habits and 'knowledge' comes from propaganda of the manufacturers (as well as the pseudo research of greedy or not honest researchers).

Yeah, you're right. It isn't always that easy. But in my experience, eating simple natural foods is the best way. And moderation is always best. "A warrior touches the world sparingly." And of course, nothing comes completely easy, reading and staying educated about things will help. I just prefer to try and get food in its purest, simplest most natural form.

Was there any other forum or thread discussing 'Real Estate'? I mean people recommendations of places in/close to nature with low cost of living.

No, but perhaps you should start one?

[admin]

And you cant forgot Florinda Donner training in a Kung Fu Variant. That and the Howard Lee business, need be take in the formula.

[BratscheWarrior]

Well, i have been doing Aikido for a few months and it seems to be compatible with some the the aims of becoming a warrior.

First, to deal with confrontation, avoid confrontation. The moves of the defender deflect the attacker's moves in order to use his energy "against" him. It is actually harmonizing with your attacker, letting them go by you.

Second (partly unexpected), i get a feeling of what it was like when i was 8 years old. Rolling around, being tossed, Laughing with complete abandon. Even after being thrown unexpectedly and pinned with my face glued to the floor. How wonderful it is! Now the unexpected part. While it has brought about feelings of joy, it has also caused feeling of frustration to resurface. Enough to make me almost cry (which is something i did often when i was 8). It has forced me to recognize that i have to deal with old feelings. Maybe my assemblage point is moving...

Third, i think i understand what discipline is now. Discipline is making a decision and taking action to realize that decision. If i say i am waking up early to going to class, i am waking up early and will be at class. Unless something happens that would prevent me from doing my best (such as bodily soreness). But discipline can be learned through infinite activities.

Fourth, dealing with teachers who threaten my self-importance. One teacher i am thinking of is just an ass. And yet in him, i've found a petty tyrant.

Now all that being said, i must say that one thing in Aikido that doesn't jive with the way of the Warrior is the bowing. i get that it is used to show respect, but in the time it takes to bow to the sensai after he helps you, i could have used those seconds to move toward getting the movement right. But hey, i'm not looking to make waves. It's like Naguals using the Church for cover.

[ensonar]

Interesting... Akido. That's the one I must have been thinking of lately.

In some of my recent interactions with many people, and watching the drama between many of them, I've been realizing and beginning to understand the tactic of using other's attacks against them, by moving out of the way. When one defends themself, it only makes them weak. And I knew that this philosophy related to one or more of the martial arts. I just wasn't sure which one. And I'm finding this to work very well.

Thanks for the tip. If I do get back into martial arts I will look into this one.

And about the bowing thing, I agree with you completely. I find myself in similar situations constantly. I think this is what controlled folly is all about. We use what we can in every situation and play whatever games necessary to not get in the way of our own progress. There's no need to fight useless battles.

[Warbaryan]

Aikido is fine. However, what is important in choosing a martial art is that you try to find the one that is most suitable for you.

The books are not supposed to manuals of what to do and what not to do. They're not a blueprint of how we "should" live our lives. Yes, there are no detailed nutritional instructions in the Castaneda/Donner/Abelar books -- so what? There are no instructions concerning how to drive a car or how to wipe your ass after taking a shit, either. I am sure the importance of food is emphasized, however. But, how to eat in the way that is best for you is up to you to discover. I'm slowly working on it myself and I can say it's really challenging to eat smartly... it's much easier to theorize about it than it is to actually make yourself follow the set plans.

Martial arts are about warfare, survival, self-defence. Those aspects of life the modern man doesn't embody very well as the society has formed a net of false security that makes us soft and edgeless like caged pets. But, we are beings of fight in essence, so I think our bodies really need action like that. War spirit, well-channeled aggressive movement. And we may need the self-defence skills some day. What if some bastard suddenly decides to turn your head into mashed potatoes? Then, there's no time for pacifism and fancy philosophies. We need the action of a magical beast.

[Chipola_english forum]

A little question, is this real?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83gwsp8gDvo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FX16B3SVYpk