Enlightenment and Internal Martial Arts

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Jan Bloem 

Holland 

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Dear Peter Ralston, 

In the world of the internal martial arts I see people being busy trying to reach some kind of spiritual enlightenment. I have the impression that most of this group of people skip some very important developmental stages.

I think when you want to reach the stage of internal power and enlightenment, you have to work through three stages: You must confront yourself with 'animal like instincts'. You must fight. After that you come to a stage of reflection (human). And after that there is the stage of confronting yourself with concepts like 'emptiness'. I think when you start at the last stage, you will never reach the full monty. Because of one reason or the other, most people are not willing to go through the three stages, but start direct at where they should end.

Do you agree with this?

Jan 

Jan, 

I do respect the sentiment that much too much "spiritual" fantasizing takes place within certain spheres of internal martial arts. "Consciousness" work and martial work are not the same, nor do they necessarily find each other. Studying the internal martial arts DOES NOT lead to spiritual awakening. 

In the physical world and in the world of mind, structure exists and process occurs. Here we can speak of stages or processes, but when it comes to Consciousness itself, no such process can be defined. It is true that certain things cannot be bypassed, but it is not a linear process as you indicate (one and then another). Insight and breakthrough occur when they do. This may be related to intention, or readiness, or openness, or perhaps grace, but it does not occur as a cause and effect that can be produced by following a formula or set of rules. As is the case with all such matters, people are prone to think of "reality" as if it is some way (and it isn't really), and more to the point, that we, with our incredibly limited awareness, know or can imagine what this might be (we can't). I think the most important aspect in such things is honesty, and getting past the fantasies that surround all such work, regardless of where one 

starts or what their interests. 

I do agree, however, that the basic primal nature of being human should not be overlooked or bypassed. It is more than likely exactly where we need to look if a grounded understanding of our own being is the goal. 

One more thing, "emptiness" is not a concept. Certainly we would start with the concept -- our discussion right now is conceptual. But this can be done without any direct experience. A real experience of such matters is a real experience of such matters, the concept is unimportant. Absolutes such as Emptiness or Nothing are beyond concept. We may play around or even seriously consider ideas about such matters but the idea in no way can match the experience. 

I hope this is helpful. Thanks for bringing it up for us to look at. 

Peter 

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