Reflections of Being

by RALSTON, PETER

• ISBN13: 9781556431197
• ISBN10: 1556431198
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-01-01
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books

Summary

Personal, reflective, and gently investigative, these early essays have a raw, fresh quality which predates the more formal theory and practice of Peter Ralston's two best-selling books,Cheng Hsin: The Principles of Effortless PowerandCheng Hsin T'ui Shou: The Art of Effortless Power. Many of the questions for which the martial arts work of Cheng Hsin is a vehicle of discoveryidentity in relation to others, authenticity in the face of belief systems, the draw we have to pursue ineffective self-serving urges, and our tendency to conceptualize rather than experience thingsare described here in simple, almost conversational language. Attempting to grasp what authentic knowledge is, Ralston's queries become a quest for how humans can develop a deeper sense of themselves as participants in the world.

Author Biography

Since winning the 1978 World Championship Full-Contact Martial Arts Tournament, Peter Ralston has become a leading practitioner of martial arts, investigating and teaching applications of psychological and spiritual growth. He directs training programs and workshops at Cheng Hsin, The Center for Ontological Research and Internal Martial Arts, in Oakland, California, and conducts staff training workshops for Lifespring, the Institute of Self Actualization, Robbins Research Institute (NLP) and other human potential organizations.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(4)
Beginning	5	(4)
Somewhere to Begin	9	(4)
To ``I'' or Not To ``I''	13	(4)
On Depression: Or---Love And A Heroin Fix	17	(6)
On Selfishness: It May Not Be What You Think	23	(2)
Completing Relationship	25	(6)
Balance	27	(1)
Practice	28	(3)
The Guru Syndrome: Or---It Ain't Me, Babe!	31	(2)
Changing State: Or---How to Take a Warm Bath on the Subway	33	(4)
Life: Or---Why Me?	37	(4)
Being Precedes All Known Qualities	41	(4)
An Essential Mistake: Or---Did I Do That?	45	(4)
The Warrior of the Truth	49	(4)
Where Does It Come From? Or---That's a Good Question	53	(4)
This ``Whole'' Matter	57	(4)
The Warrior of the Heart: Or---Conscience is Not a Cricket!	61	(6)
The Practice of Integrity	67	(6)
What, More Paradox?	73	(2)
Unsought in the Heart	75