For many years I have been reading the newsletters written by the American vet Dr.Becker.
The newsletter I read today dealt with what dog carers call "symptoms of hyperactivity" of their pets. However, upon closer inspection most of these symptoms are the result of breed characteristics, conditioned behavior, lack of appropriate physical and mental stimulation, or a combination.
I invite you to read the article on:
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/03/14/clinical-hyperactivity-in-pet-canines.aspx
Enjoy.
Kindest regards from Bruno
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Ego in black and white
In the Goju Ryu - dojo of Lilian and Elias Kattan in Durbanville I had a very interesting experience.
I sent the following email about my experience to Sensei Lilian.
Dear Lilian,
Not only the kobudo class but also the karate class of last Monday was
very interesting for me.
For the first time I was allowed to participate in a kumite exercise
in your class.
The first part was with two kyu's and the last part was with a dan.
I remember how you explained we were only to go for that part of the
body situated between the neck and the belt.
Standing in front of the dan, I looked into his eyes.
In the dojos of Miguel Gomez/Antonio Escoda/Paco Feliu, but also
during all the processes in the ManKindProject I have been trained to
do that.
In the Spanish dojos I was told to hold the stare of the other student
and read the person standing in front of me.
Maestro Miguel Gomez told me that what we are aiming for is that in
the end we will be able to read the other person by simply looking at
her/his feet.
In the ManKindProject we learn how to read our own reflections and
projections in the eyes of the other man.
Looking into someone's eyes is of course something we are not taught to do in our Western society as many people consider it to be a threat.
Standing in front of the dan I immediately picked up a mixture of
defiance and insecurity.
That is of course only my personal perception and my personal interpretation.
When we started the exercise I was amazed to notice that I could touch
the chest of the dan who was my sparring partner.
Until all of a sudden he knocked me down, touching me with his foot on my chin.
Doing that he ignored what you had asked us to do, i.e. only touch the
area between our neck and our belt.
In Spain I liked to do kumite with men who are younger, faster,
stronger and more agile that I am, because that offered me the perfect
opportunity to learn.
That is exactly what the dan in your class has offered me.
I was not experienced enough nor fast enough to see his foot coming.
Following the kick and falling down I have not felt any pain nor discomfort.
It was a great lesson for me and a very interesting experience.
(The lesson for me was that I had been carried away by my Ego as I wanted to make it clear to the black belt that I was more than a white belt. He from his side decided to ignore the instructions of the Sensei and show the white belt who could touch him that he was better than me. Both black belt and white belt came under the influence of our Ego. I still have to learn that I have to be in control of my Ego under all circumstances.)
Herunder you can read the letter I received from Sensei Lilian.
Bruno hi,
People come and go and enrich our lives in many ways.
It has been good to know you for the short time.
What you see here with us is what we are.
We try to pass on our philosophy, not easy for every one to accept in
practice. What always encourages us is that we know people come here for us,
not so much for our system. I suppose it is a package deal! We very rarely
experience any intentional disruption of "harmony" amongst our members.
Always so important to keep in mind is what internal problems people carry with
themselves into the dojo ~ many come here for the chance to let go.
It is a great pity that you will miss the opportunity to practice with our
guest Kobudo instructor in April. He will be here weekend 14/15 April.
If you need to adjust your travel plans, keep this in mind.
Of course we will keep in touch, no matter where you travel.
Regards,
Lilian and Elias
I sent the following email about my experience to Sensei Lilian.
Dear Lilian,
Not only the kobudo class but also the karate class of last Monday was
very interesting for me.
For the first time I was allowed to participate in a kumite exercise
in your class.
The first part was with two kyu's and the last part was with a dan.
I remember how you explained we were only to go for that part of the
body situated between the neck and the belt.
Standing in front of the dan, I looked into his eyes.
In the dojos of Miguel Gomez/Antonio Escoda/Paco Feliu, but also
during all the processes in the ManKindProject I have been trained to
do that.
In the Spanish dojos I was told to hold the stare of the other student
and read the person standing in front of me.
Maestro Miguel Gomez told me that what we are aiming for is that in
the end we will be able to read the other person by simply looking at
her/his feet.
In the ManKindProject we learn how to read our own reflections and
projections in the eyes of the other man.
Looking into someone's eyes is of course something we are not taught to do in our Western society as many people consider it to be a threat.
Standing in front of the dan I immediately picked up a mixture of
defiance and insecurity.
That is of course only my personal perception and my personal interpretation.
When we started the exercise I was amazed to notice that I could touch
the chest of the dan who was my sparring partner.
Until all of a sudden he knocked me down, touching me with his foot on my chin.
Doing that he ignored what you had asked us to do, i.e. only touch the
area between our neck and our belt.
In Spain I liked to do kumite with men who are younger, faster,
stronger and more agile that I am, because that offered me the perfect
opportunity to learn.
That is exactly what the dan in your class has offered me.
I was not experienced enough nor fast enough to see his foot coming.
Following the kick and falling down I have not felt any pain nor discomfort.
It was a great lesson for me and a very interesting experience.
(The lesson for me was that I had been carried away by my Ego as I wanted to make it clear to the black belt that I was more than a white belt. He from his side decided to ignore the instructions of the Sensei and show the white belt who could touch him that he was better than me. Both black belt and white belt came under the influence of our Ego. I still have to learn that I have to be in control of my Ego under all circumstances.)
Herunder you can read the letter I received from Sensei Lilian.
Bruno hi,
People come and go and enrich our lives in many ways.
It has been good to know you for the short time.
What you see here with us is what we are.
We try to pass on our philosophy, not easy for every one to accept in
practice. What always encourages us is that we know people come here for us,
not so much for our system. I suppose it is a package deal! We very rarely
experience any intentional disruption of "harmony" amongst our members.
Always so important to keep in mind is what internal problems people carry with
themselves into the dojo ~ many come here for the chance to let go.
It is a great pity that you will miss the opportunity to practice with our
guest Kobudo instructor in April. He will be here weekend 14/15 April.
If you need to adjust your travel plans, keep this in mind.
Of course we will keep in touch, no matter where you travel.
Regards,
Lilian and Elias
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Thich Nat Hanh
Remember how many times I spoke to you about walking with dogs?
Remember how many times I wrote and spoke about walking with dogs while being silent?
Over the years walking with dogs became for me a sacred activity.
They do not speak with words but I fully understand them.
Walking silently offers me, without effort, the possibility to get in touch with my inner self, with the dogs and with the whole universe.
A Buddhist monk called Thich Nat Hahn has discovered the same. It is not the first time I am writing about him. Thousands of people are walking with him in silence. This turns the walk into a meditation.
If you do that, your dogs will immediately pick up the difference in your energy.
MKP-brother Simon Winkle sent me the following quote:
“There is no walk for peace. Peace is the walk.
By walking,we generate peace within our body, our consciousness.
We embrace and heal the pain, the sorrow, the fear in us,
and that is the ground for helping peace to be a reality in
the world.” -
Thich Nhat Hanh
Remember how many times I wrote and spoke about walking with dogs while being silent?
Over the years walking with dogs became for me a sacred activity.
They do not speak with words but I fully understand them.
Walking silently offers me, without effort, the possibility to get in touch with my inner self, with the dogs and with the whole universe.
A Buddhist monk called Thich Nat Hahn has discovered the same. It is not the first time I am writing about him. Thousands of people are walking with him in silence. This turns the walk into a meditation.
If you do that, your dogs will immediately pick up the difference in your energy.
MKP-brother Simon Winkle sent me the following quote:
“There is no walk for peace. Peace is the walk.
By walking,we generate peace within our body, our consciousness.
We embrace and heal the pain, the sorrow, the fear in us,
and that is the ground for helping peace to be a reality in
the world.” -
Thich Nhat Hanh
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