| The first time I ever actually perceived someone else's | | | | ability is once again possible. |
| thoughts happened in San Francisco. My wife and I | | | | The problem, of course, is that the martial arts are so |
| were ambulating through Chinatown, and we entered a | | | | messed up that it is difficult to find a form, or series of |
| shop where a grouchy old Chinese lady perched on a | | | | forms, that work well anymore. Oddly, almost any |
| stool in a corner. As we peered at the various bric a | | | | form can work in this manner, if it is properly analyzed, |
| brac, the grouchy one snapped at her daughter, "Look, | | | | and tweaked so that it is scientific and true. This |
| look, look, everybody just look!" | | | | normally takes a tremendous amount of work, |
| We left the store, and I asked my wife, "Did you hear | | | | occurring over decades, but the process can be sped |
| what that old lady said?" "How could I," answered my | | | | up if one learns the proper science. |
| wife. "She was speaking in Chinese." | | | | Interestingly, the old Taoist writings of such arts as Tai |
| The old lady had spoken in her old tongue, and I had | | | | Chi and other Wudang arts, speak of being like a child |
| heard her in English. In essence, I had peered into her | | | | in your approach to the world. I also saw mention of |
| mind and perceived her thoughts in my language. And I | | | | this concept in works of Zen Buddhism. Unfortunately, |
| had this ability, I intuitively knew, because I had been | | | | by the time one resurrects this ability one has become |
| studying the martial arts. | | | | old. |
| The human mind is nothing more than a big radio | | | | Nevertheless, the old anecdotes are true, the martial |
| receiver, but it transmits, and receives, thoughts. The | | | | arts really do work, and in ways most people don't |
| unlucky truth, however, is that the mind is pretty | | | | imagine. Indeed, though the martial arts teach people |
| jammed up with static. Children can usually perceive | | | | how to defend themselves in combat situation, abilities |
| people's thoughts, but they outgrow the ability and don't | | | | like reading minds are the real beginning. And the |
| even remember it when they age. | | | | beginning of the real beginning, for most people, is |
| In the martial arts you use the discipline of the body to | | | | simply passing through the doors of that neighborhood |
| clear out the static and clutter. You do this by | | | | training hall and learning a little Kenpo or Kung Fu or Tai |
| concentrating on doing one thing, the form. Eventually, | | | | Chi Chuan. |
| the distractions to the mind clear away, and the original | | | | |