Books that cause reflection and thought toward our training.

[Brian King]

Miguel de Cervantes wrote that “Time ripens all things, no man is born wise.” As practitioners of Systema we are students of life and situation and as students everywhere we are obligated to ceaselessly cultivate the habit of self learning. Mahatma Gandhi said to “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

While reading all manner of books I have often realized that what I was reading had a direct relationship to my Systema training and understanding. I came to realize that almost any book had at least one lesson that deepened my understanding of Systema and life and helped to further my study. I figure I am not alone in this.

We have read book recommendations and they are great, please keep them coming. We have also had debates about authors, statics, methods and all other manor of debates. Let’s keep this thread free of those debates, let it be a thread where people can simply name a book that gave them some unexpected insight into training and share a summary of that insight so that others may gain from the sharing. The insight does not have to be Earth shattering Noble Prize winning life changing magnitude, just a passage written that made you pause and contemplate how what you just read applies to your training or situation.

Regards
Brian King
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We grow our knowledge when we share it.

[Brian King]

SNIP/ “Come on, now…a big one. A big, deeeeep breath.” As Willow’s shoulders rose and then fell, she looked at Jones questioningly. “What does that tell you?” he said when she had exhaled.Well…uhhh…that the air is clean.”

“No, no,” Jones said enthusiastically. “ More basic. Give me a literal view. What is the fundamental thing we know about people who can breathe?”

“That they are alive?” “Correct!” Jones exulted. “That they are alive! Therefore, what might we ascertain from the fact that you can breathe?”

“That I am alive?” Willow said, a bit more certain this time of her answer.

“That is correct.” Jones said. “And with that realization, we have the beginning of a chain of simple, unvarnished truths about your existence on this earth. Your very breath provides authentic and infallible absolutes that cannot be disputed. Here, my friend, even during what you may consider the worst time in your life, is proof of hope. Incidentally, this proof is genuine regardless of a person’s age, physical condition, financial situation, color, gender, emotional state, or belief. Now, listen closely
…

“If you are breathing, you are still alive. If you are alive then you are still here, physically, on this planet. If you are still here, then you have not completed what you were put on earth to do. If you have not completed what you were put on earth to do…that means your very purpose has not yet been fulfilled. If your purpose has not yet been fulfilled, then the most important part of your life has not yet been lived. And if the most important part of your life has not yet been lived…” Jones paused, waiting for Willow to follow his thought to conclusion.

“That is my proof of hope.” Willow said softly /SNIP

The book is “The Noticer, Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective” by Andy Andrews

I paused after reading the above passage in the book. I had long ago noticed after a good Systema class the students feel good, they feel better than when they arrived. It is the relaxation, the building up of a good sweat, the cleansing of our nervous system, the exercise of our respiratory and circulatory systems, this I knew. But until I read the above passage I had never before thought about the connection between BREATHING and HOPE. Nor had I before tied in the feeling of hope to good quality training.

Regards
Brian King
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We grow our knowledge when we share it.

[Brandon Sommerfeld]

Awesome Brian, I love finding correlation with what I am reading and how it relates to Systema. I have recently been re-reading " Living Prayer"
by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom. One of the chapters on " Meditation And Worship". The author says Parallel with mental discipline,we must learn to acguire a peaceful body. Whatever our psychological activity. Theophane the Recluse, in his advise to anyone wishing to attempt the spiritual life, says that one of the conditions indispensible to success is never to permit bodily slackness:' Be like a violin string, tuned to a precise note, without slackness or supertension, the body erect, shoulders back. carriage of the head easy, the tension of all muscles oriented towards the heart.' We must learn to relax and be alert at the same time.We must master our body so that it should not intrude but make collectedness easier for us. Ths is one of the ways to increase one's ability to be attentive. of course we all have our own way to interput this information. For myself I have discovered many profound and helpful insights in reading Metropoliton Blooms work.

[Bradley Scheel]

Brandon....that was awesome!!

Good insights Brian!

Now to pressure test the soul
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Live your life in such a way that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, Satan shudders & says..."Oh sh&t*....he's awake!!"

[matt hubinger]

A great little Latin phrase is Dum spiro spero. "While I breathe, I hope" Cicero perhaps. It's also South Carolina's motto. And that Bloom book is excellent. Thank for the reminder.

[RachelKlingberg]