BRUTAL TRAINING- Europe

LEARNING TO FLY

2009-12-07T21:41:00.003Z

LEARNING TO FLY

Id like to share with you all, some events in my life over the last few months. But before we can continue, we first have to travel back in time a bit together.
Since i have been 12 years old, the driving force in my life, my love, my passion, has been for sport and physical training. It has evolved and grew, and been my main form of expression, my life, for the last 14 years. I have ended careers, relationships, slept in the street, traveled all over the world and invested my entirety in the pursuit of physical training. It has been with me through some of the toughest times in my life, the one thing i could always turn to in my moment of need, the one thing when everything else was falling down round about me i could find peace in, i could find quiet in, i could find love in. It for me wasn't just physical exercise, it was never about getting healthy, getting strong, getting ripped, becoming great at a particular skill set, these were all just side effects.
To me it was always a meditation, when the entire notion of David Kelso dropped off, and all that remained was the moment, was the action, it was a spiritual experience.
Fast forward to a few months ago. I had just returned from Australia, I had been carrying an ongoing shoulder injury for a while, it had been getting progressively worse. So i began a course of physical therapy and rehab in an attempt to remedy it. Then, all a sudden, my other shoulder completely blew out. 2 days later, both me knees and hip blew out, i had no idea what was going on. I went to the doctors and they referred me onto various specialist and physiotherapists and began doing a series of blood test to see if anything was underlying. In the next few days, i became incredibly ill, having to sleep about 20 hours a day and absolutely exhausted at even the simplest of tasks like tying my shoes. My body was in constant agony. I've experiences my fair share of physical pain, training, fighting, injuries, marathon tattoo sessions, had the beat down more than a few times, and i would rather be getting ground and pounded 24 hours a day than have the pain i was having. The most intense toothache you can think off, all over your body seems like an adequate description. And emotionally i was spiraling fast into an intense depression. Here I was an athlete whose fitness was almost legendary with anyone id ever trained with, pretty much a cripple within a week. I've faced some troubling times in my short life, I've watched the person i loved most die, i watched the person i respected most fall before my eyes, I've had my heart broken numerous times, I've had guns shoved in my face, been imprisoned, faced my own death, and a whole host of other challenges, but this, even faced with the very idea of not being able to train, hurt more than anything else, it was killing me.
The tests form the doctors came back, and i was sent for more and more, yet nothing was revealed, the doctors were completely puzzled and in their utter confusion fell back to their safety net- Take this medication, and that medication. Well i wasn't about to start polluting my already compromised system with chemicals, I've never taken medication, and never will. For the structural issues i began working with physios and was put on waiting lists for to see specialists and MRI scans and the like.
I was left alone in the dark, to find my own way out, the doctors had no answers, id have to go this alone. This next piece was something wrote about 3 am one morning, unable to sleep, when my pain both physically and emotionally was at its highest. It was both my darkest night, and the turn around in my mind and heart, the breaking of the dawn. The night is always darkest, right before the dawn.

What is it i want? What is it I want? Or more so, what is it that wants me? What is my mission? why am i here? what have i to do in this lifetime? For so very long, these questions burned within my soul, i asked them constantly, looking for meaning, for reason. But does knowing the answer- as much as one can ever know the answer in this ever changing moment- does that bring us happiness? Over the last few days, four of the people closest to me, have told me they are unhappy with the way their lives are unfolding. They have all the 'things' and comforts that society tells us is is success, and more. On the surface of their lives, it may appear like a fairytale. But still all have voiced, there is no depth to it, they do not know if it is truly what they want in life, or in other words if it is a true expression of their spirit. Underneath the distractions of their lives, there was an unrelenting calling, a calling, to break the mold, to break free, to follow their own destiny. But the most frightening thing, is to face yourself, not the idea or concept of yourself, but your very being, right here, right now. Facing that silence of ourselves, can be the most frightening thing you will ever do, it is to die before you die, but out of that silence, can rise an inspiration and passion to walk your own path toward your destiny. But does knowing this, does knowing where you want to go and what you want to do, does it bring the happiness we seek? I used to think it would, but now, i do not know. As i lie awake, sleepless in the night, there is no confusion about what I wish to do, it as clear as the moon on this cloudless night. It is a single arrow, going straight towards its target. I have no fear of death, I've walked in the land of the dead and know it is only love, there is nothing to fear. If i die when I'm 30 or a 130 it makes no difference to me, I'm ready to go at a moments notice. I don't mind what ups and down happen on the surface of my life, i don't mind if i land my dream job, if never reach my goals, if i fail in the eyes of the world, If i have nothing, I don't mind, for i have everything i can ever have. I don't mind if i ever fall in love again, for i already love everyone, every persons eyes i look into i feel oneness, and feel love. The only thing that i mind is being able to live my life with vibrant health and vitality and express fully here and now in this physical world. To feel my body move, to run in the sand, to climb the mountain, to swim in the sea, without these things i feel stuck between two worlds. Between the physical world and the unmanifested. I smile to the world, enjoying the interactions with others, and giving all the love i can, needing nothing in return. But in the silence of the night i scream, a silent scream nobody else can ever hear. I scream straight to the source of all things, that if i cannot express here and now in this physical body, then take me now. I don't care if it all ends tonight, but don't leave me hanging between worlds, Like an angel with broken wings, I cannot fly home and i can give light here on earth. Barred from the gates of heaven and unable to express the love, the fire and the light that burns inside me, burns me up. Sometimes in the night, i pray i can just go home, sometimes when driving in the car, i dream of collision, and my own breaking free. If i could only start again, i think, start fresh ,new born into the world again, wings intact, what could i do? But the fact I'm still here, means its not my time to start again, i can never start again, I can only realize everything is just beginning, right here, right now. But what do you do when the very thing you feel most inspired to do, feels like the only thing you cant? When your wings are broken, do you keep trying to fly?
Maybe, the most important thing is that trying, no matter what happens, even if it leads to your own death. Maybe freedom is the only truth, and freedom is in action, right here, right now. Why is it i feel my life should express in certain way? Is it my ego? Have i created some self that i think i must be? Is it a mask? Am I trying to live upto this idea of David Kelso the athlete?
And so maybe after all, knowing what you want to express, feeling inspired to walk some path, or feeling completely lost and not knowing what the hell you want to express and where your inspiration lies, maybe it matters not. Its not the knowing or unknowing that causes us suffering. Its wanting things to be different than they are right now, its being here and wanting to be there. and maybe just being in the here and now, with the confusion, the clouds will part and action will be apparent. Maybe its being here with the fire burning inside and again and again, no matter how long it takes, no matter how badly broken you think you are, just trying to fly. No matter how many times you fall, just getting back up, keep going, keep walking. The very trying is the doing, is the expression, its what lets your light shine.

So, what happened since then?
I have my own theories about what was affecting me but through my own research and experimentation i have managed to reverse the illness, My energy has returned, in fact, its greater than it ever was, the constant pain has gone, leaving a feeling of lightness and vitality, there is still stuff to work through but thats fine. All this i did through manipulation of diet, and other healing modalities. I'm still going through ongoing work structurally with physios and specialists, I don't know how long that road is , but i just keep walking. I asked myself why did i suffer so much emotionally at the beginning of this?
I realize i was attached to the idea of myself as an athlete, as someone with great strength and flexibility. I had already faced death of my physical being and was at complete peace with that, but i had to learn to die to my notion of myself whilst i lived. Does that mean i gave up my athletic pursuits and dreams? Hell no! It means i stopped believing i had to be a certain way to be expressing that.
The expression I love so much is movement of my body, about expressing the warriors spirit. All the rehab stuff was doing, and would have to continue to do along this path, is the expressing, walking this path, no matter what, no matter how many times i get knocked down, no matter how much pain i go through, no matter how bad it gets, is the warriors spirit expressing. Its not about winning, its not about succeeding, its not about achieving some state of imagined perfection, but about doing, right here, right now, even if that means doing nothing, its about never, ever, giving up on your path, no matter what. Its about finding the courage to continue on, no matter what happens. This IS your expression!

A warrior is not about perfection or victory or invulnerability. He's about absolute vulnerability- Socrates

What matters is not how hard you need to push yourself or how much others think what you have done is great or tough, or how much physical strength you have, but rather how much heart and love you bring to what you do. Right now i cant push hard, i cant train hard, right now what is needed is healing and rehab work, but just because that doesn't require the same intensity physically as deadlifts or 20 rep squats, doest mean it requires any less heart, any less focus and being. And i have learned even the simplest of actions can become a meditation, can bring me to absolute peace.

A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does - Socrates

I have no idea if i will ever be able to train in ways i did again, I don't know if ill be able to perform again i honestly don't know, we never can. But i do know, i have the courage to find out. Happiness lies not in the destination, but rather, in the journey.

The adventure awaits....
David Kelso

2009-06-08T13:16:00.001+01:00

BEHIND THE DRAGONS FIRE

Well, Its been some time since Ive been in the position to write for this blog, as many of you may know Ive recently just returned from traveling in Australia, so i didn't really have long term access to a computer to sit down and write. As you can imagine however traveling, as it always seems to do- maybe that's why i love it so much! Did give me many subtle and not so subtle experiences of realizations, awakenings or whatever else you want to call those experiences where you come face to face with truth. So now I'm in the position to be able to write alot more again, I'd like to share with you all the realizations Ive had and continue to have, and the things i learn continually through my own evolution, or simply things i feel the urge to say. It is my hope that my words may resonate with you in some way, and point to the answers lying within each of us, or at least make you smile as you read!

Let us begin...

One thing that has become apparent to me time and time again is this- The dreams we have, we never know where they will lead us, but we have to follow them with all our passion, all our intent, no matter how difficult the road may seem, how slim our chances may appear, no matter how much anyone else tells you you cant do it, or its impossible, just follow them.

When you have a dream of any sort, or many- I know i have heaps! One that when you think about you feel tremendous joy and passion flowing through your body, when the hair on the back of your neck stands up, when you have a moment of insight 'knowing' this is what you should do, when you feel Love, for whatever it may be, maybe its an extension of something you already do, that makes you feel so much joy, a sport you play, a subject you study, a person who's company makes you happy, whatever it is, you must trust it and follow it. But we never know where following will lead us, you may very well manifest your dream into your physical experience, and enjoy every bit of it, or its manifestation may very well lead you on to another dream, all in a gradual flowering and evolving of your being, or maybe you don't even go all the way to the end of your dream, maybe the pursuit of it leads you to something else that feels even more joyous that you may never had realized had you not had the initial courage to follow your dreams. There is no end really, no beginning either, just following your passions and love, wherever they lead.

As i look back over the experience Ive had in this lifetime, it simply amazes me where following my passions and dreams has led me, many have been pursued until the seeming end vision burning in my mind has manifested, only to grow and evolve even more, limitation fallen away and boundaries shattered, some the pursuit of with all my passion and intent have led me to other dreams that i was not able to see before, whatever your dreams are, they are simply to be enjoyed for however long they last, through all their own evolution. They wont ever deliver you happiness, they are an expression of the happiness that you already are. The unfolding of your being and its mission here now, in this time, in this body.

But maybe in the very same instance you envision your dreams and a shiver of excitement runs down your spine, and a fire fills you within, in that same instance your mind filled with doubts creeps in. You start thinking how will you ever manage to do that, you cant see a way and think it impossible, your mind will offer you a million and one reasons why you cant, a million and one reasons why you are not good enough, why you are not worthy, why its impossible. Impossible is nothing and the very fact that you are here, right now, in this body means you are good enough, means you are worthy, its every single being in this universes birth right to feel joy , happiness and love.

Do not turn your mind to how something will be achieved, just focus your thoughts, your intent, your passion on your dreams, believe in them, trust them, and do whatever action is necessary in this moment, that may very well be doing nothing. Trust them , you do not know where they will lead.

You don't need other peoples support and belief in you either, even if every single person in the world told it was impossible, it matters not, you don't need other peoples support, you don't need other peoples approval, you are not living your life for anyone else, you only need your own dreams, the courage and passion to follow them and your own belief in them. Maybe your fortunate enough to be surrounded by people who encourage you to follow your dreams and who give you the greatest gift by seeing you as the unlimited being that you are. And even if you don't right now, trust in your dreams enough and you will soon find yourself surrounded by these people. I consider myself to be lucky i have a handful of true friends in my life, they type that you tell you want to be Tarzan and go and live in the jungle, and they don't tell you you are a lunatic, they come with you to the airport.

Is it really just luck? Or the fact that I've always followed my dreams no matter what that these people are in my life?

Maybe its the things we fear most that conceal our greatest of dreams, Maybe its the sport you want to play at the highest level, but your doubts tell you aren't strong enough , or fast enough, maybe its the music or art you want to create, but your doubts tell you you aren't talented enough, or you don't have enough creative spark, maybe its the person that you feel a connection with, or that you really like, or maybe someone you already love, but your doubts tell you they could never feel the same way, maybe its the world you want to travel, but your doubts tell you you will never have the funds to do it. Maybe its all these doubts all these fears that are stopping you becoming the next champion, creating the most beautiful piece of art or music the world has seen, stopping you asking that girl or guy out, or telling someone how you feel, or getting on that plane or pirate ship. Maybe its all those fears and doubts that are stopping you realizing your own true dreams. Maybe its all those fears and doubts that are preventing you from living your own life's purpose. Maybe its all those fears and doubts that are standing in your way of being an inspiration to countless people who's hearts you will touch by being true to yourself. Maybe its all those fears and doubts and not lack of skill, lack of potential, lack of gifts or talents or love that aren't allowing you to shine like the stars you are made from!

And maybe its those things masked by the greatest fear you need to follow the most

Our deepest fears are like Dragons

Guarding our deepest treasure- Rainer Maria Rilke

The Adventure awaits.........

David Kelso

2008-12-11T01:33:00.000Z

UNFOLDING PERFECTION

I have come to realize a few things of late.
We never know what is going to happen next, never know where we will go, what we will do, or with whom. We know fully the universal magnitude of what we do, the unfolding perfect reasons why we are guided by our hearts and master within to walk a certain path, to take a certain action, to follow our love, to allow to express through us this perfect unfolding.
We can conceptualise and try to give intellectual reasons for what we do, or for what we love, but really we have no idea why.
Maybe we never will
And that is OK.

I do know however that we will always find ourselves exactly where we need to be, doing exactly what needs to be done, with the people we need to be with. God expresses perfection in every single moment.

Our actions are not our own to claim, our desires are not our own to claim, what we love is not our own to claim, we are simply the vehicle of expression of that love, of the moment itself, of the universe, of God.

What we do in this lifetime is not ours to claim and feel pride for, for they are not works of the human mind, they are the works of cosmic intelligence.

Who is it exactly who claims anything to be there own?

And so we can reach out and embrace whatever may come, not in fear, but rather in knowing that whatever comes, wherever the wind may blow us, wherever the wave may take us, its all perfect, everything happens for a reason, a reason far beyond out intellectual understanding.
And that is OK.
We dont need to try and control what our hearts guide us to do, what arises, try to control some outcome, but rather completely surrender, and realize that the notion we have any control what so ever over what happens is the illusion.

Its not a case of either letting or not letting God express through us, of having control or letting go, its a case of letting ourselves realize the illusion is that we have control. You can either become one and fully surrender or you can split yourself and try to resist. Resistance is creating illusion.

I recently knew i had to travel to Australia. For what reason i had no idea, i just knew i had to go, and right now. I could conceptualise and list a bunch of intellectual reasons why i had to go, but really i have no idea, or the intellectual reasons i could think up extend in a spiraling magnitude that cannot be 'understood' .
Now in Australia, i still dont have a clue for what reason, or what i will will happen next, I have realized i have no control over what will happen, or what i must do.
Maybe one day the reasons why will be revealed to me....
Or maybe they wont
And that is Ok.

I do know its for a perfect reason, and whatever happens is perfect unfolding. Right where i need to be, always, just where i am.

Letting go into the arms of God, is not letting go of control, for we never had it in the first place, its letting go of illusion.

Surrender is surrendering our resistance, our illusion.

Hand it all over, for it was never yours in the first place.

Follow your heart and nothing else

Notice how present a flower is, how surrendered to life- Eckhart Tolle

The Aventure awaits.....

Live free

Kelso

2008-09-09T17:47:00.000+01:00

WHERE HEAVEN BEGINS

I drift away effortlessly into the moment and everything that arises, every single thing is sheer beauty, I am mesmerised. But what is that makes me melt way into the here and now, what is it that reveals to me so much divine beauty?

Is it The amazing performance of the acrobats before me on stage, is it the colours spinning and twirling through the air, is it witnessing the human form move in ways that defy what the mind believes it can do? Or is it the sounds, the silence of anticipation, the faint beat of the performers’ heart that you can feel beat in time with your own, or the thunderous roar of applause?
Is it the heat I can feel surrounding me, the heat and life energy of all those that surround me, sharing this same experience, is it the electricity surging through my body now, is it the awareness of my own breath and heartbeat of those sitting next to me, is it the company I'm with?

Or is it the moment itself? Is it the still silence that holds all of this that is happening, that is holding this ever changing canvas, holding all of existence in its mighty paw, the no- thingness, that allows all this beautiful experience to be?

A few hours have past now since the magnificent experience of the Chinese state circus, with only a few hours of sleep, Dawn is just beginning to break.

I drift away effortlessly into the moment and everything that arises, every single thing is sheer beauty. But what is that makes me melt way into the here and now, what is it that reveals to me so much divine beauty?

Is it the Scottish wilderness I see as I pass through the mighty hills and mountains, is it the brilliant colours emerging from the darkness, reflected by the first shimmering of light, is it the strange but beautiful shapes cut away into the sides of hills and rocks by the master sculptor of nature? Is it the way the stream flows down from the hillsides echoing a brilliant shimmer of life. Is it the way a lone tree hangs precariously on the edge of a hill top, living and expressing fully each and every moment? Is it the soothing noise of the pouring rain outside of the car, the life pouring from the heavens , is it this time of day, on the cusp between night and day, where a small shimmer of the breaking sun illuminates the darkness, this time when the veils between heaven and earth are thinnest. Is it the silence inside the car, is it the beating hearts of those around me, the gentle rhythms of their breath as they sleep, is it the angel sleeping on my shoulder, is it the company I'm with?

Or is it the still silence of right here, right now that is holding all this… that is experiencing all this in a single moment through my eyes, this moment where I no longer know where the earth ends and heaven begins.

And it no longer matters what it is………..

We like to separate things, reality and non reality, form and emptiness, stillness and movement, spiritual and mundane, heaven and earth. But in reality, there is no such distinction.

Form is emptiness , emptiness is form- Heart Sutra.

What arises in the moment and the moment which holds it are two sides of the same golden coin, they cannot be separated, or categorised, they are each, one and other- only one.

Every single thing that arises in this moment, every single experience, every action you take, every thought you think, every feeling you have, every once of joy, every once of sadness, every single thing is a facet to the same brilliant diamond that reflects the most beautiful of all lights.
And that diamond, that brilliant diamond that holds within it an entire universe is your own heart, the light it reflects…..
Is you.

In the most serene stillness there is movement, and in that complete movement lies the most perfect stillness.

The Adventure Awaits………
David Kelso

2008-08-10T13:28:00.000+01:00

WOBBLING STILLNESS

We have a tendency to judge our experiences as good or bad, some of our experiences can send us spiralling upward to the gates of Heaven and others knock us down to the pits of hell- Or so it seems.

I believe that every single thing we experience, no matter how seemingly significant or insignificant, no matter how seemingly good or bad, is perfect, and stems from something far beyond what our minds can conceive of, from a wisdom that is completely unfathomable to us in our dualistic mindset, where we judge our experience, categorise our experience, separate ourselves from our experience and from everything else.

Everything that happens is perfect, things can happen no other way, because that’s the way the thing has happened. And they all happen for a perfect reason at a perfect time, and are all a complete expression - the only thing that prevents us from experiencing this perfection is our own perceptions.

We judge and categorise every experience and therefore miss the underlying perfection in it all, the underlying oneness in it all.

The practice of Zazen is a complete expression of life and so reflects all of life. People often think what sitting in Zazen ‘should’ be is some blessed out state, complete peace and serenity, utter stillness, complete oneness. And certainly for some moments during sitting, even for entire sitting or even days you do become very still, very settled, there is a dropping off of mind and body, you can feel the aliveness of every cell of your body, feel like you are not breathing but being breathed by God, and experience the most profound experiences of peace I have ever known. But there are also times when you are completely distracted by your thoughts, dragged every which way by them, you are completely distracted by your physical discomfort, your legs are numb and feel like they are about to fall off, your back tightens and wont seem to relax , your shoulders keep tensing, you are in so much pain you just want to stand up and walk out, you are so bored you feel like biting through your own tongue just for something to do, for some excitement. Most of the time though, you are just somewhere in between all that, nothing extreme at all, just sitting, wobbling between comfort and discomfort, tension and relaxation, stillness and distraction. You experience is just as it is, just sitting.

And so people begin to categorise their experience of sitting in Zazen, the peaceful, blissful moments get classified as a ‘good sitting’ the distracted, uncomfortable ones as ‘bad sitting’ . But really any such distinction is simply illusion. I’ve come to realise that my experience is perfect no matter what, that we are always wobbling, not between good or bad, but between perfection and perfection. What could be more perfect than what is?

Why would you bother doing something like that? People may ask- sounds horrible.
To me that question is the same as asking , why would you bother living?

Our lives reflect this in entirety, wobbling between perfection, that we judge and perceive as good or bad. We imagine that through our experiences we move along a line that at one end is bad and the other end is good. We all desperately try to crawl our way along that line, to finally reach the end, to reach the bliss that it promises, but it always seem we take one step forwards and two steps back on this line, the bad point of it constantly chasing our tail, creeping up on us as we look back in fear.

But if we just let go of our own judgement , of our limited perceptions, to see beyond what our vision can see, we could see, that’s both points of the line are one and the same, perfection, we are not travelling along some line at all, we are centred within a circle, perfection all around us, and we are the circle too. The great wobbling between two points that are the same, within a circle, is really no movement at all, in fact it is utter perfect stillness- Our wobbling is stillness.

It once took my heart to be broken for me to realise what was truly inside it, an unconditional love, with no opposite. To judge the situation , to call the pain of a broken heart ‘bad’ would have been to make myself blind and deaf to something magnificent, something so very beautiful, the sight and sound of my heart being broken open, opening up to that stillness that was always there, that was always ‘me’ unmoved by the seeming changes of the tide.

Fear not experiences changing, forms seeming to come and seeming to go, they are all perfect, all happening for some reason unfolding, one experience closes over so another can blossom. And they are all so very still.

Everything that happens is simply just s it is, through our perception we can see any experience as either an angel reaching down from the heavens and helping us along our way, showing us the beauty all around us, or we can see it as a demon dragging us through the dirt, holding us in darkness.
If both are illusion the question is, which one empowers us more?
You cant fight against the darkness and win, but if you just let go , just surrender, the light comes in all by itself, the demon you were facing becomes an angel, the darkness, light.

Many of us spend years stumbling through the darkness, searching for the light and joy of life. We blunder along waiting for the light to shine, trying to remain faithful, open and ready to respond. But in spite of all our efforts, the place , the timing, and the occasion of our enlightenment are often determined by forces greater than our own.- Tom Cowan

Relax- its supposed to happen!

The Adventure Awaits....

David Kelso

2008-07-19T17:02:00.000+01:00

HOWL OF LOVE

‘If you find out what it is you love to do and give your whole life to it, then there is no contradiction, and in that state your being is your doing.’- Jiddu Krishnamurti

As someone with many passions in life, something that has arisen more than once for me and for others Ive spoken to who are also people of many passions is this- What one of my passions, when I am not attached to anything yet can see the beauty and potential in everything, then which one do I follow? Which one do I immerse myself in? Which one do I dedicate my entirety to?

Someone very wise once said to me that - ‘People become very good, become masters at doing one simple thing, and we call them great’

For a long time I asked what my one thing may be, what is I'm supposed to do , when there is so much I love?

In Reality it matters not whether in my lifetime I become a circus acrobat, a writer, a teacher, a Shaman, a musician or a tattoo artist, for they are all equal in Reality, no thing, no experience is any better or worse than any other, no life any greater, there is no lifetime, no birth, no death, for there is no coming or going, no separation, no I, there simply is. Everything, every thought, every experience, every life is just that Reality, that Oneness, Universe, God and Goddess experiencing itself through you. Or in other words- Its Reality experiencing itself through Reality.

The question then is not, what is it I choose to do with my lifetime, it is what is choosing me?
This is what speaks through our hearts, its not a case of what you think you should do, or what anyone else thinks you should do, its about when your fully open, fully expressing, what does your heart guide you to do? It is following whatever it is that you love with every ounce of yourself, it is following what you love like one single racing towards a target, you are the shooter, the arrow and the target. It is trusting completely in that which you cannot see or name. It is letting go of ‘you’ , a complete expression.

But still what if there are many things you love , how do you choose?
You don’t have to

By following what you love, by doing what’s in your heart, what’s most important to you, things have a tendency to align and adjust themselves, some things may drop away from your experience, others may appear, whatever it you do is evolving through you. By letting whatever falls away and whatever arises naturally requires true honesty with oneself, it requires non attachment, non clinging, non judgement and no resistance, it requires complete surrender, and that is complete strength.

I grew up first and foremost training in the martial arts, as what I do has evolved through me I found my love and passion for my martial arts training evolving and changing over the years towards circus performance, towards displays of freak strength and flexibility. This to me was a natural progressions that came simply from listening to and following my heart, no agonising decision was ever required. Now in my training I don’t practice martial arts, handstands and splits have become my art, my expression, not for any lack of love, passion or inspiration from the martial arts, but form simply allowing whatever wants to express through me free.
Everything evolves……and yet no-thing changes.
It’s a matter of doing whatever it is you love, until what your supposed to do finds you.

Courage and brutal honest are needed at every moment, its easy to mistake instant gratification for your hearts desire if you are asleep, you have to be fully alert, fully alive, listening to the silence.
Going to a party on a Saturday night with free food and free drink sounds at first a hell of a lot more appealing than doing dead lifts outside in the pissing rain, but then , as I find myself warming up and heading outside to face the iron its clear to me what I truly want, what is truly expressing through me,

What is it that wants to express through you?
Listen
Truly listen……

As i look look now to the night moon, as the thunder of love bangs in my heart and courses through my veins, it fills my lungs and a mighty howl passes from my lips, i know now why i howl, the moon and i, the moon and the wolf, we are one. This is love.

The Adventure awaits.....

David Kelso

2008-06-03T15:52:00.000+01:00

THE PHOENIX OF STILLNESS

The universe manifests itself through us at every single moment, it is us, and is the moment itself.
The manifest world seems to change, old forms dying, new forms being born , one moment, one hour, one day, one year, one lifetime ending and a new one constantly being reborn. The moment itself which we are completely inseparable from seems to die and be born anew.
The phoenix has been a symbol throughout many cultures and many thousands of years for this cycle of death and rebirth, of new rising from the ashes of the old.

A phoenix is a mythical bird with a tail that is beautiful gold and red plumage. At the end of its life-cycle the phoenix builds itself a nest of cinnamon twigs that it then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix arises.

This appears to us as apparent truth, and on the surface of things, it certainly is. But as we go deeper down the rabbit hole that is reality an entirely different truth begins to be realized.
Hold on Alice-

There is no birth and no death, there just is

There is only ever right now, there is complete expression right now, nothing else, no before, no after, just this moment as it is right now. The past exists in you as a memory, but it exists right now, the future lives as a dream, but it dreams through you right now.
In this fleeting moment, in this complete expression of everything and no-thing there is complete and utter stillness, no motion that is the womb for all motion.
For birth and death there must be ‘someone’ or ‘something’ to be born and to die, and this takes us to the very question that echoes like thunder into reality- who is this me?
What we think we are and what we believe other things around us to be are mental concepts we use to label and differentiate, the ego, its opinions and its beliefs.
That is not to say there isn’t something …..

Something ineffable

The phoenix that lives, the phoenix that dies, the phoenix that burns up, the phoenix that rises above the flames at every stage, at every moment, just is, it is complete expression right now. At the heart of its evolution, at the heart of beauty at the heart of its rising, there is only stillness, there is no best or greatest moment that its been waiting for, it expresses fully, every moment. In this moment it is, and so are you!

Its always just beginning.
Everything is always just beginning- Jakusho Kwong

The Adventure awaits......

David Kelso

2008-02-17T11:25:00.000Z

IS THAT MY WAVE ?

When we become still inside, we are confronted with right action to take in any situation, or rather the right action begins to happen through us, there is no longer any 'me' who takes the action just the expression at that moment as part of the whole. In Brutal terms- your actions are stemming from correct function. No longer are you doing something to get somewhere actions do not stem from egoic fearing and wanting, cause and effect have been transcended. Everything is just pure expression, the dancer realising they are the dance.

That being said, when we become still and we are faced with some particular action to take, we may also glimpse a destination, not an ultimate destination, but simply something that will come to pass through our action right now, a goal or dream if you will. But the destination is not separate from out experience now, its already all part of a unified whole.

When we have a vision or goal before us it is vitally important not to then make this moment a means to that end.

'Even though you have a goal, what you are doing in the present moment needs to remain the focal point of your attention: otherwise you will fall out of alignment with universal purpose' Eckhart Tolle

Does that mean you are not inspired by a goal or vision? Hell no , you become on fire for what you do, but your fire is for the doing, for the moment, its the joy of doing something completely, of burning every trace of yourself, of being.

When we have a vision or goal, the ego mind can sometimes bind our expression through fear and self sabotage. Fear of annihilation, fear and belief that you are undeserving of whatever goal you have can you freeze you.

It may well be that right action that is expressing through you is guiding you to take action that to the world may seem crazy, you may need to take seeming risks, to pour your everything into anything requires great courage. It requires you to expose yourself entirely to drop all masks, to stand naked before the world and be moved by God. It requires you to die to the past, die to all your beliefs, die to everything you think you know, die to everything you think you are, to become a blank sheet. The ego knows that it will be its end, that you will realise it never existed at all.

It doesn't mean that everytime you have a vision or a goal that you need to quit your job, move away, or change your entire life situation, although it may. It means that when you become still whatever action stems from your heart you have the courage to follow it and follow it entirely, no looking back, no regrets whatever you choose to do to do fully and accept the consequences of your actions.

It means that even though you may be shitting yourself, you transcend fear and realise that ultimately there are no risks, there is no good , no bad, things are just as they are, you just have to trust your heart and follow it, what is there to be afraid of? what is there to loose? How can you ever loose anything that is real?

Is that my wave? that big one? I might die....

Of course you will.

And then you will both be the wave and the rider at the same time.

Ride the wave, wherever it may take you

Have no fear

After all you are eternal don't you know?

The adventure awaits.....

David Kelso

2008-01-18T13:18:00.000Z

THE PATH TO PEACE

Last night i had the pleasure of going to see The Chinese State Circus. As i was sitting enjoying everything about the show, the performances, the story, the colours, the sounds, the atmosphere, the audience, the stillness, there was both a Kung Fu and Lion Dance performance. I became aware whilst watching these acts of a sentimental feeling arising within me.

Now i don't have much use for the past, but let me for a moment use it to explain something. I used practice, perform and teach traditional Chinese Kung Fu and Lion Dancing. But more importantly than that was that i was very passionate about it, I immersed myself completely in the tradition and culture, i trained relentlessly and pestered my Sifu on a constant daily basis, until he told my to go away, i would and come straight back. I committed my soul to what i was doing.

As i came back to the present moment i was left with a realization, one probably everyone and i have read about many times, but this was deep and profound striking to my very core.
Everything , all forms, all experiences, every single 'thing' changes , evolves and falls away, are all ultimately an illusion. Trying to find happiness and peace in 'things' 'experiences' ' people' , 'the world' as Buddha pointed out thousands of years ago all lead to suffering. Whatever brings us happiness outside of ourselves and we become attached to that as our source of happiness also already contains within it our suffering and unhappiness as everything is fleeting temporary and subject to change. What we do is of no real importance, but How is.
My time practicing Kung Fu and Lion Dancing came to end to make room for something else to manifest.

True peace, true joy is within us, it has no opposite, it needs no outside condition to be, it is a stillness that cannot be moved and at our deepest level, is us, everything else is just on the surface.
You might be thinking , well if everything is fleeting and temporary, if anything we ever do ultimately means nothing, will fall away then whats the point in doing anything?
When you stop looking to things outside of yourself to bring you peace, joy and a sense of self, when you stop looking outside to answer 'who is this me?' Then any doing happens for two reasons which are one and ultimately the same. One is to bring consciousness into this world, to awaken yourself and others, the other and same thing is for the pure joy of it. When you stop looking for salvation in things, when you become detached from the need for any outcome to feel whole, you are completely free to enjoy all the fleeting experiences of this world, to honor everything fully, to do everything you do with complete passion and with no fear, because there is nothing to gain or loose, no place to get to, just the sheer joy of creating. You don't need anything, yet enjoy everything.

I believe everything 'thing' in this world, any and every experience you have is a gift from God, is God, and ultimately then is YOU. Confused?? Good, because this isn't something the mind can understand, it can simply make it into a concept, much like my words are now, they are only pointers to the truth.
That doesn't mean you go through life never really committing to anything, ditching one thing for another as soon as you get bored, sorry bub your still looking for salvation in things, looking for situations and experiences to bring you fulfilment and when something fails to meet your needs , you go straight onto the next thing, full of enthusiasm- but its short lived.
To honor something fully is to do exactly that, honor it fully.

Choosing which path to walk in your life is one the most courageous thing you can ever do, knowing fully any path you can walk will never bring you to peace, but still to dedicate yourself to it entirely is courage. Its also to realize fully that true peace is here, now, dependant on no-thing. Any path walked seeking happiness and peace as an end as a destination is doomed to fail- I don't mean you wont wont achieve your aim, you may, but you wont find happiness and peace there.
Choosing to walk a path in peace is to set off as yourself, be yourself every step of the way, at at the end be greeted by yourself. Then you can see, there is no path, only you every moment. All the beautiful experiences, all the amazing things you've seen all along the way all exist inside you.
How do you know what path to choose? Become quiet enough , become still enough and IT chooses all by itself.

As all this realization came to me in an instant i heard something echoing through me that someone very wise once said to me, it affected Me deeply when they first said it, but even more so this time, i am grateful for them having said it.....

'You are a blank sheet, an empty vessel, you are not attached to anything, yet find the joy in everything. Seek no longer to find the truth, seek no longer to experience your true self, it is your natural state. Instead seek to create yourself, who will you be in this lifetime?'- Haydn Ellis

Maybe only now i realize the true significance of those words

The adventure awaits......

David Kelso

2008-01-08T13:44:00.000Z

SPIRIT OF LE CIRQUE

Many people ask me why i do what i do, why i spend so much time training, meditating, studying, why am i aiming my life like an arrow towards becoming a circus performer?

The answer is a simple one. Love. I love what i do, training to me becomes a meditation, everything falls away except the moment, i feel the stillness within, my oneness with all things, my true eternal nature, I feel the indwelling I AM. Its not the act of training or meditating itself that brings this feeling of indescribable joy and love, the act simply brings me fully to the moment, quietens the minds incessant chatter, dissolves the ego, draws me into presence where i feel and BE in my natural state of bliss and joy. As Eckhart Tolle puts it- it is simply the joy of being.

My intention to become a circus performer is simply an natural extension of what i love, its a natural progression, it isn't really my intention, its life's intention expressing through me, life isn't a thing a have, but rather a thing I AM. The vision and direction is born from inspiration, and i believe as everything is, part of a Divine plan unfolding that is beyond mental understanding.

But maybe as i become more consciously aligned with life, maybe i have a glimpse into some of that. Is it this i want to share with you, what spirit the circus reveals to me.

The spirit of Le Crirque takes the seriousness and heaviness out of the world , out of life, it shows what life is, a dance of forms, a dance of passion, of love, of humor, of music ,of colour and vitality, its a celebration of life flowing into form, a celebration of this moment, a celebration of the joy of being.

It is a collection of some of the best athletes on the planet who are completely humble, who demand no personal recognition, who are happy to become complete vehicles for the expression of life and spirit and love all to make other people happy, all to make other people smile, all to let other people be amazed at what can be done in this world when we let spirit take over us, all to let stillness shine out, to bring others into the moment, to awaken them to that spirit they see within themselves. And that is simply beautiful!

Its a celebration of oneness, the performers and the Audience are one family all taking part in this cosmic dance of life, all one within the experience of the moment.

When the performers perform , they efface themselves, a stillness from deep within flows through them and shines outward, touching everyone who witnesses it, the eyes and body reflect so much passion, so much love and by letting go, by handing it over to spirit, human bodies are moved in extraordinary ways, ways that defy limitations, that are incomprehensible to the mind, so we stop thinking.

Shows the impossible becomes possible with dedication towards an ideal, with surrender.

Its a demonstration of having complete faith and trust in that which we cannot see or name, in handing everything over to spirit and letting it guide us to 'wherever' to express through us in a multitude of beautiful ways.

It is about family, the one family that is under the heavens, about people from all different countries, all different races, all different creeds coming together to realise there is no difference at all, to realise their oneness, and celebrate that by working together to allow beauty, laughter, adventure, love and passion to flow into this world.

I feel these to description of two of my favourite Cirque Du Soleil shows Alegria and Varekai, encapsulate some of the spirit of the cirque-

Alegría is a mood, a state of mind. The themes of the show, whose name means "jubilation" in Spanish, are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth—it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegría play out their lives. Kings' fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it.

The word varekai means "wherever" in the Romany language of the gypsies the universal wanderers. This production pays tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit and art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.

Whenever i watch the circus, as well as a great many other things it stills the mind, brings me into the moment, brings me into presence, here i feel unimaginable, joy, passion, excitement, peace, love, the joy of being. If i can offer a doorway into that feeling for others then ill do it with my entire soul.

Why do i do what i do? Love

The adventure, the passion, the love awaits.....

David Kelso

2007-12-07T12:02:00.000Z

SPIRIT MOVES

I recently just won the amazing - 'Hand Balancing Mastery Course' in an article competition set up by Logan Christopher over at http://www.lostartofhandbalancing.com/. I was obviously delighted and very grateful that i won the contest. Winning that contest however had nothing to do with me, at least not small me, or ego identity. It had everything to however with true me, with the bigger I AM, with spirit. When we dedicate ourselves to an ideal with all our love and all our passion, when that ideal emerges out of our own true soul, when we surrender our egotistical wants and desires we become an expression of spirit, and the cosmic rushes to our aid, spirit helps itself.

How do we know when any action we feel moved to do stems from consciousness instead of ego? Simple - when you don't have to ask that question. Are you driven to do an action to gain you some sort of personal gratification or identity enhancer or happiness derived from outside of yourself in the future? Or are you moved to do whatever it is you do from a place of quietness and calmness, from love of what you do right now? Is it the destination you crave ? or is it simply the joy of the journey?

That's not to say there is no vision of a goal, there is a very strong burning vision, a dream emerging before you, but it is simply the natural expression of spirit, of consciousness becoming conscious of itself and expressing through you. The vision before you become secondary to the present moment, to your state of consciousness right now. The paradox is even though there may be a burning vision before you , there is no final aim because your life has become an expression of spirit.

Any vision you may have, a good thing to ask is this - Is this just simply something that will make me feel personally better? or is it something that when i visualise i can see it being of the benefit of all? will it help me inspire others, to share love with others, to help awaken others?

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”- Buddha

To be that candle flame that can light thousands more!

When you can surrender yourself entirely to spirit, something begins to move form inside you, something from deep within begins to express itself out, there is a fire of passion, of love, and there is simply doing, your actions stem from consciousness, from love, there is no obstacles here only opportunity, mountains can be moved, or maybe the mountain is there to be climbed to make you all the stronger on your journey, whatever approaches is exactly what you need, or rather what spirit needs.

The spirit of the thing itself reveals itself to you, rushes to your aid and is you all at the same time.

Here is a link to the article i wrote- http://www.lostartofhandbalancing.com/successstories.html

My article is titled- Spirit of Hand balancing

Please check out the other great stories over there and the many great articles by Logan, he is doing some truly inspirational work!

As far as winning the contest goes- I bow humbly to spirit in gratitude

The adventure awaits.....

David Kelso

2007-11-22T15:51:00.000Z

COMPARISON OR REALISATION?

Many of us develop an egotistical identification with our bodies, we derive our sense of self from it by comparing it to'others'. There becomes a 'me' and 'my' body and it is looked at in comparison with 'anothers' body. Ego does not just mean a self inflated image of ourselves, it is also the opposite of that, a poor negative look upon ourselves. So people either come to identify themselves with a body they see as beautiful and better than others or as a body they see as ugly and less than others. This comparison, this separation, this illusional self image and story is the ego.

Here's the deal.........

You are not your body. Your body is a fleeting temporary form, it changes and evolves every single moment, it will one day fall away and die as we know it, your body is mortal, YOU ARE ETERNAL. When your physical form fades away what will remain is your true essence, that essence that always was and always will be.

Now that being said, i believe your body is an expression of that essence of spirit. It is one of the many manifestations of that of spirit , that is allowing spirit or God express through you and become conscious of itself, awakening.

In that respect to say your body is beautiful and truly a thing of wonder and marvel is absolutely true, this is not a comparison with someone else, this s not saying you are better or worse than someone else, but realising your own true beauty and perfection, a realisation of everyone and every things true beauty and perfection. This is not separation , but complete inclusion.

Whatever your physical form may be, whatever you think of it, it is a perfect expression of the Devine, it is perfect to let spirit and presence shine through you in whatever way it sees best for your particular expression, everyone is beautiful! Beauty is all that exists.

By not developing some sort of sense of self from your body does not however give us an excuse to neglect it. It is a gift, given to us for our own awakening and expression of spirit, we should treat it with with extreme respect and gratitude. It is allowing us to experience this beautiful fleeting moment, this ephemeral mortal life. It is a gift to be enjoyed fully, to feel its vitality in completeness.

T o any physical culturist and athlete, the physical body is also not only the canvass by which we paint our expression upon, but also the brush we use to do the painting. It truly is a thing of wonder!

Musashi in his Book of Five Rings tells us to 'study our tools'. For all of us our bodies are our tools, some of use them as a direct form of expression of spirit, others it is the medium that allows them to express spirit, be it in writing, art, music, or anything else. This gift, this tool, should be studied deeply and relentlessly.

Even in seeming disability there lies the seed of perfect expression, Ive been reading about many old time circus performers and athletes, who were born with a seeming disability who turned it round to their advantage, they just surrendered and accepted the perfection of what they had, and let spirit use them perfectly as it intended too. The same stands true today.

The realisation is this, are all perfect expression for spirit if we just let go of our ego identity, beauty is inherent in all of us ,no more and no less. And to think how beautiful and amazing the human form is, that is just a tiny fleeting expression of what we truly are, what we truly are in essence is beauty beyond description.

The Adventure awaits.....

David Kelso

2007-09-13T20:42:00.000+01:00

THE FIRE WITHIN

It seems that we are all looking , desperately searching for happiness. When we finally have that home, that car, that perfect new relationship, when we can finally be away from 'here' , and be 'somewhere' else, when we can finally be 'someone' else, when we can escape and 'make a new life' then we can be happy, then we can have peace.

And true all these external things are all well and good and yes can make us feel happy......for a while.

But here is the thing, any happiness that is based upon external things, based on form, based on a conceptual idea we have of ourselves and our lives will ultimately lead to suffering, why? because all form is temporary, its fleeting, ever changing , only ever relatively true. And its by your resistance to the change of circumstances and forms you suffer, you try to cling so tightly to that thing that brought you happiness, its change now brings sadness.

So whats the point you might ask, how can i find peace and happiness if all things that bring me it will also bring its opposite?

By surrendering, surrendering yourself.

There is a peace and happiness within, it is unconditional, it is pure joy, your natural state, and its found when you can finally put down yourself, when you can throw away all your opinions on what is 'good' and what is 'bad' and instead just surrendering and seeing the joy inherent and perfection inherent in everything and every one, and here things and people are no longer separate from you. When you throw away all of your ego needs and desires, all your ego's opinions on what will make you happy and the way your life should go, you stop being an isolated individual in hostile universe and become an expression of something Divine, an expression of spirit . Just hand your entire life over to spirit, let it guide you, let it handle everything, then just stay in the moment. Now a power can act through you that is far beyond any man. The greatest men that ever lived weren't great because they followed every want and need of the ego, cursing the world for not going their way, but rather, the greatest people had surrendered the ego, they were simply a vessel, an expression of spirit.

'I am a hole in a flute the Christs breath moves through, listen to this music' Sufi Master Hafiz

This is the fire within. When you have found that happiness within , that peace within, that complete surrender of you, then a fire can build within and express through you because you are no longer resisting it. Its not something that has been gained, its something that has been lost, The ego has fallen away to reveal what you truly are and always have and always will be, no matter what mask you wear.

The fire within rages with joy and passion, you may be urged to take some action, to walk some path, but the destination isn't that important anymore, its not that which brings you joy, its the journey, its this moment, any destination is simply part of the expression, its simply a doorway to the next journey, the whys and what fores are beyond our thinking minds ability to understand, they are part of the Divine plan, who are we to judge?

Just relax in the knowledge that spirit is guiding everything, all you need to do is stay present, stay here, now, and as Eckhart Tolle points to us in his book A New Earth-

'I don't mind what happens' - J Krishnamurti

I feel a pointer to handing it all over to spirit and letting a fire from within express without comes in the form of lyrics to song- unlikely place you might think, but truth emanates from everywhere, you just need to be still and you can hear it-

'Cant stop the spirits when they need you,

This life is more than just a read through'- Red Hot Chillie Peppers

I feel that sums it up perfectly, the spirits do need us, need us to express through, and we only have one life, this life to surrender to spirit, to let go the ego, to rage like a fire and enlighten others, fire spreads, it helps ignite tiny sparks, and they in turn become their own flames.

Lets set the world alight!

The adventure awaits.......

Kelso

2007-08-08T14:11:00.000+01:00

SAMURAI WARRIOR

The word Samurai means 'to serve'. I feel that modern day warriors just like these great warriors of old as they begin to cut away at the ego, cutting away at everything that holds them back from this moment, all begin ask- how can i serve?

I feel the best way to serve others, is to first become the best you that you can be, how do you expect to inspire an other and lead them to the peace and happiness within if you are miserable yourself? How do you expect to love another fully if you cant first love yourself- your true self?

Service to others is not about being a Martyr, if you go around with the attitude that you do so much for everyone, you are so self sacrificing but you get nothing in return, this isn't being selfless, this isn't service, this is just simply more ego coming in a clever guise, you are playing the role of the selfless ,self sacrificing you, and therefor aren't giving the world your true best, your true you.

Service to others is about giving the world your best!

So how do you go about that? You may be conscious enough to feel a desire burning within you, and you may be able to envision how walking the path of that desire can inspire and light a path for so many others, you may be able to look beyond yourself enough to realize that by you becoming the best you can at whatever it is you do, by becoming your own master you can better serve as a guiding light to others, by letting the universe express through you, you can become a vehicle to awaken others-

"Out of every 100 men, ten shouldn't even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back." - Heraclitus

But what if you aren't conscious enough to look from that broader perspective? Even if you are i feel it can be summed up in three words- FOLLOW YOU BLISS. The universe is trying to express through us, theres a bigger picture unfolding that we cannot even begin to imagine- and it speaks to us through our intuition.

Dan Millman in his book No Ordinary Moments, explains that he began gymnastics to make him more attractive to the opposite sex, he did not have a clue the road and path that choice would set him on and how it would go on to let him inspire millions of people all over the world.

When i began training it was more an intuitive feeling, natural, something that 'just felt right' I had no idea it would lead me to now, lead me to writing for Brutal and for sharing my own evolution with the readers of this blog, and i have no idea where this path with continue to lead me, but i do know this- I am very grateful to be observing all of this unfolding.

The realization of true love or oneness with all people and things lends itself naturally to service, it may be something as simple as a smile to a passing stranger- it can change the world!

Our relationships are the ultimate spiritual training ground when it comes to both being true to yourself and to be selfless, I'm not talking about buying someone gifts, or doing something to make someone smile, although that can indeed be an expression of it, I'm talking about truly being present with someone, not playing a role, but just being there in the moment fully- no mental commentary- just there, still- this is the blossoming ground for true love.

Can you throw away your notion of another person needing to 'give you' anything?

The Dali Lama is said to have a vision of a world where we work as one, in unity, not separated by race, colour ,creed, where men an women of all professions of all backgrounds, all work together for the betterment of the world, a world not of competition of individual or collective ego's competing, but instead a oneness, creating.

It is my hope that in my lifetime i help in the realization of that vision, in whatever way expresses through me.

Go beyond imagining enlightened individual, imagine an enlightened world

We don't need to change our lives- although changes will occur- we don't need to change the world, we simply need to awaken.

This is the path of the Samurai warrior

The adventure awaits......

David Kelso

2007-07-24T16:29:00.000+01:00

REACHING OUT TO EMBRACE WHATEVER MAY COME

We can often times try to resist and fight the present moment of our lives creating inner and outer conflict with what is
whatever you resist, persists
How much sense does is make to resist what is already in this moment? Do you curse the rain for falling? Or the sun for shining?
You have two choices , you can either resist and fight against what is, therefor giving it energy, or you can turn it into your friend, you can see it as perfection unfolding, a perfect plan.
We all have desires, and i believe when these desires are not born of the ego , not coming from a place of wanting or needing, or some idea that the realization of that desire will make you happy, make you at peace, make your life fulfilled, but rather when it is born form a place of peace and happiness, a stillness within, that this is now the universe expressing through you!
So what if you have an intuitive desire, something expressing through you, seeking life through you, something that feels so right and things and events that happen in your life seem to be in the way, or even the opposite of that dream? This is where you must step put from your ego minds limited perception of 'how' you should walk this journey, you must have faith that every single thing that happens in your life is leading you in the direction of your dreams, everything happens for a reason. If you are so blinded by your own resistance to this moment, this now then you will never see the perfection in it, if you flow with the moment the right action to take will be apparent in every moment.
Non resistance is not about indifference, its about not resisting to what is, so that you can see the perfection in it.
Don't treat the moment like a means to an end, how many of us limit ourselves?- 'I cant fully embrace this moment because of something that happened in the past, or something that i think is going to happen in the future, or - this moment isn't really important, its just a step until i get to do this, or do that, or go there, so i wont bother giving it any attention, and i wont be happy till i get to my destination'
For how many is this our internal dialogue? Watch it, become aware of this negative self script you are living.
Let go of it all, yes you may have a dream or goal that is expressing through you and you are headed, but the most important part is this moment. The journey is more important that the destination, its both the means and the end.

'There are no ordinary moments'- Dan Millman
Theres beauty and magic in every one, there is never nothing happening, all you have to do is pay attention.

Ill leave you with the story of Zen Master Hakuin-

IS THAT SO? The Zen master Hakuin was praised by his neighbours as one living a pure life.
A beautiful Japanese girl whose parents owned a food store lived near him. Suddenly, without any warning, her parents discovered she was with child.
This made her parents angry. She would not confess who the man was, but after much harassment at last named Hakuin.
In great anger the parent went to the master. "Is that so?" was all he would say.
After the child was born it was brought to Hakuin. By this time he had lost his reputation, which did not trouble him, but he took very good care of the child. He obtained milk from his neighbours and everything else he needed.
A year later the girl-mother could stand it no longer. She told her parents the truth - the real father of the child was a young man who worked in the fishmarket.
The mother and father of the girl at once went to Hakuin to ask forgiveness, to apologize at length, and to get the child back.
Hakuin was willing. In yielding the child, all he said was: "Is that so?"
Muju

Is that so
The adventure awaits........
David Kelso

2007-07-03T13:34:00.000+01:00

FLIGHT OF ICARUS

The flight of Icarus is such an inspiring story to me, and like any good story there are many meanings, interpretations, and truth that can be derived from it, id like to share with you some of the truths that the story illustrates to me.

For those unfamiliar with the story of Icarus here it is-

The Fall of Icarus as told by Thomas Bulfinch:
"Daedalus built the labyrinth for King Minos, but afterwards lost the favour of the king, and was shut up in a tower. He contrived to make his escape from his prison, but could not leave the island by sea, as the king kept strict watch on all the vessels, and permitted none to sail without being carefully searched. “Minos may control the land and sea,” said Daedalus, “but not the regions of the air. I will try that way.” So he set to work to fabricate wings for himself and his young son Icarus. He wrought feathers together, beginning with the smallest and adding larger, so as to form an increasing surface. The larger ones he secured with thread and the smaller with wax, and gave the whole a gentle curvature like the wings of a bird. Icarus, the boy, stood and looked on, sometimes running to gather up the feathers which the wind had blown away, and then handling the wax and working it over with his fingers, by his play impeding his father in his labours. When at last the work was done, the artist, waving his wings, found himself buoyed upward, and hung suspended, poising himself on the beaten air. He next equipped his son in the same manner and taught him how to fly, as a bird tempts her young ones from the lofty nest into the air. When all was prepared for flight he said, “Icarus, my son, I charge you to keep at a moderate height, for if you fly too low the damp will clog your wings, and if too high the heat will melt them. Keep near me and you will be safe.” While he gave him these instructions and fitted the wings to his shoulders, the face of the father was wet with tears, and his hands trembled. He kissed the boy, not knowing that it was for the last time. Then rising on his wings, he flew off, encouraging him to follow, and looked back from his own flight to see how his son managed his wings. As they flew the ploughman stopped his work to gaze, and the shepherd leaned on his staff and watched them, astonished at the sight, and thinking they were gods who could thus cleave the air.
They passed Samos and Delos on the left and Lebynthos on the right, when the boy, exulting in his career, began to leave the guidance of his companion and soar upward as if to reach heaven. The nearness of the blazing sun softened the wax which held the feathers together, and they came off. He fluttered with his arms, but no feathers remained to hold the air. While his mouth uttered cries to his father it was submerged in the blue waters of the sea which thenceforth was called by his name. His father cried, “Icarus, Icarus, where are you?” At last he saw the feathers floating on the water, and bitterly lamenting his own arts, he buried the body and called the land Icaria in memory of his child. Daedalus arrived safe in Sicily, where he built a temple to Apollo, and hung up his wings, an offering to the god."

The first truth this story reveals to me is something I've spoken much about on this blog already, and that is , staying in the moment and being present. We all have goals, dreams and ambitions, and when these are born from something deeper than you, i believe we should follow them with all our passion, all our love, all our spirit. But the ego can also take over, it can begin to define itself and seek salvation by the achievement of any goal or manifestation of a material possession, it seeks its happiness there and there only, the present moment is reduced to a means to an end at best, and therefor losses all of its magic and beauty. When you are identified with the ego, you believe it to be you, you become someone who is going to 'do this' or 'do that' sometime in the future and cant be happy now, in the present moment. If you are seeking happiness in some future time, or future event, if you are seeking happiness outside this present moment, you will always be seeking, you may achieve what you want only to feel disillusion and again start seeking again. And there is nothing that you can ever achieve on the material plane that can come even close to defining what you truly are. When you are happy right here , right now, for no reason other than just being, it is here you can see the true beauty of this moment, the true adventure of life. And it is here that your goals and dreams will be born not of this world but of something much deeper, they do not stem form ego needing or wanting, you don't need them to feel a sense of completeness, you are complete, now that something deeper is expressing through you!

As Eckhart Tolle states in his awesome book, A New Earth- Inspiration means- in spirit

and enthusiasm comes from the ancient Greek word, enthousiazein, which means ' to be possessed by god'

Let your dreams flow from inspiration and from intuition.

Maybe if Icarus could have kept present kept in the moment and enjoyed the beauty of the flight, he wouldn't have flew to close to the sun.

My next point is maybe at first a seeming paradox, like all truths, but when you feel it, instead of think about it, it is apparent they are one and the same. And that is, living a half life. Never recognising your dreams and going for them no matter what the cost, never willing to say 'fuck it' and giving something everything you have got, bound by fear of failure and death, if you never give something your whole effort then its OK if you fail because you weren't trying your hardest anyway, its a defense mechanism, the good old ego rearing its ugly head once more, terrified of annihilation, and the result is- this life, this adventure is only half lived

If you fear failure, if you fear death, then you will never begin to live. If you are following your dreams you will probably at some point meet failure, and you will certainly meet death ( or our misinterpretation there of) so you might as well see that as an adventure anyway. If you can look to failure as a stepping stone, as a way to teach you how to succeed, you will realise the illusion of failure. You must simply hold the faith that everything that happens is leading on the best route, refuse to judge any situation, see the perfection.

Whatever it is that is trying to express through you, allow it completely , let it guide you and move you, let it burn within you, let your passion become a raging fire inside, let it take form and take shape through you, have no fear, there is nothing bad that ever happen to. No matter how many times you may fall down on your quest, let your passion pick you back up, just one more time, and proceed- this is warrior spirit!

Despite his fathers warning and probably his own knowledge of his death Icarus was still moved to fly higher, to soar, and maybe for that moment however brief of flying to close to the sun, it was worth it all.

' In a sky full of people only some want to fly isn't that crazy'- Seal

Click on this link to watch the Cirque du Soleil amazing version of The Flight of Icarus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6wGRCFGYF4

The artist is Anton Chelnokov

The Adventure Awaits..........

David Kelso

2007-06-23T18:01:00.000+01:00

THE PERFECTION IN ALL THINGS (the rabbit hole)

Allow me to stretch your mind a bit with this next statement-

Every single thing that happens in your life, that is, is perfection, perfection is all that exists!

Bold statement you may be thinking, lets go deeper.........

From the limited perspective of the world both from our physical senses and from our ego, we perceive things to be either good or bad, from our ego we cannot see the whole picture only what we perceive from this limited view. Looking from this view it tends to reflect our mind set at the time, what we see around us is a mirror to ourselves, or rather our limited opinions on things.

If you got laid off from your job for instance, you may term that situation bad, it may bring up negative thoughts and emotions all stemming from the egos innate fear of death and destruction.

But if you can step beyond your ego, if you can lay down opinion and personal prejudice, to simply be aware without mentally labelling, from here you can see the perfection, maybe getting laid off is exactly was you need, maybe this seemingly bad event will lead you now to pursue your dreams, or maybe it will make you reflect upon and learn from an error you made- all perfection! The universe is seeking to express its own perfection through you, who are you to judge good or bad? Let go of judgement, let go of opinion, simply trust that every single thing that happens in your life is for a reason, its guiding you to your higher good, if you silence your thinking mind, the what for and how will become apparent, they will act through you! Let go of fear, FEAR NOTHING! embrace everything! its all perfection unfolding!

This doesn't mean you don't or cant take action in situations, but it does mean you action comes forth from a deeper level instead of from fear and resistance.

When you begin to trust that there is something deep within you that is guiding you to exactly where you need to be, that is expressing itself through you, when you can become still, let go of ego, listed to that intuition streaming forth from within, you will be guided, and will experience only perfection.

What about error, both on a personal level and on a global scale (wars) what about being bound by ego mind- all perfection! Errors and mistakes we make both individually and as humanity serve as something to learn from to reflect upon and grow from, to awaken us further, if we don't learn from them this time we will keep repeating them until we finally do, pain can be a great catalyst to awakening! The pain of living under the control of a dualistic ego mind, existing as a separate isolated fragment alone and floating about the universe can also eventually become too great and cause us to let go of ego, for our souls to break free. Death to the ego is birth to the spirit!

If we don't free ourselves from ego in this lifetime, the event of physical death will bring it about, and for a time again you will be one with the source, until the next incarnation, where again the chance for conscious realization of oneness will be waiting.

But we have a choice, its right here , its right now..............

'They are all perfect'- Katsumoto

'The true perfection of man lies not in what man has, but in what man is.' - Oscar Wilde

The Adventure awaits.......

David Keslo

2007-05-08T18:31:00.000+01:00

THE RED GIANT

One of my best friends has always described me as 'A red giant' to him, I embody the star known as a Red Giant. A Red Giant is defined as follows-

Because it has run out of fuel, the star begins to cool, and contract. The outer layers of the star fall inwards under gravity, and as they fall they heat up. A shell surrounding the central core becomes hot enough to fuse protons into alphas. So the star gains a new source of energy. The core of the star is now hotter than it was during its normal life and this heat causes the outer parts of the star to swell. The star becomes a giant.

I feel honored to be thought of in that way, but it is my belief that there is Red Giant in all of us!

You see what the above description, what the nature of a Red Giant means to me is this-

No matter whats happening on the surface of your life, there is an energy within you, a force with all the power and wonder of the universe, it will grow and expand, it will give you everything you ever need, it will sustain you, expand you, if you let it, it will flow into every surface of your life, your life will grow and expand, that inextinguishable energy from within will glow and radiate through you, you will become a giant.

This power within is always there, even in your darkest hour, the power of the universe is dwelling within, ready to guide you, to shape you, to let you become what you are destined to, it is your own true nature, it is ready to answer your call if but you ask it, and allow it

Call this power whatever you will, God, Love, Subconscious mind, Universe, it is of no matter, all that matters is you connect with it, define it however you may, because at the end of the day, it is that which cannot be defined!

There have been many times in my life when my biggest goals, my mightiest dreams, my innermost desires, have seemed impossible, friends family and loved ones who in only trying to look out for my best interests and well being from their perspective have urged me to quit, to give up, to let go of my dreams, as they are impossible, they may even appear to others as being pulled further away from me, for the road to seemingly become even more impossible, more dangerous. But I have never quit on a dream in my life, once i have listened to my heart, to have chosen to follow it on whatever path it is leading, when that dream flows through my very being i will never quit, no matter how bad it looks, no matter how hard it gets. Because there is something inside that sustains me, that can guide me through the dark forest , even if my mind falls to darkness and doubts, my heart thunders with the light, it wont ever let me quit, not as long as I'm connected to this great power- and you can never be separate from it, it IS YOU!, Just break down the barriers of fear that bind you, and its there. It is the opposite and the cure for fear, but it is beyond hope, it is FAITH, pure faith in the unknown. And with it, my dreams have manifest. Maybe this is why my friend believes i embody the Red Giant.

You don't need to know HOW your dreams will manifest, some of the biggest adventures i have faced in my life i had no clue HOW i was gonna do it, in fact if i stopped to look at the how, all seemed lost, but i Just KNEW I was gonna do it, i had my vision, and absolute Faith.

Do you think the sun knows the exact universal process that goes inside of itself to become a Red Giant, no these are beyond the suns conception, they are of the universe, the sun however has this- absolute unwavering faith, faith in the unknown, in its vision, A VISION, OF A GIANT!

The Adventure Awaits........

Live it, Love it

David Kelso

2007-04-19T12:57:00.000+01:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!
OK has Kelso gone nuts? its the middle of April and this crazy fool is wishing us merry Christmas????
Nope its not Christmas day, and that is exactly my point.

Why do we limit ourselves to celebrating this great gift of life to only specific days? Christmas, new year, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, weekends, Easter?
What about today? what about this moment?

'But Kelso, these times are different, i get to spend them with loved ones, i get to enjoy myself, to be playful, to smile, to laugh, to relax, to take time to myself, to eat good food'

Yes all true, but cant you do that everyday? cant you laugh, cant you smile, relax, take time to yourself, be playful, connect with people, open yourself to life every single moment? And if you enjoy spending time with the people you love so much, why don't you do it more instead of one day a year? Why wait? we only have this moment.

The Truth is you don't need any external conditions to celebrate this great gift of life you have been given, if its sunny embrace and enjoy the sun fully, if its raining, embrace and enjoy the rain fully, embrace fully this moment, for its all you will ever have. There is a calm centre within you, it is pure joy pure happiness, it cant be shaken, unless you let it, by external conditions that you perceive to be bad, nothing is bad.
Things may seem trivial , people go through life as if its a chore, never experiencing the joy of every moment, celebrate it!
I take great joy in alot of things people would view as trivial, the sunrise, looking at the stars on a clear night, every muscle straining rep of every exercise, lying on the cold ground exhausted and soaked with sweat after a Brutal workout, sitting doing nothing not thinking (some people call this meditation!!!), Holding the hand of the person i love, looking into the eyes of the person i love, simply just breathing- Life in every breath
I celebrate it all!!!!
I don't mean you need to cartwheel down the street grabbing passers by and shaking them in excited energy screaming 'I just had a breath! how awesome! how amazing!' Although this can be fun sometimes too!! But its the silent celebration within, to feel that pure feeling of joy, to appreciate you very existence.
Nothing is Trivial in this life, if you feel it is, i suggest you re-read my article on Gratitude, re-read the inscription on Brandon Lees grave. If you knew this was to be your last moment of this life, how would you treat it different? If you knew that this was the last moment you would get to spend with someone you love in this life, how much more would you savour the moment? how much more would you open yourself to them? would you still save telling them you loved them for one day a year? Or embrace this beautiful moment? what if you knew that this would be your last time to move your body in vibrancy, in action, in this moment? Or the last time to feel the breath of life and energy coursing through your body?
You don't need to dwell upon 'what ifs' But my point is nothing is trivial, enjoy every moment as if its your last, realise the beauty and magic of every moment.
The reaper may be waiting on your shoulder, but so is the magic of life, waiting for you to embrace it, i say screw the reaper, he will take you when hes good and ready, not before and not after, so don't worry about anything, theres magic to be felt, now!

Go watch a baby, every moment is magic unfolding to them, adventure, joy, they live for the moment, this is your natural state, go and find it!

Celebrate life 25 hours a day!

Happy new year!

The Adventure awaits......

Live it

David Kelso

2007-04-06T12:07:00.000+01:00

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

Bob Proctor, one of the philosophers on 'The Secret' is quoted as once saying-
'Everything that happens in your life, without fail, without exception, is moving you towards your dreams'

I think this is a beautiful belief, If you really begin to think about this, to transcend thinking about it and really feel it with every part of you, to live it, it is life changing.

When you live this it doesn't matter what happens, even seemingly negative things you experience, you can have absolute faith , that everything without exception is moving you in the direction of your dreams. It is a warriors job to find the positive in everything!
Living in this way automatically shifts you vibration to a positive one, no negativity can enter here because you are refusing to focus on it, so therefor it doesn't exist, you are looking for and focusing on the positive and that is what you will bring to life, this is as i have stated before, being the calm within the storm, being the warrior.

Others around you may be focusing on the negative, and be blind to positive, they may try to convince you to 'face reality'. What reality i ask? You create your own reality, there is no reality independent of the observer, once you start to choose to find the positive, to focus on, to have absolute faith that EVERYTHING is moving you in the direction of your dreams, then that is what is.

Know what you want, believe in it, and let go, here you will attract all the experiences you need for its manifestation, don't judge what comes to pass, just believe its moving you forward, look to the positive and that is what you will see.
For some, knowing what they want is the hardest part, it requires you to look inside, it takes courage. Trust that even if you don't know what you want, it will reveal itself to you one way or another, you will either keep having experiences of something until you take notice, you will have that feeling of being drawn to something from inside, that feeling to take inspired action, that intuitive urge, again it will keep repeating until you take notice. Or you may be guided by noticing what you don't want, this is good, just don't focus on it. From a transcendental view point there is no duality, no good and bad, but in this case contrast can serve us, by realising what it is you do not want, you can see clearly what you do- positive in everything- remember!
I believe that our dreams, our desires, the true ones from the heart come from our true higher selves, our spirit, super-consciousmind, they exist for a reason. So even if you are not aware of what you want, your spirit is, be alert for that nudge from within.

A great friend and teacher of mine once said to me-
'Look inside, find out what it is you want, because it wants you too'

I suggest the same now, to you.

The adventure awaits.........

Live it

David Kelso

2007-03-29T21:14:00.000+01:00

TAKING A WALK OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!!!

There was a homework exercise issued on Brutal Training's main site. It was to take yourself out of your comfort zone, to find unique ways to train and to find that ' beginners mind' again.
As i delve deeper into the world of Capoeira i have come to realise one of the most important aspects of it, and life, is rhythm. I began thinking diverse ways to train my rhythm outside of Capoeira practice itself, the answer was obvious- Dance. Now don't get me wrong i love to dance, i dance all the time, well i don't know if you can consider bouncing around screaming at the top of your lungs to Rage Against The Machine and Pearl Jam all night long dancing, but its fun and moshing has its benefit's lol. I still love dancing like this, whenever i hear i song i like, wherever it may be, in a shop, who cares? But i f i go out now i throw myself at the dance floor instead of the bar, Ive always liked to dance and it adds to my rhythm training.
Outside the comfort zone-
As well as my usual moshing Ive been immersing myself in all manner of dance, samba, salsa, anything and everything. I even found myself dancing in a Jazz club in Edinburgh the other week, now not that i have anything against Jazz music, but i can vividly recall many conversations with my best friend ending in hilarity because neither of us ' understood Jazz music'
As a result of visiting the said Jazz club and dancing the night away, i still don't understand Jazz music, however i did have to improvise my moshing.
All this is putting me in a beginners frame of mind when looking at rhythm and movement, and placing me i the perfect learning environment for Capoeira.
Samurai wrote poems and done flower arranging, Spartans sang, all warriors have diverse training, don't limit your body ,mind or spirit, challenge yourself, throw yourself into action, and herein true growth lies

Personal note- Last night i was given my Capoeira name- GIBI- which translates as 'comic' or 'comic book'. Marcelo my instructor said it was because i was colourful, vibrant, like a character from the pages of a comic book, both in spirit and body. I like it, we were talking too and agreed it also fits really well because off the Parkour, Spider man and Daredevil are the greatest Traceurs ever! Also personally to me, i have always drawn, a passion i was always drawn to and natural at, my main style being comic book art and Tattoo art, this is another passion i have recently rekindled. And on a spiritual note, as strange as it may sound, alot of my inspirations have came from the pages of comic books, to me they always reflected the highest aspects and attributes of man- courage, honor, selflessness, daring, humility, strength, heart.
So i like GIBI, It has stuck lol.

The adventure awaits........

live it

David 'GIBI' Kelso

2007-03-26T01:34:00.000+01:00

PASSION, PARKOUR, CAPOIERA, AND THE SURF!!!

WHATEVER IT IS YOU CHOOSE TO DO, DO IT WITH PASSION!

Immerse yourself in whatever it is you choose to do, follow you bliss
Immersion in that which you love is an extremely powerful uplifting experience, Here in this place, you find your own spirit and the spirit of the thing itself will be revealed to you, but only by dedication to that which you do, and then , become.
Your life situation could be feeling bad or pressured around you, but by immersion in what you love, spirit is brought forward, everything feels alive, you find your peace and centre once again.
I am eternally grateful to the activities i love, to Parkour, no matter whats going on around me, the city is always there, the urban jungle, and nature. Here i climb, i run, i swing, free flowing self expression, unlimited movement, the city is my playground, a simple wall becomes my best friend, it tests me, how graceful can i pass, how artistic can i move, the city looks different to me, than to others, others see boundaries, i only see movement, expression, freedom. I climb to the highest points, beauty, peace, stillness. I am never alone for the city is always there for me, the urban jungle calls me into her lap. If find myself now more than ever as my life evolves, dedicating my every moment to Parkour, early in the morning as the sun rises, long before most have risen, my friend greets my for another adventure. Late at night, most are asleep, the moon and stars watch over me, i move through city playground, silent, still, free.
Why? because i choose to.
I am also eternally grateful to the Martial arts- All my life i have immersed myself in the fires of the arts, only through thousands of repetitions have i come to know myself, and the spirit of the thing itself. Capoiera is a fairly new art i have thrown myself headfirst with reckless abandon into. So steeped in history.In the Roda David Kelso ceases to exist, i am the Jaguar, i am the ghost, beauty, rhythm, movement, the music takes you, the energy of it, the beat, the dance, the fight, the expression. Only the moment is left here, no past no future, just the moment, just the kick that's coming, just you evasion and your own leg shooting out all on its own, the music takes you!
The surf- For this force of nature i am so grateful, for so long i have wanted to do this, and now i have begun. To the element of water itself i have always felt a drawing to, i see it in the ones i love most, the calm, the peace and power. Here riding the waves, i feel connected in some deep way, unspeakable by words, pure bliss. My journey here is just beginning, but i know it will also be a great one.

My point? Whatever is happening around about you, in your life situation, your passions are always there to cradle you, they are you best friends and teachers, they will teach you everything you ever need to know, immersion, dedication, live them!

The adventure awaits.......

live it

David Kelso

2007-03-19T11:14:00.000Z

GRATITUDE

I have written alot on here recently about life being a great gift, a great adventure, that we hold the pen and we write our own book of life, that destiny is a not a matter of chance, but a matter of choice. To embrace every moment as if it is your last.

These are empowering statements to read, but do you merely understand them intellectually or do you embody these teachings?, do you realise them on a profound level with every ounce of your being? Maybe not, and i don't claim to either, but we are all heading up the mountain path, the more we embrace this gift of life the more we come to understand our own true natures, the higher we climb, but really there is no mountain to climb, no path to be walked, you already ARE.

One of the greatest practices I've found in my own evolution to let you embrace the adventure of life, to raise your positive vibration, is the practice of gratitude. I believe that when we are feeling grateful, we are in turn feeling the energy and vibration of our true nature.

It doesn't matter what you are feeling grateful about, it could be past- a beautiful moment shared with someone you love, or the beast of a training session you just did that kicked your ass. It could be present- the smile of a passing stranger, the energy and vitality coursing through your body. It could be future- feeling grateful and excited about that which has not yet come to pass ( Here's a tip- if you are feeling grateful about something you wish to manifest, as if you already have it, then you are in the creative process and are working with the law of attraction)

The fact is you don't need anything external to feel grateful for, you can feel grateful for every single breath, every moment. You can feel grateful for the warmth of the rising sun, the glow of the full moon, the feeling of the wind, the refreshing shower of the rain.

As an exercise, when you rise in the morning list all the things you are grateful for in your life, feel them, feel the gratitude, and watch pleasantly as your moment, your days, your life begins to feel more magical- remember the magic and wonder you felt in childhood?- its yours for the the taking! What we focus on grows.

One of my favourite quotes about being grateful for the gift of life is the inscription on Brandon Lee's Grave-

"Because we don't know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless."

For Brandon and Eliza Ever Joined in True Love's

The Adventure awaits......

Live it

David Kelso

2007-03-04T20:54:00.000Z

IN THIS MOMENT

The universe is speaking to us in every moment, in every experience, there is a message guiding you toward your own destiny in every moment, but since your own true nature is the universe, is the infinite, this is you speaking to yourself, you are guiding yourself, creating opportunities and events to help you along your way to your own chosen destiny.

'I am your own voice echoing off of the walls of god'- Rumi

Most people are too asleep to see, hear or notice these guides, and signs,they can come to you in the form of some inspired action to take, some intuitive hunch, it could come from inside of you you or from something that is seemingly external, but unless you are fully present IN THIS MOMENT you will be blind to it, you will see coincidence, you will see external circumstance, if you are living in the past or future you will fail to embrace the opportunities the infinite has created for you IN THIS MOMENT. If you are bound by limited beliefs, you will see negative circumstances created by some outside force that is greater than the force within you, IN THIS MOMENT you are the creative force. Everything happens for a reason, and you have created it, either consciously or unconsciously. You must find in EVERY MOMENT the best in every situation, treat it as if you created it, because in a way , you have.
Realise that -

'Everything that happens in your life is moving you in the direction of your goals'-Bob Proctor

We may be led in seemingly circuitous routes at times toward our goals, but we have to let go and trust the process of our lives, trust the universe, trust ourselves.
That opportunity that presents oneself, that intuitive feeling to take inspired action, that corner to turn, that letter to write ,the phone call to make, do it, relinquish fear and move forward with courage and faith. Do it now, IN THIS MOMENT, this moment will never present itself again!
The best way I've found to throw us fully into the moment is to face your own death every moment, realise the reaper can take you at anytime, YOU do not have a say, all that exists is this moment.
If you knew you were going to die in the next 30 minutes, what would you do? what action would you take you've been putting off? who would you spend it with? who would you call? How would you embrace your last moments of this life?
It is facing this that brings our full attention into THIS MOMENT, face your own death and be liberated from it. Do not be ignorant to the fact that this maybe your time, this is not a sad thought, but rather one that once faced and embraced in every moment lets us see this life for the gift it is, look for the signs, they will guide you, what will you do IN THIS MOMENT?

What drove me to write this article?
Inspired action of course! Live it

David Kelso

The adventure awaits....

Live it

2007-02-28T13:57:00.000Z

WARRIOR SPIRIT

OK, i posted this link up on the brutaltraining forum, but i had to put it up here too , its soooooo motivational, even if you aren't a fighter , or don't even do martial arts, this video touches something deeper within us all, a warrior spirit.
Combat has nothing to do with fighting your opponent, to fight an enemy is to give him strength. It has EVERYTHING to do with facing yourself. Its nothing to do with beating some other guy to a pulp, its do do with looking inside yourself to face your own fears, to dis identify from mind, from illusion and from fear. In combat or any other sport, or life situation, in fact in any and every moment you must cut away from the ghost of the past, cut away from the illusion of future, and just be fully present in THIS moment. It is here we find our inner peace, our unmovable stillness, we become the calm within the storm, we take whatever action is necessary without fear, and without judgement, our actions spring forth from the absolute. This is our warrior spirit. This is what all warrior seek, and ARE! Combat is just one of the many ways in which these lessons are realised, when your opponent stands before you, you have no option BUT to be in the moment, to relinquish fear, otherwise you will die a thousand deaths. The man standing before you is not your enemy, but your greatest teacher

'The man who conquers himself is superior to the one who conquers a thousand men in battle'- Buddha

Enjoy- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6UtJyR4cZY

The adventure awaits........

live it

David Kelso

2007-02-28T13:02:00.000Z

VISIONS OF TARZAN

Visualisation is an extremely powerful tool that we have to create our own destinies and shape our own lives. Daily i use visualisations to for all aspects of my life, and what i want to create, i realise i am the creator of my own universe, i am unlimited and undefinable, so are YOU!

Daily i focus on increased strength, health, vitality, energy, i focus on my inner energy field pulsating with power, every muscle exploding with strength and carved out of marble, my body moving with the agility, grace and speed of a big cat, my spirit shining through, i feel like a force of nature, shining like the sun, with the power and stillness of the ocean, i envision myself as TARZAN....

But you cant just picture it and wish you could be what you desire, you have to feel it...you have to become it...

Before i enter these meditations i free myself from identification with the ego mind, i am not and neither are you, your past, your beliefs, your problems, or ANY of your life situation. We are all something far greater than can be spoken about, we are the infinite unlimited consciousness, we are the universe, god manifested, we are the creators, the immortal spirit, this is our true natures, This is being. To experience this you must free yourself from ego mind, let go of everything you THINK you are and FEEL what you truly are let go of past and future and be present here, now, only now do you hold the power of creation. You can create ANYTHING you want there are no limits in this universe, limits are only in mind, see and more importantly FEEL yourself as that which you desire, not in some future time, that is an illusion, but right here, right now, feel it, become it, where you stand. You don't need to know how, that will take care of itself. Just see, feel and believe to be that which you desire, give gratitude for ALREADY having it, and release your wish to the universe, which is in turn, your own true nature. You are free, there are no limits.

' Spirit, by its nature, has no consciousness of duality, since it has no faculty of discrimination. It knows no impossible, no failure, no obstacle, or limit. or lack.'- John McDonald

The adventure awaits......

live it

David Kelso

2007-02-05T22:32:00.000Z

CALM WITHIN THE STORM

'You cant control the waves, but you can learn to surf'- Unknown

We can shape our lives, shape our destinies, shape our universe by what we focus on, by our beliefs either empowering or disempowering, and by the actions we take. But we dont always know 'how' things will come about, waves or events happen and we cant always control them, what we can control however is our response. We can either react - usually in a pre programmed negative way, or we can choose to respond with calmness, choose to respond like a warrior. It is a warrior who can smile in the storms of life not only for himself but he can lift all of those around him too, he can 'bring the others back'.
Are you going to let external circumstances control you? or are you going to be a master of your own fate? The choice is yours at any given moment. Are you going to hide from the storms in fear? or are you going to stand with courage and with faith knowing the storms will pass and the sun will come out, just let go of 'how'.
I once saw this following passage written out in a tricking video, i have no clue where its from, nor have the link to the video ,but i wrote it down, it makes me get really excited, you should too, smile!!-

I'll walk accompanied
and sleep comfortably
knowing that all sides
front, back, left and right
will be inevitable happiness
under all my uncertinty
for love and
the furure life i'll live
theres a story written out
that doesnt end so bad
i'll close my head
and shut my mouth
for i know eveything
from here on out
will be ok

the adventure awaits....
David Kelso

2006-12-24T16:10:00.000Z

THE POWER OF LOVE

WHAT THE FUCK????? I thought this was BRUTAL TRAINING?? a site for warriors?? i thought you were the little lion?? the one who can bring so much pain to workout that can bring any would be warrior to tears in seconds?? Whats all this talk of love?? what does this have to do with Brutal Training, what does this have to do with being a warrior??
The answer??
EVERYTHING
For centuries people from all walks of life have tried to conceptualise it, poets, artists, songwriters, warriors, people have given there entire lives in the persuit of it, have been willing to sacrifice everything to share it with one special person, people for have came up against and passed the most ridiculous odds and challenges in the name of it, battles have been won and lost, souls liberated, any boundries over come, night turned to day, rain to sun, mountains truley moved because of it, it is the very power that allowed 300 men to stand against a million at Thermopolye, it has filled the seemingly most cowardly mens hearts with courage and instantaneously transformed them into warriors, It is the most powerful thing in the universe, in my opinion it is the universe.
Love cannot ever be described by words , song, art, these can only be fingers pointing to it, it is direct from the heart, it can only be known by the heart, and experienced through living it.

'From the Beginning,
love has been my undoing....
and my redemption' - From Socrates Journal

Personally love has been the single most motivating empowering and amazing guide in my life. It has made me devote myself to an ideal, to hold my self true, to open my heart, given me the courage to face the greatest pain, and greatest challenges i have ever known all in the persuit of it. It has lifted me to the greatest of heights, let me find a strength in my spirit before unknown to me. It has been the single biggest thing that has shaped my life, is my greatest adventure and always will be.
True love cannot be described but it is worth any sacrifice, it allows you to look anything, even death straight in the eye and say 'for love i can face you'
It allows you to face any fear, gives you the courage to do anything, to endure any amount of pain, it can melt any negative emotion, and it has the power to break ANY barriers.
Love has given me my greatest happiness, my greatest motivation, my greatest desire, my greatest passion, my greatest challneges and my greatest training.
Love is a power of the warrior, a single warriors heart filled with love is more powerful than 10,000 armies, no sword is stronger than a warriors heart that is filled with love.

'If you could only love enough, you could be the most powerful person in the world'- Emmet Fox

To walk the path of love requires courage, to open your self, to embrace love, is to remove all the barriers from your heart, to leave it wide open and ungaurded, in this state the human heart is both the strongest and most delicate thing in the world.
Trust in love to guide you through the darkness

'ill use my heart and not my eyes, to navigate the darkness' - Hoobstank

To me the very power that fills us all, that the universe is made of, call it what you will, God, Buddha, Universe, Tao, the very thing that cannot be explained, or even understood by the concious mind but rather only felt and experienced through the heart can be summed up with one word, love....

'I am just a mortal man,
I have no more or no less power inside of me than my brother who stands next to me,
But i, i love with with my entire heart, my entire soul,
And it has made all the difference' - David Kelso

2006-12-24T15:56:00.000Z

FESTIVE GREASE

Greasing the groove, training throughout the day with submaximal loads to increase you performance and strength on that specific movement. With most people being off work during the festive period what better time thatn to do a good few days of greasing the groove training, a typical session may last only a minute of two so if you are busy spending time with family of friends during this time its no excuse.
But this isnt normal Greasing the groove, this is Brutal greasing the groove, which means either really high daily totals or really challenging movements or both.
Personally i have 2 weeks off of work at christmas and new year so every single day for that period christmas day included i will be performing 200 pull ups done throughout the day, i usually do them in sets of 20, done at completely random times, but between the time i wake up in the morning to the time i go to bed at night i will do at least 200 pullups. This is an addition to my normal training shedule whch i will still be doing, im simply adding in the G.T.G training because i have more time, for others the opposite may be true, they may not have time to do full blown workouts so again G.T.G is perfect!
You can choose any exercise you want, but i think pull ups are a good choice for any one!
Most would be warriors dont perform 200 pull ups in a week , let alone in a day, so get to it psychos, and have a very merry, Brutal Christmas

2006-12-19T21:29:00.000Z

THE HEART OF THE MOMENT

The past is a ghost, this very moment is all that exists, but how much do you let past desicions, circumstances or beliefs hold you back from fully embracing this moment????
To embrace the moment fully you must be following your heart, you have to let go of everything thats in your head thats holding you back from this moment, holding you back from following your heart
Fear, worry and doubt are not feeling of the heart, but boundries of the mind, boundries you put up and only you can destroy. The heart only feels , love, passion, happiness, hope. If you are letting fear stop you doing anything, you are letting your mind control your heart, to look inside, to face your fears ,your demons and to follow your heart, to embrace the moment , is the way of the warrior.

Everything that has happened in your life has been to prepare you for this moment

The past is there to learn from, to grow from. Past decisions, experiences are there to reflect upon and learn from, but they are not to bind us. To be bound by a past decision, or experience, or way of doing things when this is going against the grain of what your heart is telling you right now, is to be living in fear, but to follow your heart, that my friends is courage.
Following your heart, opening you heart to anything, can take great courage. In opening our heart to anything we have to face the fears of failure, of being hurt, of the opinions of others. But these are all illusions, we never really fail , only learn to succeed, defeat is not permanent, its only a learning experience, The opinions of others matter not, just let go of all that binds you, and experience the magic and the wonder of this moment, let go, follow your heart.

Let go of everything in you head thats holding you back from this moment

It best summed up in the metaphor of this story-

A young warrior girl, found a magnificnat stallion in the forest, the stallion was wild and free, but by showing the stallion her spirit, by opening her heart, the spirit of the stallion was shown to her (spirit of the thing itself) Upon the back of the great horse she rode through many lands, had many great adventures, she felt free, her soul flying, a life filled with passion, not just existing, but living every moment.
One day she was thrown from the horse, as she lay in the dirt, her body broken, fear crept into her mind, her heart told her to get back up, to get back on the horse, her heart knew this was her happiness, but her mind but the breaks on, bound her by fear, it made her remember the pain of being thrown , of lying in the dirt. She dicided she wouldnt get back on the horse, even though in her heart she knew it was her happiness, her mind bound her by fear.
As time past the feeling in her heart grew, she knew more and mor she wanted to get back on that horse, but her mind kept preventing her, she was bound by the past instead of embracing the moment and following her heart. Finally she realised she gave this fear, this confusion power in her mind, and she could take it all away, she let go of her mind, took a deep breath jumped on the horse, her heart smiled, she was home, the adventure continues.....

So many of us do this very same thing, we get knocked down or quit and we think thats it ,time out, that we cant get back on the horse, even though its what our hearts are screaming, we can always decide to get back on that horse, just let go of your fears, it just takes a bit of courage to make your heart smile.

We can look to the future and get excited, excited about possibilities, adventure, about life, we can imagine greatness, dream, see in iur minds and feel in our hearts just how awesome things can be. To to create a compelling future, the firts step is to act in this moment, to let go of whats holding us back in our heads and follow our hearts, embrace the moment
seize the moment!!!!

2006-12-04T17:22:00.001Z

THAT WHICH DOES NOT KILL US......
Life can thow many situations and challenges in our own paths to greatness, you can veiw these either as a problems and get depressed about them and let them consume and defeat you, or you can find some spirit, look at them as a challenge, an oppertunity to grow and forge an even greater spirit from it.
You cannot control what life throws your way, you cannot control that hurricane that hits, that storm that devastates what you can control however is your response. You can feel sorry for yourself, ask questions like 'why me?' and if you ask such questions you will find answers, even if they are bullshit. Or you can see the situation look at it and say ' how can i turn this around?' 'how can i grow from this' and again if you ask these questions you will recieve the answers.
The universe doesnt care whether or not you ask a positive or negative question, or think a positive or negative thought, it doest differentiate, it just gives you the answers you seek, gives you the why, the how. Thats why depressed people stay depressed, they continually ask themselves questions like 'why am i so miserable?' 'why am i so depressed' ' this is terrible im never going to be able to turn this around' and inevitably by asking these questions they will get answers to these questions.
But if you veiw problems or situations as challenges, something to grow from, to learn from, something you can turn around and make better, if you veiw them as training to discover your own spirit ,your own strength, then these obstacles become stepping stones to your dreams.
If you think you are beaten you are!

'we will either find a way, or we will make one' - Hannibal

Ultimately unwanted situations will happen in your life, you cannot control the actions of others, or the events of nature, you can however choose to respond positively, use the situation to grow and learn, use it as a stepping stone, and use it to strengthen your spirit. You may get knocked down, you may fail thousands of times, but one thing you can never do is give up, there is always a way, impossible is nothing, as long as you believe.

'Its never over. Never stop fighting. Never give up. Never surrender. No matter how bad it getsno matter how deep your pain: persistance, faith in yourselfand an unfaltering spirit will eventually break you free' Dan Jansen

Everyhting happens for a reason, what you see as a problem in your life, on your path is brought to you to teach you something so that you can better travel your path, something that seems a big hurdle on any path, will make you stronger to walk that path.
The biggest battles we fight, the hardest mountains we climb, are definately ones of the spiritual kind. These battles make any tough physical training vomit enducing session seem like a walk in the park, to look inside your self, to come face to face with your own fears, to choose to fly instead of fall in the face of challenges is to show true spirit. Let your emotions flow and let them go.
All challenges can be overcome.
I like Dan Millmans take on this- we are all Peaceful warriors, because the battles we fight are on the inside.
Its all training.
When challenges come your way, see them as a time to learn, to learn about yourself, learn how to improve, how to grow, and in the process you will uncover spirit you never thought you had, and then shine, like a great star, like a dragons fire ball.
Nothing is impossible to overcome, when you think all is lost, look inside of your self, into your heart, find the courage, the will, the love to fight on.
Stumbling blocks to stepping stones.

'A warrior doesnt give up what he loves,
he finds the love in what he does'- Socrates

2006-11-15T17:32:00.000Z

MOTIVATION!!!!!!

We all know that sometimes we let outside circumstances kill our motivation not only for our training but for everything in our lives, we can get trapped in downward spiral of negative energy and it can seem there is no way out....but there is.
Motivation can be affected in either positive or negative ways through outside circumstances, if we let it, but ive discovered that motivation is born from within and every single person has it, its up to us to find it and nurture it.
Sometimes you might feel like life has given you a severe kick in the nuts, you feel down, all your thoughts are negative, all your dreams washed away, so how then can you find this motivation?
You look! you look inside yourself for a tiny spark, a tiny fire that always burns in you, we are each blessed with motivation to pusue whatever it is we want to do or are intended to do.
You may have to look hard and deep, and it may only be a tiny spark but once you find it, its time to nurture it, give it oxygen let it turn into a tiny fire burning bright, then let it blaze, let it burn within you, feed it from inside of yourself, feed it positive energy and block all negative energy from getting to it.
Use outside methods to nurture this fire of motivation, it could come from a song, a quote, an affirmation, a book, a person, a movie, a love- the important thing is whatever it is that feeds it, give it, and give it lots, throw yourself into the fires of action.
Inside you have to believe, you have to have faith in the motivation, in that passion, in that fire, you have to decide to follow it with all your heart, it might seem like it has been extinguished sometimes, but you must look deep, find the spark and nurture it. Give it all your heart and never give up. Envision yourself doing whatever it is you want to be doing once more, see your success, feel it with every part of you, and the universe will answer your call.
Stop all negative emotions at the door, do let fear, self doubt, worry, or belief in failure creep in these negative emotions will only attract negative happenings as will positive attract positive.
So if you feel your motivation is dying, you feel down, you need to look within, find that tiny spark and feed it, feed it full of belief of positive energy and watch it grow once more, its in us all!!
'All that we are,
is the result of what we have thought' -Buddha

Think positive!!!!!

Motivation lies within, its up to you to find it!

Live free
David Kelso

2006-11-07T08:50:00.000Z

HANDBALANCING FOR STRENGTH

Ive always enjoyed handbalancing, for as long as i can remember ive always been traying to kick up to handstands and walk around on my hands, handstands have always been part of training routine usually in the form of a finisher of a static hold or walking a distance on my hands. But within the last few months ive started training handbalancing much more as an art in itself, and my strength gain has been awesome. I now train hanbalancing for at least 30 mins daily, with a multitude of drills. I feel the carryover that handbalancing has to other sports is great, you will develop a much greater sense of balance, incredible shoulder strength and flexibility, total body strength and control, core strength, you will infact strengthen your whole body through the simple act of inverting yourself. And then there is the theraputic bennefit of spinal decompression and so forth. For my sport of parkour the strength qualities gained from handbalancing are extremely useful but i do feel that they would carry over to any sport and besides its just plane fun. You could add handbalancing into your routine as i once did as a finisher or as part of a circuit etc, or training it on its own, one of the best ways to train i feel is to set a timer for around 15- 20 mins and just spend as much of that time as you can inverted, expect your shoulders to burn!! The triceps, deltoid and traps seem to take most of the strain during handstands but the whole body works in unison and every muscle with be training, its like walking on your feet, its not just your quads that are working but instead your entire body. Hanbalancing can be a great supplement to any training routine or it can become to you an art in itself where you want to explore how strong you can become at it, this has happened for me where i now want to work toward advanced handbalancing and gymnastic strength like 1 armed planches and such, i think the strength demonstraded in such moves is second to none! Imagine holding your whole bodyweight horizontaly with one arm, incredible!
Its really up to you how far you wanna take it but training the basic moves of handstands and handstand walking will benefit you greatly in any sport or fitness goals.
The handstand- practice first against a wall for safety and to get proper technique. Place your hands about 6 inches from the base of the wall, put your legs into a sprint start position, kick your feet up so the come to gently rest against the wall- i said gently! you may need to play around with how hard you kick for a bit to stop you underkicking or overkicking. Right so now you are inverted- piont your toes to the ceiling, keep your legs together, glutes tight, back straight and core tight- really tighten your core to get most control. Keep yor shoulders shrugged i.e pushing down into the ground through your hands, spread your fingers out wide and apply pressure through your fingertips, feel what the pressure does to your balance and play with it. Keep your head between your arm and trie to avoid 'looking through' to much as this will round your spine, gaze through your eyebrows to the floor. And thats you in a handstand! keep the focus on total body tension and stay up fpor as long as you can or for time, to get down simply kick back of the wall with your feet and land on your feet, if you are working for 20 mins, shake off some relax for about 30 seconds and then go back up do this for the entire 20 minutes. After you have gained some proficiancy and strength against the wall try a free standing, if you over balance simply tuch your chin into you chest and do a forward roll to save yourself.
Handstand walking- I see this pretty much as the way a baby learnd to walk on there feet, by getting up staggering around, falling and getting up again, until they develop the strenth and balance to walk and stand still, you are simply learning to walk again but only this time on your hands, learning how to contract all of the right muscles to keep you up just like a baby. Babies learning to walk develop strenght and balance in their legs ecxeedingly quickly by this methosd of trial error and persistance, expect the same from walking on your hands. Our legs by our movement of walking are extremely strong, if you spend a fraction of this time walking on your hands you will develop awesome strength, so add some handbalancing and walking to your routine and see how it goes for you, but i dont think you will be dissapointed.
Every time i read something that impresses me about some physical feat i usually find out the person has been , is, or uses training methods of gymnastics, Gymnastics is becoming a burning passion for me but the carryover to my other sports has been the greatest i have ever had.
For a more detailed tutorial on handstands check out this awesome tutorial from beast skills- http://www.beastskills.com/Handstand.htm best one ive ever read.
And for some inspiration and motivation to train with gymnastic movements look at this video, this guy is freaky strong- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLqHOKmD2r8
Ill be going into more gymnastic movements and training methods along with a deeper look at handbalancing in future articles, this is just an introduction to get you started on the awesome never ending, unlimiting road of gymnastic strength training.

Train hard
Live free
David Kelso

2006-11-04T15:06:00.000Z

WELCOME TO BRUTALTRAINING- EUROPE
This blog is a space for wisdom and workouts, i will post articles on training, philosophy, parkour, and other areas. I will post regular workouts for readers to try as well as an update of my own training. The blog is also a space for readers to ask me any questions on any subject, training philosophy, personal questions, anything, ask away and ill do my best to answer.
This blog is for and dedicated to all warriors trying to find their own path
Enjoy the journey
Live free
Kelso