ENERGIES OF LIFE

THE FORCE, CHI, KI, PRANA, HOLY SPIRIT

The stories of “Star Wars” are inspired. The philosophic concepts grow straight out of the Oriental philosophies of Taoism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The central theme is expressed in the martial arts.

The life force is known in ever culture. It is given different names. In China it is chi, Japan it is ki, India prana, in the Abrahamic religions it is called Holy Spirit. It is known as a real presence of power, the one essential energy of life. It is in all things, but is clearly seen in living things.

The Abrahamic religions emphasize that the life force also is the source of Truth. This critically important concept, in my opinion, is not adequately recognized and fleshed out in the Oriental traditions.

Martial arts are well known, popular physical activities designed for self-defense and for overall wellbeing. They have power. Any activity involving physical power can be utilized positively or negatively.

The reality of this power found in martial arts is not debatable. But, too often it is seen in western terms as muscle power. In truth, it is far more than that. It is the deeper nature of the power expressed in martial arts that is of far greater importance, and is the connection between the physical arts and the spiritual arts.

In the Western adaptations of Eastern martial arts, the arts are not understood, and therefore are polluted by a typical Western superficiality which distorts the real meaning of the…