from cover

Since winning the 1978 World Championship Full-Contact Martial Arts Tournament in China, Peter Ralston has become a leading practitioner of martial arts, investigating and teaching applicatons of psychological and spiritual growth. He directs training programs and workshops at Cheng Hsin, The Center for Ontological Research and Internal Martial Arts, in Oakland, California, and conducts staff training workshops for Lifespring, the Institute of Self Actualization, Robbins Research Institute (NLP) and other human potential organizations.

Personal, reflective, and gently investigative, these early esays have a raw, fresh quality which predates the more formal theory and practice of Peter Ralston's two best-selling books, Cheng Hsin: The Principles of Effortless Power and Cheng Hsin T'ui Shou: The Art of Effortless Power.

Many of the questions for which the martial arts work of Cheng Hsin is a vehicle of discovery-identity in relation to others, authenticity in the face of belief systems, the draw we have to pursue ineffective self-serving urges, and our tendency to conceptualize rather than experience things-are described here in simple, almost conversational language. Attempting to grasp what authentic knowledge is, Ralston's queries become a quest for how humans can develop a deeper sense of themselves as active participants in the world.

'With gentleness and humor, Ralston leads us to see new dimensions of ourselves in the present and possibilities for further growth.'-Ole Larson, Founder, Institute for Self Actualization

'Peter Ralston has found a clear way to communicate how we deal with confrontation: he confronts you with your personality and shows you very directly what is going on.'-Guido Sleddens, martial arts teacher, Holland

Contents

Preface
Introduction-Beginning
Somewhere to Begin
To 'I' or Not To 'I'
On Depression: Or-Love And A Heroin Fix
On Selfishness: It May Not Be What You Think
Completing Relationship: Balance; Practice
The Guru Syndrome: Or-It Ain't Me, Babe!
Changing State: Or-How to Take a Warm Bath on the Subway
LIfe: Or-Why Me?
Being Precedes All Known Qualities
An Essental Mistake: Or-Did I Do That?
The Warrior of the Truth
Where Does It Come From?: Or-That's a Good Question
This 'Whole' Matter
The Warrior of the Heart: Or-Conscience is Not a Cricket!
The Practice of Integrity
What, More Paradox?
Unsought in the Heart