The Arangetram is the public debut performance of the classic art of ancient Indian dance.

I recently had the privilege to attend my friend, Radhika Trivedi's debut performance.  I learned that it was more than the culmination of complex dance technique but a highly spiritual invocation of divinity and worship (Something I can relate to from my years of boxing).  I was enraptured by the theatrics of her performance.  On the one hand was my friend for years (I attended college, parties, and her wedding), and yet I was witnessing her connect with the Divine on stage.  I felt her presence as if we were having an intimate conversation in the midst of a crowded room.

To the left of the stage, sat the supporting cast of singers and musicians.  Of these performers I learned that Radhika's guru or teacher sang and watched her disciple from close proximity.  She proudly welcomed her student into the ranks of a graduate after the performance when I discovered her relationship to my friend.  The whole time I was there I got the feeling that there was more to what was being said than simply met the senses and the eye.  There was beauty in it's simplicity and subtext.  This meant paying attention to the details, using your spiritual eyes, and connecting to the Divine.  I loved it!

Vanity is the state of being overly concerned with appearances.  Appearance deals with perception.  People use feedback from devices such as mirrors to perceive their own reflection in order for them to make adjustments to their character be it in hygiene, dress, cosmetics, or self-awareness.

Before mirrors, humans most likely perceived their reflections in dark pools of water (see Narcissus).  Later on, cultures developed methods of polishing stone, metal, glass, and chemical combinations to form modern day mirrors.  Humans have been concerned with their appearance for centuries past, present, and most likely well into the future.  As more advanced methods of reflection are introduced, perhaps we will be able to see things about ourselves previously left undetected...

Some animals are capable of recognizing themselves in mirrors as displayed by primates, dolphins, elephants, and infants (as opposed to cats, dogs, lizards, and most birds).  The discovery of 'self' is both amusing and critical to the development of understanding others (not self).  This basic understanding of others leads to empathy.  Empathizing with others means that one shares or is familiar with the emotions and feelings that others experience.  This is important to relating to humans of all walks of life.  If one can relate, then there is genuine hope that care, concern, and peace is achievable for one's compatriot.

Appearance.  We're told to not care about what others think about us, yet society conditions us to follow social norms in order to avoid being branded an Ωutcast.  We follow fashion trends in clothing, cars, styles, and culture.  When we deviate from these social norms, we risk embarrassment, shame, and exclusion for fear of being singled out by the 'herd'.  If we practice fitting in, then we benefit from the strength shared in groups.  Ultimately, one must ask themselves if they value the cost of 'fitting in' more than the price of being an individual.  If the freedom to express yourself as an individual unfettered by communal, familial, religious, or any other social pressure appeals to your character then a price must be paid.  This freedom comes at the expense of forfeiting one's vanity.

The good news is that being free allows one to experience life on your own terms.  This means that your happiness comes from within instead of external validation.  Beauty fades.  Money comes and goes.  Material possessions can be lost or taken away.  Having these 'things' can be nice, but basing your worth and happiness on them is like building a sand castle on the shore of a beach; the tides of time will eventually wash it all away.

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
― William James

The accounting system for taste is highly subjective.  What passes muster for some is barely tolerable to another.  "To each their own" is said in response to such decisions.  In pursuit of true freedom from societal dependence, one must learn to tune out the noise that society whispers in your ear coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission.  This means not being afraid to leave the safety of the herd in order to develop inner strength and the independence to lead your own path...

“Man surprised me most about humanity. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money.  Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
― James J. Lachard

No body likes being sentenced to harsh judgment.  Yet, we do it everyday...

Exercising caution is using one's judgement to make conscious decisions.  It helps to avoid making careless mistakes.

I think the phrase, "Judge not, lest ye be judged" refers to making character judgments about a person's choices when the opportunity to witness 'the judged' in their daily behaviors and habits is absent.  People only show what they are comfortable letting others see.  Who knows what emotions lay beneath the surface?

Forgiveness.  It is often said that only the strong can forgive.  I think forgiveness is concerned with letting go of perceived wrong doings.  As long as we hold on to the emotions connected to the pain we cannot truly move forward.  If unresolved, It begins to grow in unintended directions.  Directions that can lead down dark paths of corruption and self destruction.  Forgiveness is the love that heals these wounds.  It's the antidote to hurt, hate, and suffering.  It takes practice to develop and maintain this ability.

Love is acceptance and forgiveness.

There is currently legislation being fought over for the basic right of two people to marry.  Marriage is currently defined by the legal union of a man and woman.  Whether people will get their act together or not remains to be seen; however, the irony that more than half of all hetero-normal marriages fail in America proves that even unions between the current definition of marriage is not something so sacred after all.

Whatever the reason people marry or divorce each other, a lot of self awareness is involved with entering either decision.  Young people often experience societal as well as familial pressures to make life long commitments before even discovering themselves (I used to wonder what this meant when I was young, after all... who else would know me better than myself?).  Life experience teaches one about themselves and what they value in others as well.  For instance, when one is first establishing savings after graduation from college or a promotion in the workforce, they are faced with the option to choose where they can spend their discretionary cash flow.  Some choose material expenditures, others elect for experiential adventure, and some choose to save for an even larger goal.  After some experience in all three or more categories, people discover where they find the most value in their investments.  This becomes the reason that many get up in the morning and go to work.  For many people, their profession is not what defines them; rather, one's profession allows them the freedom to do whatever they wish to.  So it goes with relationships.  Once a person has better self-knowledge they are then capable of making commitments that accurately reflect their investment proclivities.  The commitment to spend time with another means putting oneself in a position to join along in the direction both parties wish to venture, be it in lifestyle, establishing a family, a spiritual journey, or all of the above.

People of all walks of life are free to be and love whomever they choose, but this decision comes at a cost.  It means sacrificing the right to hold on to hurt, hate, and suffering in order to embrace acceptance and forgiveness. 

“The chemist who can extract from his heart’s elements compassion, respect, longing, patience, regret, surprise, and forgiveness and compound them into one can create that atom which is called love.”
― Kahlil Gibran, Treasured Writings of Kahlil Gibran

Sometimes people ask me, "How long have you been boxing?" to which I reply, "Since I was a boy."

My brothers and I used to split a shiny red pair of Everlast boxing gloves and fight each other as children.  We loved it!  It was half fun, half serious (which appealed to my character).

Later on as I grew older, I decided to pursue boxing competitively.  I wanted to assess my limits. 

Boxing taught me more about myself than any other sport.  I learned that I was 'strong', but not the kind of 'tough' one discovers in a regular gym (People moved when I hit them). 

Even though I could lift heavy weights and run a couple of miles, I discovered that I was out of shape for a fighter.  Possessing mass, both muscle and fat, comes with a price.  Most people do not have the energy to fuel a body to dance and fight for more than a round or two.  Some fighters look like bodybuilders but tire easily within a few rounds.  Some fighters resemble sumo wrestlers but can move and hit targets with precision and ease.  This lesson took some time to figure out, but basically each person has an optimal body mass that once achieved they are able to deliver maximum power and speed with prolonged endurance (within six weeks I lost and kept off about 40lbs).

Many boxers are labeled cocky or arrogant.  While this generalization may hold some truth, boxing demands full belief in one's ability to conquer and dominate lest they become the conquered.  This is where psychology enters into the equation.  Most (if not all) fights are won before it has even begun.  Fear creeps in and implants negative notions  These notions range between fear of appearing foolish to actually fearing the pain of getting hurt.  So instead of fighting to 'win' one fights to 'not lose'.  The fear of losing is what drives the fighter and ironically leads to loss.

Anyone who has spent some time boxing knows that physical pain isn't really that bad.  Aside from traumatic brain injury, a broken nose can actually do some good.  One learns that fear is worse than the sting of reality.  Once again, your mind works against you to protect you from consciously walking into danger (it's counter-intuitive to seek out physical combat, see "fight or flight instinct").

One must know that they are going to both receive and dole out punishment.  They must learn to control the part of their brain that is signalling them to take "flight".  Boxing forces one to deal with reality by living in the present moment.  Reality is hitting you in the face (quite literally), and you must stay calm, react, and make decisions under pressure.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  This is the most difficult part for any fighter to truly internalize and apply.  It's a beautiful metaphor for life.  Young fighters tend to rush in and overwhelm their opponents without thinking about the long term which can leave them with scars into their future.  Experienced fighters are better aware of their limits and can exercise caution if the stakes are not worth the risk.  Boxing is the art of hitting and not getting hit.

One of the reasons I chose boxing was to help me manage my anger.  In the beginning, I could often over power and intimidate my opponents into submission.  I noticed that when I fought smaller, more experienced fighters that my rage worked against me and would leave me exhausted, vulnerable, and susceptible to defeat.  Eventually I started to appreciate the skills involved and began focusing on controlling my aggression in favor of cunning and technique.  Boxing had given me the gift of self control and I prospered.  I had strength, energy, and the control to use them.

Fighting for me was no longer about defeating another, but rather conquering myself.  I was given a gift that allowed me to soar and be free.  Something I wish to share with the World.  Everyone has some kind of battle they are fighting, and the skills gained from boxing can directly transfer in helping these individuals overcome and 'Win'.  In other words, fighting for the sake of fighting only serves the ego; whereas, fighting for a cause serves to rally and encourage others to boldly challenge their opponents whether in or out of the ring. 

What makes a fighter heroic is their attitude towards winning despite the odds of harm.  Call it cocky, arrogant, or foolish, but not everyone can handle this pressure.

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”
― William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

I enjoy this sport for the many benefits it provides.  It has given me the best physical condition of my life.  It has given me superhuman confidence (It has also taught me humility).  It has offered me hope and the opportunity for redemption.  It continues to teach me about myself and others.  It drives me to seek improvement. 

Whether I chose boxing or Boxing chose me, I am eternally grateful!

Mind. Body. Spirit.

In order to truly be "The Greatest" one must develop their skills in each of the three categories.

Mind:  This area is concerned with one's mind-set.  I once had a music teacher stop my lesson to practice an exercise in psychology after failing to perform a song.  She asked me to raise my arm out to the side and to try to resist while she applied downward pressure.  My arm grew tired quickly and slowly succumbed to the weight of a 90lb woman.  Then she asked me to think of something that I was great at doing and hold that thought.  Once again she told me to raise my arm and attempt to resist, but instead of buckling under the pressure I was able to resist with ease.  She explained that it was not a trick, but rather I needed my mind to be in the proper frame in order to set the tone for success in singing, dancing, or anything that requires focus.  The lesson... confidence is a mindset.  Do not get discouraged, learn, adjust, adapt, succeed.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right.”
― Henry Ford

Body:  This area is concerned with getting one's body to bend to the mind's will.  If one struggles with endurance, then work on exercises that build up this 'weakness' until it becomes a 'strength'.  For many fighters, building stamina is the most difficult and least developed skill.  There are many exercises to help with this such as jumping rope.  Start off with small goals (to prevent injury).  Then slowly increase the level of difficulty until that becomes 'normal'.  In the beginning, I struggled to skip rope for (5) two-minute rounds with a minute rest in between.  Gradually, I built up my endurance to last the entire fifteen minutes (the longest I've jumped was over an hour).  Fighters must learn to catch their breath while still moving.  This helps them to recover in between attacks (it also gives the appearance of unlimited endurance which discourages the opponent).  I also developed superior footwork in the ring.  I was able to move with greater ease and deliver split second attacks while evading danger.  Jumping rope also serves to strengthen the connective tissues and muscles that hold one's internal organs (viscera) in place which helps to protect against damage when attacked.

Other exercises include:  Jogging (for stamina and mental toughness), Wind Sprints (for speed and strength), Bag Work (for technique and power), Rope Climbing (for core and upper body strength), Swimming (for stretching, breathing, and endurance).  Each of these exercises possess their own secrets which they reveal to those who seek them out.  The end results speak for themselves and surprisingly take less than 30 minutes per day (unless you really enjoy yourself).

Spirit:  This area is concerned with the thoughts, feelings, emotions, attitudes, and character of the individual.  It is probably the most important of the three and takes the longest to develop.  Spirituality in boxing seems like a contradiction; however, in spite of the violence and brutality there is freedom and escape.  It will be difficult to understand unless one has experienced fighting for themselves.  It takes great courage to step into the ring.  Fear begins to manifest.  It takes practice to tune it out.  The bell rings and the two fighters come together in the center of the square.  A second silent permission is given to engage in violence usually marked by the respectful gesture of touching gloves.  The opponents circle one another with defensive posture until attack is delivered.  The use of tactics and strategy begin to form while one's character is being tested.

Understanding that we as humans are all connected, that no one is better or worse than another, that we all feel pain, hurt, and suffering the same is essential to the maturity of a great fighter.  In the ring, showing compassion means resisting the temptation to resort to brutality while maintaining the strength to evade danger and not back down.  Many fighters resort to fear tactics to intimidate and threaten their opponents, but spirit can disarm fear and give strength to the fighter that embraces it.  It becomes like a child fighting a loving parent, teacher, or brother.  The boxing gym becomes a temple, the ring becomes an altar, and the sacrifices of blood, sweat, and tears are offered for the salvation of one's soul.  Each time worship is celebrated, we invoke the presence of the Divine.  Through the pain and suffering, we emerge free and re-born to bask in the gift of renewed life.  It is in this regard that boxing becomes more than a sport, but a chance to connect with the Everlasting, the immanent, the Omnipresent-Holy.

A filter prevents or allows the passage of specific particles to move through a device.  It can affect the passage of liquid, gas, solid, light, or sound.

People often utilize filters when they are seeking something specific hidden within a mixture like a gold panner using a pan to sift the gold deposits hidden within a river bed.  Once a suitable location or placer is found some gravel is scooped up into the pan where it is agitated in the water and the gold sinks to the bottom of the pan.  The low specific gravity items are allowed to spill out and wash away, whereas the higher specific gravity of the precious gold sinks to the bottom where it can be examined and collected by the panner.

Photographers use light filters to capture their subjects in just the "right" light.

Musicians use sound filters to enhance or distort the frequency of their instruments.

Water from underground wells or reserves pass through filters to prevent bacteria, sediment, and pollution from harming the drinker.

Some cars feature air filters to prevent the dust and gas smells from entering the cabin.

People can also use self filters to prevent themselves from expressing offensive behavior, such as watching their words around children.  Filters such as these come in the form of self control which take time and maturity to employ.

One's body and mind can also filter out the miasma of information bombardment from our environment.

“Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need.”
― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

We set emotional filters to prevent exposure to vulnerability.  Unrequited love can fester into bitter anguish.

Our bodies process the poisons we imbibe through smoke and drink to escape reality for a few moments.

Our eyes can differentiate a silhouette from reality.

Our ears can filter the sound of noise and music.  We can listen as well as we hear.

Our noses can discern the fragrance of flowers over the acrid smell of exhaust.

Our lips can taste the sweetness of wine in contrast to the bitterness of chocolate.

Our hands can feel the distinction of smooth skin from the marks of a scar.

We are filters.  We retain the ability to sift through, keep, and discard that which has no value.

As a fire burns away the impurities hidden within a metal, the refining process requires intense heat and pressure to separate the pure from the scrap.

"Research your own experience; absorb what is useful, reject what is useless and add what is essentially your own."
― Bruce Lee