The purpose of this regular column will be to present, in fictitious form, the discussions of several Taoist "Wise Guys" of a bygone (?) age. These offerings of crazy wisdom and discussion are for the reader's entertainment and edification.

"Teacher, you said that when we next met, I could question you about the ethereal plane." stated Stalking Shadow.

"So I did." Cloud Mountain replied.

"Essentially would that be chi?" Stalking Shadow asked.

Cloud Mountain answered,"When I talk of the ethereal plane, I mean all things that are energetic in nature, not physical. In other words, not something that you can see, touch, taste, hear or smell readily. The ethereal plane is not of the physical plane. It is something beyond that. The ethereal plane encompasses all things that are of the subtle realm. Things that cannot be easily touched or understood, but are never the less present, and part of the 10,000 things. This presence can be manifest in many ways. Chi energy, would be one such manifestation. But, all energy is also part of the ethereal essence. Some of this energy leaks in, or cross references with the physical plane giving shape to the 10,000 things. While the rest of this energy extends outward into all things to infinity."

"All life." said Stalking Shadow.

"Yes," Cloud Mountain replied, "And non-life. Everything that is existence, or that is essence. The human being can and does tap into this plane on a regular basis. It is simply due to lack of awareness that most of us are oblivious to this."

"Would it be correct to say, then, that we have a physical body and an energy body?" Stalking Shadow queried.

"Yes." replied Cloud Mountain.

"So, with that in mind, if I might go back to our last conversation, teacher,about the mobilization of Chi." said Stalking Shadow, "Which would you say is the more important?"

Cloud Mountain chuckled, "That is a very good question, young Shadow. I will tell you that neither one is more important. Knowledge of the essence of both is necessary if the pupil is to succeed on his journey."

"So that would be to say that our bodies are a vehicle for our spirit?" asked Stalking Shadow.

Cloud Mountain replied, "Young Shadow, I think you will find that this is the classic teaching of all theological or philosophical doctrines. It is a point of much speculation due to the fact that so far no one individual has returned from the dead to tell us conclusively that such is the case. It is a point of faith. Never the less, since this common thread of consciousness pervades all mankind, it would seem that it must be true. Furthermore, all that follow a spiritual discipline come to a positive knowing after a time, and this perhaps is the most sincere truth of all."

Stalking Shadow stated, "Teacher, I am somewhat confused. Ultimately we should follow the spirit path ofTao, but yet we train to fight. So, surely our physical bodies are trained to a level where we can manifest energy . Therefore, where does one draw the line of overemphasizing the physical in place of pursuit of the spiritual?"

"You do not draw such a line, young Shadow," Cloud Mountain stated emphatically," All life is a battle."

Stalking Shadow stated, "You are alluding to the premise that life was created from chaos."

"No." said Cloud Mountain, "I am saying that all of your life is a battle. You fight for life to be born. You fight to grow up. You fight for ascension into adulthood. You fight against growing old. And you fight death before it takes you. Indeed, all life is a battle. The building of the Ling Tai is perhaps the most difficult battle of all through one's life as it requires tremendous amounts of energy, discipline, focus and sacrifice. And so, the Tao advocates training to fight for two reasons. The first is for self preservation. To be able to survive against the daily tribulations inflicted by others in whatever form they come. The second is that fighting becomes a means of exercising the will to overcome any such obstacles that might appear in the path toward self enlightenment. It teaches one to deal adroitly with any circumstance. It cultivates the awareness. In the practice of fighting, the pupil learns not just how to parry a physical blow, but the strategy, tactic and dual interaction of opposing and complimentary energies."

Jade Fist had been following this exchange most attentively and now stated, "So, fighting is such an overt demonstration that it becomes easy to see one's mistakes in strategy and thus learn to apply this knowledge to more subtle realms."

"Exactly!" exclaimed Cloud Mountain, "Fighting becomes a model expression of interaction of energy. Something tangible that the pupil may learn and grow from. This is the real reason that fighting has always been part of our traditions."

"Teacher, should we then be more concerned with the psychology than the physiology of fighting?" Stalking Shadow questioned.

Cloud Mountain replied, "Yes. Ultimately the pupil should acquire the mind of fighting. This is what separates the Master from the student. The Master controls his opponent through much more than the physical. The physical realm is the least of his tools. This is why men at sixty years of age, can defeat a man of thirty easily."

Jade fist said, "Then at a Master's level, combat would consist of more an energetic exchange as well. For example, Dien Hsueh (cavity press)."

"Yes," said Cloud Mountain, "The further one travels along the path, the more the physical and the non-physical beings merge together until one day they become indistinguishable. At that time, the journey is complete."

Quiet Lake offered, "Going back to what Stalking Shadow said earlier teacher. If the body is the vehicle for the spirit, would you then agree that the other equal and opposite side of that statement is that the spirit is the guide to the body and that neither one really takes predominance and that the gateway between them, the part that is shared by both sides is the will and that the will is the vehicle for the merging of both sides?"

"Yes." answered Cloud Mountain.

"That is a mouthful brother!" exclaimed Jade Fist.

Cloud Mountain spoke again, "Be assured that what is reflected in the mind and reflected in the spiritual plane will be manifest in the physical plane. The manifestation will be in proportion to your ability to will it."

Stalking Shadow queried, "Like sending a vibration?"

"Exactly", replied Cloud Mountain, "You are relating the spiritual energy level to the physical energy level and since both are interacting even as we speak, then the truth is the truth. The only thing that may interfere is confusion. When confusion enters the mind, there can be no great achievements. If there is no confusion, then whatever truth you hold in your will shall be manifest. Ritualistic practice that combines those two qualities is the methodology of becoming skillful at the manipulation of energy."

Jade fist offered, "Then depending on the desired result, an appropriate ritual should be selected."

"That is true." agreed Cloud Mountain. "The Intention must fit the ritual, and the ritual must fit the Intention. We will discuss the subject of Intention more the next time we meet."