The Chinese characters on the left begin with Shi'h on the top. This represents bravery or strength...courage in battle. The second character Hei stands for peace or calm strength...harmonious end to conflict. I remember when I was a boy listening to my father's stories of when he took Karate. He was a student of Wado-Ryu Karate in western Tennessee. The training classes were held in a basketball gymnasium. Sometimes the stories would involve his fellow students, one who could jump straight up and kick the bottom of a regulation basketball goal: ten feet from floor to rim! Other times he would talk of his Master, always in tones of awe and respect. He would explain how the Master was harsh and strict but also fair and wise. He would have the students maintain difficult stances while he walked up and down each row moving an arm here, a foot there, sometimes only by a milimeter. The third character is Huo representing heart, mind, or soul. Not specifically referencing a person's energy this character speaks of a person's life essence. I remember seeing a documentary in the late 1970's about these Buddhists monks who were being interviewed for the first time. In retrospect, I believe the lack of media exposure made the monks a little too willing to display their talents. The robed men had spears bent while the points of steel... >>>>MORE>>>>>

What is Harmony? How is it different from Balance? Why does it matter, anyway? Marcus Aurelius said "He who lives in harmony with himself, lives in harmony with the universe." In music harmony occurs when two notes are struck at the same time creating a different sound altogether. Harmony is synonymous with synergy. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. My point is simply that the logic of the scientific method and the critical thinking of philosophic study can be used simultaneously to reach conclusions otherwise unreachable using only one method or the other. Carl Sagan noted about harmony that "The universe is not required to be in perfect harmony with man's ambition."