In episode 59 of Fresh Tracks I speak with Peter Ralston, consciousness teacher, master martial artist and author of The Book of Not Knowing. Our discussion starts with a look at what it means to ‘not know’, and how approaching everything we do from a place of not knowing, verses assuming we do know, changes everything. Peter shares why the moment you start living your life from a place of questioning or pursuing mastery, it becomes a different life. You live in a different world. The truth is most of us walk around not knowing a tremendous amount of stuff, yet our beliefs and assumptions are that we know most things. When we can allow ourselves not to know, it allows us to start investigating.
We also discuss what it means to be authentic. The first thing we need to do to be authentic is to not know, and be ok not knowing. And then all kinds of things unfold – perhaps your Fresh Tracks! As we examine that feeling of being authentic, Peter shares why becoming aware of and releasing beliefs will allow us to ultimately be more authentic. Why? Because some of our most profound experiences happen by questioning the obvious. Perception is crucial to interacting and no one puts any attention on it. Questioning allows us to experience for ourselves what is true.
Show Notes:
2:30 – Why not knowing is not something to be ashamed or afraid of. Not knowing is just a fact.
6:40 – Peter’s profound insights on how to start ‘not knowing’.
10:00 – How to recognize beliefs that you don’t even know you have.
14:00 – When you change how you see the world, you will change how you see yourself. And that changes everything!
17:55 – How throwing out all of Peter’s beliefs led him to being a master in martial arts.
20:30 – Why you never make your opponent wrong. Ever.
25:00 – The relationship between discipline and freedom.
30:50 – The value of not making the job wrong.
About Peter Ralston
Peter Ralston works with people to authentically expand and deepen their “consciousness,” and to become more real, honest, and effective human beings. He facilitates people in understanding their own selves and minds, and in becoming increasingly conscious of their own true nature as well as the nature of perception, experience, and existence. He also teaches people about their bodies and how to be most effective in its use, and is the creator of the Art of Effortless Power—a large scope internal martial art using an effortless power to “play” with others, deepening an understanding of effective interaction using such principles as joining, complementing, and leading to create masterful interactive skills. In 1977 he opened a center called The Cheng Hsin School of Internal Martial Arts and Center for Ontological Research and is the author of The Book of Not Knowing.
