#THINKING ROCK MANUAL HOW TO#

The pictures of his rock stories (that’s what they were to me) were inspiring, He provides a web page and offers an online course if you desire more assistance. The book laid it all out and the author shared his story. Love the purity of this, the simplicity, yet the complexity, and being in nature, and at the end putting the rocks away, and not being responsible for it. Ha! I’m new to rock balancing, burnt out from making art and teaching it for thirty years. This book is not afraid to jump right into it and I especially liked the breathing part because dam if I don’t hold my breath every time I have to place a rock on top of another. Other books on rock balancing seem to steer clear of the spiritual aspects.

#THINKING ROCK MANUAL HOW TO#

“Enjoyed the book very much as it covered practical matters, the how to and the why, how you might find it a helpful practice. Quite a feat for an American to develop what could be a traditional Japanese art form and be so articulate about it!” I find it very refreshing to have an American do the opposite of this and expound exponentially and continuously about every aspect of this ‘do.’ His book is excellent from expounding the philosophical end of things to the how to, practical end of things. The big difference is in teaching the already developed ‘ways’ out of the East, very few words or explanations are given and the student has to practice intense observation and copying to master such. Thus his book is squarely in the Eastern traditional stream of thought. Basically it is using a physical discipline as a tool for self knowledge, self discipline and eventual Enlightenment if carried to its final conclusion.

He has developed for all intents and purposes a ‘traditional’ Japanese art form in the spirit of all the ones in existence that have the appendage ‘do’ on the end such as Kyudo (way of archery), Chado (way of tea), Shodo (way of calligraphy), Kendo (way of the sword) and at least ten martial arts ending in ‘do.’ The word Do in Japanese comes from the word Tao in Chinese which means ‘way of’ with connotations of philosophy and doctrine as in the ancient revered book the Tao Te Ching (way of integrity). “Travis Ruskus has done a remarkable thing. I find myself coming back to this book over and over again - for grounding, for direction - and for balance :)” The gravity defying photographs and the inspiring pieces of wisdom interweave into a perfect gift.

Thinking rock manual