James Randi is one of my heroes. I saw this video awhile back, its hilarious.
Mind over matter ?
EXCELLANT - THANK YOU 
[QUOTE=hskwarrior;910064]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlfMsZwr8rc&NR=1[/QUOTE]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOL4i735TME&feature=related
check out 3:50 dude reminds me of paulie zink trying to mimci GM Chan the Monkey King of Hong Kong Cinema fame…
The fella, “Amazing Randy,” always had a fatal flaw with his argument.
He said that he would award a $10,000 prize for proof that chi is for real, and that b/c nobody could prove it to him and collect the money, that shows it doesn’t exist.
This rationale speaks to our Western attitude that something is only true where it can be “proven” to the satisfaction of the many (eg., scientists, etc.). And the attitude that a money award will lure out the proof if it does exist.
But maybe, when a person develops that level of chi, he/she no longer has use for money. Or maybe, the mindset that is required to develop chi is opposite to the mindset that seeks money rewards.
Also, maybe once a person has chi, he/she has no desire/need to prove to the masses. Perhaps the desire to keepi it secret and sacred goes along with acquiring it.
So, I’m not cynical about “indiviual powers,” whether they be chi, qi, psychic ability, or whatever other names are used. People like the Amazing Randy - who are so certain about their beliefs, so intent on proving their beliefs, and so invested in the scientific method of experimentation and proof - live in a very small bubble.
[QUOTE=wetwonder;911022]The fella, “Amazing Randy,” always had a fatal flaw with his argument.
He said that he would award a $10,000 prize for proof that chi is for real, and that b/c nobody could prove it to him and collect the money, that shows it doesn’t exist.
This rationale speaks to our Western attitude that something is only true where it can be “proven” to the satisfaction of the many (eg., scientists, etc.). And the attitude that a money award will lure out the proof if it does exist.
But maybe, when a person develops that level of chi, he/she no longer has use for money. Or maybe, the mindset that is required to develop chi is opposite to the mindset that seeks money rewards.
Also, maybe once a person has chi, he/she has no desire/need to prove to the masses. Perhaps the desire to keepi it secret and sacred goes along with acquiring it.
So, I’m not cynical about “indiviual powers,” whether they be chi, qi, psychic ability, or whatever other names are used. People like the Amazing Randy - who are so certain about their beliefs, so intent on proving their beliefs, and so invested in the scientific method of experimentation and proof - live in a very small bubble.[/QUOTE]
randi is a skeptic.
he offers an opportunity to any and all to prove without a doubt that what they claim is indeed real. to date, no one has passed the preliminary exam!
he doesn’t offer 10,000, he offers just over a million dollars USD through his foundation for anyone to step up and show the world. He wants to see it himself and that’s why he offers so much money.
You are starting to look a little like a pollyanna there wet wonder.
If people don’t need to show this, why do they make these claims and when asked to prove it, they inevitably fail.
what does that tell you?
The world would be a better place if people were slightly more adept at their skills in critical reasoning and critical thinking instead of chasing rainbows and unicorns, which is foundationally idiotic and regressive as far as overall development goes.
even zen masters hit idiots and slackers with hard canes. as in, wake the hell up! 
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;911083]
If people don’t need to show this, why do they make these claims and when asked to prove it, they inevitably fail.
what does that tell you?
[/QUOTE]
I see your point DJ. I suppose my Hypothesis is that folks who genuinely have chi (1) don’t make claims about it,(2) don’t have desires to prove it to anyone, and (3) aren’t swayed away from either of these two points by the lure of money.
And as to the people who are publicly making claims about having powers but are unable to prove them - they evidently do not have such powers.
The problem here is with the test that Randi uses to determine a truth. In my opinion, if there are actually people who have chi powers, then the only thing that Randi has proven is that he is far more concerned with pontification and money than they are.
[QUOTE=wetwonder;911119]I see your point DJ. I suppose my Hypothesis is that folks who genuinely have chi (1) don’t make claims about it,(2) don’t have desires to prove it to anyone, and (3) aren’t swayed away from either of these two points by the lure of money.
And as to the people who are publicly making claims about having powers but are unable to prove them - they evidently do not have such powers.
The problem here is with the test that Randi uses to determine a truth. In my opinion, if there are actually people who have chi powers, then the only thing that Randi has proven is that he is far more concerned with pontification and money than they are.[/QUOTE]
we all have qi. we breath, ergo we have chi. some of us breath poorly and this facilitates our bodies poorly and manifests itself as bad health in the long run. some of us employ qi properly and benefit from it.
it is accessible to all, it is not a magic power. to raise it to that level is what is ludicrous really.
You may be right. I just don’t know.
[QUOTE=wetwonder;911184]You may be right. I just don’t know.[/QUOTE] He is right…
I beleive that the amazing Randi never asked for proof of chi, but rather proof of abilities that could not at the time, or cannot be explained by science or trickery.
Ex: Telekinesis, ESP, able to see the future, Levitation, chicken exploding chi blasts, Vida Guerra’s butt, etc.
[QUOTE=brothernumber9;911237]I beleive that the amazing Randi never asked for proof of chi, but rather proof of abilities that could not at the time, or cannot be explained by science or trickery.
Ex: Telekinesis, ESP, able to see the future, Levitation, chicken exploding chi blasts, Vida Guerra’s butt, etc.[/QUOTE]
you are correct. he aks for proof of paranormal abilities.
people who claim to be able to move things without touching them or people who claim to be able to speak to the dead and so on. Essentially, he asks for anyone to come in and show that they can do this under regular and normal conditions.
To date, no one has. he is the needed bane to “psychics” who forever fleece people who seek answers that they can’t have. People who are incapable of accepting reality are in no shortage after all and serve as sheep to be fleeced by many a crafty charlatan.
Randi does a service to us all with his foundation. He openly allows any of them to set up what they need to without allowing for trickery and one by one they fail.
It is unfortunate that people don’t get it yet. Man, I will be so happy on that day when the social construct allows each and every one of us to see reality for what it is and to stop wasting our time with tribal nonsense and hoodoo voodoo crap.
what a great place the world will be!
[QUOTE=tattooedmonk;911197]He is right…[/QUOTE]
Certainty about the world is a comfort I’ve never enjoyed.
[QUOTE=David Jamieson;911250]you are correct. he aks for proof of paranormal abilities.[/QUOTE]
I was commenting on Randi in the context of this thread, where the post shows a youtube video about a proclaimed shaolin master using the powers of chi to move objects as proof to Randi. In this example, the subject was chi.
[QUOTE=wetwonder;911251]Certainty about the world is a comfort I’ve never enjoyed.[/QUOTE]
open your eyes then. that’s about all it takes.
critical reasoning will serve you well in your life and save you from the agony of wasted years either doing nothing or chasing waterfalls.
for me there are three factors.
cause/effect/consequence
if you are the guide of cause, you can know effect and accpet consequence good or bad. It is an infinitely more worthwhile approach to living in my opinion.
I also believe that everyone should be allowed to make their own mistakes.
It is in my view, our individual right to accel or to fail dependent upon those three factors and whether or not we are aware of them or not.
[QUOTE=wetwonder;911253]I was commenting on Randi in the context of this thread, where the post shows a youtube video about a proclaimed shaolin master using the powers of chi to move objects as proof to Randi. In this example, the subject was chi.[/QUOTE]
the subject was that the karate dude claimed to have secret powers that he claimed to attribute to chi.
he did not have powers and shouldn’t have claimed they were attributable to qi and he shouldn’t have claimed the chi is anything more than what it is, which is simply “breath”
He said that he would award a $10,000 prize for proof that chi is for real, and that b/c nobody could prove it to him and collect the money, that shows it doesn’t exist.
You mistake it completely.
He’s asking the huge amount of frauds, to step up to the plate and prove that their tricks are legitimate paranormal powers.
No one stepping up does not mean it does not exist, it simply means there is no proof that it does.
I suppose my Hypothesis is that folks who genuinely have chi (1) don’t make claims about it,(2) don’t have desires to prove it to anyone, and (3) aren’t swayed away from either of these two points by the lure of money.
Yet they’re not mature enough to understand how good they could do if they shared their so-called secrets, with the world? Children are dying from disease every day - Tens of thousands of People are being slaughtered, sold into slavery, living in a very real hell, and these people just choose to keep their powers to themselves?
They’re either frauds, selfish *******s, or their “powers” aren’t really all that powerful.
AdrianK,
I just can’t take you anywhere.
Maybe your chi fireball can fix that.
[QUOTE=AdrianK;911492]
They’re either frauds, selfish *******s, or their “powers” aren’t really all that powerful.[/QUOTE]
AdrianK,
What’s telling about you is that listed only those three as possibilities. So evidently you don’t think there are any other possibilities then. Do you believe in a God or higher intelligent power?