Kryptonite and the Peacock

On June 6, 2005, my health suddenly crashed. One day I was superman, the next I was at death's door.
I was a health fanatic when I crashed. That same avidity for health optimization was turned to recovery modalities and understanding etiologies in complex systemic and syndrome type diagnoses.

I'm pretty comprehensive in research and experimentation. This has led not only through the forest of pharmaceuticals, herbals, and into the mountains of chi gung, but beyond, into the integrative dimensions of lifestyle and it's psycho-spiritual interface with organismic functionality.

Since I have a history of Buddhist aspirations, including a sincere Bodhisattva vow (the intention to alleviate all types of suffering, and including other types of well-wishing), the result has been to drive me to develop business platforms for advancing health, and improving life in other ways.

The peacock in the title comes from a famous story for describing the types of Buddhism. In the story, there is a tree with poisonous fruit, and a village gets concerned about it. They have an argument what to do about it. (The poison is usually considered to be desire, or the cause of suffering.)

1. Someone suggests they cut the tree down. This is supposed to represent Teravadan Buddhism. The problem being that the tree can grow back.

2. Someone suggests they dig out the root. This is Mahayana Buddhism.

3. Someone says, "but the fruit can be used to make medicine." This is the alchemical, transformative Tantric, or Vajrayana Buddhism.

4. Meanwhile, a peacock lands in the tree, eats the fruit, and spreads it's feathers. It's fine. This represents Dzogchen. It transcends in an instant the duality of poison and health.

I'm pretty much stuck in level three, trying to use my experiences with ill health in a transformative way to improve health for myself and the world, between which I recognize a feedback loop.