Mike Manzano

St. James, Attended 1993 - 1997, Class of 1997

Informatics, Attended 2001 - 2003, Class of 2003, Associate's Degree, Computer Science (Programming)
De La Salle University, Attended 1997 - 2001, Class of 2001, Bachelor's Degree, Organizational Communication

Software Project Manager, Entrepreneur

Toastmasters International (Presidents' & Lexmark), Make-A-Wish Foundation, Days With The Lord, AIESEC, Topia, A Tribe Called Quest

Beaches & Travel, Buddhism & Eastern Philosophy, Computers & Technology, Food & Feasts, Mixed Martial Arts & Powerlifting, Role-Playing & Card Games, Violin & Gothic Darkwave/Indie Rock

Eastern Classics (Miyamoto Musashi, Sun Tzu, Taigong Wang, Takuan Soho, Yagyu Munenori, Zhuge Liang)

Ghost in the Shell, FF7, LOTR, MADAGASCAR!!!

A Tribe Called Quest, Aerosmith, Chris Daughtry, Creed, Dave Matthews Band, Harry Chapin, Foo Fighters, Goo Goo Dolls, Incubus, Metallica, New Order, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Baroque Musicale

Anime (Naruto, Rurouni Kenshin, etc.)

Virgo

Wisdom is the absence of ignorance. When you focus on a thing, your mind stops and your movements undone, rendering you blind to everything else. When facing a tree and look at a leaf, you will not see the others. When the eye is not set on a leaf and you face the tree with nothing at all in mind, any number of leaves are visible to the eye without limit. Such is Immovable Wisdom. Glancing at something and not stopping the mind is called Immovable.

One who have not found the path will never have Wisdom. Immovable Wisdom will only be possible through the study of technique. When learning how to ride a bike, you don't instantly know how to ride. It takes practice and knowing how to use your hands and feet so you would be able to ride properly. If you do not practice and only fill yourself with principle, your hands and feet will not function. Technique when practiced will make both hands and feet as one. Principle combined with practice will make technique possible.

As a student goes with practiced principles, he becomes closer to Immovable Wisdom. He becomes accustomed to the principles without these weighing on his mind. He goes to a state where he started, No-Thought No-Mind. The student before grasping the principles doesn't think of anything thus entering the state of No-Thought No-Mind. But as he grasps the principles and practices it, his mind stops at several points, trying to remember the technique that was executed. This is what is being addressed by practice. Getting accustomed to the technique allows you to execute without second thoughts. The function of the intellect disappears once the technique is mastered and you enter the state of No-Thought No-Mind.

Stopping the mind allows an opening that others can use. This called affliction. A small piece of wood thrown into a river downhill will be carried away by the current. Like the wood, the mind shouldn't be stopped at all, lest it be broken like a fragile wood by the current.

It is essential that the mind shouldn't be detained. The non-stopping mind is moved neither by color nor smell. A flint, when struck against steel, will produce fire the moment it was struck. When the mind is moved and is stopped, others grasp it and will instantly react. It is best to avoid reactions and act with haste. The Flowing Mind will produce techniques like flint with fire.

Putting the mind in one place is called falling into one-sidedness. Like a tied-up cat, one-sidedness is said to be bias in one place. Correctness is in moving about anywhere. The Correct Mind shows itself by extending the mind throughout the body. It is not biased in any one place. When the mind is biased in one place, you will loose the bird's eye view of your surroundings. Loosing such sense is contrary to Immovable Wisdom. Not putting the mind anywhere and having it move from place to place, the Correct Mind responds to the opponents' movements and act without error. A free cat will easily dodge a rock thrown at her.

The effort not to stop the mind in just one place requires discipline. Put nowhere, it will be everywhere. Many who study do not understand the mind. It is not a matter of numbers. It was said that the enlightening of one's mind depends on the depths of one's efforts.

Walking down that path means walking with commitment...with eyes and mind trained to focus on what you desire most. You freely tread the path you choose. Happiness is very subjective. You can be happy any way you want but...is it real happiness?