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Old 07-03-2012, 08:53 PM   #37
OwlMatt
 
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Re: Ki to the Highway

Quote:
Tom Verhoeven wrote: View Post
Suppose we would no longer use the word Ki, as it can be confusing and leading to complicated discussions - could we replace the word Ki for a word or concept that will explain it to satisfaction for western people? If so, what would be that word; intent, sensing, visualisation, spirit or ...?
Tom
Now THAT is a good question.

The problem with giving it a straight answer is that so many different people use the word ki to mean so many different things in so many different situations. I don't think there is a one-to-one switch to be made here.

Let me use another word as an analogy: magic. Humans used to ascribe many different phenomena to magic. When we stopped believing in magic, there was no one word to replace it. We had to find different words for different phenomena. I think we have to do the same with ki, and I think most of us, consciously or not, are already doing this to some degree.

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