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January 2008 
Day 9 - Why Giant Muscles?
Posted on Feb 10th, 2006
by 
P'SAL
P'SAL
[With apologies to my sinous friends...] This might have everything to do with the scrawny distance runner stature I've had for my entire life, coupled with my aversion to spending long hours of blog-reading time at the gym, but I have to ask: why do so many people who practice ILP put such a focus on ripping big muscles as the surest sign of physical health? Do they lack imagination? Are they insecure? Hopelessly coopted by the mainstream? Painfully superficial? I'm not sure.Today I went for a Fartlek run and did some Hindu squats, neither of which is going to be showing up in the girth of my biceps anytime soon. Yesterday I did 8 pull-ups, and the day before that I did nothing. But I am feeling better already. Just the fact that I am using my body more is a blessing I can already feel. But do I really need to cultivate rock-hard muscles? Can I be "integral" without knocking things off of shelves with my giant pecs? Can I help liberate all beings by dead-lifting 350 lbs?
Even Murphy and Leonard said something to the effect of "the ideal integral man combines the realization of the Buddha with the physique of Charles Atlas". Why? Some of us might rather aspire to just an average, healthy physique, combined with the imposing will of a Frank Lloyd Wright, or the aesthetic sense of Paul Klee, or the oddball guitar playing of Stephen Malkmus. Wright in particular has been an inspiration to me lately.
Today my brother and I watched The Mike Wallace Interviews with Wright, and I was stunned at the utter conviction of the man. When asked how he felt about growing old (this interview took place about 2 years before Wright's death in his 80s):
MW: Do you think that you are any less rebellious--less of a radical--in your art and life than you were a quarter-century ago? FLW: Rather more so...only more quiet about it.You can't help but liking the guy. And you'll notice, of course, that he did it all without bulging biceps ;)
Access: Public
I don’t think it’s necessarily an obsession to get insanely huge biceps as it is a desire to reach your highest potential both physically and mentally. That picture is a bit of a stretch and most likely not a goal for many, but let’s be honest here, your body is the temple in which your mind and soul dwell. I strive to be the best I can be in every area of my life and that includes having the most athletic and efficient body a human being (I) am capable of having.
well said Uber-Obi-Wan. that’s why i’m sticking with my absolution injunction. but i think it would be cool if we could get this dude with insanely ripped abs to pitch in this discussion.
oh wait. he already have :) see Shawn’s post - Beyond Dumbells.
mmm interesting … not sure about this question. I was a scrawny 170lb fellow myself for years … did some heavy weights (mike mentzer) style and got up to 230 … Now that was weird, I did it which was cool but it didn’t feel the height of human potential so to speak. I’ve got to agree with Paul I’ve been doing crossfit and repetitive jump training … I feel more alive and vibrant than I have in years and my mediation is cleaner and deeper
having said that Im starting to put Shawns FIT into my practice again … I did it a year back but I think I needed to do the crossfit first … Dudes you should check this stuff out … its seems pretty integral training to me