"Spontaneity is the ability to act without thinking. It is the raw immediacy of action. To be spontaneous, conscious thought must cease and you must simply do. Both the mind and the body must be loose and flexible. Kung fu teaches a person to move instantly in response to what is happening."
- Newcastle Tai Chi

"When the hands are clapped the sound issues without hesitation. When flint is struck with steel, the spark comes out at once."
- Alan Watts

Recommended Reading:

The Art of Happiness. By Epicurus. Translation and commentary by George K. Strodach. Penguin Classics, 2012. 272 pages.

The Conquest of Happiness By Bertrand Russell. Introduction by Daniel Dennett. Liveright, 1930, 2013. 224 pages.

Epicurean and Hedonistic Philosophy: Bibliography, Resources, Quotations, Information

Epicureanism: A Very Short Introduction By Catherine Wilson. Oxford University Press, 2016. 144 pages.

The Five Senses and Pleasure

Happiness: A Philosopher's Guide. By Frederic Lenoir. Melville House, 2015. 208 pages.

The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom. By Jonathan Haidt. Basic Books, 2006. 320 pages.

Happiness: A History By Darrin M. McMahon. Grove Press, 2006. 526 pages.

Hedonism: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Resources, Notes by Mike Garofalo

The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want By Sonja Lyubomirsky. Penguin Books, 2008. 384 pages.

How to Live a Good Life: Advice from Wise Persons

Life's Little Instruction Book By H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Thomas Nelson, Revised edition, 2000. 160 pages.

Nicomachean Ethics By Aristotle. Translated by Christopher Rowe. Commentary and notes by Sarah Broadie. Oxford University Press, 2002. 480 pages.

On Desire: Why We Want What We Want By William B. Irvine. Oxford University Press, 2006. 322 pages.

Pleasures, Desires and Enjoyment: Quotations, Poems, Sayings

Somaesthetics: Body-Mind Practices and Theories

Time and the Art of Living By Robert Grudin. Mariner Books, 1997. Index, 250 pages. ISBN: 978039689814. VSCL.

Epicureanism: Bibliography, Links, Quotations, Resources, Notes by Mike Garofalo

Virtues and a Good Life

Cloud Hands Blog. By Michael P. Garofalo. Over 2,400 indexed posts on well being, philosophy, somaesthetics, taijiquan, qigong, walking, gardening, yoga, Taoism, hedonism, and spirituality. Over 700,000 page views as of 6/1/2016.

Advice Beauty Bibliography Blog Body-Mind Broad Minded Cheerfulness

Contemplation Desires Dharmapada Sutra Education Epicureanism Equanimity Ethics

Feeling Fitness Five Senses Friendship Gardening Generosity Good Life

Happiness Hedonism Hospitality Independence Index Kindness Learning Lifestyle Links

Meditation Memory Mindfulness Moderation Neo-Paganism Open Minded Paramitas

Patience Philosophy Play Pleasures Qigong Reading Secular Self-Reliance

Sensory Pleasures Simplicity Solitude Somaesthetics Spirituality Stoicism Taijiquan

Tao Te Ching Thinking Tolerance Touching Tranquility Vigor Virtues Vision Vitality

Walking Willpower Wisdom Wonder Yoga Zen Precepts