Ralph Waldo Emerson
The pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.
Dag Hammarskjold
Why do we pursue the path of Budo? To be a champion? To gain wealth? To gain recognition? To be the "King of the Mountain"? Probably all these. Depending on the person it can either be good or bad. The commonality of all these is that eventually it disappears. I believe that it is not the true goal of Budo.
The true goal of Budo is to stop all conflicts so that we may all live in harmony and peace. Realistic?
Perhaps not, but as Dag Hammarskjold states it should never be abandoned.
Budo teaches us perseverance, the "stick to it, don't give up" spirit. By going through our own shugyo we learn to appreciate the pains of others. Not just the pain of martial arts training, but pains born of our regular lives. Each challenge of life we try to persevere and take another step forward.
Shugyo is not a smooth road, like life, it has its ups and downs. At times we lose sight and Heijoshin and it causes hate, despair and frustration. Some of us fall off the path. I know, I have. But, as long as we retain the spirit, we can get back up and pick up where we left. There is a Japanese saying, "Fall seven times, get up eight" 七転び、八起き。Better to persevere than give up.
Through our own shugyo we learn to have an open mind towards others. To be able to accept the fact there are differences in the world. To be able to live with others who are different. This will eventually lead to world peace. Optimistic? Certainly. My time in Judo and Karate has taught me this. There are no borders in martial arts and if we all pursue the true meaning of Budo then we have the chance to live in harmony and peace.
It all begins with us.
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Roushiichi, Budo is so often miss represent here in New York, we have schools of Budo, Budokai "teaching the traditional fighting arts". I was talking to Sensei Dan last night, and we were both wondering how the true meaning of Budo was lost. Major schools here in New York in the 1980's were all about Ego and the best figherts. War cries: We can do more taiso, hit harder, take more punishment ....this is what budo was here at that time. Even in the 90's many schools just made name for themselves on making the best fighters. My Question is I know how important "Do and Wa" are to the Japanese culture, so how did we become so out of balanced in our understanding of true budo? For me personally, I did not understand true budo, until November of 2003. It just was never addressed. I am just a wee bit ashamed that I learned this so late in my karate-do.
ReplyDeleteHeijoshin, Oh William,Sensei please help!! I am working on the kanji for this word so that I may understand its meaning. 平Hei means peaceful, 常 jo means flat, and 心 shin or kokoro ( never sure which meaning is given here, mind, sprit, or heart...so a peacful came mind. How does one know shin or kokoro? Keeping calm inside while the out side of the body is going crazy...from Biology it sounds much like homostasis..??
Aloha Tony,
ReplyDeleteMy homeostasis has failed me! Feeling feverish and lethargic tonight had to skip Take’s class. (**;)
We can start a whole new thread on the topic of Budo and the implications of seeking to be the “best of the best”. But I’ll hold off until I’m feeling better and clearer. I’m pretty sure a king sized greasy burger with all the trimmings and a jumbo Root beer will clear this up! (^^) Gahahaha.
My 2 bits on why the focus went to competition and champion building.
1. Business, champions attract students. Senseis have to eat too.
2. It’s an American heritage from the start of American history. Power and Glory.
3. Senseis never got the input from their Sensei’s. Too busy building up an empire.
4. Folklore from Asia. The mystical powers, etc. naturally flows to the mentality of “Best of the Best”
5. Lastly Egos. The root of most of the problems in martial arts. Not pride, just egos.
That’s the short and sweet of it for now. Look at the current state of affairs with Kyokushin. Despite all the smooth rhetoric and talk of pursuing the “Martial Way”, the bottom line is it all stems from the leaders ego. It is difficult to step down from being King of Mountain just as it is difficult for them to accept one of their original own to take leadership. Also $$$ is involved with such organizations.
This is not limited to Kyokushinkai; just take a look at the other major karate, aikido and other martial arts groups. It’s all the same. Sad but true. The focus has been sidetracked.
Tony, no need to even feel “bit ashamed”. That is what 道 is there for. We all take different routes in our Shugyo in Budo. It is guided by those we meet and select to follow. It is a natural course of events in our Shugyo. I was once a proponent of stamina and toughness first. But stamina and toughness eventually diminishes. At that point, what do you have left in your Budo to pass on to the next generation? That was my turning point. I do still enjoy giving out and receiving some “licks” here and there. Fufu (^^)
Oh by the way, should you ask the current generation of young Japanese about Do and Wa, more than likely you get the same reaction as in the previously posted Japanese lesson. (^^)
Roushiichi That Greasy Burger has been making this blog far to often my friend (^^). Where is William, Shihandai. I am sure the doctor would agree Gahaha. I am looking for your recipe for meatless meatballs and a nice veggie soup for you...Yachi keep my friend out of the burger shop...would ya!! Back to that Tai Noodle shop for you!
ReplyDeleteBoy what a question, what do you want to pass on about your budo to the next generation??? This has been on my mind so much of late. Kind of leaning that you become a "Sensei" because you studnets say you are. You then have a great obligation to them after that happens. To give total of yourself and your Budo, the very best that you can. Can't help to of your teachings to me of Shu-Ha-Ri. I am sure you could make that another thread. I know many of our students have not been exposed to this concept of budo.
Odaiji ni Roushiichi
Yikes "Do and Wa" missing. Guess I been reading "old school" texts. I know some would say they are dated concepts, but I cann't think of a time we need them more.
ReplyDeleteHello Richard and Tony Sensei,
ReplyDeleteI came back from my summer house in Yamanashi so I was MIA for a little while. I like to get away from the city and spend time surrounded in nature and clean air. I don't have a computer there so I haven't been up-to-date with the blog. I go back to Yamanashi tomorrow evening for a few weeks.
Tony Sensei, to answer your question regarding 平常心, the literal translation is equanimity or calm state of mind in a difficult situation. As you pointed out, 平 can mean "peace" or "flat" or "balanced". 常 means "constant" and 心 in this circumstance means "mind". I have read "Kokoro" written by Natsume Soseki many times and I still haven't grasped the meaning and translation of 心. I encourage you to read it one day. You will see that the title is purposely written in Hiragana.
FYI, homeostasis in Japanese is Kojyosei "恒常性". Ko means never changing.
Osu!
(^^) William, get yourself a laptop! Fufufu.
ReplyDeleteI take it Yokohma Dojo is on summer vacation break. The kids that went to Japan for summer chould be returning to Makiki Dojo this weekend. Or rather Makiki District Park as we are "homeless" for August. Practicing outside is good though once in awhile.
Enjoy all of the nature's blessings while you can. I heard that Keihin Tohoku Line stopped for awhile yesterday. Planning to swing by the Aum Headquarters? (^^)
Tony, Kokoro by Natsume Soseki is a good read. He also has "I am a Cat" 我輩は猫である.
Have a good read!!