When a certain person was saying that present matters of economy should be detailed, someone replied that this is not good at all. It is a fact that fish will not live where the water is too clear. But if there is duckweed or something, the fish will hide under its shadow and thrive. Thus, the lower classes will live in tranquility if certain matters are a bit overlooked or left unheard. This fact should be understood with regard to people's conduct.
This is a little hard to relate to a modern martial arts school. The best I have come up with is that as a Master Instructor you always need to weigh your choices as to what is the least detrimental for the student. Should you let them know at a table full of their peers that their shirt is on backwards or leave it unsaid, saving them open embarrassment but not from unspoken ridicule? As for things of an economical nature; it is never good to have to much information about the money/payment arena. The focus then becomes about money and not the education, the growth, and the spirit of the martial arts. As for the lower class thriving as does the fish, I do not know how other Masters handle this, but I for one, allow them to take care of class fees when they can and give them as much "wiggle" room as I can. I also offer many things for as little price as I can in order to help them. Giving things for free, however, will not help in the long run, so do not misunderstand me. Basically, everything that comes in goes back out to help the student. If they truly had a full economic understanding, they would insist on paying me more!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
10
It is bad taste to yawn in front of people. Then one unexpectedly has to yawn, if he rubs his forehead in an upward direction, the sensation will stop. If that does not work, he can lick his lips while keeping his mouth closed, or simply hide it with his hand or his sleeve in such a way that no none will know what he is doing. It is the same with sneezing. One will appear foolish. There are other things besides these about which a person should use care and training.
This I have experience with. At one time, my Master was talking with the class about something very serious. Then something happened (I will not mention what) that struck the 3 highest ranking students (myself included) as funny. We were not able to control our laughter and as punishment, sent to the back of the Dojang and made to do an undetermined number of push ups. When my Master returned (approx. 15 minutes later), we were able to stop. This is the most vivid memory as it was Thanksgiving week and my arms were so wrecked that I couldn't even touch my face. The meal that Thursday was a bit of a trial. What this passage and my experience lends to is the idea that we need to have control of ourselves at all times. Our laughter took away from the message that my Master was trying to instill in us, the students. I know that myself, as an instructor, if I see students yawning in class I feel that I need to ensure that they are awake, I feel that maybe they are bored or disinterested. Depending on the day, I may feel that it is an insult to what I am teaching. We cannot control how people react to what we do. However, we can attempt to control what we give them to react to.
This I have experience with. At one time, my Master was talking with the class about something very serious. Then something happened (I will not mention what) that struck the 3 highest ranking students (myself included) as funny. We were not able to control our laughter and as punishment, sent to the back of the Dojang and made to do an undetermined number of push ups. When my Master returned (approx. 15 minutes later), we were able to stop. This is the most vivid memory as it was Thanksgiving week and my arms were so wrecked that I couldn't even touch my face. The meal that Thursday was a bit of a trial. What this passage and my experience lends to is the idea that we need to have control of ourselves at all times. Our laughter took away from the message that my Master was trying to instill in us, the students. I know that myself, as an instructor, if I see students yawning in class I feel that I need to ensure that they are awake, I feel that maybe they are bored or disinterested. Depending on the day, I may feel that it is an insult to what I am teaching. We cannot control how people react to what we do. However, we can attempt to control what we give them to react to.
Unfortunate
It is unfortuate the the entire week and probably the day of my big open house for my gym I have an attack of arthritis in my right foot. I am regularly asked what I have done to my foot as I hobble from place to place. This is why it is important to take care of yourself in your youth.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
9
To give a person one's opinion and correct his faults is an important thing. It is compassionate and comes first in matters of service. But the way of doing this is extremely difficult. To discover the good and bad points of a person is an easy thing, and to give an opinion concerning them is easy, too. For the most part, people think that they are being kind by saying the things that others find distasteful or difficult to say. But if it is not received well, they think that there is nothing more to be done. This is completely worthless. It is the same as bringing shame to a person by slandering him. It is nothing more than getting it off one's chest.
To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not. One must become close with him and make sure that the continually trusts one's word. Approaching subjects that are dear to him, seek the best way to speak and to be well understood. Judge the occasion, and determine whether it is better by letter or at the time of leave-taking. Praise his good points and use every device to encourage him, perhaps by talking about one's own faults without touching on his, but so that they will occur to him. Have him receive this in the way that a man would drink water when his throat is dry, and it will be an opinion that will correct faults.
This is extremely difficult. If a person's fault its a habit of some years prior, by and large it won't be remedied. I have had this experience myself. To be intimate with all one's comrades, correcting each other's faults, and being of one mind to be of use to the master is the great compassion of a retainer. By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect make him a better man?
When I first began reading this passage, I was not intrigued. It seemed mundane and of no distinct conversational piece for what I have been attempting with this book and blog. However, as I read it, it became clear. This is for the modern day martial artist on many different levels.
As an instructor, you are faced with the task of tearing down the student and rebuilding them. If it were that simple, there would be so many more people out there with positive experiences in martial arts. However, it is difficult to do without destroying their spirit, their confidence, their core. True martial arts shaves away all that is not needed and strengthens what is needed. Often addressing the group as a whole and discussing a third party person with a close problem can be useful, as well.
Also, a martial artists most valuable weapon is his/her voice. We must learn to talk to people and maintain respect so that we can avoid the fight. Any martial artist worth their salt knows that any fight can and usually will end badly for someone. We need to judge character and control our own tone and wording to have the best possible outcome.
Lastly, in the last paragraph it talks about retainers to the master. Often, if we have a peer that is out of line and in danger of changing their future for the worse, peers are often implemented to help them correct themselves. A word from the master is always much harsher than from a peer. It can be likened to hearing it from your mother/father or from a sibling?
To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not. One must become close with him and make sure that the continually trusts one's word. Approaching subjects that are dear to him, seek the best way to speak and to be well understood. Judge the occasion, and determine whether it is better by letter or at the time of leave-taking. Praise his good points and use every device to encourage him, perhaps by talking about one's own faults without touching on his, but so that they will occur to him. Have him receive this in the way that a man would drink water when his throat is dry, and it will be an opinion that will correct faults.
This is extremely difficult. If a person's fault its a habit of some years prior, by and large it won't be remedied. I have had this experience myself. To be intimate with all one's comrades, correcting each other's faults, and being of one mind to be of use to the master is the great compassion of a retainer. By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect make him a better man?
When I first began reading this passage, I was not intrigued. It seemed mundane and of no distinct conversational piece for what I have been attempting with this book and blog. However, as I read it, it became clear. This is for the modern day martial artist on many different levels.
As an instructor, you are faced with the task of tearing down the student and rebuilding them. If it were that simple, there would be so many more people out there with positive experiences in martial arts. However, it is difficult to do without destroying their spirit, their confidence, their core. True martial arts shaves away all that is not needed and strengthens what is needed. Often addressing the group as a whole and discussing a third party person with a close problem can be useful, as well.
Also, a martial artists most valuable weapon is his/her voice. We must learn to talk to people and maintain respect so that we can avoid the fight. Any martial artist worth their salt knows that any fight can and usually will end badly for someone. We need to judge character and control our own tone and wording to have the best possible outcome.
Lastly, in the last paragraph it talks about retainers to the master. Often, if we have a peer that is out of line and in danger of changing their future for the worse, peers are often implemented to help them correct themselves. A word from the master is always much harsher than from a peer. It can be likened to hearing it from your mother/father or from a sibling?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
8
I will title this 8, but I think that I have fallen behind a little bit. Life gets busy.
Being a retainer is nothing other than being a supporter of one's lord, entrusting matters of good and evil to him, and renouncing self-interest. If there are but two or three men of this type, the fief will be secure.
If on looks at the world when affairs are going smoothly, there are many who go about putting their appearance, being useful by their wisdom, discrimination and artfulness. However,if the lord should retire or go into seclusion, there are many who will quickly turn their backs on him and ingratiate themselves to the man of the day. Such a thing is unpleasant even to think about. Men of high position, low position, deep wisdom and artfulness all feel that they are the ones who are working righteously, but when it comes to the point of throwing away one's life for his lord, all get weak in the knees. This is rather disgraceful. The fact that a useless person often becomes a matchless warrior at such times is because he has already given up his life and has become one with the lord. At the time of Mitsushige's death there was an example of this. His one resolved attendant was I alone. The others followed in my wake. Always the pretentious, self-asserting notables turn their backs on the man just as his eyes are closing in death.
Loyalty is said to be important in the pledge between lord and retainer. Though it may seem unobtainable, it is right before your eyes. If you once set yourself to it, you will become a superb retainer at that very moment.
I find this very interesting on so many levels. It boils down to trusting your instructor. Following their lead, whether you question it or not, doing what is asked with a full heart. It is sometimes doing things you do not understand, learning to do things that you do not understand, teaching things you do not understand, over and over and over, until.... you understand.
I have actually seen this happen where one that is leading steps aside and "goes into seclusion." It is interesting to see what happened after reading this passage and the parallels that happened. Those that continued with trust in what they were told, flourished. The others did not, as much. Also, those that were loyal seemingly were ostracized, or as much as they could be in polite society.
Follow your master. If he/she doesn't know what they are doing, they are hopefully following someone that does!
Being a retainer is nothing other than being a supporter of one's lord, entrusting matters of good and evil to him, and renouncing self-interest. If there are but two or three men of this type, the fief will be secure.
If on looks at the world when affairs are going smoothly, there are many who go about putting their appearance, being useful by their wisdom, discrimination and artfulness. However,if the lord should retire or go into seclusion, there are many who will quickly turn their backs on him and ingratiate themselves to the man of the day. Such a thing is unpleasant even to think about. Men of high position, low position, deep wisdom and artfulness all feel that they are the ones who are working righteously, but when it comes to the point of throwing away one's life for his lord, all get weak in the knees. This is rather disgraceful. The fact that a useless person often becomes a matchless warrior at such times is because he has already given up his life and has become one with the lord. At the time of Mitsushige's death there was an example of this. His one resolved attendant was I alone. The others followed in my wake. Always the pretentious, self-asserting notables turn their backs on the man just as his eyes are closing in death.
Loyalty is said to be important in the pledge between lord and retainer. Though it may seem unobtainable, it is right before your eyes. If you once set yourself to it, you will become a superb retainer at that very moment.
I find this very interesting on so many levels. It boils down to trusting your instructor. Following their lead, whether you question it or not, doing what is asked with a full heart. It is sometimes doing things you do not understand, learning to do things that you do not understand, teaching things you do not understand, over and over and over, until.... you understand.
I have actually seen this happen where one that is leading steps aside and "goes into seclusion." It is interesting to see what happened after reading this passage and the parallels that happened. Those that continued with trust in what they were told, flourished. The others did not, as much. Also, those that were loyal seemingly were ostracized, or as much as they could be in polite society.
Follow your master. If he/she doesn't know what they are doing, they are hopefully following someone that does!
Irony....
So, just a side note....
Later that week there was a huge spread in the paper on one of my satelite programs.
Go figure....
Later that week there was a huge spread in the paper on one of my satelite programs.
Go figure....
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