11

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!

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.

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.