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?

Another day down, next one is coming in 4.5 hours.....

Amazing as to how much I would like to blog when I have no time to.

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!

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....

Grrrr

So, I am taking another little break (I know, I haven't posted in forever and then I only do one on the book and another on a soap-box) from the usual fare and I am going to rant... only a little.

You see, I have a gym in a town in the Midwest and like all towns in the Midwest they have a newspaper that is run by idiots. You see, I don't submit anything to them any more because I send 12 people to a world championship and they don't print a word of it, not a single word. However, the front page can have some dopey person with face paint or better yet, they print an article (with a picture, mind you) of this group of, well, I am not sure what to call them. I myself and a D & D geek from way back, but these douche-bags are like a totally different level of social retard.

You see these guys dress up in costumes and fight each other with foam weapons. Yeah, you got it. For a visual reference check out the movie Darkon. Only, these guys weren't as cool.

I grow so weary of the morons that run newspapers these days. Maybe it's because the newspaper is an obsolete media and no one worth a damn wants to tether themselves to a sinking ship...

7

Sagara Kyuma was completely at one with his master and served him as though his own body were already dead. He was one man in a thousand.
Once there was an important meeting at Master Sakyo's Mizugae Villa, and it was commanded that Kyuma was to commit seppuku. At that time, in Osaki there was a tea-house on the third floor of the suburban residence of Master Taku Nui. Kyuma rented this, and gathering together all the good-for-nothings in Saga, he put on a puppet show, operating one of the puppets himself, carousing and drinking all day and night. Thus, overlooking Master Sakyo's villa, he carried on and caused a great disturbance.. In instigating this disaster he gallantly thought only of his master and was resolved to committing suicide.

(There is a note on this saying he may have been trying to cover up some crime or something of a similar nature for his master.)

This falls into the context of how a master looks viewed from the public or from their superiors and/or colleagues. The role of the student to their master is that of sacrifice for them to save face. Consider this; which is it better to have look a fool? A student with limited experiences or a master with years or decades of experience? As a master, a person is put into a position of having to appear infallible, although we are all still human and make mistakes.

and 6

We learn about the sayings and deeds of the men of old in order to entrust ourselves to their wisdom and prevent selfishness. When we throw off our own bias, follow the sayings of the ancients, and confer with other people, matters should go well and without mishap. Lord Katsushige borrowed the wisdom of Lord Naoshige. This is mentioned in the Ohanashikikigaki. We should be grateful for his concern.

Moreover, there was a certain man who engaged a number of his younger brothers as retainers, and whenever he visited Edo or the Kamigata area, he would have them accompany him. As he consulted with them everyday on both private and public matters, it is said that he was without mishap.

Again, consulting with others, but with the added twist of studying the ancients and keeping them close in mind. I suppose it is the same as not repeating history so to speak. I think that a simple way to put this one is to say "even the wisest of men understands that there are always other views and perspectives."