Currently Reading:
A Sourcebook in Asian Philosophy
by John M. Koller, and Patricia Koller



The First Rule of Budo:
The first rule of Budo, the Japanese philosophy of living life fully through martial arts, is stated thusly: You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as though a fire were raging in your hair.

What do these words mean? Many who have faced death can tell you; live each day as though it were your last. Budo teaches that to the martial art student every minute of their training, if they are paying attention. Life also teaches that to us every minute of every day, if we are paying attention. Would you carry old grudges if today were your last day? What good would it do you to die carrying a grudge? Have you ever had a childhood enemy that you fought with bitterly, only to eventually become great friends? How could you have have ever had such a friend if you were not willing to let go of that grudge?

I believe that we all believe this at a deep level, but we often cover it up with ego in the hopes that the other person will surrender, and from that submission we can gain some illusion of power over others. That power means nothing, because it is only momentary. When we fight each other, we fight ourselves.

Living by the sword and dying by the sword sounds glorious and sexy, especially when we're the ones who are doing the conquering. Men who have lived long enough to see half of their lives pass know that it is better to never draw your sword. To never cut another, and to never be cut.


"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind." - Mahatma Gandhi


Namaste,
CET

"Much of the suffering in the world comes from the illusion that we are separate from one another." - Gautama Buddha