Are you willing to stand and be counted?
Mon, Jul 11 2011 09:53
| forgiveness, jock brocas, happiness, compassion, Budo, Life Lessons, spirituality
| Permalink
Are you willing to stand and be counted?
The martial arts and Budo are steeped in spirituality and the development of intuition. So why is it that we do not hear of it that much within the martial circles? Unfortunately, like anything in life, if the subject is not understood fully; it can often be bypassed and replaced for something that is ego driven and not born of the spirit.
There are many who believe in the development of the intuitive senses through the study of Budo, but unfortunately will often refuse to raise the discussion due to the fear of ridicule. However, let me say that it only takes one voice to begin the domino effect that can spread the positive energy like ripples on a pond. The martial arts exist, not to promote violence or combat, but to promote the mastery of the self on all levels of mind, body and soul as one unit.
The Martial way can become the catalyst to peace and harmony, but only if this is your true intention. Your soul cannot lie and you cannot lie to another’s soul. You must uphold the beauty of nature to ensure that you fully understand the power of budo in your life. You can become the warrior of the spirit, and this is not held for just anyone who dons a uniform and prances around in the dojo believing they are becoming an ultimate warrior. To be an ultimate warrior is more than superficial perception; you must look beyond your physical being to realize the true spiritual unity of universal harmony that flows through you, "The very essence of true budo.”
Are you willing to stand and be counted and admit that it’s this path you would like rather than a material view of the world or the ability to down an attacker with no real mercy In your heart. Do not fear ridicule for the fact that you wish to follow a more spiritually rewarding development in your own Budo. The truth is that all facets will develop and you will become a more rounded individual capable of living in peace and harmony, with an ability to make wiser life choices. It does not matter how long your path will be, for ultimately it is the journey that ends in satori (enlightenment) that will be your final destination. This has been the goal of all martial masters, the combatant aspect takes a sedentary role and only serves as a basis to learn lessons of life is you open your heart.
The martial arts and Budo are steeped in spirituality and the development of intuition. So why is it that we do not hear of it that much within the martial circles? Unfortunately, like anything in life, if the subject is not understood fully; it can often be bypassed and replaced for something that is ego driven and not born of the spirit.
There are many who believe in the development of the intuitive senses through the study of Budo, but unfortunately will often refuse to raise the discussion due to the fear of ridicule. However, let me say that it only takes one voice to begin the domino effect that can spread the positive energy like ripples on a pond. The martial arts exist, not to promote violence or combat, but to promote the mastery of the self on all levels of mind, body and soul as one unit.
The Martial way can become the catalyst to peace and harmony, but only if this is your true intention. Your soul cannot lie and you cannot lie to another’s soul. You must uphold the beauty of nature to ensure that you fully understand the power of budo in your life. You can become the warrior of the spirit, and this is not held for just anyone who dons a uniform and prances around in the dojo believing they are becoming an ultimate warrior. To be an ultimate warrior is more than superficial perception; you must look beyond your physical being to realize the true spiritual unity of universal harmony that flows through you, "The very essence of true budo.”
Are you willing to stand and be counted and admit that it’s this path you would like rather than a material view of the world or the ability to down an attacker with no real mercy In your heart. Do not fear ridicule for the fact that you wish to follow a more spiritually rewarding development in your own Budo. The truth is that all facets will develop and you will become a more rounded individual capable of living in peace and harmony, with an ability to make wiser life choices. It does not matter how long your path will be, for ultimately it is the journey that ends in satori (enlightenment) that will be your final destination. This has been the goal of all martial masters, the combatant aspect takes a sedentary role and only serves as a basis to learn lessons of life is you open your heart.
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Can you Change
Wed, Jun 8 2011 01:21
| forgiveness, jock brocas, happiness, compassion, Budo, Life Lessons, spirituality
| Permalink
Let he who has sinned cast the first stone?
Do you really believe that everyone can change his or her lives for the better? Of course you can and it takes only one decision. The issue exists that even when you decide to change your life for the better, you are up against the sum total of all your missed opportunities (past mistakes). So, it does not seem as easy as just a decision. However, the decision is the starting point. Anyone can change because we know that change is a constant, therefore we are always evolving. This means that we are always in a period of change. The blockages that you come up against are those that are created by yourself – believing that you cannot change and from others who want to see you hurt because it makes them feel better.
Let’s look at each blockage a little more in detail, which will hopefully enlighten you as to the methods or ways to overcome these blockages. The human being is a very resilient animal, yet if you bring in the spiritual aspect into the equation – life becomes a rollercoaster and you are the one in control. It takes on a new meaning, rather like panning for gold and recognizing that you have just struck the mother load.
Believe in yourself! How many times have you heard this statement? I bet you have heard it many times over. It’s not as easy as you think, but the truth is that if you do not believe in yourself, you will find it very difficult to change anything or achieve anything. Many people fail at this first hurdle and it seems that everything you really want to be or change for the better is so far in the distance. If you believe in a higher power you can believe in yourself and if you have difficulty with believing in a higher power, yet you are beginning to believe in yourself – you can bet the higher power is at work. This is because you are a spiritual being and have an amazing power that you can harness to better yourself. No matter what you think of yourself, you have the right to happiness and this is a matter of choice. Perhaps if you begin to really feel that you deserve happiness and no matter what causes lay in the past, you have the power to make the present wonderful by knowing that you can make the changes that are necessary. Every positive thing you do for yourself and in service to others strengthens your resolve for change to be affected.
Now even after you have gotten over that hurdle and you are beginning to feel better about yourself, you find another hurdle. This is the hurdle that is erected, not by yourself but by those who are damaged themselves and who do not want you to succeed in anything. The truth is that many people are suffering needlessly and normally due to the three lacks. The Three Lacks are the same spiritual lessons that the Great Spirit has always wished to impart to us and that is;
So how do you deal with those Damaged People? What you have to show or give is what they lack in themselves. Never retaliate, use loving speech and do not feed your negative seeds or the negative energy that may surround you. This reminds me of an old Cherokee Indian story that denotes the profound spiritual truth.
A Chief from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his son.
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight between two wolves." The young boy listened intently. "One wolf is evil, unhappy, and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, selfishness, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority/superiority, false pride, coarseness, and arrogance. He spreads lies, deceit, fear, hatred, blame, scarcity, poverty, and divisiveness."
"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, loving, worthy, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, just, fair, empathetic, generous, honest, compassionate, grateful, brave, and inspiring resting wholeheartedly in deep vision beyond ordinary wisdom."
The son paused in deep reflection of what his father had just said. Then he exclaimed; "Oyee! (In recognition). His father continued; "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside all human beings even though they fail to recognize it." The young boy paused in deep reflection and recognition of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out deeply, "Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win this horrific war?"
The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed. That wolf will surely win!"
Sometimes the greatest weapon you have is silence for within the silence is the nourishment for the soul. Don’t feed fear for the fear will become the angry wolf and do not feed those that would seek to block you with your fear. You have the right to happiness as everyone has that right, and not one person should judge. You have to forgive yourself before you can forgive others and even though your path may seem blocked your light will shine and resilience will become stronger. You will leap over the hurdle that others erect.
The last and final hurdle that you will come across in your quest for change is the support network that you have around you. If you have no support you cannot stand. If your legs are taken from you, will you crawl on your belly or will you recognize that your spiritual legs can carry you further than the physical and material? As a spiritual being, you can transcend any problem that is presented in the material world. Maybe your support network does not seem to be around you. The truth is that you have the support of the spirit and when the spirit is strong, it can answer the call that nature requires of it. You are a spiritual being that can overcome these hurdles and all you have to do is recognize the power of the spirit no matter what life throws at you. The past is gone; the future has not arrived so the only time to live is now in the present moment.
Do you really believe that everyone can change his or her lives for the better? Of course you can and it takes only one decision. The issue exists that even when you decide to change your life for the better, you are up against the sum total of all your missed opportunities (past mistakes). So, it does not seem as easy as just a decision. However, the decision is the starting point. Anyone can change because we know that change is a constant, therefore we are always evolving. This means that we are always in a period of change. The blockages that you come up against are those that are created by yourself – believing that you cannot change and from others who want to see you hurt because it makes them feel better.
Let’s look at each blockage a little more in detail, which will hopefully enlighten you as to the methods or ways to overcome these blockages. The human being is a very resilient animal, yet if you bring in the spiritual aspect into the equation – life becomes a rollercoaster and you are the one in control. It takes on a new meaning, rather like panning for gold and recognizing that you have just struck the mother load.
Believe in yourself! How many times have you heard this statement? I bet you have heard it many times over. It’s not as easy as you think, but the truth is that if you do not believe in yourself, you will find it very difficult to change anything or achieve anything. Many people fail at this first hurdle and it seems that everything you really want to be or change for the better is so far in the distance. If you believe in a higher power you can believe in yourself and if you have difficulty with believing in a higher power, yet you are beginning to believe in yourself – you can bet the higher power is at work. This is because you are a spiritual being and have an amazing power that you can harness to better yourself. No matter what you think of yourself, you have the right to happiness and this is a matter of choice. Perhaps if you begin to really feel that you deserve happiness and no matter what causes lay in the past, you have the power to make the present wonderful by knowing that you can make the changes that are necessary. Every positive thing you do for yourself and in service to others strengthens your resolve for change to be affected.
Now even after you have gotten over that hurdle and you are beginning to feel better about yourself, you find another hurdle. This is the hurdle that is erected, not by yourself but by those who are damaged themselves and who do not want you to succeed in anything. The truth is that many people are suffering needlessly and normally due to the three lacks. The Three Lacks are the same spiritual lessons that the Great Spirit has always wished to impart to us and that is;
So how do you deal with those Damaged People? What you have to show or give is what they lack in themselves. Never retaliate, use loving speech and do not feed your negative seeds or the negative energy that may surround you. This reminds me of an old Cherokee Indian story that denotes the profound spiritual truth.
A Chief from the Cherokee Nation was talking with his son.
"A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight between two wolves." The young boy listened intently. "One wolf is evil, unhappy, and ugly: He is anger, envy, war, greed, selfishness, sorrow, regret, guilt, resentment, inferiority/superiority, false pride, coarseness, and arrogance. He spreads lies, deceit, fear, hatred, blame, scarcity, poverty, and divisiveness."
"The other wolf is beautiful and good: He is friendly, joyful, loving, worthy, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, just, fair, empathetic, generous, honest, compassionate, grateful, brave, and inspiring resting wholeheartedly in deep vision beyond ordinary wisdom."
The son paused in deep reflection of what his father had just said. Then he exclaimed; "Oyee! (In recognition). His father continued; "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside all human beings even though they fail to recognize it." The young boy paused in deep reflection and recognition of what his grandfather had just said. Then he finally cried out deeply, "Oyee! Grandfather, which wolf will win this horrific war?"
The elder Cherokee replied, "The wolf that you feed. That wolf will surely win!"
Sometimes the greatest weapon you have is silence for within the silence is the nourishment for the soul. Don’t feed fear for the fear will become the angry wolf and do not feed those that would seek to block you with your fear. You have the right to happiness as everyone has that right, and not one person should judge. You have to forgive yourself before you can forgive others and even though your path may seem blocked your light will shine and resilience will become stronger. You will leap over the hurdle that others erect.
The last and final hurdle that you will come across in your quest for change is the support network that you have around you. If you have no support you cannot stand. If your legs are taken from you, will you crawl on your belly or will you recognize that your spiritual legs can carry you further than the physical and material? As a spiritual being, you can transcend any problem that is presented in the material world. Maybe your support network does not seem to be around you. The truth is that you have the support of the spirit and when the spirit is strong, it can answer the call that nature requires of it. You are a spiritual being that can overcome these hurdles and all you have to do is recognize the power of the spirit no matter what life throws at you. The past is gone; the future has not arrived so the only time to live is now in the present moment.
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