"For the true master, martial arts are essentially avenues through which one can achieve spiritual serenity, mental tranquility, and the deepest self-confidence."
-- excerpt of Chapter 1 from "Zen in the Martial Arts" by Joe Hyams
After reading this chapter, my thoughts ...
Am I true? I am definitely not a master, but am I true? Not right now. Please grant me the courage and strength to do so. To be true.
Am I willing to travel the avenues necessary to achieve what I want? Without a dojo where I live? Without a teacher 3 times a week? Well, at least in the traditional sense. Am I willing to let it all go and redefine my "dojo"? I have plenty of places to practice. I have so many memories of dojos past that I can create my own "dojo" wherever I am. I must if I want to stay on the avenue. I must let go of the restrictions in my own mind, the grief of not having a dojo right down the street, the wishing for what isn't. I must embrace where I am and build a "dojo" for myself.
Is there a difference between spiritual serenity and mental tranquility? Sometimes I think they are the same, sometimes I think they are different. Ultimately, both led to peace. I have always had to work out until all of the pent-up energy is spent before I can sense and rest in my inner peace. So is all this saying the same thing?
My deepest self confidence has always come after my natural tension-filled, Type A, ready-to-spring self has been tamed by intense training. And I have a tremendously difficult time pushing myself to that level of intensity on my own - without my sensei calling the shots. So maybe part of being a true master is when I can do this for myself.
In other words, I've only begun the battle, and I think it's going to be a long time before I win it.
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