| To do a great right, do a little wrong. | | | | success. |
| Shakespeare | | | | The angry man will defeat himself in battle as well as |
| I have often thought about whether or not it is | | | | in life. |
| possible to integrate the peaceful teachings of the | | | | Samurai Maxim |
| sages with the total destruction that a skilled warrior | | | | Remember to preserve a calm soul amid difficulties. |
| can render on his enemy. | | | | Horace |
| How does the warrior balance the destructive, martial | | | | Control your emotions and your thoughts. This is the |
| side of his life, with the calm, peace-loving, side which | | | | key to finding balance between the spiritual side of |
| is taught by masters such as Lao Tzu and Jesus? As | | | | the warrior which tries to live according to the |
| I have said many times, the warrior is a peace-loving | | | | wisdom of the sages, and the physical side of the |
| individual. I totally enjoy the wisdom of the elders | | | | warrior which has the power to destroy. You have |
| and try to live according to the teachings of the | | | | to know that your actions are just. A guilty |
| sages such as Lao Tzu, but how does one integrate | | | | conscience can be dangerous for the warrior. If he |
| teachings such as those found in the Tao Te Ching | | | | feels deep inside that his enemy's anger against him |
| with what must be done to protect himself and | | | | is just, he will have a hard time going against this |
| those he loves in times of crisis? | | | | enemy. The warrior must stand on the side of |
| This is a balancing act for the warrior, and one which | | | | justice, and when he is in the wrong, he must own |
| requires time spent in meditation and deep thought | | | | up to the error of his ways, not continue to maintain |
| concerning his personal code of ethics. He has to | | | | a position which he knows is not right. |
| figure out exactly how far he is willing to go before | | | | In critical times, one must be devoted utterly to the |
| he finds himself in a life-or-death situation. He has to | | | | cause of justice. |
| determine what he must do to balance the teachings | | | | Gichin Funakoshi |
| that are a part of his life, with the things which, at | | | | So, can the warrior balance the spiritual and physical |
| times, must be done in order to fulfill his duties as a | | | | duties of the warrior lifestyle? The answer is |
| warrior. This is a tall order and takes time spent in | | | | absolutely, but as with so much of the warrior |
| quiet contemplation for the warrior to fully come to | | | | lifestyle, it takes work. The warrior lifestyle is a |
| grips with how to balance these two parts of his life. | | | | lifestyle of excellence, and a life of excellence takes |
| For when moral value is considered,the concern is not | | | | effort. It doesn't just happen naturally while you are |
| the actions, which are seen,but rather with their inner | | | | sitting on the couch watching television. You have to |
| principles, which are not seen. | | | | work for it. You have to take the time to develop |
| Kant | | | | yourself - spirit, mind, and body. It is up to you, |
| Most things can be perceived in more than one way, | | | | nobody is going to do it for you. When it comes right |
| just as the glass can be viewed as half full or half | | | | down to it, nobody else cares. It is extremely rare to |
| empty. If you find yourself in the unfortunate | | | | find anyone else who really cares about the truly |
| situation of having to get physical with someone, | | | | important parts of your life. You're basically on your |
| think of the reasons you must fight, not how sad | | | | own in this arena, as you are in most others. |
| you feel at the prospect of having to do damage to | | | | Each individual is responsible for his own evolution. |
| your enemy. Think of the duty that you have to | | | | Lao Tzu |
| protect those around you, not of your desire for | | | | Prepare yourself for you must travel alone. |
| things to be different. Think of what you fight for, | | | | Book of the Golden Precepts |
| not what you fight against. What you fight for | | | | If you are not willing to slow down and spend some |
| determines whether your fight is just or unjust. | | | | time in quiet meditation and contemplation, you will |
| It is circumstance and proper measure that give an | | | | never have a deep understanding of this essential |
| action its character,and make it either good or bad. | | | | balance. Exercise your mind, and think for yourself. |
| Plutarch | | | | This sounds so simple, but it actually takes more |
| Can this be done with love? Can a warrior walk in | | | | effort and discipline than your physical training. The |
| love as Lao Tzu, Jesus, Buddha, and others taught, | | | | mind can be hard to control. Control it nonetheless! |
| while at the same time destroying his enemy? He can | | | | Be the master of your thoughts, not mastered by |
| if his perception is right. When you must fight, think | | | | your thoughts. Determine your code of ethics and |
| of fighting for those you love. This is the flip side of | | | | find balance today. |
| fighting against those you hate. Must you hate your | | | | One should know what our convictions are, and |
| enemy in order to stand for what you know is just | | | | stand for them...therefore it is wise to be as clear as |
| and defeat him? I don't think so. You do not have to | | | | possible about one's subjective principles. |
| allow your emotions to drift into anger and hate in | | | | Carl Yung |
| order to use your martial arts skills. In fact, getting | | | | Perfection is attained by slow degrees; |
| emotional can cloud your thinking and hinder your | | | | She requires the hand of time. |