This year’s DKMS has come and gone and I have taken some time to reflect on Sokes’ words and lessons during this enjoyable time of the year. I would like to do my best to recall and share the keys points of the training in combination with some recent conversations with Soke.
I must say that the overall feeling this year was light and warm despite the cold, as Soke shared many things with the participants that are not often made public. Soke shared is collection of Budo History and artifacts that has the potential to even make the most renowned martial scholar jealous. According to Soke, the point of this sharing event was to show what a maki mono 負物・負者 is and to demonstrate that even if you can read them, the secrets are unclear or nonexistent without a lifetime of practice. The wisdom does exist from another time, but the Budo path is not a sure road to victory. One lesson is that one must learn the balance of Kachi 勝and Make負. These are the elements that make up the term Shobu, but as in the cliché-to win can be to lose and vice versa. The martial path is not a true path of victory, and remains the lonely path of that of the melancholic warrior.
It is clear to me that there is no ultimate martial art and there is no special technique or secret. It is the mindset that is the treasure of the Bujinkan, and this combined with proper and free taijutsu that is the winning combination. Our tradition is our value, and not the tradition that is written on scroll, but the rich experiences of our Soke and the fact that he does not teach, but simply inspires in us to seek our own truth. This is true humanity, I feel. As humans, we are weaker than our animal brother and sisters and we must strive to maintain our connection with nature to keep our training without flaw.
Those that focus or compare based on strength or power are incarcerated by their limited mindset. The teachings of Hatsumi Soke free the mind to view the kukan in a prismatic way, through the eyes of the dragonfly, the kachimushi 勝ち無視.
Bufu Ikkan
Well said!!
A fellow Melancholic Warrior…
Thanks for the words of consiquence Doug , good to see you to mate , cheers
Wow.
Thanks.
With apologies to Shakespeare’s memory, I agree with “the melancholy Dane”. Well said, Doug!
Hi Doug,
Your words speak volumes.Thanks for your insight.Take care,my friend!
Dave
Likewise, well said Doug.
Thanks for that Doug your insights are always very helpful.
All people must make choices as to their own path, so we all in essence walk alone, and yet none of us live in a vacuum, completely isolated. We are surrounded by people who care and can help us along the way. The dualistic nature of our existence – as individual and as part of a larger whole (community/society). The truth is, though nobody can walk your path for you or be with you along your whole journey, you never need be alone. There will always be people around when you need them. I greatly appreciate your personal insight, as well as the wisdom you have transmitted from Souke. With the literally thousands of people that you had a chance to meet and influence through your involvement in the bujinkan, you never need to walk alone. The theme of 2010 was Rokkon Shojo. That particularly stuck with me. The idea that the path of life is like climbing a mountain – not always easy, but if you can laugh as you you climb, your load is lighter. Thank you for your wonderful blog as well as your translations during training. All the best in 2012!