Violence

[...an act of aggression; ferocity: the property of being wild or turbulent; a turbulent state resulting in injuries and destruction etc.; Violence is the expression of physical force against self or other, compelling action against one's will on pain of being hurt. ...]

When it is all said and done if violence is the result then we have failed ourselves and humanity. We have soiled what is right, correct, and just in the Universe. We have fallen from the path.

When we resort to violence we are lost and the only ending is more violence. Is it not the goal or path of following the Way of the Empty Hand (or any other art form) to "NOT FIGHT" yet we seem to focus on the act of domination of others through its practice and use.

To dominate by violence is an absolute last resort and should be the farthest thing in our minds, in our practice, in our training, and in our lives.

I believe that the human condition, in the beginning, required we be a violent species as the jungle was a place of violence yet not indiscriminate and with out purpose, i.e. food and preservation of the human race.

Today, we should have evolved beyond the need to become violent or to dominate one another. If we truly place ourselves in the present moment we don't have time for it.

Yet, we continue to practice and train for the strictly physical aspects of the martial/fighting arts with focus on dominance and violence. Just watch the tele!

If I were to dream the dream then I would never see violence in word, deep, action, or in society, ever. We would have the ability to discuss and arrive at mutual consensus as to everything that would cause the remotest possibility of conflict, dominance, etc.

Am I a dreamer? I dream I am a butterfly who thinks he is a human and I flutter about always in the present moment. So I am a dreamer!

"The epitome of a true martial/fighting artist is achieving the level of ability to cause the greatest of harm yet making the conscious decision to never be the instrument of harm!" - c. e. james