Disturbance

Today's posting is on a disturbing trend in humanity and that involves the misguidance one can get from ill-practice of a fighting art. I say fighting art for what I am posting on has nothing to do with the "Way" or the "Tao" of the "gokui".

I do understand completely, more today than yesterday, why Tatsuo Sensei really wanted his deshi to learn about the "Kenpo Gokui". To receive instruction on such a brutal form of combat with out the spiritual and moral guidance leads to a disturbing trend to violence in the training hall which does reflect on behaviors outside of that arena. So here goes:

I have noticed of late the pension for passing along content of such a nature that is can only be described as disturbing and more importantly unnecessary.

Such things remind me of the traveler who suddenly encounters a traffic jam only to find that the cause was not the accident itself but the "gawkers" themselves slowing down to view the scene.

It makes me wonder what it is in our nature that draws us to the, what appears to be an inherent desire, viewing of brutality. When we look at history we see things like this have gone on for hundreds and maybe thousands of years.

Do things like this server any purpose? Do others who view such stuff actually learn something that brings about morality and justice? or...does it just fuel violence?

I remember a moment in time many years past as a recruiter in the Military where group violence almost occurred but for just one moment of thought that defaulted the growing group mood to one of reasonable thought averting what I now know would have ended in brutal violation of a person. I shutter to think of what would have happened if the one person had not had the morality to step up to the plate and diffuse the situation.

We even enjoy the violence of movies and games. Look at the shoot-em up video games and the movies that seem to make a lot of money that are violent. You can justify it to yourself by saying that it is not necessarily the violence but the end result of humanity overcoming such things, i.e. the good guy conquers the bad guy, etc. yet thinking about it does this really require the graphic nature of the movie.

Over an hour and a half of violence for about ten minutes where the good guys finally win. What does the person viewing it really remember? The end or all the stuff that comes before?

Then we must take a look at what we practice. The only difference between pure violence and brutality and the practice of karate DO is the mental attitude and intent. It is easy to let things slide into the power trip and end up being brutal.

I am not the riotous one for I have slipped into certain less moral modes and I hope that I have learned the Way so that I am more in control of those types of losses in morality. Maybe it is knowing the difference and ensuring that one follows the right "path."

Maybe it is because we tend to repeat things over and over and over and over and over again because we have failed to learn from it. I hope that one day mankind/humanity does learn from its past and finally and irrevocably overcome our pension for violence toward others.

Maybe then we all would be posting on the art of the tea ceremony or flower arranging or calligraphy as our means of finding the true path vs. the path of the empty hand where the underlying possibility of violence can be shifted to brutality at any one moment.

I am not going to quit my art of Isshinryu yet this today, the video that is going around that is pure ugly brutality in the guise of "martial art", does cause me great concern and further hardens my resolve to follow the correct "path" to the "one" so that I am more than just someone proficient in punching and kicking but one who is a model to other practitioners on how to do it right.

At least I am resolved to try my hardest! Truly think before acting for the action you take can and does have irrevocable consequences to the person acting and to whom that persons actions affect.

Lessons...

The Tao and the Gokui (a door to the Tao) tells us naturally that we will keep experiencing trials and tribulations over and over again until we learn the lesson it has to teach us.

History repeats itself to teach humanity a lesson it has yet to learn. Humanity also repeats experiences only because we may have missed the lesson or if we saw it we failed to learn from it.

Just to have knowledge of a lesson does not mean we have learned from it. We have to change ourselves and "live" the lesson in the right way in order to get past its constant repetition in our life.

The gokui tells us that in order to achieve a level of proficiency in the fighting arts and the "Way" we should practice and train to learn the lessons. Sometimes the repetitive practice opens the door and allows inspiration to enter and provide us the lesson then all we need to do is accept it and then "live it."

Life does not give us any choice in the matter; the Tao does not give us any choice in the matter; the Universe be it the sun and moon or the earth and humanity does not give us the choice of the lessons it wants to teach yet we do have the choice of "seeing" the lesson; "hearing" the lesson and finally learning to live it.

Nothing good is easy and this internal scrutiny of the self is the hardest "lesson" we will ever learn. I hope that I have the strength and perseverance to achieve that lesson. I may not want to admit to myself this fault yet if I am able and then can live it then I know that I will be the better person for it.

Hostility

A posting that kind of crosses over between the blogs. Click here to read the post.

Isshinryu and Number Three (3)

Three seems to be a significant number and we can find it everywhere. Lets take a look at the style of Isshinryu:

Is shin ryu (one - heart - school)
K's (kihon - kata - kumite) or the triad of Isshinryu Karate-jutsu-do.
P's (practice - practice - practice) or proficiency is in the practice of something
R's (repetition - repetition - repetition) or proficiency is in the repetitive practice of something
L's (eyes - ears - knowledge; look - listen - knowledge)
A's - B's - C's (attitude - basics - confidence); proper attitude understands the necessity of performing basics which builds both confidence and proficiency through repetitive practice.

K's (karate - kobudo - kenpo gokui) To achieve balance in the way requires the study of the art coupled with the gokui, i.e. spiritual + physical.

Other Three's:

Heaven | Earth | Humanity

I-Ching | Gokui | Bubishi
Gokui Kenpo |Gokui |Isshinryu-no-gokui
Kihon | Kata | Kumite
Body | Mind | Spirit
Strength | Speed | Technique
Serenity | Tranquility | Humility
Shorinryu | Gojuryu | Isshinryu
Shorinryu | Gojuryu | Kobudo
Morality | Civility | Honor
Humanity | Justice | Courtesy
Intent | Restraint | Action
Energy | Ki | Void

Numerology equates understanding of the Tao. The Tao expresses our lives in binary, 0's and 1's, which together bring about all things that come from the Tao, the "one". The most elemental energy of the Universe that provides us the "Ki" through practice - continuity - intent. 1 is energy while 0 is void; void holds energy and energy can not exist with out the void.

Action is balanced out by intent and restraint. Justice is the fulcrum of courtesy and humanity. Civility is brought about by having honor and morality. Isshinryu was born of goju and shorin. Perfection in technique comes from equality in strength and speed. Spirit is forged by the mind and body working wholeheartedly. Kihon sets the foundation on kata and kumite. The gokui is the entry point in defining the living I-Ching and Bubishi.

Humanity can not exist with out heaven and earth which reside in void while the void holds the Universe.

To know the "3", to study the "3", to practice the "3", is to bring the three from their separateness into "one".

Ki is energy and void. Ki can not exist with out energy and energy can not exist with out the void. To join the three is the Tao, the "one"; for all things are "one"!

Attitudes and the Gokui

"The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his or her life by altering his or her attitudes of mind." - William James

"Both your present and your future are deeply affected by the mind-set you bring to your daily experience." "Whether positive or negative, attitude is destiny." - P. M. Forni

Attitude defined: a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways; position: the arrangement of the body and its limbs, "one assumes a kamae"; An attitude is a hypothetical construct that represents an individual's degree of like or dislike for an item...

The gokui as a tome of living life either as a person or warrior requires that one take the appropriate attitude with an emphasis on the mental state of the practitioner not demeaning any of the other aspects, i.e. taking a position in life, in body mechanics, or emotional.

One who has an attitude of wholehearted intent in all they do is more attuned to the frequencies that connect them to the Tao which is the "one" that is both heaven and earth; sun and moon; hard and soft; seeing and hearing, etc. Literal connections to the gokui while underlying is the more spiritual connection we seek through a singular, or "one", practice of kara-te-jutsu-DO.

The gokui as well as the other martial classics allude to attitude which also has profound effects on a persons "intent". It means the difference between life and death, injury and non-injury, happiness and sadness, or even success and failure.

To achieve balance as taught through practice of kara-te with gokui means that those things mentioned are the flip side of the other that to achieve balance we have to discover that median that denotes proper attitudes that neither tip the balance in favor of one side or the other.

To practice with out the gokui is one such example that leads to the mere brutality of the physical or the intellect with out the ability to move, i.e. knowledge with out the ability to put it into practice is also not balance.

Study and practice in balance!

Elementally Speaking

How can we express the most elemental form of the Universe? In-yo, but how do we really express the most elemental form of the Universe? We do so by the Universal language, according to scientists, of mathematics. How do we express the most elemental form of Mathematics? Simple with energy. How do we express the most elemental form of energy? It is either there or it is absent.

The simplest form to express the Universe is with 1's and 0's. Look familiar. 1's are Yo or Yang while 0's are In or Yin.

When we say we wish to train to become "one" with the Universe through our "singular" form of practice, i.e. the fighting arts, then we are expressing a desire to make use of 1's. But you might say how does this provide balance? Simply finding the true energy of the Universe is to find the "one" which as we have come to understand is both 1's and 0's or In-Yo/Yin-Yang that makes all things possible.

The one means the void or the Tao which manifests itself into the duality that is our lives. We have left and right brain activity with one being totally logical, Yo/Yang, and the other of the true nature of the Universe, In/Yin, that allows us connectivity to the Tao. This is our singular form of connectivity that makes us human and provides humanity with its benefits.

If we can accept both the 1's and 0's into One much like one wire carrying what we may refer to as AC or alternating current. Notice the sine wave (In physics and chemistry, wave-particle duality is the concept that all matter and energy exhibits both wave-like and particle-like properties, i.e. called "wavicles") of AC which shows the range from the center line where it oscillates to both ends of the spectrum of energy and the height and proximity of the wave determines the energy levels.

Strong and powerful energy has close proximity and high peaks while very low and weak energy has almost no peak and wide distances between each cycle.

Ultimately one wishes to create equality for strength and speed while allowing for positive relaxation. In other words a balance that takes us to the "one".

1's and 0's are representative of existence itself and we strive to live within its parameters until we achieve the ultimate of our existence and that is being "one" with the Tao.

Lets go outside the box and let me say that if all this is true, i.e. 1's and 0's, etc. then the Universe is one huge ultimate and only computer that is everything. It is the Tao who provides us the results of all computational life.

Does this mean that the physical world in which we live is a digital world? Are we actually in a "matrix". Not one built from some machines run on artificial intelligence but one that is run on digital intelligence or "The Tao".

If the Universe is run on bits, on and off, the alternating current of life then the physical world is a digital manifestation of that "one" or the in-yo or 0's and 1's.

If this is correct then the scientists say that all computation is "one". If this were true then maybe the structure of our brains and the fact that in order to function on a level that would not drive us all insane splits it into two distinct area's so that both counterbalance the other so we see what we see in our world much like the idea of the "Matrix" and if we are able to bring our two minds into the "one" then all that we see, hear, feel, and understand to exist is merely a naturally developed and run matrix of the Universe or the Tao.

This does not mean that we can control the vastness of the Tao yet it does mean that we can work steadily and consistently toward being "one" with all that is the universe or The Tao. If this is to be believed then we can relax and enjoy our current lives for when it ends our minds become one and we revert to "one" and are returned to the void, which is void yet not empty.

If there is even a remote chance that this is all possible and true then the kenpo gokui is that one singular statement, i.e. an if-else-then statement, that directs us toward the various answers provided by the Ultimate mainframe computer called the Tao or the Universe.

Bibliography/Source of Inspiration

World Karate Tourney Emblem and Gokui

Recently on a posting from Advincula Sensei, Isshinkai Yahoo Group, he provided a picture with explanation of the emblem created for the upcoming Okinawa World Karate Tournament. In his explanation I found what I perceived as a connection to the gokui.

The following graphic is the emblem with text added as to what it represents. If you find more connections to the gokui let me know in the comments, thanks!

Click on the image to see larger version!

Note: I asked the question, "Why use an english 'K' vs. some kanji character?" We will see what the response is and post later but if you have any thoughts please comment.

Arrogance

"...overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors..."

"The act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption; presumption. Closely related to the act of arrogating."

How does this apply to either kara-te-justu-do and/or kenpo gokui. Let me provide a quote from Tatsuo Sensei, "When humans are arrogant there will always be fights."

I will be the first one to speak up on this, "When I began training to fight it was just that, so I could fight and kick a$$!" Growing up I was picked on a lot...(heard this one before have we)...so I began to take on those particulars that would allow me to avoid being the object of someone else's lack of self-esteem.

I began with body building. I developed size and strength that put me physically above almost everyone in High School. Then I took up boxing. I also took up judo and finally took up various forms of empty hand with a final choice of "Isshinryu" on Okinawa.

I kept on using that as my excuse until I reached a point where I no longer desired to just have the ability to "kick a$$". I liked karate so what was I to do and that is where I finally opened my mind to all the real possibilities of the "Way" through a singular form of practice.

Anyway, back to arrogance. We can see that many of us chose to take up the exotic art of karate because of our need to dominate and receive recognition of any kind by rank, power, and our own idea of self-worth and/or importance. In the end we were trying to either dominate others into seeing us as all powerful or intimidating for the same reasons. Some of us wanted to achieve warrior-hood but there was always an underlying theme of arrogance, etc.

Is this the only and ultimate reason for learning and practicing such things? In my last thought I find that my final goals in my practice were twofold. One is to be a better person and contribute to humanity in one form or another and second to become a "true warrior". One who when left no other choice can fight for his/her fellow humans, society, and the Universe itself. For everything that is good about us.

We shall make the sacrifices necessary for the whole, the one, humanity, nature. This encompasses a lot and it is a difficult path to follow. If nothing else you should be able to say, "I am trying!"

Tatsuo Sensei did teach Marines for the combative and sportive aspects yet for those who chose to remain longer he introduced the gokui of Isshinryu with the hopes that we would transcend the arrogant manner of achieving dominance over others for the mere accoutrements of ranking, belt colors, trophies, and the accolades of others merely to inflate and stroke our ego's.

Shall we try?

The Tao of Gokui - ten

When alive, the body is supple, yielding.

The manner of drinking is soft. To achieve a level of ability where we can bend with the forces of nature and spring back with readiness. We can become like the bamboo weighted down in heavy snow where we bend to its will until we touch the ground (achieve proper response) release the weight of the snow and spring back to our full potential with mind-no-mind, i.e. not being effected emotionally or mentally.

In death, the body becomes hard, unyielding.

The manner of spitting is hard. When circumstances take us beyond a point of no return then the bamboo stalk strikes effectively and first. The strength of bamboo, which is hollow, empty, or void, has an exterior that is hard with the flexibility that creates power and strength in striking first. This is the last resort!

Living plants are flexible,

In death, they become dry and brittle.

To practice the way of the empty hand is to be both hard and soft, balanced, and of such ability that we see and hear everything the Tao has to offer. We forge a spirit, mind, and body that is balanced allowing for free flow of life's energies bring health and long life.

When we fail in this we become unbalanced and the body dries up and dies. We must train properly in the Way to achieve this.

Therefore, stubborn people are disciples of death, but

Flexible people are disciples of life.

To achieve "heart"; to be like the Universe (Heaven and Earth); to practice with whole heartedness is to achieve the Way. Open your heart and you open your mind and body to the possibilities. Conquer the ego and you can "see" and "hear" what the Tao has to offer. It will take you places never dreamed of in life; let go and achieve much.

In the same way,

Inflexible soldiers cannot win (a victory).

And the hardest trees are readiest for an axe to chop them down

Tough guys sink to the bottom, while

Flexible people rise to the top.

Following the way is best. To follow the ego means we discard the true way and follow the path to trophies, belts, accolades, and such things that make us "hard". The remaining hard means we truly tax the spirit-mind-body taking us away from balance that stresses it to the point where disease destroys.

Those who take this path never reach great achievements in the Way and the Tao but in short time succumb to the fires of the ego resulting in death. Why do you think some quit when they can no longer achieve the ego's desires?

The Tao of Gokui - nine

Military strategists have a saying:

"Rather than act like the lord of the manor, I would rather behave like a guest.

Rather than advance an inch, I would rather retreat a foot."

We can be either "hard" or "soft" which leads us either forward or backward yet does not provide us the balance necessary to achieve great things. We train our spirits-minds-bodies to achieve a point of balance that allows the flow of energy to touch the Tao; constant battle to remain at that balance point is the crux of practice/training.

The point of the saying is that you should:

Advance upon them without going forward

Seize their property without even bearing arms.

Attack where there is no enemy.

Prevail upon them without weapons.

The true "Way" is to not fight! The true "Way" is to not strike first! Yet, when the opportunity presents itself we must fight by striking first. Our training is such that we strive to never have to resort to physical means of settling an issue but to settle the issue by other means, strike first with our spirits and minds with the physical as a last resort.

There is no greater disaster than to underestimate your enemy.

If I did that, I would lose my 3 treasures (benevolence, frugality, never trying to be number one)

In combat, the most reticent side will win.

Is not the way of the empty hand also to achieve a level of confidence and ability so that we apply "restraint" before "action". Do we not take this type of "action first" so that we can achieve more or do we simply take the easy path with violence.

The Tao of Gokui - eight

When the world follows the Tao,

Even fast horses are used to fertilize the fields.

We train the spirit-mind-body so we can achieve peace and tranquility within ourselves so that our actions with humanity meets the same. We train so that we are capable in combat yet we train so we can forge and polish ourselves so that we may act in a peaceable and tranquil manner.

We enter combat reluctantly yet with a fierceness and intent that few can overcome. We can dominate yet remain docile in non-combative situations. We strive to keep the ego dormant so that we don't behave in a manner that is less than what we can be but exude a manner that is confident and capable with out emanating an energy that provokes or tells of our warrior-hood.

We follow the Tao and the Way.

When the world rejects the Tao,

Farmland is used to breed warhorses.

When we allow our ego's to dominate our spirit and mind then we become brutes with extreme physical capabilities that are not governed by the Way. We fail to "see" and "hear" the truth of the Universe. We fail to see and hear what the Way tells us is the proper actions. Chaos is born; humanity is lost; this is sad!

No disaster is worse than being discontented.

No omen (for your future) worse than being greedy.

Yet, if you can find (true) contentment, it will last forever.

The Way of the Empty Hand, Karate Justu Do, is just one of many singular endeavors that when practiced properly with the traits of the Way then we achieve a level of contentment that neither tells us we need or we lose something for the truth is all we need is within each of us and that is peace, tranquility, and contentment. That is being the now; the present moment.

Buddha and Me-gami

Notice the representation of the Isshinryu-no-megami to the right of this page. Take notice in particular to the hands. One is raised in a closed fist while the other is down and open.

If you look at one of the many Yin-Yang emblems the postion of the hands will be in the approximate location of the dots, i.e. the white dot in the black half "yin" and the black dot in the white half "yang".

The open palm, megami left hand, of the Buddha represents the extended, the infinite. The closed fist, megami right hand, represents only itself.

Let us take some liberties with this in the following narrative:

In the me-gami the right hand is closed to represent the hard aspects of the style.

The open palm tells us that our training is not simply a goal to achieve but a life long endeavor that is never over. You can say that training is infinite in nature. Training and practice can take us all the way to a transitional point which brings the Tao.

The closed fist represents itself which might suggest that we can lose our path if we remain in ego, a closed mind, which is a trap that the ego puts in front of us and our bodies to lead us astray. If we close our minds to all the possibilities in life and through practice/training then we close ourselves to the possibilities that are afforded on the journey to enlightenment.

The open hand and closed fist represent duality, i.e. yin-yang (in-yo in Japanese). Dualism of nature as we live to become "one" or one with the Tao. All things begin with one.

The open hand reminds us continually that we must remain open while the closed fist also reminds us that the result of a closed mind in tantamount to being hit in the face with that same fist.

Don't just reach for the moon, let your reach extend to the stars and beyond. If the vastness of the Universe is nothing of significance then we are surrounded by empty space; what a waste. Think of it as the "void" which is represented by the circle that is symmetrical reality which points to all points of life; all points of life which are equal distance from the center which represents the "one", the Tao.

Tatsuo Sensei and his friends were very wise indeed when they caused the megami to be...much like his creation of Isshinryu. Even if by accident the connections through out the style and its gokui are quite interesting; don't ya think?

The Tao of Gokui - seven

In ancient times there were great Taoist Sages.

Their way of living was so deep, so subtle, it cannot be directly explained.

Some in the way of the empty hand and other "Ways" achieve such a level that it sometimes goes beyond explanation. To forge the spirit; to polish the mind; to achieve in body is the ultimate and connects to the Tao in unlimited ways; inconceivable to us if we try to conceive it logically.

Instead, here is how they looked:

Cautious, as if crossing the ford of a stream in Winter

Alert, as if surrounded by danger

Polite, as if they were always a guest

Yielding, like ice that is on the verge of melting

Sincere, like an uncut block of wood

Receptive, like a valley

Opaque, like muddy water

Practitioners of the Way strive to achieve many traits in regards to combat and life.

- Cautiousness, as if each move could be death.

- Alertness, as if the touch of a feather precedes danger.

- Politeness, as if your actions regard a loved one.

- Yielding, as a feather carried by the breeze.

- Sincerity, as if the action brings enlightenment.

- Receptivity, as if you would benefit greatly with each action.

- Opaqueness, as if a veil covered your face.

(Q:)

Who can wait quietly for muddy water to slowly settle and become clear?

Who can continue to calmly live, and so experience nature's constant, slow growth?

We live in a world of gotta have's or those who have no patience to wait for the natural evolution of life. Technologies push us beyond what is normal; what is natural; what is natures presence. Everything has its own rhythm and cadence. To break from that is to cause a disturbance in the Universe, in the Tao, in the Way of life.

The rewards are far greater for those who follow the natural world and allow everything to achieve its destiny as it was intended. To push just to achieve self-gratification is to block the energy of the Universe and what calamity will occur because of this, many.

(A:)

People who follow the Tao do not desire excess to be full.

People who do not desire excess have unseen energy that constantly invigorates.

A person who discovers the truth of the Way no longer desires the mere physical attributes but develops the energy of the sun and moon to influence the earth and heavens above.

Recognition and Validation?

Recognition and Validation Post!

The Tao of Gokui - six

Intelligent people know others.

Enlightened people know themselves.

The gokui teaches us that our greatest opponent is the one from within. Most never truly know themselves nor are the honest with themselves for the ego floods us with its lies. Only when we can look within ourselves with open honesty and a willingness to see our faults in lieu of hiding from them can we truly be enlightened.

You can conquer others with power,

But it takes true strength to conquer yourself.

To conquer others with brute force takes absolutely not skill what so ever beyond knowing of a few simple techniques yet to achieve the ability to conquer yourself takes the type of skill and ability that far exceeds any physical prowess.

To have a strong body simply requires a type of movement but to achieve a great spirit-mind-body connection takes an openness with the self that exceeds anything and everything achieved by the physical.

Ambitious people force their will on others,

But content people are already wealthy.

We can force others to bow to our wills yet true strength is the ability to achieve a goal with the willingness and understanding of others. To provide them with a desire to accomplish any goal as a partner.

We can have all the money in the world but it can not provide us with contentment and serenity. Only can we accomplish this from within ourselves and to do so is enlightenment. To be present; to be in the now.

Prudent people will abide.

People unconquered by the idea of death will live long.

People who live according to their means last long.

No expectations. To do with no thought of what it may return. Expect nothing in return for you actions in life is the true path to living long and healthy. Remaining in this type of present moment means you can neither be happy or sad when something is gone. You experience it when its moment is here and when it is not you simply let go so the next moment can be the only Now you experience.

Do Kyo

"Do" in this sense refers to the "Tao" while "kyo" means "teachings". Do-kyo in the do-jo can only occur when the practice includes the gokui of the art. It is comprised of the concept of etiquette, respect, and a devotion to tradition and learning.

These are the "ideals" that are applied to the performance of the physical art of karate, evolving it into something more (as is with any practice where intent is to evolve beyond the mere doing of something into a something that becomes an "art"). It is the individuals investigation of the universal by the means of the singular/particular; a central concept in all the "ways".

The Tao of Gokui - five

Heaven and Earth don't play favourites; they treat everything with equal detachment.

In combat we must have not attachments. We must not think; we must not judge; we must remain open of mind so that the ear hears all and the eye sees all; to include the third eye. We remain pure in spirit (heart), mind, and body.

We see it all equally and with out any thoughts one way or another. We merely see it all as unspoken/un-thought actions and reactions. The action dictates the reaction so the spirit acts, the mind reacts to the spirit, and finally the body reacts to the mind.

To be detached is not detachment but mindful present moment non-detachment to the attachment. Learn this well and then let it all go for it is always there with out being there. This is the "Way".

Sages don't play favourites; they treat good people and bad with equal detachment.

Receive it all openly and let it be natural. Train properly with dignity, morality, and a mind of detachment and all will occur accordingly.

Heaven and earth are like a set of bellows.

The energy that travels between and with heave and earth create a wave of energy that provides the sun and moon its intent. The Earth receives and gives from the sun and moon to humanities connectivity to it.

Although empty, they are endlessly productive.

The void is empty and we fill it with our energy. Our energy comes from our practice of the way. We strive through singular endeavors to create a balance of energy called, "Ki" or "Chi". When the meridians of our spirits, mind, and bodies are clear they are of the "void" which allows the ki to travel freely and of its own volition. Failure restricts and interrupts; avoid this...

The more you work them, the more they produce.

The mouth, on the other hand, becomes exhausted if you talk too much.

Better to keep your thoughts inside you.

Kuchi-bushi :-)

The Tao of Gokui - four

The Tao is so empty, So hollow.

Yet somehow its usefulness is inexhaustible.

Zanshin, Mushin, a state of mind that is void (hollow). It contains nothing yet it is all. To train the spirit-mind-body in such a manner that the void (hollow; Tao) provides connection to others intent to your own thus retrieving faster than thought the action necessary to prevail in all things.

It is so very deep.

Open the present mind so it is like a cup with no bottom. Limitless in its depth and breadth. Nothing resides in it yet all is there. Tap into it by opening the spirit and mind to the limitless void that is the Tao.

So very profound. Like the source of everything.

The only way one can connect the physical to the metaphysical. It is present moment limitless mind or mind-no-mind or the mental/spiritual awareness that keeps the mind remaining while empty/void of all things yet full of Tao.

It blunts the sharpest edges; Unties the knots; Softens the glare.

The body can only act in an optimal manner when it is free from the encumbrances of the ego's mind. That which detracts from what is reality to what is not. Thoughts and mindless chatter that pull us away from true presence which is necessary to connect to all things freely. To be tranquil and free from everyday mind.

The mind ties the body into tightness/hardness that restricts and damages while positive relaxation is the true balance of hard vs. soft. We move freely in the void in this manner and all else yanks us outside and into turmoil and destructiveness.

It is so very deep; So tranquil; It seems to barely exist at all.

Trying to grasp it with the mind is to tie it out of true existence. The mind can only achieve true enlightenment if the spirit is tranquil. To dive deep into the Tao is to let go of the mind and become mindless.

Its origin is unknown; It preceded the Gods themselves.

It is not needed to know of its origins but to accept it for what it is and allow it to blow you in the direction intended in life. You influence it by the energy levels you achieve be they low or high. If low the wind blows you into the trees where you are abraded and damaged while the high takes you into the heavens where all the breezes touch you lightly and take you where you should go.