"The Author, it must be remembered, writes from his own standpoint!"
My personal "Interpretive" Lens!

"One thing has always been true: That book ... or ... that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." - Louis L'Amour


"Providing a first step on a path to self-reflection." - C. E. James

"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider..." - Francis Bacon

"What is true today may be reevaluated as false not long after. Judgements are frequently based upon a set of "temporary" circumstances surrounding them. Conflicting ideologies can exist simultaneously. Antagonistic dualities are complementary aspects of a unified whole: are seen as mutually dependent mirror images of each other." - Nahum Stiskin

Warning, Caveat and Note: The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.

Kenpo Gokui

The lines of the ken-po goku-i are set from an atomistic aspect simply because it is the manner in which the brain learns. Its nature is completely holistic and like the I Ching must be in a form that promotes learning and understanding so a person can see, hear and grasp the nature of a holistic system. The gokui is a method to teach us how to be holistic. Its terseness is the best that can be done to convey its holistic meaning.

A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactile, olfactory and gustation data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction


Master Zeng said, "Am I preaching what I have not practiced myself?"

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Hexagram 4: Meng/Youthful Folly says the following

"The fifth line, which is weak in a superior place, and the second line, which is strong in an inferior place, together expresses that fact that the strong teacher does not seek out the youthful fool; rather, the latter approaches the teacher as one asking a favor. This is a correct relationship in education.

Because the second line is strong and central, it can answer the questions of the fifth, keeping within definite bounds of moderation. But if these bounds are overstepped with importunate questions, the teacher in turn becomes disagreeable toward the pupil by refusing to answer."

[Some of the younger practitioners may not see the connection to this quote and the fighting arts (martial arts if you prefer). If you are my age or maybe older and have been practicing for more than thirty years then you will "see" the connection I am trying to make here at least to the old master stories used to teach perspective young dansha.

It is the crux of the matter for those who teach Americans and in a commercial capacity. Even those who may not depend on the income from their teachings to live but supplement their lives by charging fees, etc.

In our efforts to teach properly and then make money the lines that separate get really fuzzy. Money and the needs of life can pull an otherwise good teacher into a realm that lessens the fighting art.

This quote is one of many I have read that come from such ancient texts as the I Ching, the Kenpo Gokui, the Bubishi, and the Ancient Mysteries (a subtext to supplement the I Ching). These books of changes goal is to provide us with information to better judge our lives and find that balance that brings about enlightenment.

Enlightenment could mean peace, tranquility, social connection, balance in nature, ability to be present in the moment, and many more adjectives to describe the Way.

Teaching or emulating the fighting arts is one of the toughest endeavors I ever took as a life teaching. Immediately one perceives that this way immediately throws us into a duality of social connection. It puts two distinct individuals into close proximity where both have to start to socialize in a balanced manner.

The concept this quote suggests is something I feel is totally alien to Americans. We tend to think, especially when we start handing over money, that it obligates one to supply something tangible when as from my perspective providing guidance in the fighting arts and the Way is a individual driven relationship.

I have tried to teach over the years in this manner with some success. I realized mid way through that what was important was the dual relationship and its growth with the other being more of a benefit of that relationship. I was able to do so for twenty plus years with absolutely no charge or profit. I was lucky as my career provided me the means to do so.

As it states in the first paragraph those who chose to associate with me in this practice made the conscious decision to do so and understood that anything gained was strictly what the person developed from within. This begins the understanding of the second half of the art as the kenpo gokui alludes in its cryptic tomes.

The second paragraph reminds me of the stories told about Tatsuo Sensei where he would just sit there and remain non-responsive when someone posed a question that was outside the teachings and if one persisted then they may receive an answer that was not actually his wishes or they would simply meet with silence. This does not work here in the U.S.

We want instant gratification, we want set things for our money, we want answers to every question be it of importance or just insignificant. We want and we spend our time with such things as "I," "me," and so on when we need to focus back to "Us," or the group, society, etc. Back to saying, "We..."]

Give this some thought.

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