"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?"

All Bottles are Truly Good

All Bottles are Truly Good

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Accepting Truth; Rejecting Falsehood

We join a dojo. We spend a great deal of time with Sensei, Senior practitioners, and Junior practitioners to where we develop this camaraderie or tribe like solidarity where any outside idea's may be thought of as criticism, be it fair or unfair, not to forget actual and sincere inquiries. This tribe will tend to automatically lump all this into one thought, a thought that their tribe or way is under attack.

The defense mechanisms go up and resistance is strong and focused, blinding them to any truth be it theirs or the others, the ones outside the tribe/group/dojo. They pull into a circle of wagons to defend against the attackers. They say to themselves, "We know the truth and we will defend that till our dying breath!"

Unknowingly they will circle up and lash out ageist the naysayers. They will justify and argue even when it may sound ridiculously absurd. They will pull in and ignore the others and refuse to discuss it. They feel their nobility and will strive to make that belief stronger.

This is how some end up getting themselves into spots that when shown to be false leaves them embarrassed. It also can take some who start out with the noblest intentions and lead themselves into beliefs that in the beginning they would have refuted vehemently. Like the fellow who fooled himself and his followers into believing he could move objects with his ki or energy. He went on an old talk show where a naysayer set up a test that proved he was using tricks. Even on television and in front of millions the practitioner still tried to cover his tracks to protect his beliefs.

We who go this way have lost our way, we have failed to first confront the truth within ourselves. We failed to remove all those false beliefs, those illusions that come from stories we tell ourselves to justify something we want to do or believe. We fail to "see or hear" reality. We provide ourselves excuses, we equivocate, we delude and by this action we limit ourselves and if we teach we pass this along to our fellow practitioners.

One of the most important aspects of learning a fighting/martial art is that of removing our own limitations, both mental and physical. This is where various terms in Japanese promote such things as present moment awareness/mind. When we practice, we practice to overcome our ego's so that the ego does not subvert our actions and this does work in life stuff as well.

Sometimes accepting the truth hurts, it kills our belief in some things but in reality it should be looked upon as an opportunity to lean and grow. A hallmark of a good person is one who can see and accept faults and falsehoods. It is a person who remains open to all the possibilities regardless of personal beliefs.

The eyes must see all sides includes the sometimes foggy side of either truth or falsehood. The ears must listen in all directions includes allowing the direction that is not always easily discernible, literal and figurative. The body must change directions at any time is not always meant to be literal for we as good persons must allow ourselves to change directions to remain balanced and true to the way. Being hard or soft means when necessary be hard and remain steadfast but also allow for a soft view so that when change is necessary we adjust accordingly. Remember, all bottles are good, they all serve a purpose does also mean that everything said about a way is open to truth and acceptance regardless of our own viewpoint and beliefs.

The time to strike is when opportunity presents itself means that just because someone is outside the group does not diminish their view and beliefs for it is imperative that a person of the way should take such opportunities to strike for truth and acceptance when that opportunity presents itself and you should believe that it can come from anywhere, anytime and from anyone, regardless.

Thanks to Dave Lowry whose book, "The Essence of Budo," inspired this post. He may or may not agree but the inspiration is welcomed by me, thanks Mr. Lowry!

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