I am still reserved on the application of this to verbal abuse expect to maintain a calm mind. A few years ago the very old writings that appeared in Go Rin No Sho (Books of Five Rings) by Musashi Miyamoto were sort of high jacked for business people. It made a mint for the people who tried to apply his thinking (which was very obtuse at times) to business practise.
I see your point now, Shanghaiceltic - thanks for explaining. Sounds like Aikido and Kendo have quite different approaches to very similiar techniques -- where Aikido emphasizes defense, attacking is part of the training in Kendo (I hope I've understood you correctly). And I agree - the "attack mode" is counterproductive when peaceful productive discourse is the goal.
I love what you said about music and the martial arts! Funny, just as you were posting your comments last night, I was busy organizing my studio, checking my piano for tuning, returning my student's calls to confirm their lesson times. I'm back to teaching today after a long summer break -- YIPPEEEEEE! :-) Studying music is quite the "discipline" too, but when it's presented wisely children just LOVE it anyway.
If daylia is smart, she won't either...this time. Right, daylia?
Right, Little Hawk. I've put myself on notice here in front of you all for a reason - and I'm NOT going to mess up! BTW are we ever going to stop playing phone tag and get together or what????
Is the chi that circulates through the acupuncture meridians the same as the chi that you use to heal? That a small person can use to throw a large person? (Do those meridians even exist except as a theoretical construct?)
As far as I know, yes to all those questions Clint. Chi is chi, whether it's being directed for healing or for "martial" purposes. I work with energy as a complete system ie I have not worked specifically with "meridians". That would require a lifetime or several of study (human beings have at least 108 or so meridians and 8 major chi vessels), so I'm quite content to leave all that to the acupuncturists!
Believe me, if you ever allowed a unscrupulous "healer" or energy worker to mess with your energy to the point of becoming sick with various mysterious ailments that have no physical cause (or standard Western medical remedy), you'd have no doubt that chi is not just a theoretical construct. I know - it happened to me.
Frankly, I would never allow a healer to come into my space who is angry, egotistic, racist, out of control and judgmental...Another's energies affect each of us; negative energies diminish us.
I agree, Ebbie. I'd like to add that the only time someone else's negative energy can "diminish" me is if my own state of physical health/mind/emotions is also "negative". When I can remain calm, loving, and centered; when I have lots of surplus energy due to practicing a healthy physical lifestyle and exercises like Qigong and Huna - then nothing and no-one can affect me in ways that I don't already want to go.
Yes Two Bears, you are subtle as a brick. :-)
In the 15 months I've known you, we've certainly had our "outs" about various things - but never once have you insulted, tried to hurt or "attack" me in any way. You've never become angry for longer than 2 minutes or held a grudge. You're a powerful healer, a good listener, accepting and understanding too - but you certainly don't back down when you feel your integrity or opinions are being challenged, do you?
There are ways of standing firm that work better than others, though ... as McGrath says:
.. there is a difference between expressing disagreement, or responding in a highly critical way, and coming out with a stream of insults which are totally unrelated to the disagreement.
And that's why I see such value in martial arts principles - to quote Shanghaiceltic and brucie again:
Martial artists (good ones) always respect their opponents.
Sometimes the needs of the moment require a strike rather than a parry or an evasion ... please remember that the purpose of martial arts is to end fights by 1) not engaging in the fight 2) avoiding the fight 3) escaping from the fight or 4) laying a real shit kicking on the attacker(s)