Buddhism in the Martial Arts

[Arthur Stone]

The spiritual aspects of the martial arts grew as the need to protect
oneself in the war-torn East diminished. This allowed the arts'
religious roots to begin to play a more important role. Today, when
students speak of the spiritual nature of the martial arts, very often
they are referring to the arts' ties to Buddhism, a religion founded
in India in the sixth century B.C. It teaches that right living, right
thinking, and self-denial will enable the soul to reach Nirvana, a
divine state of release from earthly and bodily pain, sorrow, and
desire.
Tied to Buddhism is an offshoot sect known as Zen. It differs from
other Buddhist sects in that it seeks enlightenment through
introspection and intuition. Its early masters were monks who had
become disenchanted by the materialism within Buddhism.
Early Zen masters and the martial artists who tried to follow Zen
teachings did not believe that they were training the mind to conform
to arbitrary patterns imposed on them by someone else. Rather, they
wanted to develop their natural ability to respond to a situation by
instinct alone-a concept still very much a part of the martial arts.
Coinciding with the spiritual concepts of Buddhism and Zen are the
concepts of simple, basic living. The martial arts emphasis on
continuous repetition of basic moves reflects this tie to these
spiritual concepts. Indeed, just as religious leaders chant prayers
over and over, martial arts students repeat simple moves again and
again.
Also tied to the spiritual concept of simple living is the absence of
extraneous paraphernalia in a martial arts school. Certainly, the
surroundings inside most schools can be characterized as stark. The
walls are often painted white and the floor is bare or covered with a
large mat. Very often the only wall hangings are a picture of the
style's founder and a list of rules.
Adding to the spirituality of the martial arts is the influence of
yoga, which was brought from India to China during the fifth and sixth
centuries by Zen Buddhist monks and nuns, who also brought with them
Indian fist-fighting techniques similar to modern karate. The
influences of yoga are still seen in the martial arts breathing
techniques and the focus on the inner self.
The prominent role that meditation plays in the martial arts also
serves to strengthen the spirituality of the sport. Though meditation
has many spiritual connotations, not all of them pertain to every
martial arts student. Meditating is a very personal exercise, one that
differs for each person doing it. Therefore, there is no right or
wrong way to do it. When you feel yourself getting frustrated that
you're not meditating correctly or that you can't achieve the peace of
mind you think you should, remember this saying attributed to an
English abbot, "Meditate as you can, not as you can't." It is a
powerful reminder that if you're comfortable meditating and you get
something out of it, then you're probably doing it right.
When I meditate with the class, I simply try to erase all thoughts,
until my mind is a blank. With my eyes closed, I concentrate until all
I "see" is darkness, concentrating the whole time on my breathing. As
air is pulled in through my rib cage expands, then up to exit through
my mouth. Though not a very deep form of meditation, it relaxes and
refreshes me so I can concentrate on class.
Spirit can also be interpreted in an emotional sense, as being in good
spirits. Certainly, much has been written about the chemical effects
of exercise on the state of a person's mind. Lots of exercise results
in high levels of the natural feel-good chemical endorphin. I've often
thought that the best part of my martial arts workout was the drive
home when I would experience that natural high that comes after your
body has been stretched and pushed and the toxins stored up inside you
have been sweated out.
How would you interpret the spiritual side of the martial arts? Maybe
you feel strongly about finding a school that will allow you to
explore this side of the martial arts. Or maybe you're not interested
in this aspect. But it is yet another feature to note when choosing
schools and observing classes.
But even if you never give the spiritual side of the martial arts a
second thought during your training, it won't matter. Just be aware
that there is a spiritual side present, and that you can draw on that
spiritual strength when physically you feel drained. Mind over matter
really does apply in the martial arts. But, again, remember that the
spiritual nature of the martial arts is exactly what you make of it.