The Zen Bicycle

[Iaido Club Southern Oregon]

A Zen Teacher saw five of his students return from the market, riding their bicycles. When they had dismounted, the teacher asked the students,

"Why are you riding your bicycles?"

The first student replied, "The bicycle is carrying this sack of potatoes. I am glad that I do not have to carry them on my back!"

The teacher praised the student, saying, "You are a smart boy. When you grow old, you will not walk hunched over, as I do."

The second student replied, "I love to watch the trees and fields pass by as I roll down the path."

The teacher commended the student, "Your eyes are open and you see the world."

The third student replied, "When I ride my bicycle,  I am content to chant, nam myoho renge kyo."

The teacher gave praise to the third student, "Your mind will roll with the ease of a newly trued wheel."

The fourth student answered, "Riding my bicycle, I live in harmony with all beings."

The teacher was pleased and said, "You are riding on the golden path of non-harming."

The fifth student replied, "I ride my bicycle to ride my bicycle."

The teacher went and sat at the feet of the fifth student, and said, "I am your disciple."

 

 

When you think about it, your martial arts training and development is much like this story.. Not the outcome but the story itself.

People wonder.. ”Why study Japanese Swordsmanship, when you will surely be without a sword most of your life”… “Why study Karate, or Aikijutsu, or empty handed arts, when you may be shot?”… “Why leave the house, when you will just need to come home again?” I submit that few martial artists owe their safety or the safety of their family to the study of martial arts. If this is true than what are we doing it for?

All are the same question at the essence. We often struggle with the gate and forget about the house.

We get caught in the quagmire of purpose. We think .. “what is the purpose of this or that” Metsuke (Distant mountain sight) you must plant seeds of a tree that will bear fruit on 20 years.

 

I challenge you to think longer term. What is the harm in someone thinking they are right a year from now?

Will you still be offended next week? Than why be offended now?

In 10 words or less, Describe why you do martial arts.

[Brad Carlson]

I like this!

 

I have two answers (but both are basically a different way of saying the same thing)

 

Answer #1:  To learn how not to fight (6 words)

Answer #2:  To learn how to fight fire with water (8 words)

 

what are other folks' answers?

 

Brad

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[Teresa]

I study the sword to be better. In general.

Teresa

[BP Munson]

Could tell you.....then I would have to kill you.

[Brad Carlson]

hey I didn't hear back from a lot of you what are your answers??  I am really curious now as I am working on something and trying to udnerstand the whole concept of motivation better...please answer, thanks!

 

here is one more answer for me:

 

3)  Why do I train in martial arts? 

answer:  Because I enjoy it!  (4 words)..can anyone top that?

 

Brad

[Teresa]

The Southern Oregon Iaido Club will be marching with the YMCA in this
year's Boatnik parade on Saturday, May 25. Exact time and meeting place
TBD, but it will be between 8 and 9 am, downtown. We will be in uniform
and plan to march behind a banner and/or flags. We will demonstrate
several techniques and distribute materials to onlookers.

In order to plan our presentation and choreography, we must know who
will be participating. Please reply to this email and let us know if
you will be participating, and make sure to come to next week's class.
An event has also been set up on the club Facebook page; you can RSVP
there as well.

PARTICIPATING
Teresa