TanDao

Seeking Truth

November 15th, 2008

FRESHAIR

Truth (noun) –(1): the state of being the case : fact  (2): the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality  (3): a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality

In the martial arts, like many things in life, the quest for truth – in the system, its philosophy and even in yourself, is a key to mastery and a lifelong pursuit. We seek out the truest teacher and teachings. And there are different levels of complexity in sifting through the rocks to find the gold.

Kurasawa’s Rashomon makes its point that sometimes truth is based upon our perspective and there is no answer. Or more evidence, please. Perhaps it’s a leap of faith. We do seem to operate from shared core principles. But what is truth? And what do you see?

In Nepal, Ram Bahadur Bamjam,18, is thought by many to be the reincarnation of the Siddhartha Gautama. First found emerging from the jungle in 2005, followers said he had been meditating without food or water for months. His re-emergence this week drew thousands of devotees as he addresses and blesses them before his return to the wild. A Buddhist scholar commented that being Buddha means it is the last birth and the highest level that can be achieved. Once that happens, the role is taken. Is the Buddha back?

Photos were released this week: HR8799 system, 130 light years from Earth, hosts what may be 3 planets in the constellation Pegasus. Closer, 25 light years away and 16 times brighter than our sun is a possible fourth planet, Fomalhaut b, found in the constellation Piscis Australis. It is 1 billion times fainter than its host star, Fomalhaut.  Planets, or are they brown dwarf stars?

Some wonder if the news communicated to us is what the press wants us to hear. CNN’s Rick Sanchez measures his audience’s pulse via social networks like twitter. He throws out gambits to the web community and fields questions. He listens. He is on the air live. It feels alive. It feels true.

Seal was promoting his new CD Soul covering standards. On one show, the video intro to the live interview had him crooning a few bars of Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come. The piece finished a few notes short. As the interview began, he finished the tune. Spontaneous.  A capella. Interesting, the word a capella translates from the Italian, “according to the chapel”. His voice, unfiltered, was striking. It sounded true.

We seek out the truth in all systems, studies and cultures. We look for it, long for it – dream about it. Maybe, just maybe, we know it when we feel it.

Toni Josephson

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www.seal.com

http://ricksanchez.blogs.cnn.com/

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