Anger and Forgiveness

,

“I cultivate a rose in June and in January
For the sincere friend who gives me his hand
And for the cruel one who would tear out this
heart with which I live
I do not cultivate thistles nor nettles
I cultivate a white rose…”

What are you cultivating in your martial art practice?

A spiritual or athletic path? Strength? Vow of vengeance? Anger?
Self protection — or aggression? Are you a power or a weapon?

Spring Cleaning

In many cultures and religions spring heralds a time of renewal and growth. Celebrations around the spring equinox include Christian Easter, Persian Norouz and Pagan Ostara. It is a time to clear the brush from the landscape, cut away the dead wood and plant seeds into the rich soil. Are you ready to survey your own internal landscape? What do you hope to hold on to? What do you need to let go of?

Anger and Forgiveness

“Forgive them Father, they know not what they do”

Even though it is from Christian doctrine, the message is universal and the statement is strong. Perhaps you have been hurt, even badly hurt, physically, emotionally, or spiritually, by something or someone. Maybe the culprits wounded you without understanding the injury because they are coming from a place of their own fear. Or maybe you were the culprit, mired in your own patterns. We tend to interpret things from old patterns, sometimes they are patterns of anger, fear, defensiveness, depression. They may seem to serve us, when in fact they become self-serving and self-defeating. You cannot control what happened or even what happens, you can only control your own reactions and emotions. Anger and resentment are toxins, they are destructive forces. Find closure and let them go. Change the voice in your head. Forgive. Forgive yourself if you need to. Cultivate the white rose.

Warrior, Scholar, Monk

You can make a choice to survive or thrive. In TanDao, the symbols of the scholar, warrior and monk represent the parts of who we are, with a focus on awareness and integration of all three. In geometry, it is with three sides that an enclosure is formed and structure begins. It is the measure of possibilities. There is tremendous power when the warrior, the scholar and the monk all work is consonance with one another: raw energy, intellect and compassion. Strike a balance. Accept the past, let the healing come. As you move ahead and encounter challenge or adversity do not react from a place of anger. Instead, practice this harmony of energies and learn positive responses.

What are the negative responses? Rationalization and justification, denial, projection, blame, procrastination, avoidance, rage, feeling overwhelmed, and isolating yourself.

What are the positive responses? Logical analysis, conflict resolution, empathy, reflection, intellectual processing, and developing support systems. A sense of humor helps too!

In its purest form, martial arts is about problem solving, holistic integration, and growth. Negative emotions are processed and released. It is the teaching of Bodhidharma and the tradition of the Shaolin monks. Modern martial arts has been moving away from its deeper aspect. It requires work. Your problem solving abilities, communication and interpersonal skills will improve. Let go of the sharp edges. Practice clean. Find the pure spirit in your martial arts, and in your life. Be a power, not a weapon. It will inspire others. Cultivate the white rose.

“If you are inwardly free from fighting no one will be able to fight you”
—Lao Tse

What do you think?

Toni Josephson

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The verse above is from the folk song Guantanamera Listen

Tags: anger, forgiveness, kung fu, Martial Arts, shaolin monks, tandao, toni josephson