“Mastering others is strength. Mastering yourself is true power.” ~ Lao Tzu
At the onset of the martial path, many martial artists, who are brutally honest, strive to kick ass — beautifully.
For them, the notion of the martial spirituality, health and high minded motivations behind kicking and punching is bullshit. Indeed, martial arts is about protecting ourselves against aggressive violence through disciplining our minds and body. But those few who do achieve their initial goals may realize that when you know you can kill, you have the option of how nice you want to be. Is it possible once superior survival skills are achieved that one’s consciousness can shift – under the guidance of the warrior/scholar/monk — and what was for the younger warrior considered a side path opens up to a new avenue that deals with higher challenges that go beyond the ring, street or battlefield?
For Evolving Martial Artists, it demands insight, humility and courage to travel beyond the comfortable path of fighting mastery to begin the uncharted and ultimately terrifying path of the inner warrior.
Lawrence Tan
Tags: consciousness, discipline, fighting, kung fu, Martial Arts, warrior
Though I am no where near to the mastery of initial killer, I still don’t understand why, so called, inner path is terrifying. I thought it meant “to be at peace within oneself”
Very thoughtful, Larry. This aptly describes the journey of those who remain decades later. Obsession with ego is a sprint, while life is a marathon.