As martial artists, we discipline ourselves by honing our physical and mental skills to survive. Keep the edge. We prepare. The discovery of the Times Square car bomb is a sobering reminder of the dangers of our modern lifestyle. Terrorism is real.
Although wing chun chain punches, hung gar tiger claws, tae kwon do side kicks and Brazilian jujitsu techniques of ancient warriors may seem to be irrelevant defenses against a car explosion, the higher levels of the Shaolin monks and Daoist masters martial path focus on moving and sitting meditation for cultivating a heightened consciousness of the present moment. The here and now. Yet we don’t need to be warriors or monks to be aware. As the alert street vendor who contacted the police after he saw a suspicious SUV filled with explosives said, “if you see something, say something.”
For the Evolving Martial Artist zen awareness is not limited to fighting in the dojo, the street or battlefield but being aware to all threats in daily life. Even while strolling in the middle of a bustling city, we have to be alert for suspicious packages or cars. And before sounding too somber, this awareness is also to celebrate the small joys of living — like marveling at street performers while eating a Big Apple hot dog, or feeding sparrows on a side walk. Yet in these days of mounting uncertainty and danger, we must heed the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson: eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Be. Here. Now…
Lawrence Tan
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Tags: Martial Arts, tandao, terrorism, times square bomb
