The Truth of the Martial Arts!

One of the best books ever written about zen is Zen and the Art of Archery, by Eugene Herrigel. Mr, Herrigel, in search of zen enlightenment goes to Japan, and he describes his experiences in this book. Once in Japan, though he is seeking zen, he is guided into archery.

Zen is considered too difficult for a westerner to understand. It would be to difficult for him, not being of the Japanese descent, to understand zen concepts. Through a study of archery, however, he might be able to slide into understanding some of the zen concepts.

Mr. Herrigel throws himself into the practice of archery with much diligence and attention to detail. Unfortunately, though he seeks to calm himself, and understand the intricacies of the tall bow, he is reward with nothing but frustration. How, he wonders, is he going to be able to find zen if he can’t even hit the target!

The sensei, understanding his frustration, takes pity, and invites him over to his house for some personal instruction. The teacher is a font of wisdom and zen, but Mr. Herrigel, is still ensconced in his frustration. The sensei, realizing drastic measures are called for, takes Mr. Herrigel out to his personal archery range.

They stand on a range that is about a hundred feet, and the teacher instructs Mr. Herrigel to light a candle between the firing line and the target. The candle lit, Mr. Herrigel is instructed to turn off the lights. In the deep darkness, with only a single candle glowing fifty feet away, the teacher fires an arrow and puts out the candle.

Mr. Herrigel, standing in darkness, is astonished. Never has he seen such a magnificent display of archery, to put out a candle at fifty feet! Good Lord!

The teacher merely says to turn on the lights, and then has Mr. Herrigel retrieve his arrow. Mr. Herrigel runs down to the end of the range to look for the arrow. He finds it…in the center of the target.

To put out a candle and hit a target, using only the light of the candle. To master a martial art and plumb the depths of soul. To find the brilliance of yourself on a darkened night, this is zen, and this is what is at the heart of the Martial Arts.

Technorati Tags: Aikido, fitness, goju ryu, ishin ryu, karate, kenpo, kung fu, Ninja, self defense, shito ryu, shotokai, shotokan, uechi ryu, wado ryu

Tags: Aikido, fitness, goju ryu, ishin ryu, karate, kenpo, kung fu, Ninja, self defense, shito ryu, shotokai, shotokan, uechi ryu, wado ryu

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Tagged with: Aikido • fitness • goju ryu • ishin ryu • karate • kenpo • kung fu • Ninja • self defense • shito ryu • shotokai • shotokan • uechi ryu • wado ryu

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