I'm writing you this as a warning --and to offer some direction, based on what I believe to be true. This (my belief) doesn't make it true, this is just me working to clarify --and possibly --teach what it is I know, at this time in my life. 

 

In a comment box following a post I'd made on Facebook, an instructor wrote this: 

 

Tom, I have a problem with the whole Buddhist/Christian thing when speaking about martial arts. Neither have anything to do with martial arts whatsoever. The term itself means Art(s) of War - while it's true the Christians have a long and bloody history the doctrines they espouse have little if anything at all to do with MA. As a MA teacher you are there to teach your craft, such as it may be, using your own methods... 

 

Now let's take into consideration that a comment box on Facebook is not a great place to perfectly communicate your opinion. Nevertheless, the fellow's comment brings up something I'd like to make clear to you --about how I think about the martial arts and teaching.

 

To say that Buddhism or Christianity or environmentalism or kindness or raising healthy children or food or sleep or compassion or shoes for orphans or diabetes or reading or walking or courage in the face of any governments oppression of citizenry or Thich Nhat Hanh or music or Picasso's painting Guernica or nearly anything under the sun has nothing whatsoever to do with the martial arts is, I believe, a point of view that severely stunts the growth, awareness, and potential of the man or woman who believes it to be true. 

 

If you were my student and/or I had ANY influence on your thinking, any at all, I would open your mind to the idea that everything is connected; everything. I would suggest that "the martial arts," by itself, with no connection to philosophy or history or the human condition, is about as useless as a 10-day old --used --diaper. 

 

To really USE your study and practice of the martial arts in a way that means anything --or even has the potential to mean anything ---in and for the world, you must embrace the idea that your martial arts is bigger than the name of your style, the horrid limitations of your training, the techniques you've been taught, the sport and rules of your method, and/or the limitations of thinking that comes from any one man or woman. 

 

It is my opinion that what Buddha and Christ,  Confucius and Lao Tsu and (name your favorite non-martial arts enlightened being here) said is far more relevant to the enlightened mind I seek from my training, than the words that have come specifically from the mouth of any of history's "masters" of the martial arts. That being said, a quick read through Morihei Ueyshiba's writings and you would see how he thought of his training as something far beyond technique. For example, he wrote:

 

"All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together. "

 

and

 

"Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher."

 

Yes, you and I are far, far more useful and our work is far more important when we embrace all things as our things, the martial arts as not the practice of technique, but of being a more compassionate, connected, participative, human being. 

 

Recognize too, that for most people, I think it's true that at one time or another, we will all forget or disavow or connectedness, as the burden that idea creates is heavy with personal responsibility  / accountability  -----and can be a painful and sad realization. I believe, however, when a martial arts teacher transcends his or her subject matter, it's then, at that time, that they become the genuine master teacher.

 

All of the above has a direct connection to your business --as it's about what you THINK your business is about; and what your business is about is, essentially, what you "sell."