The High Ideal

A lot of people argue about which the best Martial art is, but the truth must always be looked at above form, in a high ideal. Of course, it is possible to practice a system and to bring it to life with years of dedication and sacrifice, but if you do this it is always thanks to the work you put in which reaches above and beyond mere form. Because the form is just an empty shell, a representation of truth, and a weak one at that. It is the inspiration behind the form that counts.

Whilst it may be possible to smash someones head in with a few moves, it is hardly a way to inspire the greatest dedication to an important cause. Work of this kind is completely unimportant when weighed against self development and longevity. It is only possible to relate to the greatest goals by channelling our own immediate desires and instinctive tendencies towards something greater. But that all depends on what you want. We can substitute immediate gratification for long term satisfaction, which on balance is a good trade off. This is true humility, which involves identifying with a self in the future. But this future work starts now in the present and in fact is inseparably linked to it 1.

Through ideas and forward thinking it is possible to transcend present limitations. That is why it is a mistake to put so much stock in dead mechanical forms, or even what can be achieved under present conditions. Much has been said about living in the moment, but most of the time people mistake this for living recklessly on borrowed time. Instead you should view ‘the moment’ as a part of the future which begins here and now. Even with all the progress that has been made in psychology and mindfulness, people often overlook this simple fact. Controlling your thoughts in the present so that the future perspective is represented in reality is the real work. This is the perspective of the true self. By adopting this attitude this you will be able to tread any path in life unwaveringly – Martial Arts or otherwise.

Present limitations are an aspect only of the past, so leave them there. Try and imagine yourself, to feel even, this ideal self in action, understanding that it is only possible to relate to this self by your own unceasing efforts. Many people say they lose inspiration and give up, but in fact it was them who abandoned the future perspective in the present. Yes, because we are inseparable from inspiring ideal thoughts, which represent our higher or true self, and what we will become. To the extend that this faculty is not exercised and practiced, it can be said to not exist. In that case, it is as if there were no imagination at all.

There is simply no point in bemoaning and living in the past, since it was you who chose to relate to it now instead of detaching yourself from it and living now. Instead you must think of all the gifts, talents and abilities that you posses in your mind through your ideas, so that they one day materialise. You of course then physically practice these. It all starts with a seed, an idea. Be awake to this reality, this is what the Buddha Symbolised, the meaning of the Name Buddha is “Awakened”. When you live the high ideal, everything begins to work, the chakras, chi, the energies, motivation, however you wish to view it.

By living in that moment ceaselessly, we may identify with our own progressive evolution as it unfolds and contribute to it actively. We are otherwise at the mercy of events and definitions made by others. This is why it is so important to watch your every move. Of course this is exhausting and even the best struggle at this and lose contact with this ideal, so don’t delude yourself. But the key is to notice when this starts to happen and take action. So it is not a problem to make mistakes, provided you are aware of them and seek to rectify them. In any case, even a brief encounter with this state of mind can have a lasting impression and can even enhance your motivation to go about the more mundane activities in your life.

What will protect you is the state of mind imprinted within you following years of dedication to a high ideal of perfection and the conviction that this can be achieved. This is true self defence. This work does not demand that you actually reach perfection, only that you never stop reaching. So develop a taste for the work of achieving this high ideal, day after day, night after night. Learn to rest and sleep properly, so that you emerge the next morning revitalised a new individual3.

Nothing is more important than identifying with this high ideal through our words, thoughts, gestures, actions, and behaviours, as this is how we relate it to ourselves. Every one of these has repercussions which contribute towards enriching or impoverishing our motivation, and therefore our abilities. Because it is always lofty ideas that precede meaningful results, not mindless activity.

The true meaning of Martial Arts is to strive towards the highest of all goals2. It is the intensity of this effort, not the time it takes to reach that counts4. Very few who practice martial arts or anything else manage to reach this summit. And only the greatest among them manage to dedicate all their energy across their whole life to get there. This is what the “Martial Spirit” is all about.

It is said that the famous Swordsman Itto Ryu had his entire style revealed to him after meditating for 7 days and nights at the Grand shrine at Mishima. Not twenty or fifty years of repetitive mindless work. And the process is the same for everyone. This is an incredibly important subject, which is well worth reflecting on. During seclusions of this kind, avoid all negative influences which may sap you of your vitality and willpower, so that you dont lose self confidence. You will then feel like making grand hopeful plans.

When someones whole concentration and will power is absorbed in one high ideal, closed to other influences, he is capable of almost supernatural abilities. He must serve this one ideal. However, suppose you give up most of your time to aimless activity with people whose attitude is flat and uninspiring, offensive even, you have the impression of being soiled and left unfocused. Just think of how powerful a suspicious glance can be! On the outside nothing has changed but inside there has been a weakening of energy. It is occasions of this sort which, which although unavoidable, you should guard against. It is the mental equivalent of being punched in the gut. You think I am being overly sensitive. No, I am just highlighting how every action has a powerful consequence on the road to true success. You must be constantly vigilant. Analyse these feelings and you will see that the real meaning of martial arts is to guard against these assaults as you would a physical attack.

From now on, I highly recommend you have nothing to do with a system of fighting which emphasises beating others, winning titles, or strutting about arrogantly. Why bother with this kind of life? The methods I recommend on this sight will never lead to a mindset of that sort. However, you shouldn’t believe that people who do any of that go about it consciously or deliberately. Far from it, it’s often just that they never received proper guidance from a higher ideal. To them, impressing others and personal ambition is the goal.

Think of all the people out there who take drugs and socialises with people that they know are bad for them. We see that same thing with many martial arts organisations, symbolically speaking. Their practices, which emphasises mechanical routines, end up destroying joints and even cause burnout amongst athletes. They were told that if they just give themselves over that a particular system, it holds the truth and will supply them with all the knowledge and skills they need. However, the methods advocated by many organisations are too short term. The work towards high ideal of perfection goes hand in hand with long term development, an idea we must ceaselessly work on, day and night.

Admittedly, this idea of long term work seems very far fetched, particularly if one is accustomed to hearing about all the promises of quick results, and perfect systems. It is much easier to supposes that with modern advancements there is no point struggling to find meaning in our training when all the technical aspects have been worked out for us in advance. However, the worst thing that can happen is to adopt this attitude. Instead, you must look at the situation as it is, saying “The temptation to believe in a system outside of myself is just a manifestation of my inner laziness, which I must work at subduing. It is absurd to suppose I can be good without constant work. It is the spirit that must take first place, not a mechanical system”. In this way you will develop your inner convictions and confidence.

Unfortunately, the situation we have in the market place of ideas is pretty dire. You see many so called masters out their stubbornly determined to keep their positions in the food chain, a position which they are quite unfit to represent. And what’s worse is they are quite proud of this stubbornness, thinking that it shows toughness, and that nothing and nobody can move them aside. However, with such a low aim in life, and such an uncompromising attitude, they are likely to bring about their own fall sooner or later. And who can blame them? One sees examples of this everywhere, so they say “Well, if you can’t beat them, join them!”. To overcome weaknesses of this kind is the sort of work I’m talking about when striving towards a high ideal. For work of this kind can go on every moment of the day. As you can see the temptation to succumb to this mentality is everywhere!

Picture now a great master such as Miyamoto Musashi, or outside of martial arts someone like Pythagoras, or Buddha. Obviously there are many others, but not amongst the living. It is even preferable to find inspiration from fictional characters, than any of the living examples one sees in the media. In fact many fictional stories, particularly centring around an incorruptible hero, correspond to a profound reality that you can grasp if you are in contact with inspiring ideas and notions. Use this reality as a model then, as you would build a car with an instruction manual. In this way, by relating to an ideal representation of perfection, and holding on to it, you gradually come to resemble it. It is entirely up to us whether we are able to extract this kind of inspiration from ideas represented in art.This is often a superior method than following a flawed character, particularly those represented in so called modern art which are full of imperfections and weaknesses.

We only need to observe how many iconic Martial arts teachers are when they interact with others – they talk to them like subjects in a captive audience. Claiming to be the only enlightened ones in the room, they represent a limited a warped truth. A true master should radiate the very enthusiasm and inspiration he feels. But instead, they usually kill off the enthusiasm in those they teach and inspire a kind of god like servitude towards themselves. This might be acceptable if they were living examples of perfection, but it is usually the case that they are simply putting on a show. There you have the sad truth. Personally, I’m disillusioned with them, and because of all their inconsistencies and errors, I no longer waste my time bothering with them. But who can blame them, people come to them asking for instructions and easy methods, and that’s what they get.

As an exercise, try identifying with a hero who inspires you. In the same way as if we think about a waterfall5, or certain other natural phenomena to relax, we can contemplate inspiring figures so that we might resemble them and enter into their state of mind. By identifying with these symbolic figures, you will come to resemble the high ideal that they stand for. This is an unbelievably powerful exercise. However, don’t suppose that you must try to resemble some average individual who is slightly gifted, and possibly troubled. This is a waste of time as you will only take on their limitations. There is too much important work to do. As it is individuals who are the cause of their own limitations, you must not focus on their weaknesses but their strengths, or if you like their ideal aspects. In this way you turn them into symbols of brilliance.

References

1 Fight in Chaos, Live in Harmony https://harmanater.com/2020/07/12/fight-chaos-live-in-harmony/

2 The True Meaning of Martial arts https://harmanater.com/2020/05/18/the-true-meaning-of-martial-arts/

3 Methods for Sleep https://harmanater.com/2020/04/28/methods-for-sleep/

4 High Intensity Work and Balance https://harmanater.com/2020/07/05/high-intensity-work-and-balance/

5 Active Relaxation https://harmanater.com/2020/04/27/active-relaxation/