Work and Train without expecting reward or recognition. There is often no worse impediment to progress than having to wait for recognition or appreciation for ones work. In understand that from the materialist perspective this will sound like nonsense and stupidity. I am talking in terms of inner progress. You will say, “Well, if only I had praise and reward for all the good work I’ve done, then things would be great!”. Or, you might say “look at so and so, they’re rolling in money for all their work and now are having the time of their lives!”
What happens when people, even great champions, get too self congratulatory, too satisfied? Little by little they lose their edge, their motivation and the far off dream fades from the picture. This dream, or ideal, is what propelled them forwards, not the acquisition. You might say “Well, they only worked so that they could achieve a lavish lifestyle”. In my opinion this is not sufficient, and rather than wanting this lavishness, they often wanted the drive which could only be ignited by aiming high. Initial success is not enough, because if you want to continue evolving indefinitely you’ve got to work and train with the same conviction and desire that brought about early gains. Yes, it is important to retain this drive.
If you achieve some success and recognition, which you are bound to over time with serious training, then that’s great, however what is really important is to advance on the difficult road without wavering even when it seems pointless. And importantly, things are bound to seem pointless once you have removed the driving force, the conviction to succeed and all you are left with is past achievements. So, just when a disciple believes his work to be finished is really when it has just begun. It just depends on how far ones wants to take their work.
Often the only recognition we receive is from some special interest group, or perhaps for something totally unrelated to ones true work, so it is often dangerous to indulge in the praise of others. It is one to be able to take criticism, but to be praised and remain resolved that there is still so much to learn is what will help your progress most of all. Obviously for someone who believes that achieving tangible goals is the be all and end all this sounds ridiculous. But what I am talking about is intangible drive, which although seemingly separate from acquiring some goal, is in fact an inseparable part of success which links you to acquiring that goal. In other words, if the drive is lost, often the feeling of achievement is lost.
How many times have I thought “Right, now I have arrived at truth, all I have to do is focus on this” and then all of a sudden some new element of truth reveals itself that makes the basis of my previous practice seem insignificant and a waste of time even. Thank God for these lessons! When you are gazing over the horizon, it seems to move further away the closer you get and you realise that what you were looking at was only a part of a bigger picture. In other words, If we got to the horizon we imagined it would immediately lose its captivating quality. And since we never do arrive here, it retains its allure. That is why it is always important to aim as far and high as possible, and to link yourself with this idea rather than actually arriving and stopping there. It does not matter if you arrive or not, only that you are honest in your convictions.
It is important to prove others wrong in there low estimations of us. But most important of all is to advance even when you, or others around you, have tried to tell you that you have arrived and are “a somebody”. There are plenty who, after a few scraps of success will tell you: “Ah yes, great work stick with us, now you’re a somebody!”. “Don’t worry, you’ll not have to work anymore, we’ll look out for you, have a seat at our table, gorge yourself!”. Having ease comfort and relative luxury is often as much an impediment to progress as hardship, if not more so. Obviously poverty and destitution are not desirable, but the key is to maintain the motivation of the street peddler, who is soon to become a millionaire, which is what he is aiming for. Instead of stopping when rich, he could carry on advancing using the money to buy better technology and working conditions for his work.
When I was younger I soon felt and saw the benefits of sacrificing time, work and effort for the way of the Warrior. So much so that I imagined, in my naïve head, that if ever I had the opportunity to share some of the truths of Martial Arts they would be self evident and others might also be impressed by them. Unfortunately, or fortunately, this is not usually the case. What impressed me most of all was that often these truths I was so interested in learning had little to no effect on others, and I could not understand how something which made a profound impression on me could leave others unconvinced. This is simply the way it is, and a teacher often has to be satisfied with merely planting the seed of an idea which might grow up into a tall strong tree in a few decades time.
Jealously and envy from others can give you an equally false assessment of your own success. If you have achieved success and manage to make something of yourself beyond ordinary limits, others might suggest that it is only because of some privilege, others might tell you. Whilst this can sometimes be true, when we give ourselves over to the help of others we ourselves can often begin to feel as though it was all a lie, calling into question our capabilities. In other words if we depend on others to do the work for us we don’t prepare ourselves adequately. Help is great, but only to the extent that it allows us to engage in better work.
Take a Banker on a nice salary whose parents paid for them and continue to fund their lavish debauchery. In other words a life of self indulgence and lavishness. They become like the rich prince who is supported by a wealthy family, but everyone’s knows he lacks the grit and courage to stand on his own two feet and will be waiting in the wings to exploit him.
You can see yourself as the king who has courtiers all around him posing as his friends, feeding his vanity and pride so that he lapses and gets stabbed in the back. Maybe this is your problem, maybe not. On the other hand, such a king also has people laughing at how weak he is, antagonists who say he is powerless and incompetent. Of course you might not be not a king, but the inner forces and tormentors often act in much the same way. These voices, symbolically speaking, can take away all self responsibility so that the king within loses all will power and indulges in comfort and excess to escape work and self development. In other words he develops all sorts of vices.
Whilst physical danger is a problem, they are usually not nearly as deadly as the subtle far off dangers, which take the form of self indulgence which eventually erodes will power. This erosion then leads to physical decline. I would even go as far as to say that if people worked exclusively on maintaining their inner vigilance, and entertained only the most constructive thoughts, the negativity from others would fail to find a breeding ground and this alone would be sufficient protection. But that is another matter which I wont go into here.
Resistance is simply one aspect of balance, and without this resistance holding or pulling you down their can be no opposing force to drive you forwards. In other words without resistance there can be no will power or drive. This is a law of the universe which Stephen Hawking discusses. In the language of physics, Heat energy acts against gravitational pull to maintain equilibrium of the solar system. similarly, the heat of challenge is generated and made possible by others resistance yo our efforts. Good and evil, gravity and resistance, yin and yang, they are all part of a whole. The black hole drags you in, that is challenges and problems, and the gravitational pull of the planets, symbolised by the high ideal and self belief, pulls you from oblivion. This creates the appearance of stillness, which is actually a dynamic and energised state of equilibrium. That is why the will is important, rather than material conditions or achievements in success.
“You can’t understand the fighters mentality”. I have often heard this in certain “tough guy” gyms particularly. But it is surprising, because if they are so sure you cannot understand them then why talk to others about it, it’s a waste of everyone’s time. Ah, but there you have it, a reason to strive towards progress and advancement, a worthy goal of becoming a living example against all that is uninspiring, counterproductive and dull. Many people who have no high ideal win against others purely because they drag others to their level. If only a certain few are able to understand the fighters mentality, then according yo this line of reasoning most will never amount to anything. This is true only to the extent that you buy into it. Even if its true, for now, this doesn’t mean that a disciple is destined to remain this way. No, weakness is a transient state, not a defining characteristic, a stepping stone, a reason to advance, it all depends on how you view it.
Is it really reasonable to assume that only certain people are weak, and others are born able to take on everything and everyone? No. Many in the Martial arts circles will have you believe this, but in fact all have trodden the path of weakness, this is for certain. Don’t fool yourself, so called tough guys have trodden the same path of self doubt and timidity before, which is why they know how to instil the same sense of self doubt that their own tormentors did (real or imagined) to them. I assure you this is true. Whether their tormentors were born of their own insecurities, or came from others around them, or most likely both, it makes no difference.
Fortunately, with the right attitude it is possible to use negative force to your advantage. In all probability many tough guys today would never have shown weakness in their younger days, because they would have been crushed, for example by the bullies and violent behaviours that surrounded them. We must all adopt this attitude of not showing weakness in the face of opposition and actually grow from it instead. Set backs are inevitable, a good thing in the long run, because they allow us to honestly appraise ourselves, rather than remain deluded. It doesn’t matter about technical skill in my opinion so long as you are advancing intelligently without deception, you will then ensure long term success even in spite of yourself.
Many prominent people have been held back from any encouragement at all and faced great ordeals, surrounded by negativity. Perhaps you have felt the same at some time or another. This has not stopped the great success stories of the past, and they may have been better for such trials. Provided of course that their willpower gravitated them towards the highest ideals, the brightest stars (symbolically speaking), and away from the abyss. If you look through history, many inventors, writers, and scientists were ridiculed before they received any recognition, often living minimally. They carried on tirelessly anyway and eventually made progress despite many set backs.
To make yourself seem unreasonable and unpopular with people (because of your unusual ideas), and at the same time to apparently get nowhere, this takes a lot of effort and entails years of sacrifice. This process is what Martial arts is all about and is symbolically depicted in the warrior who sleeps in the freezing snow, or chops wood to pieces with his hands, getting frost bite and broken bones. Years of work which seems to go nowhere, living in damp and squalor. But in doing such work the tools of willpower, spirit, and concentration are cultivated. Often, that is exactly what the negative comments from others around us should be seen as, pieces of wood to smash and icy conditions to endure, black holes to avoid being sucked into…Yes it is often best to seek out hardship and to avoid being given success by someone else, upon whom you depend. And this work of endurance should be treated with the same urgency as physical defence, more so actually. It is not important to smash wood, deprive yourself or warmth or anything like that. It is the mentality which counts, a mentality which can be applied to all activities at any time.
Using the analogy of the plant, certain qualities (will power, spirit, concentration, work, etc.,) are the roots which draw nutrients to the flowers, symbolically speaking. These flowers are the results of our labour which come in the form of skills, thoughts, and states of mind. These flowers are held high by the growth of a sturdy foundation which has endured harshness. Naturally, these flowers are slowly cultivated before they reach their full maturity and wonder, and the plant itself is not sure what will emerge, nor does that matter. Yes, the flowers come later, years later sometimes, and it doesn’t matter what form they take (they mutate and evolve in ways that cannot be foreseen), but the process is always the same.
I will give you an example of this principle of growth according to the laws of learning. If we work according to intuitive sense1, the inner wisdom of the body will guide your progress according to how much work and determination you put in to reach the high ideal2. The height ideal is far off and itself formless but it manifests one minute in a certain form (one goal), and changes the next. In other words, as a principle it is formless, but from this state it gradually materialises. Neither does this kind of Intuitive technical progress happen according to any time scale. No, it is the quality of moving forward that will bring results, in fact I would not even worry about material results, just trust the process and make sure you follow it honestly with integrity, because it demands total respect.
So, the important thing is to keep advancing. It is better to make small steps in this true direction, rather than giants leaps in a direction which eventually leads down a slippery slope. In other words, you will be taking a completely different path to many others. If we work according to the wisdom of the body, little by little we begin to embody the techniques we practice3, so that they become inseparable from our behaviours and general mannerisms. This vital factor links us to out practice so that it is both separate and apart of us. It is very difficult to put into words.
It is very difficult to predict the outcome of the kind of practice I am talking about, and how will manifest itself, which resembles improvised jazz, in that you simply go in the direction of your inspiration and creative forces. This process is subjective to the individual, and it is these subjective realities which should be given prominence, rather than just objective results. In other words, you are exchanging objective quantifiable measures for subjective and often imperceptible outcomes which are themselves the true goal. The tangible reality of this process is not some form, but more a state of being, a synthesis of many factors, not just appearance.
Technical proficiency and training can sculp your body and enhance your capabilities in a sustainable and reliable way provided that the goal is self mastery rather than visible appearance of skill. It takes considerable understanding and practice to wipe away the idea that technical performance is all important, because it is widely considered to be sol – the proof of ones understanding. But understanding takes time and even if the results are not forthcoming you can be sure they will arrive when the ground is set and fertile, in other words when you have fed the roots. But not before. This is better than superficial development because as you advance on your evolution it effects deep change which is unpredictable in its manifestation. In other words, it is impossible to achieve an evolutionary goal which has not yet materialised physically, but by truthful effort in this direction you will approximate this reality in visual form. To arrive at truth requires sincerity in effort more. Yes, because in the mind forms many shapes which give visible reality to the principles we are practicing. And if our efforts are sincere and intense we are engaging in true work, it is this feeling which is a better indicator of truth than the visible accuracy of a thought.
There are many martial artists who are not technically very knowledgeable of the latest training prescriptions, but they have embodied the main principles that specialised techniques demonstrate. In other words, they have moved beyond the details and absorbed the fundamental lesson, which involves sincere effort rather than technical accuracy. Yes technical accuracy is good, but not on its own. On its own, its an empty shell. The Master Martial Artist does not waste his time going over old ground, instead he quickly moves on to something more constructive and in tune with his new understanding. In this way he retains everything he did within the new truth he has found. For example rather than antagonising others and acting like a petulant child, he knows this will get him nowhere. It is instead time to inspire others and cultivate other qualities, rather than intimidate others into submission or servility. Of course he could use force, but he has seen this does not help his evolutionary development.
Performance dissociated from feeling is merely a mirage, an illusion which will leave no lasting impression and will be forgotten the moment the conditioning of practice ends. Of course, if you learn these techniques intuitively, you will absorb them into yourself so that there is no need to go over them in a detached and formalistic manner. In other words they are still apparent in your practice, but they will be yours and you will give life to them, rather than working for them in a detached sense.
From a technical standpoint, to progress further you must learn to feel what you are doing rather than rely on technical explanations or mimic appearances. This is why, historically, martial artists have mimicked animals – it was considered preferable to absorb the impression of an animal so that it might translate into human form, rather than learning from the description given by a member of the same species. Yes, this association with animals to learn fighting was used by the great masters to absorb subconsciously what they failed to grasp with conscious mimicry. But what they found was that by working on their subconscious, they were eventually able to draw these subconscious impressions to the level of their evolved conscious understanding. There is a great lesson here, and such practice can take place mentally as well as physically.
If you advance according to some specialised advice, in a detached and merely mechanical fashion, you will likely end up injured and worn out by wear and tear as many athletes do. It is then next to impossible to maintain motivation and enthusiasm for practice if it deteriorates your energies and body over time. Yet this is exactly what happens to those who are stuck at the purely technical level. It then no longer matters whether you were a champion of this or that, it is better to forgo all that and simply stick to a more intuitive approach which takes much longer but is more reliable later on.
It is possible for even an apparently physically small and weak individual to cultivate powerful practice over time. This is because their physical features cant be relied upon, and so the determined small man will be forced to enhance the capabilities of the intuitive sense (training of the subconscious), which blossoms slowly and starts off rather crude. It’s a case of the tortoise and the Hare, which is why weakness and size are of no importance in the long run provided we have the right attitude to move mountains.
Now, You might say, that’s all well and good, but how am I supposed to develop if I’m weak and puny? You don’t know what it’s like to be powerless and vulnerable!” I understand very well because I too, like everyone else who has made some progress, have experienced the same sense of powerlessness. It is only because I have experienced this so often that I can discuss how it is fundamental to my own development. How else can we be impelled onwards and upwards out of the pit if not for a sense of urgency and impending danger? The truth is all people at one time or another have felt powerless and weak, it’s just that some are now on a different path, so it is not those with this knowledge that needs to understand anything it is the person who doesn’t see this truth.
In the old days they would throw you too the wolves, symbolically speaking, so that you would have to dig deep and develop through pain and suffering in order to bring out the fighting spirit of the disciple, even risking death in the process. It is not necessary to go through this anymore, and in fact many people who put themselves through such ordeals merely go on behaving as they did before learning nothing at all and simply become self satisfied that they once took on a big challenge. Having challenges is great, but it often becomes an evasion of the real work when you rest on your laurels, work which is much longer term.
I have met several people who have boasted of going to Thailand and giving the Muay Thai fighters a good beating. This just shows they understand nothing. If they go into someone’s house and trample all over their door step without showing any respect then one day (when they have an off day or when the burden of constantly looking over their shoulders for enemies has worn them down) they can expect the same in return. They have simply forgotten their own susceptibility to weakness and have invited the very antagonism upon them that they show others. By attacking others who are trying to advance intelligently, you are neglecting your own inner work, and there is no way that this can be the basis of sincere lasting development. I just don’t believe it, although you are free to think as you wish of course.
It is much more effective to neutralise your enemies from a distance by wearing an impenetrable mask of radiance, vigilance and alertness. Because if certain people saw your personality and it was one of negativity and hate, then they might target you and do you in, it is simply the law of attraction according to which like attracts like and the very hostile reality you live in ends up being drawn to you. As I said early, making your thoughts and behaviour your sole training occupation is enough to ward off attackers and is an entire science in itself which will never bore you if you go about it the right way.
Those who are big and domineering, yet unintuitive in their performance, can be recognised. Even though they have large muscles, great physiques, strong looking jaws, etc., their stiffness, lack of spark in the eyes, often betrays a future decline. The expression in their eyes, the skin tone, voice, all these things are altered by the way they engage in their training or antagonise others. On the other hand, an intuitive sense exists between people, which makes an impression on their inner self, and so if you mimic those who have acquired a good intuitive feel for performance, you begin to resemble them and their fluid and intuitive qualities. Never take the coarse and arrogant as you model, and always act in opposition to their mentality.
Whilst it is tempting to behave arrogantly, the reality is far less appealing. That is why training should always improve your bearing, rather than reduce you to a tired wreck who is fed up with the world makes enemies out of everyone as justification for their own poor attitude. This delusional mindset is the greatest enemy to the Martial Artist whose goal is Peace and Harmony.
Lao Tsu said “The most refined travels freely, even through the most dense.” That is why it’s better to identify with the subtle principles of Martial Arts, rather than the dense and rigid individual moves and styles. In other words identify with the imperceptible spirit and enthusiasm for practice, rather than the “Dense” and dead matter. Yes, the most refined travels freely, what a lesson that is for those who want to walk amongst the violence and egotism out there.
By thinking and contemplating these principles (Work, sacrifice, Harmony, wisdom, etc.,) you will gradually manifest them in innumerable ways, rather than just one or two fixed detached ways. Instead of this however, many people practice the individual moves mechanically, and their fixation on details grows out of all proportion because they were not able to see that mastering individual moves alone was of minor importance. They becomes coarse and dense. Yes the moves can be good examples of practicing the principles, and each principal needs a physical examples, but it is always the fundamental principles which should be the basis of practice. Often it is the principles which become subservient to the moves!
References
1 See Intuitive Sense https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/08/13/intuitive-sense/
2 See The High Ideal https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/07/26/the-high-ideal/
3 See Embodying the technique https://intuitivemartialarts.com/2020/08/09/embodying-the-technique/
5 thoughts on “Facing Trials with Sincerity.”