Those who attempt to delve into the chaos of violence without having developed a defence against it, run the risk of being totally overwhelmed. If you identify with the aggressor, or the hostility of others, then it may be more than one can bear. This point is rarely talked about, but nothing is more important. Identify with a great goal instead of conditioning yourself to disorder and chaos. If you do this, you need not talk about your accomplishments. Even if you are a champion of this or that, there is always the danger that others will be drawn to you simply to take your scalp, symbolically speaking. Either that or they will think you an arrogant egomaniac.
Another reason for not displaying your achievements for all and sundry is that people will simply expect you to solve all their problems, and teach them to become strong. whilst an instructor is necessary, what will become of you in the midst of such dependency? You will feel less and less inspired. “That’s life” they say. Unfortunately, far too many champions end up losing all their time and energy to those around them who sap them of their inspiration and energy for all sorts of mundane reasons. Better to tread the path of silence so that your progress remains better protected. Contrary to what people think, it doesn’t always take a great and powerful individual to bring down a giant. This is a form of self defence, and who’s to say it’s any less demanding then the usual kind.
A lot of champions, supposing they can take on the world, reckon themselves able to take on anything life throws at them as they crush those in their path. They begin to identify with chaos and disorder. And when they fall, they suppose it was down to bad luck. No, it was often because they had absorbed themselves in endless outer struggles without developing the polar opposite: Harmony and balance within. Because the greater your achievements within the chaotic arena of competition, the greater the demand for harmony.
I have personally known some champions who, however great they were, only remained this way for a time, eventually succumbing to disillusionment and burnout. After that it was as if they never amounted to anything beyond ordinary achievement. They reign for a certain time, and then pass on the mantle of their legacy to someone else, a prodigy. Either that or someone bigger, younger and stronger simply usurps them having waited in the wings. You must take great care to not let this happen to you, and if it does to remedy the situation. But that’s just how it is in relentless competition with others, unless of course you move beyond the pathological idea of dominating others and seek instead to master yourself. This is the true goal of martial arts. Instead over the years, too many fighters let their instinctive urges grow out of all proportion which later becomes self destructive.
The man in the street does not understand why so many champions come to a bad end. They suppose that a champion is immortal an immune to the turbulence of everyday life. Equally, they assume that the martial arts master who spends his days dreaming in the mountains is delusional. Whilst many teachers may simply hide from reality, afraid to relate to ordinary people, some of them are very much grounded and wise. But a true master does not hide from those around him, who may even be antagonistic towards him. What is the point in developing certain needed talents if nobody is around to be inspired by them? Whilst others may not be receptive to their teachings, Masters are able to walk among even criminals and depraved men. Because he sees them as an example of why he is needed1.
Many champions hope to simply last long enough to live a lazy life of luxury. This is normal, but far from inspiring. Rather than crushing opposition and escaping to a mansion with all the riches he has acquired, a true champion or master can live amongst all kinds of people without disturbing his inner balance. He is thereby capable of giving good advice and transforming those in need, particularly if he becomes an instructor, rather than being afraid of being soiled by their influence. Hiding away from the public is no different from a hermit like existence. Instead he should come out and face the world with his radiant presence, and then retreat to solitude to recharge his batteries.
If you want to face the violence of others without being absorbed into their chaos, then I strongly suggest cultivating harmonious imagery in your mind. This acts as a counterweight to the polar opposite which is chaos. Not aimless dreaming about winning some match, or having an easy slovenly life, but imagery and sensations inspired by a high ideal, such as perfection. For example, you can imagine yourself climbing to a mountain summit, and bathing in a lake with the sun reflecting off the calm waters.
But developing harmonious imagery is just the first step. Once you have arrived at a state of inner peace, you are free to simply feel the sensations of peace and tranquillity wash over your being, in a way the minds eye is not capable of doing. If you lose this sensation simply start by contemplating a lovely tranquil scene again. Whilst you can do this for at least a few minutes during the day when stressed, why not extended this exercise to hours if you can? Thoughts that are meaningless and do not inspire positive sensations will either not make much of an impression or simply increase anxiety. Think only the most inspiring thoughts of harmony.
So I do not recommend thinking of all the plotting and scheming of those potential rivals around you, and all the betrayal that might lie ahead. In as much as this is likely to happen if you achieve something important, it is through meditating on positive inspiring things that the energy to face problems is generated and renewed. Once you have perceived these ideas as symbols in the mind, you can move on to simply feeling these things. Or if you like seeing them in the spiritual sense, feeling the presence of something beautiful and harmonious. This is a form of meditating on a high ideal with which you can unite yourself. This is the higher self at work, and from there you can take the perspective of an observer and identify with this nature which is above and beyond physical form.
Many people scoff at the idea of contemplating harmony, claiming that it’s for weaklings who can’t face reality. When actually, it is based on a a cause and effect understanding of how to maximise energy to take on demanding work. In other words, if we perceive inspiring thoughts that are physical eyes don’t have access to we imprint the harmonious effects onto our organism. This is so that it is more receptive to energy development and therefore work, rather than being bogged down by mundane concerns. This of course requires will power, a tireless perseverance, which although consciousness is energy demanding, it increases our capacity for energy generation2. And in any case the thought of powerlessness and dependence on material circumstances is far more draining, believe me! It is this process that will empower us to face problems.
I repeat, to maximise your potential it is important to think of harmonious conceptions, and sensations. In this way you turn your relaxation time into work. Many people fail to relax properly because, having so much to do, they are always on the go. Whereas if you can work towards your ideal even whilst relaxing and regenerating you will not feel like you are falling back each time you recuperate and rest3.
Humans have a need to outdo themselves and continue their development ceaselessly. It is not this idea that should be changed but the way we go about it. I advise trying to become aware of your everyday behaviours and how they enhance or deplete your reserves. Living an honest, upright, and noble life will make you more open to positive thinking and inspiring thoughts. In order to protect your development work hard and commit to whatever enhances your progress. I have nothing against people winning belts, certificates, or whatever else, but my goal, my ideal if you like, is to instruct others to see success in the highest sense of the word.
Just as it is possible to be badly effected by say, a bad nights sleep and the dreams you might have had, it is also possible to effect yourself by means of your waking thoughts. This is what I advise doing: making your waking dreams a lived reality. Think of yourself as a person in the future who has already moved beyond the problem in hand. As this is a necessary precondition of making a problem a thing the past. So don’t go round fighting the outward appearance of some evil by supposing that is your only option. This is a sure way of becoming entrenched in a problem and enslaving yourself to outward appearance. Instead relate yourself to a future successful being, and feel what it feels. In this way you make the present the future.
When something bad happens, ask yourself “am I going to let this moment define me, or should I identify with the person of the future, or a symbol of that?” Then tell yourself “The person of the future has grown and developed from trials and tribulations, and by imagining myself as that person today I have contributed to my development in the future”. Because the present moment is an inseparable aspect of the future, starting now. Equally, by extending present misfortunes into the future, you create that future misery. That is the point of detachment, not to ignore what’s going on but to view it from the perspective of someone who has already overcome the present, transcended it even. It is detachment only from the physical present constraints, not a void of all being. This is why the Hindu Spiritualists refer to the present reality as an illusion, or Mayer.
Reality is not really an illusion, but what appears before our eyes often is. Don’t think, feel” as Bruce Lee once said. After all, the real reality is what we feel. Just try telling a genuine master that he’s already surpassed everyone else and there is no more work to do. In fact, many champions do just this and lose all drive to develop themselves. By resting on their laurels and taking external conditions as reality, they fell for an illusion. Whereas, with a genuine Master his convictions to ceaselessly enhance his capabilities are not an illusion, even if right now he has not realised this goal, materially speaking. Yes, the goal for improvement should be so lofty that it can’t ever be reached, because this is what drives the man. You kill the drive and what he lives and stands for and you kill the man. How can you convince someone who experiences the strong conviction to master himself that this is an illusion? His present conditions might be terrible, but he can never doubt his convictions, for he lives them.
Instead, so many people chose to see something and feel nothing. Let us take a straightforward example. Many martial artists look at themselves training and read instructions about how to punch properly. But what is the point in all that if you don’t get a body ‘feel’ of what you’re doing? Instead they feel all sorts of rage and over excitement and hope that the technique will be powered by this.
Whilst this cocktail of emotions will supercharge an attack, I don’t advise training like this for long. First of all it will disrupt your mental balance, and secondly the instinct to destroy whats in front of you is highly primitive and can only be cultivated at the expense of being dragged down. Whilst you may destroy the opponet, you will likely sap yourself rather than nourish your energy.
Instead instincts such as aggression should be put to work to fuel high intensity work. This high intensity work should be aimed at perfecting yourself and your craft, so that you become a symbol of perfection, rather than becoming a killing machine. This is to ensure that you keep your inspiration and give meaning to your life. Also, instead of looking at the superficial aspects of a technique, get a sense of what it feels like to perform the work and relate to that feeling rather than the form. By getting an inner feel for a move at high intensity, this will make a greater impression than routine exercises devoid of low intensity. Intensity is key, if even for a moment4. Quality over quantity.
It is time people understood what the point of martial arts is. Far too many think that it is a school for developing physical strength, perfect form, and to satisfy their instinct to dominate others. But as far as I’m concerned, this isn’t what it’s about at all. Yes we have to overcome obstacles, and even fight for our existence. You need not have any special powers, certificates, or title belts to commit yourself to this work. All you need is the conviction to strive to improve yourself, no matter the material results. This is the path to greater self mastery.
References
1 Self defence without Violence https://harmanater.com/2020/06/14/self-defence-without-violence/
2 Will power https://harmanater.com/2020/05/10/will-power/
3 Active Relaxation https://harmanater.com/2020/04/27/active-relaxation/
4 High Intensity Work and Balance https://harmanater.com/2020/07/05/high-intensity-work-and-balance/