peace – Intuitive Martial Arts

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/

“Disciples should not be preoccupied with their own faults or those of others. When they study someone, they should seek out the good within him. The good lies deep within, and must be found.”
Peter Deunov

How do you become strong, powerful, and dynamic without descending into chaos and violence? How do you live an intense life, without being destroyed or going too far as so many have? These are some of the most profound questions that Martial arts Masters and philosophers have grappled with for centuries. Some such Masters understood that by giving themselves over to violence and chaos, which may seem pleasurable, an individual eventually develops their worst tendencies within, and to top it all off: self deception to justify such behaviour.

Many fighters strut about with an arrogant attitude towards others, even when no one is being hostile to them. This belligenerant attitude is often developed as a protective shell. It is is aimed towards others, as a means of warding off opponents, but actually ends up developing the very antagonism in others that they work so hard to fight. It’s a case of the old general who always fighting the last war. In other words the aggression seen in others, directed towards us, is often a result of our behaviour, a reflection, rather than a separate constituent part of the process. Put differently, people are aggressive towards us because we are at the same time aggressive towards them. Aggressive behaviour, then, must be combated at the source: Ourselves.

Many instructors will tell a young student “You simply do such and such a move to overcome an attacker”. And that’s the end of it. However, many people want to learn to overcome their sense of inferiority, not simply react against an antagonist to feel tough. However, It is often this sense of inferiority that is displaced onto other individuals rather than dealt with properly. Soon the supercharged ego, fueled by winning at all costs, finds enemies everywhere. When one opponent disappears another quickly takes their place in the form of somebody looking at them the wrong way, or chatting up their girlfriend, or whatever. Then you will have a horrible inner monster to contend with. This is the real enemy, and the battle against this is the very definition of “inner martial arts”.

By feeding kill or be killed attitude many fighters end up becoming the very thing they despise, because there is a certain reciprocal relationship between the antagonist and the antagonised. They both relate to each other on the same level and need each other. This is why when a bully is stood up to, the one who was bullied by them often fills the vacuum created: By becoming the bully themselves and finding a victim. “Those that lie down with Dogs get fleas”. In other words, don’t descend to this level.

The thing the bully and the victim share in common is that they both define others and themselves as either winners or losers in some narrow sense of a particular outcome. In martial arts the aim is to turn a loser into a winner. But the one can’t exist without the other, and they often gain all their confidence from relegating others around them to a lower position. In doing so, they work at this lower level themselves and get stuck there. Sometimes I get the impression that this is their only goal. If they really are determined to see it that way, let them go ahead, but a true fighter does not fight the enemy on their home turf by sinking to their level. You might say “I was told never to back down, and to always make the first move”. Yes that’s true, but move to a higher level and from that vantage point do your worst.

Doing away with others never puts anything right, inward disorder and chaos still continue long after the opponent has been defeated. You are better off avoiding those determined to be physical aggressors as a means of developing positive forces and energy. That is why The famous swordsman Yagyu Munenori said “What is gained or lost by winning of losing is trifling…It is not to kill people, it is to kill evil”. Because by destroying others with violence you create evil, an inner chaos. However, by saving them, in other words diffusing the situation, you destroy evil. This is the higher goal of Martial arts, an ideal if you like, that you will never find lacks opportunity for its practice. In fact, this is the only real goal of martial arts so why consider all kinds of contradictory notions? I know there are some rare occasions where fighting can’t be avoided but I’m not interested in that because generally speaking it can be.

So what I am saying is you should transform your oppositions attitude towards you by your gestures, expressions, bearing, energy, and attitude. That is why so many Masters of Tai Chi in the old days spent all their time practicing harmonious movements. By using these potent weapons properly you will transform opponents, and you are perfectly within your rights to use them whenever you like. This is work worthy of the highest esteem. These are the weapons I recommend cultivating principally unless you want others to despise you. Yes, because it is in your power to influence the behaviour of others for better or worse.

The method of harmony, fighting without fighting, also works on your self against emotional strain and trauma, often brought about by endless petty struggles of the kind you’re better off without. Unfortunately, this idea lacks any kind of a tough guy imagery associated with “the fight game” and therefore people lose respect for you. Instead, in the market place, you’ve got to pull the wool over peoples eyes with emphasis on certain styles and slogans. Yes, then you are a force to be reckoned with, a somebody. A simple philosophy of sacrifice and hard work is too “simplistic”. However, sacrifice, that is gaining something greater than winning in the narrow sense, allows for peace of mind against all that life throws at you. But if you go around with this philosophy people take zero interest in what you have to say and look at you like you’re a man from Mars.

Personally, knowing I could do some serious damage with a punch, that’s enough for me, I choose not to do it. There is no need to have a death wish by becoming a martyr for some cause, a hero that is unbearable to others in the impression he gives off. That is often what the self destructive attitude is about: A secret wish for defeat, and end to the constant challenges life throws at us. Once you have gotten over this obstacle, which should overcome on the path to truth, why go over it again and again? Why not see the challenges within instead, they are far more high stakes and numerous.

Most fighters think they have to show the other guy who’s boss. To them, fighting means possibly getting maimed or crippled, or becoming mentally unwell, living this way even, and that’s just the way it is. Either that, or the other guy may suffer the same, it’s 50/50. Personally, I have no desire to be limited and victimised by this stupid attitude, I’d rather put an opponents aggression to sleep at a distance. That is the true meaning of “fighting without fighting” or the so called “esoteric energies” of the ancient spiritual arts. You must not think of their powers in the literal sense2. No, it is not a case of taking some potion made by a tribal leader, or receiving the blessing of some sage to gain supernatural powers. Nor is developing a tough “iron skin” a literal phenomenon. Has anyone ever explained this to you?

Of course nobody ever thinks that there might be some truth to these legends, symbolically speaking. You might say “That’s a load of rubbish, where are you getting this from?” On the contrary, enchanting someone under a spell or getting rid of them from a great distance of “10,000 leagues away” as detailed in the Art of War by Sun Tzu, simply means destroying their efforts before they are close enough to do harm. This is the the real art1.

You must simply ask yourself: What is the best way of ridding myself of antagonists so I can get on with the real work of living? It is that simple. You will then be able to synchronise your thoughts to all situations, because they require peaceful settlement. If a Country goes to war they cannot at the same time advance their civilization optimally. However, if they go about diplomatically defusing situations they can then get on with proper work. It is only when Countries become Barbaric that they thirst for war rather than advancement. So you have to convert the thirst for war against individuals into a thirst for war against evil. There is then coherence in everything you do, because you then have one goal, rather than dividing your forces towards war and then trying to build on top of the ashes.

Just look at how people are hypnotised or seduced into wasting their money on all sorts of rubbish, no one would have any trouble denying these modern day “dark arts”. In the same way they are goaded into battles they don’t want. This is the lower self talking, the instinctive and reactive vestige of the past2. At the moment many people are content to give into these tendencies without using will power3, as if it was the norm. Be under no illusion, if you don’t use will power to think well of others, yourself, and your own future progress, you will be as susceptible as anyone else to despair and chaos.

Everyone knows the benefits of positive thinking, so why not apply it to what most people consider negative things by seeing the best elements? The more you do this the more perceptible you will become in making something out of apparently nothing. You can’t count on your physical skills, or even on your mental toughness, because simply exchanging punches with some maniac is always a 50/50 game, as Steve Morris often points out.

References

1 See Signs and synbols in Martial Arts Part 2 https://harmanater.com/2020/06/06/signs-and-symbols-part-2-pedagogy-and-the-art-of-war/

2 See The higher and Lower self in martial arts https://harmanater.com/2020/05/04/the-higher-and-lower-self-in-martial-arts/

3 See Will Power https://harmanater.com/2020/05/10/will-power/

Tag: peace

Fight Chaos, live in Harmony.

Self Defence without Violence