In this blog post, we will take a look at the next tenet in this series on ethics in martial arts; specifically, what it means to cultivate an indomitable spirit. There are different ways of expressing this idea and other martial arts have described it in their own ways as well. By comparing and contrasting these expressions of the concept, I hope to explore the idea of having a spirit that is unified in itself and is able to stand up to the challenges in life. For many martial artists, this is a defining characteristic of martial arts study outside of style or background. Said directly, it is the ability for someone to handle defeat and failure with humility, grace, and the understanding so that you will try again until you find success.
In Korean martial arts, the idea is expressed that having an indomitable spirit is important. The word indomitable is a curious one that isn't typically used in day to day language. The word means unable to be defeated. Notice that it doesn't say to be indomitable as a person; we all experience failures, set backs, and trials in life. However, these difficulties need not defeat us inwardly. In spite of these problems and defeats, we must get back up on our feet and press forward. Without this inward strength, nothing of any consequence or importance can be created. Nothing worth doing is easy - a concept that has been expressed by people from Theodore Roosevelt to George Bernard Shaw. If we recognize that, then we must learn to withstand the challenges of life and move forward in spite of them. In reading this, it seems obvious and almost cliche. I'm reminded of the dialogue from the movie Rocky Balboa where he expressed this. It was also expressed by the character Bill in the second Kill Bill movie when he said the Superman comics needed Kryptonite as a plot device in order to make Superman a brave and interesting character. Forgive my digression; my point is to say that this is a concept people talk about, but maybe we don't explore it beyond this cursory level. There are implications to this idea that are much more far reaching and challenging.
In some Japanese martial arts like Kendo or Jujitsu, this idea is often expressed differently. Many within these styles take on this expression through the Buddhist view that life is suffering. That through suffering, people learn to understand and that, given the choice, it is better to suffer than to not. For many people, this seems incredibly bleak and morose. Still, there is a congruent sense about this expression and having an indomitable spirit. It is not an indomitable spirit if it goes untested. Life will test everyone now as it has tested everyone and everything in the past and as it will in the future. Growth in nature happens by creatures looking for advantages and not being something else's dinner. Through that process, the creatures more able to adapt move forward and the one's unable to adapt become protein for those that can. It seems bleak and depressing, but it is a fact that is unavoidable. This same concept holds true for ideas and people - the ones that stand up to the rigors of reality last and the ones that don't work are eventually discarded. If one doesn't learn to strengthen their own spirit in order to weather the storms in life, then life will leave them behind.
So, what does it mean to strengthen one's spirit? As described in earlier postings, it is important to not be a fragmented person. One must be able to see what is true and adapt to it. Many people, when confronted with the truth about things in life or with themselves, hide, make excuses, deny, fight, or fall into depression. These things are understandable, but fruitless. It is very tough to come face to face with a real inward truth and just be present with it - without making a judgement, justification, or counter argument. For example - if my behavior is vain and I think I am better than other people around me, life will eventually show me that I'm made of the same flesh and bone as the others and I will be cut down to size. This happens a lot to people in the 1st through 3rd degree area in martial arts; they talk themselves into being better than others and, when life eventually demonstrates that they aren't, then feel compelled to leave martial arts, blame the other students for being abusive, or blame the instructor for not being of a good quality. This is a common example that happens in every school of every style of martial arts where the students are being challenged. If someone hasn't learned that their ego and skill will be challenged by life and that they need to weather this challenge in order to do anything of worth in martial arts, then they will stop their study and self-stultify. I've seen it in many others that I've trained with more times that I'd like and I've almost fallen victim to it myself. Luckily, I have had some wonderful teachers that helped explain this to me over the years and family that did a great job of reminding me of where I come from and not to think myself separate or above anyone else. Falling into this trap is the only real way to fail in martial arts, in my mind. This is only one example, but I'm sure it is easy for anyone to see that this concept has far reaching implications in life.
If one understands not to be fragmentary and to accept that failure is inevitable when trying to do something new and difficult, then it begins to alter their perceptions of what is happening to them and to what other people are going through in life. A person with this understanding looks at failure as a great teacher and as a guide. They approach others with humility and support because they know the other person is going through the same things - even if the other person is unaware of this fact. When this person sees someone boastful or talking about an undefeated record, they know that this is someone that is untested and about to have a great fall. The person with an indomitable spirit knows how to rally themselves and to be their own best cheerleader. They know that if they are standing, both hands clenched, eyes open and mind attentive, that there is a chance for success. They move forward in spite of whatever words are said, things are done, or accolades given or taken away knowing full well that there is another bigger hill after this one waiting for them. That there is another bounty of understanding and insight for them after weathering the trial. Their roots reach through the acknowledgements and criticisms from others and themselves into passion for life, curiosity about the world, and a need to be simpler and cleaner inwardly. This person can never truly be defeated and they look forward to the next challenge knowing full well that they may not be successful.
... and they can't wait.
No comments:
Post a Comment