numskul
12-16-2008, 09:52
Disclaimer: I am not an expert in this stuff, and realize there are many different approaches to this and other meditative martial arts concepts. No one is right or wrong. I think the sharing of our ideas and opinions is informative and fun. I hope you do too.
This week we are meditating on moderation. Moderation means that we maintain acceptable limits and do not indulge excessively; we avoid extremes.
It is one thing to enjoy a good steak now and then. It is quite another to eat steak at every meal and in such large quantities that it begins to affect our health. Moderation means that we can enjoy that steak from time to time, but we do so from a balanced and appropriate perspective. Many consider working a good thing. Work, too, can be taken to the extreme. “Work-a-holics” become consumed by their jobs and begin to be defined by what they do for a living rather than the principles by which they live. They neglect family, friends and their own mental well-being. Both of these examples demonstrate that almost anything, bad or good, can be done to excess. Asceticism is not moderation. Hedonism is not moderation. Moderation means we maintain healthy boundaries for all things we have to do, and want to do.
What happens when we don’t use moderation? Newton’s law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Eastern philosophers express this concept in the Yin-Yang. The more severe an action- the more pronounced its reaction. Unlike the application of this law of balance in the physical world, where you can predict and measure the reaction, the manifestation of this law in the realm of the spirit is unpredictable and sometimes unrecognizable. For instance, the excessive use of alcohol may result immediately in poor health. Severe drinking often leads to more severe conditions such as alcoholism and depression. These results seem to be in direct correlation and proportion to the action of drinking too much. However, one who over-indulges in alcohol may never experience poor health, or alcoholism, or depression- but they may die of liver cirrhosis 20 years before their time. The Yin-Yang teaches us that there is always an equal and opposite reaction to our actions, even though we may not recognize it or see it coming. Moderation, therefore, helps maintain order and balance in our lives. Keeping our thoughts and actions in control and balance prevents undesirable reactions from disrupting our lives and peaceful spirits.
How does moderation apply to Hapkido? I believe the principle addresses the art itself. Firstly, as Hapkido-ists, we are asked to moderate our response and defense. We learn to break joints and “give pain”, but we are expected to use an appropriate and balanced response in any situation. This implies that we won’t break an elbow, when a joint-lock will work. However, a more pronounced “action” on the part of an attacker will be met with an “equal and opposite” reaction by the Hapkido-ist. As practitioners of Hapkido, we maintain moderation in our approach to training. We do not neglect our homes or our jobs or our families in pursuit of our art. We also practice the things we don’t like as much as the things we like- balance is a part of moderation. We try to be helpful to others and maintain a moderate temperament; free of wild swings of mood or feelings that lessen our effectiveness. We employ moderation in our approach to food and alcohol and exercise and training so that we increase our martial arts abilities rather than diminish them.
Crucial to our art is the concept of mushin- “no mind”. I strongly believe that attainment of this state must be preceded with the attainment of a calm and peaceful spirit. Many principles, when practiced, can lead to a peaceful spirit. Honor, honesty, accountability, loyalty—all of these make us more effective in the world and more capable of existing without external or internal conflict. When we conduct our affairs honorably and honestly, we are not bound to the guilt that results from not practicing these principles. When we meditate, there is one less distraction to which our mind will wander. Moderation is among these universally recognized positive tenets. It provides a mechanism to prevent unwanted and counter-productive reactions to the actions we engage in every day. A moderate approach to life produces moderate outcomes which are more manageable and spiritually reconcilable. When we ignore moderation, and indulge in anything to excess, we will feel the consequences in other areas of our lives. These consequences may distract us from the spiritual quieting necessary for Mushin, even though we don’t even know they exist.
The best way I can think of to relate moderation to Hapkido is via the foundational principles of the art itself. Moderation results from, and is indicative of, self-control. Self-control is clearly a martial arts principle. To be a martial artist means that we have self-control and should be easily recognizable as people possessing this rare quality. Moderation is a key indicator of that trait and, therefore, must be found in abundance in anyone claiming to be a martial artist.
Blessings
This week we are meditating on moderation. Moderation means that we maintain acceptable limits and do not indulge excessively; we avoid extremes.
It is one thing to enjoy a good steak now and then. It is quite another to eat steak at every meal and in such large quantities that it begins to affect our health. Moderation means that we can enjoy that steak from time to time, but we do so from a balanced and appropriate perspective. Many consider working a good thing. Work, too, can be taken to the extreme. “Work-a-holics” become consumed by their jobs and begin to be defined by what they do for a living rather than the principles by which they live. They neglect family, friends and their own mental well-being. Both of these examples demonstrate that almost anything, bad or good, can be done to excess. Asceticism is not moderation. Hedonism is not moderation. Moderation means we maintain healthy boundaries for all things we have to do, and want to do.
What happens when we don’t use moderation? Newton’s law states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Eastern philosophers express this concept in the Yin-Yang. The more severe an action- the more pronounced its reaction. Unlike the application of this law of balance in the physical world, where you can predict and measure the reaction, the manifestation of this law in the realm of the spirit is unpredictable and sometimes unrecognizable. For instance, the excessive use of alcohol may result immediately in poor health. Severe drinking often leads to more severe conditions such as alcoholism and depression. These results seem to be in direct correlation and proportion to the action of drinking too much. However, one who over-indulges in alcohol may never experience poor health, or alcoholism, or depression- but they may die of liver cirrhosis 20 years before their time. The Yin-Yang teaches us that there is always an equal and opposite reaction to our actions, even though we may not recognize it or see it coming. Moderation, therefore, helps maintain order and balance in our lives. Keeping our thoughts and actions in control and balance prevents undesirable reactions from disrupting our lives and peaceful spirits.
How does moderation apply to Hapkido? I believe the principle addresses the art itself. Firstly, as Hapkido-ists, we are asked to moderate our response and defense. We learn to break joints and “give pain”, but we are expected to use an appropriate and balanced response in any situation. This implies that we won’t break an elbow, when a joint-lock will work. However, a more pronounced “action” on the part of an attacker will be met with an “equal and opposite” reaction by the Hapkido-ist. As practitioners of Hapkido, we maintain moderation in our approach to training. We do not neglect our homes or our jobs or our families in pursuit of our art. We also practice the things we don’t like as much as the things we like- balance is a part of moderation. We try to be helpful to others and maintain a moderate temperament; free of wild swings of mood or feelings that lessen our effectiveness. We employ moderation in our approach to food and alcohol and exercise and training so that we increase our martial arts abilities rather than diminish them.
Crucial to our art is the concept of mushin- “no mind”. I strongly believe that attainment of this state must be preceded with the attainment of a calm and peaceful spirit. Many principles, when practiced, can lead to a peaceful spirit. Honor, honesty, accountability, loyalty—all of these make us more effective in the world and more capable of existing without external or internal conflict. When we conduct our affairs honorably and honestly, we are not bound to the guilt that results from not practicing these principles. When we meditate, there is one less distraction to which our mind will wander. Moderation is among these universally recognized positive tenets. It provides a mechanism to prevent unwanted and counter-productive reactions to the actions we engage in every day. A moderate approach to life produces moderate outcomes which are more manageable and spiritually reconcilable. When we ignore moderation, and indulge in anything to excess, we will feel the consequences in other areas of our lives. These consequences may distract us from the spiritual quieting necessary for Mushin, even though we don’t even know they exist.
The best way I can think of to relate moderation to Hapkido is via the foundational principles of the art itself. Moderation results from, and is indicative of, self-control. Self-control is clearly a martial arts principle. To be a martial artist means that we have self-control and should be easily recognizable as people possessing this rare quality. Moderation is a key indicator of that trait and, therefore, must be found in abundance in anyone claiming to be a martial artist.
Blessings