If you boost of your own wisdom and strength, and try to control others by that power, their reaction against you will inevitably occur. When you push others by the hardness, they will push you back by the hardness. In this case, the battle will continue until either of them loses. Even if you won, you would become exhausted and suffer loses accordingly. Here, it is meaningless for you whether you win or lose. Then, even if you have your rich wisdom and strength, you should not display that power. When you are pushed by the hardness, respond to it by the softness. By the softness which holds the hardness inside, handle the conflict in order that you will not lose. That is the way to use the wisdom and strength in a manner of martial arts.
May 28, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 72 老子：第七二章を読んで
自らの知恵や力を誇り，その威力で他者を制しようとすれば，必ず反発が生じる。剛で押せば，必ず剛で返ってくる。このやり方は，どちらかが敗れるまで続く。たとえ勝ったとしても，相応に疲弊し損害を被る。これでは勝っても負けても意味がない。だから知恵や力はあっても，その威力を誇示してはいけない。もし剛で押されれば，そのときは柔で返す。剛を秘めた柔でもって，負けないところで事を収める。それが武術的な知恵と力の使い方である。
If you boost of your own wisdom and strength, and try to control others by that power, their reaction against you will inevitably occur. When you push others by the hardness, they will push you back by the hardness. In this case, the battle will continue until either of them loses. Even if you won, you would become exhausted and suffer loses accordingly. Here, it is meaningless for you whether you win or lose. Then, even if you have your rich wisdom and strength, you should not display that power. When you are pushed by the hardness, respond to it by the softness. By the softness which holds the hardness inside, handle the conflict in order that you will not lose. That is the way to use the wisdom and strength in a manner of martial arts.
If you boost of your own wisdom and strength, and try to control others by that power, their reaction against you will inevitably occur. When you push others by the hardness, they will push you back by the hardness. In this case, the battle will continue until either of them loses. Even if you won, you would become exhausted and suffer loses accordingly. Here, it is meaningless for you whether you win or lose. Then, even if you have your rich wisdom and strength, you should not display that power. When you are pushed by the hardness, respond to it by the softness. By the softness which holds the hardness inside, handle the conflict in order that you will not lose. That is the way to use the wisdom and strength in a manner of martial arts.
May 26, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 71 老子：第七一章を読んで
禅が分かったと思っている人は，おそらく分かっていない。同じく，武術をマスターしたと思っている人は，おそらくマスターしていない。禅も武も，決して何らかのゴールに達することはない。むしろどちらも，練れば練るほど深くなる。練るほどに，ますます分からなくなる。自分が分からないことがますます分かってくる。分かったと勘違いして練るのを止めたらそこで終わりである。だから，分からないと思って練り続けている人の方が，禅も武も深い。
People who think they understood Zen, probably do not understand it. Similarly, people who think they mastered martial arts, probably do not master it. Concerning both Zen and martial arts, we never reach any goal. Rather, both get deepened by being practiced more. The more we practice it, the less we understand it; the more we understand what we do not understand. When we misunderstand as if we understood it and then stop practicing it, that will be the end. Therefore, people who think they do not understand it well and continue practicing it have attained to a deeper level of Zen or martial arts.
People who think they understood Zen, probably do not understand it. Similarly, people who think they mastered martial arts, probably do not master it. Concerning both Zen and martial arts, we never reach any goal. Rather, both get deepened by being practiced more. The more we practice it, the less we understand it; the more we understand what we do not understand. When we misunderstand as if we understood it and then stop practicing it, that will be the end. Therefore, people who think they do not understand it well and continue practicing it have attained to a deeper level of Zen or martial arts.
May 22, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 70 老子：第七〇章を読んで
欲得の世界からすれば，タオや禅に通じる人は，得てして理解されない。なぜなら，彼らは私への執着がないからである。私への執着がないと，欲を張らないので，生活は質素である。我を張らないので，争いに加わらない。水のごとく柔らかく，空気のごとく澄んでいる。だから，欲得に染まった人から見れば，タオや禅の人はきっと愚者に見えるに違いない。本当の武を習う者は，やがてタオや禅に通じる。達人に愚者が多いのはそのためである。
From the view point of the world of self-interest, people who are connected to the Tao and Zen can not be understood in most cases. It is because they are not attached to the self. Not being attached to the self will make us not greedy and then we will live a simple life. It will make us not selfish and then we will not be involved with competitions and conflicts. Such people are soft like water and clear like air. Therefore, from the viewpoint of those who are deeply attached to self-interest, a peron of the Tao and Zen must look a fool. Those who truly learn martial arts will eventually become connected to the Tao and Zen. That's why many of martial arts masters are often fools.
From the view point of the world of self-interest, people who are connected to the Tao and Zen can not be understood in most cases. It is because they are not attached to the self. Not being attached to the self will make us not greedy and then we will live a simple life. It will make us not selfish and then we will not be involved with competitions and conflicts. Such people are soft like water and clear like air. Therefore, from the viewpoint of those who are deeply attached to self-interest, a peron of the Tao and Zen must look a fool. Those who truly learn martial arts will eventually become connected to the Tao and Zen. That's why many of martial arts masters are often fools.
May 14, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 69 老子：第六九章を読んで
戦いは自ら仕掛けるものではない。自ら攻めるということは，自分の方が強いと思っている証左である。それは自惚れである。相手を侮ってはいけない。侮れば負ける。したがって争いを自ら起こすということは，負ける公算が高いことを意味する。負ける公算の高い勝負を自らするべきではない。負ければ失うものがある。戦わなければ失うものはない。船越義珍は「空手に先手なし」と言った。武術とは，勝つための術ではなく，負けないための術なのである。
We should not be the first to start a fight. If a person voluntarily starts a fight with another, it will prove that he/she thinks of himself/herself to be stronger. That is vanity. Don't underestimate opponents. Otherwise, you will lose. Thus, being the first to start a fight means having a high possibility to lose. We should not be the first to start a fight in which we have a high possibility to lose. Losing in a fight causes losing something. No fighting causes losing nothing. Master Gichin Funakoshi said "There is no fist attack in karate." Martial arts are not the arts for winning but the ones for not losing.
We should not be the first to start a fight. If a person voluntarily starts a fight with another, it will prove that he/she thinks of himself/herself to be stronger. That is vanity. Don't underestimate opponents. Otherwise, you will lose. Thus, being the first to start a fight means having a high possibility to lose. We should not be the first to start a fight in which we have a high possibility to lose. Losing in a fight causes losing something. No fighting causes losing nothing. Master Gichin Funakoshi said "There is no fist attack in karate." Martial arts are not the arts for winning but the ones for not losing.
May 09, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 68 老子：第六八章を読んで
武術の極意は無手勝流である。争わずして勝つことが最高の勝利である。つまり，武術とは争わないために習う術である。だから優れた武術家は，決して争いに巻き込まれない。稽古を重ねた達人は，実に柔和で優しく謙虚である。タオに従って水のごとく柔らかく人とぶつからず，知らず知らずのうちに事を丸く収めている。それはまるで空気のように，そこにいるようでいない。「私」への執着を捨てることが達人への道であり，つまりそれは禅である。
The secret of martial arts is winning without fighting. Victory without conflicts is the best. Thus, martial arts means arts that is learned in order not to fight with others. So, excellent martial artists never get involved in conflicts. Masters who have had a lot of practice are really soft, gentle, and modest. They are soft like water along the Tao, without conflicts with others, smoothing things over while others are unconscious of their direction. They are there while not there, just as the air. Letting go of the attachment to "I (me)" is the way approaching to become masters; that is Zen.
The secret of martial arts is winning without fighting. Victory without conflicts is the best. Thus, martial arts means arts that is learned in order not to fight with others. So, excellent martial artists never get involved in conflicts. Masters who have had a lot of practice are really soft, gentle, and modest. They are soft like water along the Tao, without conflicts with others, smoothing things over while others are unconscious of their direction. They are there while not there, just as the air. Letting go of the attachment to "I (me)" is the way approaching to become masters; that is Zen.
May 06, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 67 老子：第六七章を読んで
人に対して思いやりがなく，浪費的で，とにかく出世競争に勝ちたいと願う人間の心が穏やかであるはずがない。自分の欲望を最優先にして，欲しいものばかり求めるというやり方は，第一に際限がない。欲望は尽きないので，永遠に満たされることがないからだ。第二に敵を生む。ある欲を叶えようとすれば，その欲が叶えられない人がいるからだ。無駄をなくして自分の取り分は必要最小限にし，他者に「勝利」を譲れば，絶対的に心穏やかでいられる。
Those who have no consideration for others, waste things, times, and money, and lust for win a promotion race in some way or other can never have a peaceful heart. Firstly, it is endless to hold one's own desires to the maximum priority, and seek for only what he/she wants. It is because desires never end and then he/she never be satisfied. Secondly, it makes enemies. It is because, if he/she is fulfilled with a desire of his/her own, there will be another one who is not fulfilled with the desire. When you are not wasteful, receive only your minimum requirement, and yield a winning to another person, you will absolutely have a peaceful heart.
Those who have no consideration for others, waste things, times, and money, and lust for win a promotion race in some way or other can never have a peaceful heart. Firstly, it is endless to hold one's own desires to the maximum priority, and seek for only what he/she wants. It is because desires never end and then he/she never be satisfied. Secondly, it makes enemies. It is because, if he/she is fulfilled with a desire of his/her own, there will be another one who is not fulfilled with the desire. When you are not wasteful, receive only your minimum requirement, and yield a winning to another person, you will absolutely have a peaceful heart.
May 01, 2018
After Reading Lao Tsu: Chapter 66 老子：第六六章を読んで
水は低いところに流れていく。そうして川はやがて海になる。だから低くへりくだる者がタオに通じている。横柄で利己的な者に人は決して付いていかない。謙虚で利他的な者にこそ人は付いていく。謙虚で利他的であれば，人と争うことはない。争わなければ，心穏やかに過ごすことができる。究極の武術とは，争わずに勝つことである。本当の勝利とは，人とともに心穏やかに過ごすことだとすれば，武術の核心とはすなわち謙虚で利他的であることである。
Water flows towards a lower place (water seeks its own level). In that way, rivers will become the sea. Then, people who downgrade themselves are connected to the Tao. Arrogant and self-centered persons are never followed by others. It is modest and altruistic ones who are followed by others. If a person is modest and altruistic, he/she will not fight with others. If we do not fight with others, we will be able to spend our time calmly. The ultimate arts of fighting is to win without fighting. If our true winning means spending our time calmly with others, the very core of martial arts is just being modest and altruistic.
Water flows towards a lower place (water seeks its own level). In that way, rivers will become the sea. Then, people who downgrade themselves are connected to the Tao. Arrogant and self-centered persons are never followed by others. It is modest and altruistic ones who are followed by others. If a person is modest and altruistic, he/she will not fight with others. If we do not fight with others, we will be able to spend our time calmly. The ultimate arts of fighting is to win without fighting. If our true winning means spending our time calmly with others, the very core of martial arts is just being modest and altruistic.
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