The suitcase is unpacked and clothes are washed, the training weapons are cared for, the random collection of things I purchased now in a pile for placement for display. I got one good night of sleep on Friday (10-12 hours) before Saturday's nights game of "Wake Up, it is time to be training" at 0 Dark Thirty.
Like it or not, I am back and reality is ready to come crashing back in.
The most important question is "What is different from when you left?"
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It may seem a bit odd that this would one of the main thoughts coming out of such a trip. To me, it is not such a surprise: one of the expectations of my school is that after every training with our Grand Master, we are expected to write a paper on our experience and what we learned (yes, even in my late 50's, I still have homework and reports due). And being a blogger (as I am), I have become used to the idea over the years that part of my travels include preparing for how I am going document my experiences upon my return.
On the one hand, it is a great habit to have: one tends to think and document things as they come to mind or occur. On the other hand, it can become a bit of a challenge when all one ever does is collect experiences for the purposes of reflection and writing.
Both the paper and the blogging have exacerbated the already existing tendencies I had of being quiet and self reflective. It helps, too, that as an introvert, the idea of reflecting on things is seen as having merit.
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What I have at the moment are more a series of random items, observations and reflections as they presented themselves.
1) "Current Events" have limited appeal in the outer world: I was out of the news and social media loop (more or less) for almost two weeks. It was - frankly - refreshing. To be fair, I did not necessarily seek out news in Japan either. But I surely did not miss the sort of breathless events that seem to be happening on both sides on almost a minute by minute basis here. And other than a couple of comments, our training group was largely free of commentary as well (by a sort of unspoken agreement). I suspect it would sadden and shock many here that "current events" could equally be defined as "transitory news" that quickly loses steam outside of their relevant surroundings.
Frankly, I did not miss it one bit. And it was a good reminder that one really can lead a life largely divorced of the madness that seems to constitute much of modern life.
2) My 2026 Intentions are on target: As you might recall from my 2026 Intentions (not goals!), I had identified passing the N4 Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and paring down my life as two intentions. Being in Japan convinced me that pursuing the JLPT is a right thing to do (after all, I intend to keep going as long as I am able and if so, why not be able to speak better?). And paring down my life - partially in this case by continuing to pursue Iaijutsu (and not just adding new things) - is a goal worth pursuing.
Time is limited. Make it count.
3) One really can change - One of the high points (and most surprising things to me) was from a fellow student who I only see during these seminars. He commented to me that my demeanor seemed changed from the last time that he had trained with me, which would have been in 2025. His comment was that I no longer seemed afraid or nervous when I was called forward to demonstrate a technique.
One does not get the feedback that one has changed for the better often, even less so when it is something that seems to have happened without conscious awareness.
4) I am on the right path: The past year between the 2025 and 2026 seminars has been rougher than I anticipated. I did not plan on an injury which has impacted my ability to do certain techniques. I did not know that I would decide to let The Ranch go - and by default, that the course of our lives may very well end here in New Home 2.0 (or elsewhere, who knows). I did not think that some of the choices I have made over the past year would have been made, or that things that had once valued no longer had the same value to me.
As it turns out, it has all turned out for the best. Which gives me comfort that while the path of my musha shugyo, or warrior's pilgrimage, is not what I had intended, it is the path I am intended for.
5) Focus on the things that matter: One of my favorite quotes from the Buddhist monk Takuan Soho runs "If you follow the present day world, you will turn your back on The Way. If you would not turn your back on The Way, do not follow the world."
There are a great many things that really do matter in life. Very few of them are actually what people think are important
It seems to me that you received a lot of affirmations this trip that you were on the right path. I imagine that is a nice and very peaceful feeling.
ReplyDeleteEd, it really is. It is nice to come back feeling reinforced in one's decisions, not with a sense of "Off on a snipe hunt again, I see".
DeleteTakuan Soho was very wise. I think what happens, though, is that the world somehow pulls us along whether we want to go or not. Last week I had encounters with two different people who were incredulous that I don't have a cell phone. "How do you manage?" they both asked, to which I could only reply, "Very well." Of course, I've never used a cell phone, so I don't know what I'm "missing." Yet the pressure to need a cell phone gradually increases because the world perceives them as "normal."
ReplyDeleteTraining in and practicing ancient skills such as Iaijutsu or handweaving is somehow reality grounding, I think, (with or without cell phones, lol). I'm not sure how, but somehow, discipline within a traditional framework keeps us connected us to a different mindset, a different path than the world is racing down. Just a theory, of course.
Takuan Soho is a fascinating character from the late Age of War through the early Tokugawa reign. A monk and eventually abbot, he was quite opinionated (including an exile to the North for disagreeing with the Shogun) and acerbic (a type of Japanese pickle, the takuan, is reputed to be invented by him). He writes on marital arts in a way that shows he clearly understood the principles.
DeleteInteresting thoughts about a cell phone as an example of how "the world" is. I was reminded during this trip how on one hand they are incredibly useful (I could conduct 98% of my payments on a cell phone in Japan if I needed to, and as a camera it is quite convenient) and how on the other what a time waster they can be. I do not know I am quite able to move to a flip phone yet, but I am getting there.
I do think you are right about skills being reality grounding. I wonder if it is because they are physical objects or practices in a physical world and therefore have specific practices that have to be incorporated to practice them, forcing us to discipline ourselves to use those practices.
Unlike Leigh I do have a cell phone, it's a flip phone and has been used to make calls or answer texts when logging onto a site sometimes, otherwise it stays in the pocket, NOT used for surfing the Web TB. The closer you get to the goal line the more Time becomes important eh? Nice to see you've learned a bit more about yourself TB, congratulations guy! Looking forward to more posts about your adventure Over There!
ReplyDeleteNylon12 - My first two phones were flip phones and - looking back - I do not know I was any the worse for it. I seldom get calls now, especially since my parents have passed on (to be fair, I do get more texts).
DeleteI hope I have learned more about myself (he says, somewhat unconfidently). Certainly the time factor is becoming more real.
Adventure posts inbound.
W. in CA
ReplyDeleteThank you TB! Your reflections tell us a lot about how meaningful your spiritual journey is to you and your life path without preaching. Believers are all on our own path that God lays out for us. We step off at times and God gives us rope to wander or He closes a door, limiting us or closing us in. Our duty is to be willing and obedient. We are to reflect but our answers don't come from within, they come from God.
I'm new here, so oblige me a few questions. How do you reconcile the teachings of the Bible, especially John 14:6 when Jesus says He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father but through Him...with these Japanese teachings? Is The Way in the above quote, God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I don't think that is how Takuan Soho probably meant it. Did he believe in the Christian God? If this teaching was open to interpretation it would be the way or a way, and not The Way. What does it mean to you and are you interpreting these sayings through God's spiritual lense or the world's?
I knew a man who passed away a few years ago who attended a Protestant church, supposedly read His Bible and was always quoting American Indian sayings. He was neck deep in Indian studies and gave talks people of the community were invited to and he wrote articles for the local paper. Over time, he seemed to believe more in the ancient Indian sayings than he did Scriptures.
I'm curious for your response. Thank you!
W - I deal with sayings like Takuan's the same way that I deal with sayings from the Stoic philosophers, for example: what truth (small t) is continued therein?
DeleteFor example, Soho was a Buddhist in a time when Christianity was still allowed in Japan at the time, so he likely was at least aware of the claims of Christianity and rejected them. And his definition of "The Way" would clearly have been that of the Buddhist Way. But outside of that framework, he is not wrong: If we are going to follow a way - any way - we cannot follow the world. Certainly nothing unChristian in that understanding of it.
The Stoics (for example) are the same for me. There is a lot in them about learning to control ourselves and let go of our circumstances that clearly resonates with Scripture (and the early Church, at least through the 3rd Century, valued their teachings highly). I just take those parts that match with Scripture and do not use the rest (Epictetus, for example, one of the most approachable of the Stoics, was clearly no friend of Christianity).
Arguably as a Christian, we believe that there is A Truth which exists. The fact that it might exist in faint echoes in other cultures and religions should not surprise us; it could in fact be used as a bridge to reach people.