Throwback Thursday
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on July 3, 2003.
Ju Yoku Go Wo Sei Shi, Jaku Yoku Kyo Wo Sei Suru
"Softness conquers hardness, pliability conquers strength."
Today, we are too obsessed with strength and power. I feel this exhibits an inherent fear of our own human weakness without realizing that our weakness is a part of human nature and our humanity. We try to overcome Nature and everything in this world and then we feel so weak and helpless because there is not much we can do about it. We should try to be in harmony with Nature and flow with it. The ancients understood this, but we have lost this wisdom.
In Zen practice or in an old-time dojo, the teacher might say, Sunao ni nare! or “To become more weak!" Or, in other words, lose our own concept of strength and goodness about ourselves because it is all a false mental attachment.
For some in practice, I would like to say, "Become more weak!" But when I do this, everyone gives me a funny expression like, "Why? I am practicing to become strong, not weak!" Yes, that is right - you do not know true strength or true weakness at all! So, Sunao ni nare!