Every good martial artist strives to develop shitsuitaizen (失意泰然) or “A serene state of mind in the face of adversity.” We are trying to develop this serene mindset because we know that everything comes from or benefits from being calm. For instance, we can be wealthy but money can only make us comfortable and it cannot bring us inner peace. Likewise, we can’t truly be undefeatable without inner peace because any form of discord creates an opening for our defeat. In the 13th Century, Hojo Tokimune was the main general in the Kamakura Shogunate who was in charge of fighting the Mongols that were trying to invade Japan. He was responsible for gathering an army, commanding that army, and building a stone wall to keep the Mongols out. Despite being in charge and responsible for defeating the Mongols, Tokimune found himself tormented with thoughts of defeat. Before the second Mongol invasion, Tokimune went to see his Zen master Mugaku Sogen at Kencho-ji temple. During their conversations, Sogen took up his brush and wrote one word baku bon no (莫煩悩) or “no anxiety or worry.” He explained the meaning, “After you finish preparing for battle, don't worry too much. Overthinking will only make you crazy. It won't help you at all. Your agony is produced by your own mind.” After receiving these words, Tokimune felt ready to face the Mongols and went on to lead the Japanese to victory. Realizing that worrying wouldn’t change the outcome of the battle, Tokimune was able to calm his mind. In martial arts, having a calm mind is the ultimate technique. We can look at calmness from the martial arts perspective of sente (先手) or “seizing the initiative” in combat. Typically, beginners wait until after they are attacked to calm or ready themselves and we could call this go no sen (後の先) or “waiting to take the initiative.” More experienced students sometimes do the dance of relaxation where they take a few huffing breaths and shake out their limbs prior to being attacked and we could call this sen no sen (先の先) or “taking initiative before being attacked.” However, the most experienced students don’t need to calm themselves because they have already calmed themselves way before even being engaged and we could call this sen sen no sen (先先の先) or “taking the initiative before the before of being attacked.” Serenity is a practice that we must cultivate way before we are attacked. Nothing and no-one can ever truly defeat us when we are calm, and this is why a martial artist only strives for serenity.
Today’s goal: Seize the day by cultivating calmness.
Watch this video of His Holiness the Dalai Lama discussing calmness.