“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” - Nietzsche
Martial arts training teaches us to find meaning in everything that we do. Training then become, in a sense, jibunsagashi (自分探し) or “A journey of self-discovery.” The problem with a journey toward self-discovery is that it can be fraught with suffering as we surmount our inner obstacles. Every person’s suffering is relative, but it is still suffering none the less, and thus it can be hard to bear. What helps ease the burden is to put that suffering into perspective. Nietzsche said, “To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering.” This idea that suffering becomes more manageable when it has meaning is the central idea of Viktor Frankl’s book Man’s Ultimate Search For Meaning. Frankl was a neurologist, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor and in his book he wrote, “We have freedom to find meaning in what we do, and what we experience, or at least in the stance we take when faced with a situation of unchangeable suffering.” This idea that suffering is made more bearable with perspective is an oft quoted narrative in martial arts training. Currently, there are many people in our dojo preparing themselves for their next rank examinations which will be coming in the next few months. I watch them come in on their own time, come early and stay late so that they can get in some extra training and I know that for many of them it is not only physically hard but also a hardship to make the extra time. Often times, when I talk with some of my seniors in Aikido they are so natsukashi (懐かし) or “nostalgic” for the good old days as they reminisce about how hard it was. Only now with time and experience do these old timers have the perspective or understand the meaning of their suffering and many don’t see it negatively as suffering anymore but positively as a process of growth. Thinking about this, what if we could understand the meaning and have the right perspective before we entered into a situation? If we could understand the meaning behind our suffering then we might not see it as suffering but as growth and perhaps be able to manage it in a better way and maybe even enjoy it a little too.
Today’s goal: Can you find meaning in that which confronts you?
Watch this video of Viktor Frankl explain how to find meaning in suffering.