Throwback Thursday - Value Your Life
Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on January 18, 2004.
As Aikido evolves in this modern world, it is vital to maintain the teacher-student relationship. Without this system, the art cannot be transmitted to the next generation of students.
We like everything cheap, fast and easy. Do you think this is the way to enhance the quality of our everyday lives? If we think about it for a minute, we will easily see that it doesn't make any sense at all. A higher quality of life means to work hard and be honest - don't make your life a matter of economics and do not base your life on such low minded thinking.
A student of Aikido, like a warrior, must go through all kinds of trials and obstacles in order to understand what Aikido and Life truly are. If we think this can be made easy, we are very foolish and open to disappointment. Something of great value does not come easy, if we value our lives, we will understand that there are many hardships and disappointments to face.
What makes Aikido harder and most profound as a Way, is that in Aikido, there is no fighting and there is a strong value placed on respect. The fact that fighting, anger, hatred is not an option - our most easiest way out in most cases - means, by definition, that we are already living on a much higher plane. Please always appreciate this in your practice each day. Finally, it is for this reason, we bow and pay our respects to O’Sensei each day as well.
To value our own Life is the hardest realization of all. We think that people understand this but they do not! They know how to value money, power and their own pride and ego but this is not their own life, it is only their own awkwardly heavy mental baggage which they carry all around inside of their heads. If one truly values their own Life, they will live each minute with great honor and respect for others. Only in respecting others, will one understand how to respect one's self. Simply to hold ourselves dear above others, is not understanding - it is only greed and pride.
Temper your knowledge with compassion and faith. Strengthen your faith and compassion with knowledge.