It's coming ..winter brr lol

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Greetings Master Octagon Bows,
By all means my good friend. The original was modified as I realised the image was left handed,No Left handed Samurai or Ronin :) See below :)

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Fall seven rise the eighth

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Greetings Master Octagon

Inded my friend. I did an article some time ago based on Osho and his philosophy around being the I in I am and then my own regarding the Do in Do the latter being Japanese for Way or Path
Doing what is right is not always the easiest route, but there should be no distiction betwwen easy or hard only what is right , being either Action, speech,thought etc

Greetings Good People

My studies have taken me off into the the so called Dark Side. This came about via a subject of the Spiritual Jedi or Warrior. In doing so. I have realized that Man in general is a pack animal, like a wolf pack for instance as they are closer to us. The all work together, yes they have stucture but it is fair. there are duties but these are in order to survive and for the well being of the young. These structures could be seen in Native American tribes and Huna . For what ever reason Man has just created rules laws higher ranks to be POWERFUL. It is a means to control the masses even to the extent of inventing religions with pretend friend.I see it as nothing short of bullying. What right does any human have to dictate how a person should live, dress, work, or believe in.
Man created governments, armies all with rank and pivaligies which went with those ranks and so it goes on . The places where we work, the CEO commands respect yet the person sweeping yard is considered lowly.It is just wrong.
To that end and this is where it becomes difficult for me. I came here from TOJO which started off ok until some abscent Masters came back and tore into the Jedi knights . It was allaling behavior. I stated my views and left.I find this temple and everything was different, much more open and friendly. I concider you all as friends. BUT, We still have structure and rules and ...an Oath to bide by...In my humble opinion this is not right.No one has the right to make anyone sign and abide by an oath. Samurai did not have to give their word, if thay were asked to do something it was done. We should be the same.
I understand the need for structure but the code creed and Teachings are purely and individual thing.I am being quite open here. It has not really proved to be successful very few who have become knights are still active. They spend the best part of two years leaning then vanish. That is not Jeddism. In fact Jeddism is only a set of thoughts put together by an individual. Jedi are not real. We are real. we deveop a set of values and conduct and do our best to pass it on. It is not bullying you have achoice if you like it stay if now you can leave. Sith light dark grey Consular Guardian Sentinal, they are just words the only thing that is real is our behavior, Mine has not been purfect at all infact in some cases been dreadful. That is nothing to do with the darkside. It is just me not following my code of cuncut which I chose to live by.YE my choice not told to be any one just me.
Right,next choice stay or leave, Leave actually is not the right choice.If I dont voice my feelings nothing is achieved, Staying may benifit others and if that is only one person then it is worth doing....Unless however I am asked to leave. I which case I would and without any bad feeling what so ever Bows

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Greetings

Master Octagon, we had a similar chat a little while ago. Some will state there is definite Light and dark side. Not forgetting that Jedi and the Force of either light and dark are a fictional creation. However there is a philosophy which will depend on how any individual viesw it, thats what makes us who we are. Most of us are like thinking people be will always have as light difference of view that is quite natural.
The individual makes the distinction at any one given time of either being light or Dark In my opinion you have to have a balance in purety there should not be either that would be enlightenment. As I see it the Light generally has a set of guidlines which one is expected to follow IE the teaching the code and the Cread, The Dark side generally says you do what you think is right there are no rules. A samurai was never expected to give an oath his word was enough.
The conversation could go on for ever it is a circle. The Force or KI as I call it has no distiction of either it is neither positive nor negative it just is.
Aikido is a good example applied technique causes much discomfort but disapates instantly when released.
I'm going to stop there lol.-

Greetings Master Octagon

It is rather long winded but it all makes sense and you can't really skip anything :)

Greetings Good people

This is quite a long passge but well worth reading. We all want to progress and learn but a lot of our knowlege has to come from going out and finding it. then expanding that knowledge. Also what you do with it is important, Kowing is one thing understanding is another .

Zen Fable

The Marvelous Techniques of the Old Cat : Neko no Myojutsu :

There Once was a Fine Swordsman named Shoken.

His home was plagued by a huge rat who roamed around freely, even during the day.

Shoken’s house cat was no match for the rat and fled in terror after being severely bitten.

Shoken acquired several tough local polecats to combat the rat. They were released in the house, and went for the rat, who crouched in a corner waiting for them to come.

The rat lashed out ferociously at one cat after the other and drove them all away.

Angered by the abject failure of the cats, the master decided to dispatch the rat with his sword.

Despite his skill as a swordsman, he could not strike the rat which jumped great distances through the air, moved like lightning, and boldly lept right over the top of the swordsman’s head.

Shoken gave up in exasperation and decided to seek the aid of the Amazing Old Cat from a nearby village.

When the owner brought the Old Cat over to Shoken’s house, Shoken was surprised at how ordinary and aged the cat appeared. However, he said, let’s give it a try, and released the cat into the room where the rat was ensconced.

As soon as it saw the cat approach, the rat froze. The cat nonchalantly walked over, seized the rat by the neck, carried it out of the room, and turned it over to Shoken.

That night, the other cats gathered and gave the Old Cat the seat of honor.

They said to him, We are all well known for our skill in rat catching, able to handle even weasels and otters......our nails are razor sharp. However, there was nothing we could do against that rat.

How is it you were able to overcome that giant rat?........ Please impart to us the secrets of your art.

The Old Cat laughed and said, Well, you are all still young and although you have experience in fighting you still have a lot to learn. Before I begin, though, tell me about your training.

A black cat came forward and said.......I was raised in a family that specialized in training cats. I was taught how to leap over a seven foot screen, how to squeeze into tiny holes, and all kinds of acrobatic tricks.

I was an expert at feigning sleep and striking out as soon as a rat came near. Rats could not escape me.

I could catch them even as they fled across ceiling beams. I was never defeated until I met that old rat.

The Old Cat said........Your training has centered exclusively on technique. All you think about is catching the rat. The old masters taught patterns and movements to enable us to develop good technique. And even the simplest technique contains profound principles.

You focus on external technique too much. This causes you to doubt the traditions of the masters and to devise new tricks. However, if you rely on technique too much, sooner or later you will come to an impasse because physical technique has a limit.........Ponder this well.

Next the tiger cat stepped forward and said........I think that the development of Ki (life force) is most important.

I have polished my Ki for many years, and my spirit is very strong, filling heaven and earth.

I could face down my opponents with overwhelming Ki and defeat them from the start. I could immediately respond to any stimulus, any movement. I did not need to think; techniques arose naturally.

I could freeze a rat running across a beam and make it drop to the floor. That old rat, though, came without a form, and left not a trace.

I was stymied.

The Old Cat replied........The Ki power you use is still a function of your own mind, and thus too self centered.

It is based entirely on your own level of self confidence. As long as you remain conscious of your Ki power and use it mentally to suppress an opponent, you will create resistance. And you will be sure to meet an opponent whose Ki power is even stronger than your own.

You may think that your Ki power fills the universe in the same manner as the Kozen No Ki (universal energy) employed by the Chinese sage Mencius.....but it does not. In the case of Mencius, Ki is bright and vigorous. His use of Ki power is like a great river; your use of Ki power is like a flash flood.

We all know the proverb ‘A biting cat gets bitten by the rat.’ When a rat is cornered it forgets life, forgets desires, forgets winning and losing, forgets body and mind.

That force is as strong as steel, and cannot be vanquished merely by Ki power.

Next, an older grey cat advanced quietly and said........As you have stated, that type of Ki power can be very strong but still retains a form, however slight, that can be used against you.

As for me, for many years now I have been polishing my heart. I do not rely on Ki power, I never harbor thoughts of fighting with an opponent, and always try to harmonize myself to any attack. When an opponent is strong, I blend and follow his movements.

My technique is like that of a curtain capturing and dropping to the floor a stone thrown against it. Until now, even the strongest rat could find no place to attack me. That rat, though, was amazing Ki power and harmonizing power had no effect on it.

The Old Cat answered........Your harmonizing power is not the harmonizing power of nature.

It is a projection of your own mind and thus limited.

Any trace of conscious thought destroys your equilibrium, and a sharp opponent will seize on that opening in an instant. Thought obstructs nature and hinders function.

Do not think, do not act; follow the movements of nature, and self will disappear.

Without a self, there will be no one to oppose you in Heaven and Earth.

It is not my intent to dismiss all of your hard training as worthless. The Way has many vessels. Techniques contain universal principles.

Ki power makes the body function and vivifies the cosmos. Harmonizing power enables one to blend naturally with any attacking force, even rocks, without being broken.

As soon as there is the slightest conscious thought, however, contrivance and willfulness appear, and that separates you from the natural Way.

You see yourself and others as separate entities.......as opponents.

If you asked me what technique I employ, the answer is Mushin (no-mind).

Mushin is to act in accordance with nature, nothing else. The Way has no limits, so do not think of this talk of mine as the ultimate secret.

Long ago, there was a cat in my neighborhood who seemed to do nothing but nap all day. That cat looked spiritless, almost like a cat made out of wood.

No one ever saw it catch a rat, yet wherever it was and wherever it went, no rat dared to appear. I once visited the cat and asked it to explain the reason.

I asked four times for an answer but it remained silent. It was not that the cat did not want to answer but rather that it did not know how to answer.

As the old saying goes, Those who know, do not speak; those who speak, do not know. That cat forgot about itself, forgot about objects, and dwelt in a state of purposelessness. That cat actualized the divine martial virtue of non-killing.

I am still no match for that cat.

Shoken, who had been eavesdropping on this dreamlike conversation, suddenly could not contain himself and burst into the room.

I have been training in swordsmanship for many years but I have yet to penetrate its essence. Tonight I have learned about many different kinds of training and learned much about my own Way of the Sword. Please teach me your innermost secrets.

The Old Cat replied......That I cannot do.

I am just an animal that catches rats for food. What do I know about human affairs?....... I have this to say, though.

Swordsmanship is not solely a matter of attaining victory over an opponent. At a critical juncture it is the art of illuminating life and death. Samurai need to foster this attitude of mind and discipline themselves in that spirit.

Penetrate the principle of life and death, first of all, and maintain that spirit. Then there will be no doubts, no distracting thoughts, no calculation, no deliberation.

Your spirit will remain calm and peaceful, unobstructed, freely responding to any contingency.

Conversely, if there is the slightest object in your mind, there will be a self, there will be an enemy, there will be opposition, there will be a loss of freedom.

You will enter the darkness of death and lose the spiritual brightness.

How can you face an opponent in such a state? Even if you win, it is a shallow victory, and not true swordsmanship.

Purposelessness is not a vacant state. It is formless, harboring no objects. If something is harbored there, Ki power gathers around it. Ki power is thus stifled and movement becomes stagnant, unbalanced, and uncontrolled.

What I call ‘purposelessness’ harbors nothing, relies on nothing, has no enemy, has no self; it responds to everything naturally and leaves not a trace.

The I Ching states, without thought, without doing, naturally settled, the Way activates itself throughout the universe. Swordsmen who understand this principle are close to the way.

Shoken asked, What is meant by There is no enemy, there is no self?

The Old Cat replied......

Because there is a self, there is an enemy. If there is no self, there is no enemy. Enemy is that which is in opposition. The type of opposition that appears external in yin and yang, fire and water.

Every object with form has its opposite. When mind has no form, there is nothing to oppose it. When there is no opposition, there is nothing to fight against. This is called ‘no enemy, no self’.

When self and objects are both forgotten, there is a natural state of non activity, of no trouble, of oneness.

The enemy’s form is gone, and you know nothing. This is not the same as being unaware; it means no calculating thought, and immediate natural response. This mind is unobstructed and free, allowing the world to become your domain.

Abstractions such as this, that, like, and dislike disappear. Pleasure and pain, gain and loss are similar creations of your mind.

All heaven and earth is not to be sought outside of one’s own mind.

An ancient worthy once said, A single speck of dust in the eye can make the three worlds look very narrow; liberate your mind and life without obstruction! When a speck of dust enters the eye it can barely be kept open, and it is difficult to see anything.

When something that is bright by nature is contaminated by a foreign object, it loses its clarity. The same holds true for the mind.

Another ancient said, Surrounded by myriad foes, your body may be smashed to pieces, but your mind is yours and can never be vanquished. Confucius said, Even the meanest human being cannot be deprived of his or her will.

When you are deluded, your own mind becomes your enemy.

I would like to stop talking here. It is now up to you yourselves.

A master can transmit techniques to illuminate the principles behind them, but no more.

The truth has to be realized individually. This is self-attainment.

It is called ‘mind to mind transmission’, and ‘a separate transmission outside the texts.’ While the teaching does not depend on tradition, it utilizes tradition, but still a master cannot impart everything. This is not limited to the study of Zen.

From the spiritual training methods of the ancient sages to the masterpieces created by artists, all were based on self attainment and instantaneous mind-to-mind transmission, a teaching outside the texts. The texts teach what you have within and assist you in obtaining it on your own and as your own.

A master does not really give you anything.

It is easy to talk, and easy to listen, but difficult to perceive these things and make them truly your own. This is called Kensho (seeing into one’s nature) and Satori (enlightenment).

Satori is to awaken from the dream of illusion. It is the same as keen awareness.

Bows be one with all things

Only Emptiness of no Ki :)

Greetings Master Octagon

The mind set seems to carry everything into the future. So does any given situation how we handle it and others involed will determin the outcome. I think making an uncompassionate choice can in fact be the right one.Tho unlikely to be deemed right by others who do not follow 'The Way'