Aikido Bukou Forums / General Discussion / Philosophy / Who's your master, baby? / Latest Posts

RE: Who's your master, baby?

pete — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 07:29:44 GMT

Well, my wife is now considering having me evaluated for medication. Other than that, everything else seems pretty much normal.

RE: Who's your master, baby?

dangerwit — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 23:58:22 GMT

There is a follow-up. But, try it in the morning when you wake up, let me know if anything changes.

*Phil

RE: Who's your master, baby?

abzmt — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:17:25 GMT

I have to admit the obvious joke was indeed the first thing to come to mind by moving on.

may it be a way for the monk to reinforce the idea that he is in charge of his own self and destiny. he is his own master and this is how he brings it to the forefront of his mind for his actions for the coming day. correct me if I am wrong but Zen being Buddhist would not pray to a higher power ie God being as we all have the same potential in the some are just closer to enlightenment than others. If the quote used "teacher" then its a whole other topic. but since he is alone and buddhist he has to be internalizing the statement.

now my head really hurts

Adam

P.S.

Johnson Sensei,

will there be a follow up or is this just an experiment to observe the paths your students travel?

RE: Who's your master, baby?

pete — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 07:57:20 GMT

I'm more or less on board with Tristan. Mastery of the self seems to be a principle foundation of Zen and a good deal of martial arts. It is a strange thing to take responsibility for one's own mind and body... when I think about it, this is the responsibility of a master.

RE: Who's your master, baby?

Tristan — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 06:57:31 GMT

Bypassing the obvious joke, the first thing that pops to mind is that the master is ever present in the priest's life. I'm not familiar with that story so my context may be quite off, but perhaps the master is something kind of like a conscience.

I've experienced that guiding voice, the one who knows better of something and will remind me that I'm about to do something dumb or could merely be doing something better. As I think about it, sometimes that voice is absent. I wonder if that is what the priest was referring to.

Who's your master, baby?

dangerwit — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 22:56:12 GMT

No no, not a bad joke. Something to ponder (from a story I read a while back):

A zen priest used to wake up alone in the morning, and ask aloud, "Is your master up?" He would answer to himself, "Yes, he is up."

What do you make of that? (Nidan and above need not reply)

*Phil