|
| | | 
Forum Member
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/13/2008 1:10:38 PM
Posts: 95, Visits: 2,443 |
| I've been giving more thought to the nature of life, and aikido. I think most aikidoka are well exposed to the yin side of aikido in our practice, that is that you take extreme care not to protect both yourself and uke. Every so often, mention is made to those times when this concern must be adjusted to fit a more dire circumstance. It is sometimes referred to as 'appropriate response' to a life threatening situation or some similar danger. To put it in more blunt terms, you put the hurt on someone to stop them and protect yourself or others.
I'm sure one could think their way into a padded room on this topic, that is how to accurately judge the level of 'appropriate' with response. Samurai killed first and questioned their actions later. Well, they really didn't second guess themselves at all - they just killed first. Modern people, especially midwesterners typically find that *any* response is too much, shunning confrontation of any kind. I've seen people go so far out of their way to provide the benefit of the doubt that they have left myself in harm's way doing so. I've been guilty of this myself.
In the real world, this is usually not a matter of violence. Instead, I've noticed that it is calling people when they do something inappropriate, hurtful, mean, irresponsible or just stupid. It is commonplace to sit by when evil deeds are being done, and finding any reason to avoid injecting virtue or sensibility into the world. I am coming to believe this is an imbalance and disharmonious, and am disappointed in myself when I don't call people on it.
While I believe there are far more effective ways of dealing with issues than violence, I also believe that care must be taken not to slip down the path of pacifism believing that it is OK to let anything happen. There is a time and a place to deal with things and those opportunities should not be squandered. True shodo o seizu, I think. |
| |
| | | 
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 4/4/2008 2:42:57 PM
Posts: 43, Visits: 149 |
| Tristan,
I think you are heading down an interesting path with this line of thought.
In my eyes, pacifism is a choice, not something that is thrust upon us. Everyone has inappropriate words or actions (me not withstanding). I think how we handle the situation that we are thrown into is just as important as how we handle a situation we instigate.
Don't be disappointed in human nature and view it as a flaw. It's just human nature, and something else to be blended with. A good way to practice "masakatsu agatsu".
*Mike
"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." -Dalai Lama
"If I begin to play with power too casually, it may begin all too casually to play with me." -Nietszche |
| |
| | |
Forum Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 3/13/2008 1:10:38 PM
Posts: 95, Visits: 2,443 |
| As I reflect on human nature, I can't help but be reminded by how splendid it can be. The balance I'd like to achieve is to applaud and support actions of kindness and generosity with the same intent as putting a stop to actions which are hurtful.
This last week I listened to a conversation with an experienced counselor who was offering advice on how to handle troubled people. His point was that if you allow someone to misbehave, your saying nothing about it is tacit endorsement of their behavior. Even if you say something half the time, the other half you are essentially saying 'what you are doing is ok'. I continue to think on this.
I come back to the quote "Evil flourishes when good men do nothing."
I'm not big on evil.  |
| |
|
|