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If aikido is the art of peace, there must be a root of violence and disharmony that informs it. To have love, and choose to do so, one must also have the backdrop of apathy and self-promotion that highlights our deficits unless we give ourselves to something greater than ourselves. Yet when we become aware of this choice (and even the active support of the smallest philosophy is certainly a choice), the introspective element gained also sheds light on our motivation and expression. What, then, becomes vital to our sense of self once the bare-boned nature of our true nature emerges?
Something may be a good thing; it may not be the right thing.
Something may be against our will; it may be the nature of our will that perpetuates it.
And something may seem to be a logical progression or state when we grope in the dark for answers, trying for survival; but once we have the illumination of self-reflection it is no longer appropriate or can be condoned.
Once we have started learning along the aikido path, can we ever again be justified to overcome another by any means? If we choose to respond with what we've learned of aikido, have our choices matured to the point where protection of the other person is an unspoken requirement? ...More