Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

Discuss the article, "Moral Stances on Shaky Ground" by "The Mirror" here.

Article URL: http://www.aikiweb.com/columns/themirror/2005_05.html

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

A great article, a great exploration.

Thank you very much,
dmv

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

Great article.
Very thought-provoking read.

Cheers,
Stuart.

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

When I read the article, I remembered a reply Alan Watts gave to the question: "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" I suppose it could be a real answer, or a zen buddhist answer, but the answer given was: "The chicken 'is' the egg." In gassho, tamonmark

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

Oh my goodness.

I read this article right after posting almost exactly the same thing on the Culture of Martial Mediocrity thread.

It's good to know that one is not alone in seeing these things.:)

Great article, very thought provoking also.

Gambatte.
LC:ai::ki:

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

Thank you all for the kind words!
Larry, I've been following that thread daily; haven't felt any need to contribute but enjoying watching the developing conversation.
It was also an interesting exercise for me and Katherine to "blend" into one narrative voice!

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

well thats exactly the kind of teaching i am recieving. only after reading few articles here i am starting to understand Aikido as it is meant to be, instead of how my teacher makes it look like- as a limited and confined to linear patterns collection of "superior moves".

Re: Article: Moral Stances on Shaky Ground by "The Mirror"
 

Without self examination of what learning to be harmonious really means, aikido is simply a group of techniques. If one expects to "receive" something, whether it be enlightenment or superior martial ability because "its Aikido" from anyone outside of themselves, then they are just fooling themselves. Just like those who truly submit to change because of their religious beliefs, the change must come within the person and not from anything said by another person. So, if you want aikido to change you, YOU must examine what the training is telling you. If you want superior martial ability YOU must examine how aikido techniques really work and figure out how to make that work in a martial way. Your instructor can really only show you the techniques. And its unfortunate that there are those instructors who truly believe O Sensei was somehow more than a man and portray aikido as a mystical path to perfection. Even worse is that there are some who know that isn't true and yet still purvey it to unsuspecting students.