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Old 11-11-2003, 11:15 AM   #14
fvhale
Dojo: none
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 78
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Dear Jim,

You wrote:

"But how do you go about maintaining the motivation to continue... especially given your handicap?"

I have no idea.

I don't think about

"maintaining the motivation to continue."

I just continue.

Today.

Today is not yesterday,

or the day before.

How can today be boring?

Only training now is real.

Yesterday's training,

yesterday's sunshine,

yesterday's rain,

might as well be

at Jingde Monastery with Dogen

in 1225 A.D.

When I step onto the mat,

yesterday's are ghosts;

but I am breath.

If I cannot see with my eyes,

or rather, can only see quite deficiently,

does it matter?

Should I stop?

Would you still teach me?

Training is more with the heart

than with the eyes.

(My ears are also very well trained,

perhaps as some meager compensation;

and my beard is quite sensitive to touch;

alas, my head is bald!)

Peace to you,

Frank
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