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Tidbits
Periodic Tidbits
In kendo, there’s a teaching “Do not hit to win, but win to hit.” Rather than (winning) a point by chance from striking each other randomly, grasp the opportunity to strike. I think that the purpose behind the principles of waza (techniques) in kendo is not in the strike (datotsu) itself nor even in valuing the “strike” (portion) performed with all one’s strength at the right opportunity. But rather, the purpose is in seizing the opportunity to strike. From [Hakudo_WhyMen?] (Editor’s Note: This translation may be off somewhat.)
剣道には「打って勝つな、勝って打て」という教えがあります。互いの乱打戦から偶然当たった一本よりも、打突の機を見定め、そこを捉えて打った渾身の一打を評価するのも、剣道の技法における目的が打突そのものにあるのではなく、打突の機を捉えることにあると考えることで理解できるのではないかと思います。
Seme is to make your job easy. You want to make the opponent move the way you want (the opponent to move) – like in hikidashi – or be scared, panicked, confused – those shikai. So how you can make your opponent act the way you want (is seme). – Kiyoshi Hao (7 Dan),
Fixed Tidbits
Let the neck be free. Let the head go forward and up. And let the spine lengthen. – Judith Stransky on the Alexander Technique and what F. Matthias Alexander what would say.
I am slave to my habits, … I have surrendered my free will to the years of accumulated habits and the past deeds of my life have already marked out a path which threatens to imprison my future. – Og Mandino from The Greatest Salesman in the World
Most of us spend most our lives feeling like we are the thinker of our thoughts. Where is this thinker? Isn’t there only the next thought that arises? – Sam Harris at the 22:57 min mark of “Waking Up with Sam Harris – Looking for the Self (26 Minute Meditation) (26:16mins)”
The day you decide that you are more interested in being aware of your thoughts than you are in the thoughts themselves – that is the day you will find your way out. – Michael Singer
Many people think that they experience life by thinking thoughts. That is not true. Thoughts are experienced like color, sounds and sensations. – Unknown wise one from Germany
Normally, one takes years or decades to arrive at anything like steady and spontaneous in-seeing. Nevertheless the method is quite simple and the same throughout. It consists of ceasing to overlook the looker – or rather, the absence of the looker. – Douglas Harding, p. 26, On Having No Head.
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