A Paper Napkin and Saving $50M – Deautomization and Getting Unstuck

When aware, we are no longer robots. – Young, KendoNotes

Here’s two stories on the topic of deautomization and getting unstuck from automated patterns of behaviors: one about a paper napkin and a second on saving 50 million

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The Mirror in the Heart of Master Swordsmen (and Jedi Masters)

Many master swordsmen and revered kendo teachers mention the importance of having a heart with a clear mirror.  That with such a mirror, one can intuit the heart and

Awareness and Who is this ‘I’? – Quotes and Resources

What you’re looking for is that which is looking. – St. Francis d’Assisi

Thanks to meditation and many teachers, this mind has come to a growing realization.  That meditation, zazen and aspects such as peace (平常心, heijoushin), freedom from

From Over-eating to Intuitive Eating

While visiting a dojo during a trip last year, a student asked for advice related to eating.  He was struggling with over-eating and its associated complications to his weight, health

Setbacks and the Pain of Suffering – Quotes and Resources

Life seems to present varying degrees of setbacks and suffering from time to time.  While taking a brief walk outdoors between shinpan duties at the 2018 U.S. Junior Nationals

“Soft Eyes,” A Way of Seeing and Being – Quotes and Resources

Here’s a compilation of quotes and resources on the topic of “Soft Eyes” below.  It goes by many other names: Whole Seeing, Effortless Seeing, Open Focus, Soft Focus, Wide-Angled Vision, Peripheral Vision, Panoramic Vision, “Enzan no Metsuke” (The Gaze to a Far-away Mountain), Seeing from Behind the Eyes and Looking without Looking.

The Blown Feather Sword (吹毛剣) – To Cut Away Our Attachments and Shikai

Here’s a translation of an explanation of a koan [Wiki_Koan] regarding a special sword referred to as “The Blown Feather Sword”（吹毛剣－suimouken).  A koan is typically a