The Tao of Physics - Martial Arts

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In my most recent studies I have come across another relevant source that helps explain the current state and affairs of modern martial arts. Actually, two new sources with one about tribes and the other about the Tao of Physics.

In our honest and concerted effort to learn and understand martial arts it is best if we first perceive the duality involved, the yin-yang you might say, where our view is a “Mechanistic Western View” while  the Asian view is more a “Eastern Organic View.” Ok, you say, what the f%$# does that mean? Well, I am going to pass on what I perceive it to mean. 

From the Easter view all things and events are perceived by the senses and are interrelated, connected, and are but different aspects or manifestations of the same ultimate reality. The Wester view is about our tendency to divide the perceived world into individual and separate things and teo experience ourselves as isolated egos in this world to be seen and perceived as an illusion which comes from our measuring and categorizing mentality. 

Think of the Wester view as the old meme, “I think, therefore I exist.” This way of viewing the world led us to equate our identities with our minds, instead of with our whole organism. As such, Westerners, “most individuals, are aware of themselves as isolated egos existing ‘inside’ our bodies. Our minds being separated from our bodies and our minds given the futile task of controlling our bodies, thus causing an apparent conflict between the conscious will and the involuntary instincts.” - The Tao of Physics and Tribe

Our Western fragmentation - in our self, our environment and in society - and belief in the fragmentation creates fragments that are really separate and often found as the source of the present state of things such as a series of socially, ecologically and cultural modern issues. It is believed that our independent separateness has alienated us from our true nature and from our fellow human beings where social cohesive connectedness is our very nature, in our very genes and drives our very survival instincts. 

We have creates an environment and dysfunctional social culture that has led us to social disorder; the ever increasing levels of conflict and violence, both spontaneous and socially triggered where life has or is becoming both physically and mentally unhealthy. Our efforts in martial arts if we truly want to embrace the Asian view, belief and practices at its core speak to the training, practice and application of a mutual beneficial wholehearted oneness of the mind, body and spirit. The very nature of traditional authenticate study and training and practice and application is about learning, understanding, accepting and embracing the Asian view and applying that as “The Way” in our martial arts disciplines. 

The Wester Mechanistic View as described may be a tool for the novice but to achieve a mastery in the Asian Organic View we must stop the segmenting and segregation of our many separate things that make us human, at least after an analysis where breaking it all apart into its separate distinctions is beneficial, and then synthesizing the many into the one wholehearted “One” - The Great Tai Chi so to speak. 

One reason why Buddhist philosophy has become an integrated cultural belief in Asia, i.e., as Buddhist Philosophy states, “When the mind is disturbed, the multiplicity of things is produced, but when the mind is quieted, the multiplicity of things disappears.” The exact bases of analysis and synthesis to achieve change appropriate for the situation and times where the old is learned and the new created and passed down to the generations, call it a cheng-ch’i process. The true goal of Western martial arts through synthesis is not complete until the new has been implemented thus “Quieting the mind to mind-of-no-mind” creating an Asian organic wholehearted one that brings the mind, the body and the spirit from the triad into the one wholehearted way to master and enlightenment. 

Note: This is why Ti became Te then Toudi then karate and then tomari-shuri-naha styles then became shorin-goju-isshin-uechi-etc., of the many mechanistic ways but to achieve master they now have to come full circle and become once again the one wholehearted martial art called, “Ti.” 

Bibliography (Click the link)