Budo
From Elfi
Contents |
Budo
According to funkybuddha there are two ways to translate this word: The martial way, or the way of non-aggression. Interpretation is a bit tricky, but in its essence it means both. You learn ways of defense, both physical and mental, to protect yourself and others around you (the martial way). But it also teaches a state of being that allows you to spiritually step beyond anger, jealousy, and other assorted feelings that are often the cause of aggression (the way of non-aggression). If someone assaults you, physically or mentally, you will not react with anger, but stand firmly on your two feet, knowing how to deflect or avert the intended hurt where it can dissolve in mid-air. There it can not cause anyone harm.
Elfpath relevance
Leave the anger and drama behind, and step into the True You.
Budo Philosophy
Budo is not about wearing glitzy training clothes or indulging your ego in tournaments. Those who practice it follow the path of the budo because they see it as a journey of self-discovery, one that will only be frustrated by indulging in fads( martial way). The state of mind with which one practices budo is very important. The book calls it ' the spirit of your battle' . You do not do it so you have an excuse to wear that fancy pink training outfit you saw in the store. You do not do it because you want to beat up that kid who bullied you in highschool, or because your friend drags you along against your will. You walk this path because you chose to walk it, because you want to improve yourself. If you practice this for reasons of hate, anger, greed or other negative reasons, then you are not practicing true budo. You are better off taking ballet, boxing or fitness training.
Elfpath relevance
You do this for you, not for anyone else. It takes commitment to keep on walking.
Seven Pillars
Budo has the following values, which are called the Seven Pillars of budo. These are applicable to Elfpath teachings as well.
Yuuki: Courage, Valour, Bravery.
- - Facing past traumatic experiences is scary as hell, you need courage to get somewhere.
Jin: Humanity, Charity, Benevolence.
- - Very important for a close community with people who help eachother when they need it. Think of students helping eachother with a scan, a word of advice, a hand to guide them through issues etc.
Gi: Justice, Righteousness, Integrity.
- - Always be integre to yourself and others.
Rei: Etiquette, Courtesy, Civility (bow/obeisance)
- - This relates to the use of drama and the quitting thereof. Using drama is OP, hurts people and only slows you down. You, and the people around you deserve better than to be treated this way. Take care to quit the drama and you can keep growing.
Makoto: Sincerity, Honesty, Reality.
- - Often we do not want to look at our issues, so we lie to ourselves and others to avoid them. Or we run away, keeping a blindfold on to these things that scare us so much. But by doing this you are only fooling yourself. It is best to stay honest.
- * Do you really want this?
- * Yes, my mommy was mean to me when I was six.
- * I don't hate smoking because of the logical health risks, I hate this because my uncle smoked and I really hate my uncle.
- Above questions, especially the family related ones, will make you want to run and hide. But by being honest to yourself, you can start the process to feel and let go, and become happier because of it. White lies do more damage than you think, even to yourself. Always tell the truth, always be honest.
Chuugi: Loyalty, Fidelity, Devotion.
- - You can not just expect to magically grow meta-physical skills and knowledge in one day. You will fall more times than you want to count, and practice is one of the key aspects to grow. Because not everything will be a rose garden, devotion to your own process is very important. You have got to stick with it. Fidelity towards your classmates (we are all a growing family here in a sense) is important too, be devoted to help (or teach in case of a teacher) them the best you can.
Meiyo: Honour, Credit, Glory, Reputation, Dignity, Prestige.
- - The metaskills we teach can be used to help, or to harm. It requires a sense of honour and dignity to not go powerhungry and out of control, hurting people you do not like just because you can.
- The beltlevels that we use are about credit and prestige. It gives you a sense of accomplishment, giving you credit for the work you have done, and are visual proof of what you are able to do. It looks quite shiny on your profile too.
These pillars are the very foundation of budo, and equally important in Elfpath. You can not have one without the other, and we strive to uphold them as best we can. When applying the wisdom of these seven pillars, it becomes clear that the one who practices budo has no enemies in other people, in events, or something as silly as the weather. The only enemy you have is you, and that is the battle you must focus on, for it is the most important one in your life.
The greatest battle is the battle against oneself.
True victory is victory over oneself
- masakatsu agatsu
