THE MARSTA Philosophy
At THE MARSTA we respect the philosophy of Taoism, Cha’an ( Zen) Buddhism and Confucianism.
Here are a number of sayings from these three great, essential and thought-provoking “traditions” as well as others I have encountered over the years.
Each one of these has a direct bearing upon what I teach at THE MARSTA…
Kongzi (Confucianism):
Have no friends not equal to yourself.
The one that asks a question may be a fool for a minute, but the one who does not ask is a fool for life.
The way of the superior person is threefold; virtuous, they are free from anxieties; wise they are free from perplexities; and bold they are free from fear.
No matter how busy you may think you are you must find time for reading, or surrender yourself to self-chosen ignorance.
To be wronged is nothing, unless you continue to remember it.
The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
You cannot open a book without learning something.
If what one has to say is not better than silence, then one should keep silent.
Study the past if you would define the future.
It does not matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop.
To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice.
Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.
By nature, men are alike; by practice they may become oceans apart.
When a person should be spoken with and you don’t speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn’t be spoken with and you speak to them you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people nor do they waste their breath.
The man of wisdom is never of two minds.
The man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.
What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.
The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.
When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.
Forget injuries but never forget kindnesses.
A lion chased me up a tree… and I greatly enjoyed the view from the top.
How do you eat and elephant? Bit by bit! (Indian riddle)
When you see a good person, think of becoming like her/him. When you see someone not so good, reflect on your own weak points.
To know that we know what we know, and that we do not know what we do not know, that is true knowledge.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.
If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children.
The nature of men is always the same; it is their habits that separate them.
To know what you know and to know what you don’t know, that is real wisdom.
When the wind blows,the grass bends.
The superior man is distressed by the limitations of his ability, He is not distressed by the fact that men do not recognize the ability that he has.
A true teacher is one who, keeping the past alive, is also able to understand the present.
Behind every smile there are teeth.
Don’t use cannon to kill a mosquito.
He Who Knows And Knows That He Knows Is A Wise Man – follow him; he Who Knows Not And Knows Not That He Knows Not Is A Fool – shun him!
Daoism
Shape clay into a vessel and it is the space within that makes its useful therefore benefit comes from what is there, usefulness from what is not.
Look outwards and dream, look inwards and awaken.
The wise man is guided by what he feels and not be what he sees. He lets go of this and chooses that!
What is firmly established cannot be uprooted.
Roll up your sleeve without baring your arm, march without appearing to move.
Why are the people rebellious? Because the rulers interfere too much!
Yield and overcome, have little and gain, empty and be full, have much and be confused.
High winds do not last all morning, heavy rain does not last all day.
Look at the family as family, look at the village as village.
He who stands on tiptoe is not steady, who who strides cannot maintain the pace, he who brags will not endure.
To not understand a man’s purpose do not make him confused!
Peace lies not in the world, but in the man who walks the path.
The more rules and regulations the more thieves and robbers.
Knowing others is wisdom, knowing oneself is enlightened.
He who knows he has enough is rich.
See simplicity in the complicated, achieve greatness in little things.
That which shrinks must first expand, before receiving there must be giving, soft and weak overcome hard and strong.
A violent man will die a violent death.
I dare not make the first move but wold rather lay the host, I dare not advance an inch but would rather withdraw a foot.
Movement overcomes cold and stillness, heat. Stillness and tranquility set things in order within the universe.
He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
Set things in order before there is confusion.
In the pursuit of learning, everyday something is acquired, in the pursuit of Tao everyday something is dropped.
Truthful words are not beautiful, beautiful words are not truthful!
People often fail when they are on the verge of success.
A journey of a thousand li begins with a single step.
A good soldier is not violent, a good fighter is not angry.
Cha’an (Zen) Buddism:
Fall down six times get us seven.
With each ending comes a new beginning.
No matter where you go, there you are.
Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
The jewel of the house cannot be taken in through the front door.
One never steps into the same river twice.
The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.
Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.
By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.
Cultivate a mind like still water – look within and see its depth.
Development of the mind can be achieved only when the body has been disciplined.
If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.
Yesterday has gone and tomorrow has not yet arrived so live for today!
To reach perfection one must develop equally wisdom and compassion.
Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.
He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the right questions.
If you worry will the future change?
Tell me and I will cock my head, show me and I will nod, involve me and I will understand.
Sometimes we must lose part of a gamble, in order to win in the end.
Ryukyuan (Okinawan) proverbs:
Chu-kwasa, ana tasi futi ku. (Before seeking revenge you should first dig two graves).
Tu nu ibin yintake neran. (Ten fingers differ in length.)
Hifuchi ana kara tin wugeda ne. (We cannot know the sky by looking at it through a small hole in bamboo).
Ya nare ru fuka nare. (Good manners begin at home).
Ti njasa, iji fikin. (When your temper rises, lower your hands).
Basho (Haiku poet):
Life is an endless journey and the journey itself, home.
Go Ri No Sho (Musashi Miyamoto):
The spirit of actual combat must be fierce and burning! One must train day and night and under all conditions – ill or well – so that your spirit will remain the same regardless of surrounding conditions. This is the “Way” and the “Way” is in training.
You must train day and night in order to make quick decisions. (Go Ri No Sho)
It is necessary to treat training as a part of normal life with your spirit unchanging. (Go Ri No Sho)
The needle is the master, the student is the thread. (Go Ri No Sho)
Other sources:
Let us celebrate this life we share: the life of the martial artist. We are unique in that we create ourselves. Through long years of rigorous training, sacrifice, denial, pain – we forge our bodies in the fire of our will. (Mister Han, Enter The Dragon)
Whoever ties a knot has to untie it. (Iron And Silk.)
Each (martial arts) training session should be very hard, very tough. Thus each problem Life brings to you is easily overcome. (Master Toyama Seiko).
I hope you’ve learned the stupidity of the statement, “The martial arts belongs to the world.” The Martial Arts Art belong to the cultured who can appreciate it. The majority of the great unwashed does not fit into this category.
Things change. They always do, it’s one of the things of nature. Most people are afraid of change, but if you look at it as something you can always count on, then it can be a comfort.
I seek not to know all the answers but to understand the questions (David Carradine).
Some people only do Martial Arts to see what they can get of it rather than actually put anything into it! (Drew Dale, Sanshangong student)
More to follow…