Through
meditationkung fu, the Higher Self is experienced. – Bhagavad Gita
Badass Bliss
Say the word “meditation” to most people and the picture of perfect calm & relaxation comes to mind. It’s an escape from the pressures of life. It’s a way to deal with obligations (by ignoring them).
This propensity to avoid problems and reliance on passivity is a common problem nowadays. Too many people blame others, or choose to sit back and do nothing when it comes to making their lives better.
This is why martial arts is more necessary than ever.
I like to think of training as active meditation. It’s a singular focus on what you’re doing right now.
It reminds you that in order to maintain control over your options, you have to train for it. Relax too much, and someone else will be more than happy to choose your options for you.
At that point, who is to blame for your defeat?
Approach your forms and training as an opportunity to practice your focus, patience, and self control. I like to think that for every hour your body maintains proper alignment in practice is one second of integrity in the real world.
3 Arenas of Presence
I got to that number purely by pulling it out of my ass, but it has merit.
At Rest
If you’ve done seated meditation on a cushion, you know how easy it is for your mind to wander, or obsess over things that aren’t important.
In Motion
So you achieved universal oneness on the cushion, but then you have to get up and face the day. Then one things goes wrong, and everything turns to shit.
In Relationship
Maybe you can walk around your apartment while maintaining perfect self control, but you have to go outside sometime. Seems like all those people out there are hell-bent on harshing your mellow.
Badass Bliss
That’s why I call martial arts the way to badass bliss. It is the physical act of cultivating personal control at rest, in motion, and in relationship with other people.
It deals with every level of what it means to be human, and to practice maintaining integrity within each context.
Takeaway
Don’t train to withdraw from the world. Meditation is not an escape; it’s a practice to embrace the dynamic nature of life & living.
