Tiger's Spirit, Human Heart
An Excerpt From Chapter One
Personal Balance: The Artful Way of Being
I first heard my favorite martial art story when I was new to karate. I re-tell it now to my own students and, not surprisingly, to my life coaching and corporate clients as well. It isn't about dramatic feats of courage or sacrifice -- and it isn't about slaying a dozen enemies or fighting to the death for the family honor. The story is simple, yet it clearly illustrates how useful it can be to apply the martial arts' most fundamental lesson -- personal balance, to life's large and small challenges.
The Teacher
"An energetic young warrior goes to the school of a famous teacher, intent on being accepted as a student. The teacher invites the student in, and as they sit waiting for a pot of tea to steep, the student begins to tell the teacher about his enemies, about the battles he has won, those he has lost, and the times victory has been unfairly snatched from his grasp. He talks about the techniques he has mastered, his own students, and most importantly, what he expects this teacher to teach him. The teacher smiles politely. He watches. He listens. He waits. Finally the tea is ready and the teacher begins to pour a cup for his visitor. The small cup fills to the brim and the teacher, still looking at his guest, keeps pouring. The cup overflows and tea begins to spill across the table, and down, onto the student's lap. After an uncomfortable moment, the student finally jumps up and yells, "Stop, master! Stop! The cup is full. You can't put any more in." The master, still smiling and still looking at the student, slowly stops pouring the tea, and says, "Yes. The cup is just like you. Already full. You will not be able to learn anything until you bring a cup that is empty."
In the story, the student stays to study with the teacher. Eventually, he is able to put aside his self-limiting expectations and by the tales end he masters the one aspect of the martial arts he needs most. No, not new and fancier tricks, not how to move more quickly, or how to wield a deadlier weapon, but rather, he learns personal balance -- the artful way of being. As we shall see in this first chapter of Tiger's Spirit, Human Heart, personal balance is really the most important skill the martial arts have to offer any of us. With it, we can do something that is very difficult -- integrate two dramatically different approaches to life, into one singularly effective way to live.
First, personal balance makes us acutely aware of our moment-to-moment relationship with the world in the present, giving us the ability to accept reality -- without hesitation. In this way, we remain free of expectations, so that we can deal with both fortune and trouble spontaneously, confidently, even aggressively, when necessary. We are able to face life with a tiger's spirit.
Second, personal balance gives us the confidence to plan, dream, strategize, and ultimately -- act in a way that moves us forward to a better future. It gives us the confidence to explore the human heart. Clearly, then, mastering personal balance can make your daily battles (get out of bed, climb mountains, forge rivers, build careers, grow families, etc.), easier to win. More importantly, personal balance is critical when facing any of life's challenges. In the story, we follow the young warrior's struggle with mastering the lessons that will eventually lead him to personal balance -- the artful way of being.
Continued on Page 2 "The First Lesson: To See Solutions"
To book Edmond Otis as a keynote speaker, or for more information: Call 06 834 3021 or write: edmond@edmondotis.co.nz