Community Concepts (Dec 2020)

Community Concepts (Dec 2020)

12/05/2020

Dojo Philosophy for Everyday Life (Three O’s Principle)

In December as we wrap up the year we often encounter a mix of joyful anticipation and looming anxiety. Surely there’s a way to enjoy this time without being steamrolled by it!  We need to take a step back and look at which of our activities are accomplishing our real goals and which are actually separating us from them. A Cuong Nhu philosophy called “The Three O’s Principle” can give perspective on just such a situation.

Full Life

1) Overwork, 2) Overcome, 3) Overwhelm

Fuller Life

1) Open Mind, 2) Open Heart, 3) Open Arms

Fullest Life

1) Oneness, 2) Togetherness, 3) Forgiveness

The Full Life is the solo project. It describes a life driving relentlessly towards our goals. This is a method that ends up replacing the very happiness it was meant to make room for.  If we took the example of planning a holiday meal for a large group, we would plan and work tirelessly, rejecting help and suggestions. In the end the meal is accomplished but we are exhausted and the people around us are being left out and forced to fit the work we’ve done. It is a recipe for accomplished loneliness.

The Fuller Life introduces openness. These principles are the Yin to the Full Life’s Yang. We let others into the process, release control, and enjoy the human connections that are made along the way. This version of our meal is more like a rolling potluck where everyone brings their favorite dish and comes by when they can make it. It might be more disjointed and messy, but we’ve allowed others to have input and share the burden, giving us more time to relax and enjoy friends and family.

The Fullest Life then is the harmony of Yin and Yang. It combines the drive of the Full Life with the connection and flexibility of the Fuller Life. This final version of our feast is one where the people who take charge of various aspects begin with a vision and consult each other along the way. Instead of one person towing the line or many people catching falling balls, the group leads and follows together, letting their strengths fuel the group, and feeding off the energy of the team. The perfect balance of Yin and Yang. The idea is not to care less, but to carry less. This is a life of directed community, lived with and for others. It binds our openness to others and their ideas with the drive to see things grow and develop together. Instead of giving up on the ideals that we doggedly slaved for in the Full Life, we take a step back and see the bigger picture of selfless accomplishment within our community, and allow others to rely on us and support us. In this way we can enjoy the fruits of an accomplishment that requires great work and direction alongside the joy and relaxation of serving and being served by our community.

Have a wonderful holiday season!