Community Concepts (Feb 2021)

02/01/2021

Dojo Philosophy for Everyday Life

At first glance this is one of the most intimidating statements in martial arts. It seems like a declaration that anything less than perfection is dishonorable. To a new beginner it might sound overwhelming, but there’s a much more approachable message here once we unpack it.

Discipline is the first word to reconsider. We tend to use this word to describe a machine-like perfection or else the punishment that comes from failing to achieve it. This idea can offend the part of us that knows how much work it will take to get to where we want to be. This is a hardened usage of the word, though. Remember that discipline is the work of the disciple. If we were expected to be perfect already the word would be “mastery.” By using the word “discipline,” it is implied that there is work to be done and our gaze is fixed on that endpoint. The disciple is the ship at sea. Look to the goal, course correct, look to the goal, course correct. Once you know where you’re going, discipline is just continuing to refer to your map.

The next part about mind, body, and spirit suggests a new challenge. If discipline leads to honor by itself then there wouldn’t be any need to mention these three aspects of selfhood. My favorite way to break these down is to imagine someone who develops two but not all three.

If someone developed their spirit (cooperative, compassionate, leadership) and their mind (organized, innovating, and creating) but not their body (active, vigorous, effective), then you would see someone with well planned and noble ideas about how to make an impact in the world but without the energy or courage to get up off the couch and make something happen.

If someone developed their body and their spirit but not their mind, then you would see a person with very noble and well meaning plans put enthusiastically into effect that were not thought through or organized enough to keep from failing or even destroying what they were meant to develop.

If someone developed their mind and their body but not their spirit, then you would see powerful and well planned works put effectively into action without considering what their impact will be on communities and people great and small. This would describe the villains in most of our stories.

This is why we measure our discipline against all three at once. We grow our physical strength and stamina to create the vitality and energy to drive our works into the world. We grow our curiosity, strategy, and scholarship to ensure that the path to our goals is as well charted as possible. We grow our compassion, leadership, and community service so that our works serve the world. This is the honor that we seek through our discipline!