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The Keys to Martial
Arts Life Mastery
Key #2: CHARACTER And the Ninja's Law of Interdependence
by Shidoshi Jeffrey M. Miller
Nothing causes conflict more than a self-centered, "my-way or the
highway" attitude. As martial artists, we know the trap that
increased confidence and power can bring. It's only through proper
character development and understanding our relationship to others
that allows us to choose peace over conflict.
In the philosophical teachings which form the foundation for the
Ninja Warrior's lifeways, there is a principle known as the 'law of
interdependence.' This so-called 'law' is not a must-do rule which
one must follow, nor is it to be confused with dependence or
co-dependence as it is seen today where one or more individuals who
cannot or choose not to provide for themselves, lean on and 'depend'
on the work and resources of another for the fulfillment of their
needs. Rather, the law of interdependence is something that is to be
recognized as a basic 'truth' in the world.
Much like the law of gravity or cause and effect, it is something
that is 'going-on,' always, regardless of whether we 'believe' in it
or not. In fact, contrary to our need to believe that we are what we
are, this principle in action shows us that we are more like others
than we know.
Unlike the law of gravity, however, which is difficult to understand
and explain; interdependence is relatively easy to explain. Let's
use a simple analogy to understand this 'goings-on.' We'll use
something simple, like a Whopper. No, I'm not being paid to endorse
a food franchise and you can feel free to substitute this item for
any of a thousand others. But, for our purposes, it will do.
Now, most people would agree to the connection between themselves
and all of the individuals working in the restaurant at the moment
you visited and placed your order for the sandwich. Someone took
your order; another was busy making the product; and others made
sure it found its way to a tray or bag and ultimately into your
hand. In this simple view, there is an interdependent connection
between you - the person who 'wants' the sandwich, and those who are
making sure that you get it.
Of course, seen from the viewpoint of any worker, they are mutually
dependent on you, and many others throughout a day, wanting and
willing to pay for a sandwich so that they can get a paycheck at the
end of the week. For you: no restaurant - no sandwich. For them: no
customers, no restaurant, no paycheck.
But, in the words of the enigmatic guru "Morphius" from the popular
movie, "The Matrix", if you really want to see "how deep the rabbit
hole goes," we can look much more closely at that simple sandwich.
Let's begin with the wrapper. It wasn't made there at the
restaurant. It was delivered, probably by truck. Which means what?
Well, where do you want to start? Driver? Truck dealership who sold
it to Burger King? Truck manufacturer? Trailer manufacturer? Get the
idea?
For now, let's stay with the driver and truck remaining associated
with the restaurant. But, already we're talking about more than just
the employees working in the restaurant, aren't we. Many, if not all
of them have families which will benefit from their paycheck in some
way just as the company is benefiting from their desire or
willingness to do the job they're doing.
The wrapper itself is paper which now extends our connection to
people working in the logging and paper production industries and
their families. The ink does the same along those lines; and so on
throughout the rest of the parts of the sandwich like the burger,
vegetables, and so on.
"What's the point?", I can hear you asking. "How does this relate to
personal development, martial arts, self-defense or my life?" After
all, aren't we different than a sandwich?
I don't think it's the answer that will drive the point home as much
as a question: If a burger can be made up of the materials, effort,
energy, intention and connections of so many that it almost touches
the lives of every other person on the planet - how can we believe
that we, as so-called 'individuals,' can be any different? After
all, haven't each one of us been influenced, positively or
negatively, by other people, places, and situations that caused us
to believe, act, and engage the world the way we do?
Can you imagine how different you would be had those influences been
different or not there at all? Just think about what motivated you
to take up martial arts training. Regardless of whether it was for
self-defense, the allure of Asian culture, or soemthing else - you
were first exposed to those 'other things' - giving you your reason
to take up the arts. The saying goes, "no (wo)man is an island," and
it's true. No matter how much we would like to be an 'individual,'
we are nonetheless, tied to every other human being on the face of
the planet - if by no other means than the water we drink and the
air we breath. The law of interdependence teaches us to recognize
the value in all things and to treat everything as though it were
'me.' Only then can one be sure that we are not acting in an
egotistical, self-serving way that will harm, alienate, or hinder
ourselves or others.
What does this have to do with our training? It is the person who
recognizes and acts knowing that this is true who builds his or her
world rather than isolating themselves as important and in contrast
with everything and everyone else that is seen as 'obviously' of
lesser value. It is the ego who must be "right" and "righteous" that
needs to attack others - to fight for 'right.'
There is an old saying that goes: "the truest measure of a person's
character is in the way he or she treats those least important to
them." Once we understand, and can 'see', how our every thought,
word, and action acts upon the world, we can take control of the
process and decide to build a character that takes responsibility
for the way it affects others. No longer will we act out of a state
of disconnection and isolation, but move purposefully through our
world with compassion and disciplined action.
We have a choice. We can be 'nice' to others because it's proper
manners to do so, because we expect to get something from them, or
because we have to live with them. Or, we can treat others with
respect and honor because we recognize that we are already connected
to them in some way already.
Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior
Concepts International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art
of Ninjutsu, he specializes in teaching the ancient ways of
self-protection and personal development lessons in a way that is
easily understood and put to use by modern Western students and
corporate clients. Through their martial arts training, his students
and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help them
create the life they've always dreamed of living, and the skills
necessary for protecting that life from anything that might threaten
it. To learn more about this and other subjects related to the
martial arts, self-defense, personal development & self-improvement,
visit his website at
www.warrior-concepts-online.com |
