PASSAGES FROM TAISEN DESHIMARU “THE ZEN WAY TO THE MARTIAL ARTS”
The master’s mind is never still. It never dwells on any one
thing or person. It lets all go by …
Nor does the body dwell.
The essence of his self, of the self, is unmoving wisdom.
Intuition, wisdom, physical action, are always one. That is the secret of
zazen [sitting meditation], and of the martial arts. Just as the martial arts are not sports, zazen
is not some kind of massage or spiritual culture …
… the actual school of kendo [swordsmanship] began in 1346; it was founded
by a samurai named Nodo, followed, in 1348, by Shinkage. At first the samurai
wanted to obtain special powers: striking, remarkable, magical abilities. They
wanted to go through fire without being burned or be able to have a boulder
fall on them without being crushed. So they trained their minds deliberately to
obtain supernatural abilities and powers, and they were anything but
disinterested.
Later, they came under the influence of Zen. Miyamoto
Musashi, for instance, who was Japan’s greatest kendo master, also became a
sage. He said, “One must respect God and Buddha, but not be dependent upon
them.”
At that point, the way that taught how to cut one’s enemies
in two became the way that taught how to cut one’s own mind. A way of decision,
resolution, determination. That was true Japanese kendo, true Budo [Wu Shu]. Strength
and victory flow from decisiveness. One moves beyond the level at which most
people stop, one transcends the conflict, transforms it into a spiritual
progress. There was nothing sportlike about training in those days; the samurai
had a higher vision of life.
Zen and the martial arts have nothing to do with keeping fit
or improving health, either. People in the West always want to use things; but
the spirit of Zen cannot be squeezed into so narrow a system. And Zen is not
some sort of spiritual massage – although the kyosaku [flat stick]
can very effectively massage mind or body. Zazen is not meant to make you feel
relaxed and happy, any more than the martial arts are a game or sport. Their
significance is deeper and more essential, it is that of life.
