Philosophy

 

We tend to base our lives on our past, both good and bad, but we have to think of the now., the present, which will dictate the future. One day the future will become the past and we must be able to live with that without regrets. That thought alone should be enough motivation to do something about our lives right now, no matter how harshly life has treated us in the 'past'. No matter what has influenced us we tend to remember the worst segments of our lives and rarely appreciate the many pleasant things that have made us what we are. It is in our nature to accept grief, anxiety, and fear as a way of justifying our survival. For centuries, we have accepted human misery, through war, famine, and technological comforts. Nowadays, we are beginning to realize the folly of our ways but at what expense. The earth's natural 'defenses' have been breached leaving massive gaps in the ozone layer. Greed is still the driving force that is stripping, the natural resources of nature, and feeding mankind to further destroy itself in overindulgence in every way. We have forgotten the very essence of life and the harmony of nature. We have forgotten how to love and understand the laws of nature. We are allowing our emotions to cause an imbalance in nature, which only makes sense through not acknowledging the fundamental requirements of life, which are embodied in one's understanding of love.

Aikido is recognized as one of the many martial arts we practice in the West. Some even accept there is a philosophy in the practice of Aikido. But, how many of us understand, exactly how much Aikido reflects the philosophy of mankind. As a martial art, Aikido has nothing more to prove. Its effectiveness as a self-defense system cannot be challenged. As a form of exercise and movement, Aikido is seen as the ideal art.

Because of its deep-rooted Eastern traditions and etiquette, as in many other martial arts, students will follow the teachings of their teacher without question. Because they are under the impression that military discipline is required. Frederick the Great once said, "If my soldiers began to think, no one would remain in the ranks". True, discipline is important as in any art, but it should be personal. Individuals should be allowed to develop their own minds and potential. A common fault with teachers is to impose, their beliefs on students who choose to follow their art and not necessarily on the teacher. However, students must also respect their teacher's knowledge and experience. They must appreciate that their teachers have given a lot of their time and sacrificed a great deal to achieve the ability to teach and share what they have learned. It must be remembered, that a commitment is required if one is to be a 'master' in any of the arts that they choose.

Various reasons influence our choice of art and the commitment we're prepared to make. If Aikido is the choice, then there are several very profound reasons why we have chosen it. For most, it could be as simple as a need to learn a different martial art, for self-defense or even for discipline. But for some, it could be a way to relax from the stress of our labors or to escape from the responsibilities of social and domestic pressures. Society makes us do things we have to do to survive. We have to go to work, we do things that conform. We're always in the fast lane. Life becomes a hazardous routine and demands a commitment to our domestic and social responsibilities. We feel guilty if we're late and don't perform our day-to-day functions or conform to the expectations society puts on us.

But the biggest causes of our guilt, anxiety, and depression are people and our relationships with people. Very often we don't recognize the cause of our anxiety which makes us frustrated, which we tend to take out on those close to us. As we get more depressed we react negatively, because it is at the time the easiest path to take. We fool ourselves into thinking we have done the right thing and refuse to accept that we could be wrong.

People who study Aikido are now starting to realize, because of its nature, that it has more to offer to the individual who suffers or experiences a variety of emotional and stress-related problems. A good teacher will recognize this and offer guidance, so the student can discover and understand that Aikido, is a better way of life. Aikido can be a way of life, a tool for self-discovery, and a means of experiencing happiness and contentment. It is not a new concept but an unrecognized one. We need to see Aikido in a different life or perhaps with a different meaning. Aikido promotes love, peace, and harmony. It teaches us to tame and control our emotions. It teaches us integrity, awareness, humility, compassion, and understanding, to name but a few. It shows a different way to live and opens a door to the mysteries of life. Aikido has all the virtues that make up the emotion of love. The philosophy of Aikido is life, just as is the philosophy of love. In love, we search for the ultimate happiness. In Aikido the goals are the same. If love and Aikido share similar aims and objectives - love becomes an art of life.

For better understanding please refer to other articles found elsewhere on this site...