Every year at the holidays I seem to always receive a desk calendar as a gift. You know the ones with something written on it for each day. This year I got Insight from the Dalai Lama and on Tuesday March 1st this was the quote from His Holiness.
How do we overcome ignorance, by praying to the Buddha? No, by following the path he showed. As he said, “You are your own master.” The Buddha didn’t say, “I’m the Buddha. Pray to me.” He taught the Four Noble Truths: suffering, its cause, cessation, and the path to it. He taught about lasting peace that can only be achieved through practice. His whole teaching is based on the law of cause and effect; if you want change, create the causes.
As I read this it occurred to me that with a little editing His Holiness’s words could easily apply to learning our art.
How do we overcome ignorance, by just wishing to be ninja? No, by following the path created by An-shu. You are your own master and responsible for your own training. An-shu never promised that he would just give us all rank. He taught taijutsu, mindfulness, awareness and focus. He taught about a lasting sense of peace and power that can only be achieved through practice. His whole teaching is based on the law of cause and effect; if you want change, if you want to be ninja, create the causes.
It’s up to you, how far you go, and what you become. The path is there in front of you.
For me I’m gonna go train.
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