Sosai’s daughter, Kuristina Oyama, sent me this some time ago. It is very a powerful and very beautiful commentary on values from the 9th Century Chinese Zen teacher, Guishan. I put it in a presentable format and post here for you to enjoy, and importantly, to reflect on. If it doesn’t make you think more deeply about what you do day to day and what you do in training, nothing will. It affected me deeply.

The ‘practice’ Guishan refers to is meditation in the tradition of Zen I guess. But the concept applies to training in the dojo as we traditionally know it.

When I think of Sosai and what he achieved in his life, I am inspired by the testament of his energy and courage to do what was to be done, day after day, year after year. Lives like Sosai’s don’t just appear out of nowhere. Every day’s effort contributed to making Sosai the warrior, leader and inspiration he was.

This insight may also be encouragement to question the limits we place on our training and look beyond what “is seen in our philosophy”.

Osu

CFQ