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The Invisible Line, or: The teacher Is Not Your Friend

Luck is important. To have one true master teacher in your life is a priceless gift. For some unknown reason I have been blessed to have several. In fact I appear to be the lucky exception to this rule. Speaking of exceptions, sometimes there are none.

The Bow

In Asian culture, the bow signifies respect and reverence to someone or for something. The importance of bowing, with sincere heart and mind (kokoro,) cannot be underestimated. The bow is also an expression of humility. When the student enters the dojo, the “understanding” is that s/he is “ready” to learn. Sometimes students   learn more than they bargained or signed up for.

Onegeishimasu

In the traditional dojo it is common when bowing at the beginning of training for students to say, “Onegeishimasu”:  I promise to do my best.

The teacher replies in kind, “Onegeishimasu”: I promise to do my best.

This is said with enthusiasm intended to invigorate and inspire all to rise to the occasion. It is also a handshake agreement, a binding commitment to each other, to cooperate and work towards a common goal.

The Sensei

Literally, “Sensei” means one who has gone before. The student must appreciate and understand that since the Sensei “has gone before” the student must remain respectful of this fact at all times in order to achieve long term success. Besides the esoteric aspects of the Sensei’s experience, there is the simple concept of respect for elders which children learn at a very young age. Adults should not be confused into thinking that, since they are adults, their opinions when in the dojo are valid. In fact, they might be, but ultimately the Sensei is the final arbiter to whose judgment and wishes they must accede.

Faith, Beginner’s Mind (Shoshin) and the Empty Cup

Much has been written about faith in the dojo. If the student does not have faith in the teacher, s/he does not belong in that dojo and should seek out another instructor and dojo. Sometimes, however, a student loses faith prematurely, or without valid reason. In this case, a change of scenery or location changes nothing, as the student remains “unchanged.”

Often, loss of faith goes hand-in-hand with impatience, immaturity, lack of perspective and an overly developed sense of self worth. Beginner’s mind is the key. Maintaining the same mind as when you first entered the dojo is critical. It is analogous to restoring your computer to an earlier date when it worked properly.

Likewise, the student requires a “restore” and “reboot” in order to repair a flawed attitude in order to regain the beginner’s mind.

The student must retain faith in the teacher if s/he is to maximize achievement of his/her goals.        If  not, then it is said that the student’s cup is full. By this it is meant that the student is so full of  his/her own ideas (that are irrelevant or worse, incorrect,) that important information cannot be processed or absorbed.  In computer language the expression is “junk in- junk out.” A student  with a full cup must empty it to make room for new information to seep in, uncluttered. For another viewpoint, check out this link: http://www.ironpalm.com/beginner.html

One Definition of a Dojo

A dojo has been defined as a place where ordinary people attempt, and sometimes perform the extraordinary. Patience is a key component of the equation.

Hurdles and Obstacles

When joining a dojo many obstacles may appear in the student’s path. Some are ordinary hurdles which must be overcome. Other hurdles are limits, self-imposed by the student. The instructor sometimes intentionally places obstacles in the student’s path because he realizes the student’s weakness. When the student overcomes this weakness, the teacher, knowing what lies ahead,  “ups the ante.” In so doing, the instructor is progressively preparing the student for more difficult  and demanding tasks.  How does the instructor know this? He knows it because he is the “one who has gone before” the student.

The Invisible Line

There is an additional obstacle that the student encounters when training at a traditional dojo. That obstacle is walking, and negotiating the invisible line.

When walking on the curb, or atop a wall, one must step carefully to avoid falling. At times the student is the trapeze artist walking the tightrope at the circus. Sometimes it is the teacher on the tightrope. Is there no safety net? In reality, it is not the about the tightrope, or the net: it is the height of the tightrope that makes the difference. The height determines whether you are likely to land softly and safely, or crash - which hurts - or worse.

Miyamoto Musashi

There is a famous story about Miyamoto Musashi, the sword saint of Japan. The story begins as an accomplished samurai approaches and prostrates himself before Musashi. The samurai begs to become Musashi’s student. The master looks over the samurai, contemplates the seriousness and depth of the request knowing full-well that the samurai is unaware of how rigorous, austere, difficult and demanding the training program will be.  Due to the high standards he expects and demands of the student, the hardships would be unbearable for most.

Mushashi also must consider his (giri) the Sensei’s responsibility and obligation if he agrees to take on this student.

Musashi finally replies, “Will you promise to follow my instructions without hesitation?”

The student immediately replies that no task, duty or request will be too burdensome and pledges with his life to follow his master. The samurai is ecstatic about his acceptance as Musashi’s student and surprised at how easy it was to become a student of Musashi, the most famous living Samurai in Japan at the time.