03/01/2023
There have been some recent posts about the authenticity of certain statements made by historical figures, namely Miyamoto Musashi for one (a lifelong controversial figure in history).
There were some criticisms and whether he ‘in fact’ made this specific statement or not.
“The sword must be more than a weapon to strike down oppressors”.
This phrase can be taken as a reflection of the word ‘Katsujenkin-the sword that gives life’, and ‘Satsujenkin-the sword that takes life’. These are similar words, yet with very different meanings. Both typify how our psychology is shaped in the pursuit of higher principles of life and our sword training. That is one of the many reasons that sword, in all its forms is ‘the great metaphor’ for life.
I can tell you definitively from my own personal experience of my 150 readings of the Five Rings, that those exact words are not in my favorite translation of that book either, and there are many translations. Yet the inference ‘is definitely’ there.
First, there are a couple important aspects that any particular translation have as components for acknowledging the translator’s ‘interpretation’ of the Five Rings that ‘he’ drew his interpretation from. And secondly, the reality that ‘NO ONE’ knows ‘exactly’ what was said or meant from ancient texts OR any sword technique for that matter that existed much more than one hundred years ago. Time, interpretation, and change are inevitable. And some belief systems do a better job at preserving techniques, the ritual transmission process, and ideologies, better than others.
The most important thing is that we do our best to imbue the general principles and intention of any phrase or technique and embrace those origins and traditions as best we can, while leaving room for the natural variations and growth that are bound by ‘Natural Law’.
Another comment that caught my eye is ‘the pen is mightier than the sword’. Yet in Japanese samurai and Shinto/Buddist culture, the ZEN approach balanced two contrary aspects as in the phase ‘pen and sword in accord’, referring to the warrior/poet component. The inference is there, yet it took a ranked, professional Kengo (sword saint/master class), Priest, Zen Master, or Sensei, to transmit that ideal and the intricacies of the techniques and principles that went along with it.
In Zen for example we must remember that many quotes are meant to be inferred so to invigorate our intuitive mind and exercises our intuitive understanding. That is to say that much like a ZEN ‘Koan’ (the unanswerable question), the objective of the statement or answer is not necessarily literally a specific or even necessarily correct one, as much as the inference of the reply is often meant to evoke thoughtful contemplation rather than the explicit directness of a literal reply. Or on the other hand, a phrase may be used to illustrate a moral, spiritual, or technical answer through metaphor.
This is why is always advisable to seek out a bonified professional who has a level of experiential understanding from their years of training and conversations with their seniors who shed light on certain nebulous quotes and ideas, concepts and principles.
Furthermore and likewise, in Shinto and/or Hindu cultures where the Guji/Negi or Mahatma of the shrine has deeply studied those transcripts and discussed the ideas and details with their colleagues to guide the dialogue in the proper direction so no mistaken meaning might derail the purest and virtuous intent of the ideal.
We also see other examples in western religion from the Middle Ages where ‘only’ ordained priests were allowed to read the bible, to interpret the often veiled meaning which to the casual reader might be easily misunderstood depending on whether it was read and understood as poetry or prose. It was therefore forbidden for any layperson/commoner to read those sacred and revered texts of the bible. Because the same phrase or passage of those writings might be interpreted completely differently and entirely contrary and negative deduction might be drawn from the exact same phrase or text.
This is condition has been replicated across all cultures in countless examples throughout history prior to organized ‘religion/faith’. And of course, going back further are precivilization examples such as in the role of a recognized holy man in the form of the ‘wise old man or woman’ of the village in any number of tribal cultures. This person was a recognized interpreter for the inner and thus more important meaning of whatever oral tradition might be in question.
The point here is, the higher objective of evaluating ‘any’ dialogue, technique, or discipline, is to stimulate intuitive reasoning that will enhance your practice and psychology that supports that practice, and thus a more balanced participation in and view of the world at large.
In the spirit and pursuit of higher Budo,
Russell McCartney
Founder and Chief Instructor
Ishi Yama Shin Koryu Batto Jutsu
web: iyrba.info
email: [email protected]
