Enlightenment, Zen, And The Martial Arts!

The martial arts have long been held up as a vehicle for enlightenment. Indeed, this is the goal at the end of the path of The True Art. This article is about why this is so, and to enable the reader to reach the end of that path all the sooner.

Enlightenment is when light shines forth from the individual. With that light the enlightened being views the world differently. His perceptions are heightened, and he has a superior viewpoint.

If enlightenment happened because of the fact of motion, then movement would result in enlightenment. Hockey, ballet, football, all would result in an enlightened individual, but they don’t, so one must ask oneself, what is it about the Martial Arts that they result in enlightenment of the human being?

What is different is that there is combat, and when one understands the essence of combat, one becomes enlightened. What is the essence of combat? One could sum up the subject by saying that when one finally understands he is opposing himself, he becomes enlightened, and a study of the martial arts does eventually result in this.

The universe, you see, is a playing field rich with moving objects. Every object in the universe has a direction to its mass. It is only in the martial arts that one actually engages in the study of the trajectory of flying objects as the one who creates the direction of those flying objects.

A fist flies through space at you, and you go through a range of emotions. Eventually, you give up emotions so that you can better analyze the flight of the fist. Thus, you rise above base reaction and become cause over the motion of the universe.

A person threatens you, he holds a weapon and stalks you, and you must divine the direction before it manifests. You must look at the world as it is, and not through some fantasy, and thus you look at the world you created. Thus, you rise above being the flotsam and jetsam of a universe awash with random motion, and thus you take the reins of your own destiny.

There is no motion in this universe, you see, that you have not created. That star shines for you, because of you, if it wasn’t for you, there would be no purpose for that star to shine. And through the tempering of form, the steeling of will, the martial artist engages in combat, to give up combat and become what he truly is, an enlightened being free to enjoy the universe.