No shadows

How can one really improve in Aikido?

Usually I don’t blog about the ‘how to’ of things. But I’m trying to look at this from another angle.

So how can one tell that one’s Aikido has improved?

It is the degree of hate one has in us. You see, with hate, we cannot progress. It is also not a matter of duality. love/hate, good/bad. It is not either, or; neither, nor; this or that.

Life and Aikido is all about ‘this’ about the ‘is’.

As big as our human heart is, it can be quickly filled up by the wrong substance. like hate. Once there is hate in your heart, there is no more love, not even a single bit. It is that extreme. Either you have it or you don’t There is no “40% love 60% hate”. it is 100% of everything. and sometimes when we are doing ‘good’ out of ‘goodwill’, but truth to the matter is, when we search deeper, it is borne out of something lurking in the shadows. The act. manifested is good. the deeper movements is dark, and shadowy.

Most of us dwell there, which is normal, because we have all been hurt before. We are all no angels, none of us are born pure. All of us are born out of ignorance, and almost all of us will die, in ignorance. So the shadows is fine.

But every now and then, our true nature breaks free, and shine, shine so brightly, shadows disappear. Only the bravest can stand such light. Because such light illuminates everything about us. Surely most of us wants the light to fall on the good. But the true light source with shine, on everything. There is no place for shadows. And it will be uncomfortable.

Only the brave can stand being uncomfortable in the light of things (pun intended). Because only the brave, is brave enough to allow the light to fall on the shadow.

We all know where our shadows are. But instead of bringing light to the shadow, we allow our light to be consumed by the shadow. Cool dark places is nice and comfortable. But in order for us to growth, in fact for anything to grow decently, is a good healthy amount of light.