LOOKING THROUGH AN AIKI LENS
[Note: This is my first post in 6 months. During that time I have been recuperating from cardiac bypass surgery. I am anxious to "get on with my life" and continue my participation in the life of Nashville Aikikai. It is my intention to post on a more or less regular basis. If you have a question or suggestion of a subject you would like addressed please contact me at thomasomcintire@comcast.net Thank you!!]
It is my belief that most people observe and measure the world through the lens of their own experience. This is human nature and not necessarily a negative. It is said that some people look at the world through "rose colored glasses." Some see the glass as half empty rather than half full. We all are the sum total of all of our experiences whether they be good or bad and whether we like it or not. What makes the difference is how we choose to integrate these experiences into our world view. If we choose to let our negative experiences dominate our thoughts and actions then we will begin to see the world through the lens of negativity. Persons who persist in this type of thinking become revengeful and suspicious. Persons who focus on the positive aspects of their lives tend to be more forgiving and open.
We would all like to feel that we are good people who make a positive impact on those around us and the community in general. History has shown us that even notoriously "bad" people (Adolph Hitler, Al Capone and Vlad the Impaler come to mind) had positive self images and believed that their actions were carried out for the better good. Of course, these are the extremes but they serve to show how persons can delude themselves by filtering their motives and actions through faulty self justification. Where Al Capone justified his crimes and violence as "business," it is not hard for persons to justify a lesser crime, such as shoplifting, as a prank or going along with the gang. For the better good, society enacts laws to limit this self-delusional behavior.
Another traditional lens employed by society to moderate behavior has been religion. Since the beginning of recorded time civilizations have relied upon religious leaders to set forth standards of behavior. These various codes of conduct have ranged from "do unto others...." to elaborate schemes of religious laws that govern every aspect of a person's public and private life. Religious law has the extra added authority of being proclaimed by God and thus disobedience often carries the threat of eternal damnation. The idea here is obey the law and all will be well or at least forgiven. As history has shown, law, no matter how minutely and exactingly written, is open to interpretation. It seems that in the end analysis responsibility for conduct falls back upon the individual.
The concept of Aiki provides another prospective. By embracing the discipline and philosophy of Aikido we can see the world not in terms of winning and loosing but in terms of cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Much of the evil inflicted upon humanity is the product of fear based greed. In an environment where there is little to eat the competition for food is a life and death struggle. If one doesn't win then he/she or his/her children may die. Obviously where the stakes are this basic and high it is easy to ignore the needs of others and act only in self interest. This fear driven self interest can easily result in conflict and war.
Both war and individual conflict are wasteful and costly enterprises. Unlimited conflict can make any bad situation many times worse. Additionally, wars and feuds do not just end. There is inevitable fallout. Even when there is an apparent winner and loser, the enmity and hatred remain. These deep seeded resentments fester into the urge for revenge that can last hundreds and even thousands of years. The end result is more wars and an eventual decline in prosperity for all who are remotely involved. Given the same circumstantial environment the philosophy of Aikido allows us to envision another outcome.
It is essential that we recognize that peace is not just an unatainable goal but a real possibility. In our ever shrinking world, world peace must be our ultimate goal. It is important to understand that strife and conflict are not preordained to be irrovocable conditions of human life. It is also essential that we recognize that the enormous waste of energy and resources that are a natural byproduct of conflict are no longer affordable by a world economy. Nations must conserve these assets in order to relieve the conditions that serve as the root initiators of the conflict.
This is the message and the challenge presented by Aikido. Whether the conflict is between individuals or nations, harmony through the spirit of cooperation and humanity is effective and fundamental to ending want through strife. Looking at life through this Aiki lens enables us to take on the role of peacemakers. In my experience making peace is the higest calling and challenge for any human being.
It is my belief that most people observe and measure the world through the lens of their own experience. This is human nature and not necessarily a negative. It is said that some people look at the world through "rose colored glasses." Some see the glass as half empty rather than half full. We all are the sum total of all of our experiences whether they be good or bad and whether we like it or not. What makes the difference is how we choose to integrate these experiences into our world view. If we choose to let our negative experiences dominate our thoughts and actions then we will begin to see the world through the lens of negativity. Persons who persist in this type of thinking become revengeful and suspicious. Persons who focus on the positive aspects of their lives tend to be more forgiving and open.
We would all like to feel that we are good people who make a positive impact on those around us and the community in general. History has shown us that even notoriously "bad" people (Adolph Hitler, Al Capone and Vlad the Impaler come to mind) had positive self images and believed that their actions were carried out for the better good. Of course, these are the extremes but they serve to show how persons can delude themselves by filtering their motives and actions through faulty self justification. Where Al Capone justified his crimes and violence as "business," it is not hard for persons to justify a lesser crime, such as shoplifting, as a prank or going along with the gang. For the better good, society enacts laws to limit this self-delusional behavior.
Another traditional lens employed by society to moderate behavior has been religion. Since the beginning of recorded time civilizations have relied upon religious leaders to set forth standards of behavior. These various codes of conduct have ranged from "do unto others...." to elaborate schemes of religious laws that govern every aspect of a person's public and private life. Religious law has the extra added authority of being proclaimed by God and thus disobedience often carries the threat of eternal damnation. The idea here is obey the law and all will be well or at least forgiven. As history has shown, law, no matter how minutely and exactingly written, is open to interpretation. It seems that in the end analysis responsibility for conduct falls back upon the individual.
The concept of Aiki provides another prospective. By embracing the discipline and philosophy of Aikido we can see the world not in terms of winning and loosing but in terms of cooperation and peaceful coexistence. Much of the evil inflicted upon humanity is the product of fear based greed. In an environment where there is little to eat the competition for food is a life and death struggle. If one doesn't win then he/she or his/her children may die. Obviously where the stakes are this basic and high it is easy to ignore the needs of others and act only in self interest. This fear driven self interest can easily result in conflict and war.
Both war and individual conflict are wasteful and costly enterprises. Unlimited conflict can make any bad situation many times worse. Additionally, wars and feuds do not just end. There is inevitable fallout. Even when there is an apparent winner and loser, the enmity and hatred remain. These deep seeded resentments fester into the urge for revenge that can last hundreds and even thousands of years. The end result is more wars and an eventual decline in prosperity for all who are remotely involved. Given the same circumstantial environment the philosophy of Aikido allows us to envision another outcome.
It is essential that we recognize that peace is not just an unatainable goal but a real possibility. In our ever shrinking world, world peace must be our ultimate goal. It is important to understand that strife and conflict are not preordained to be irrovocable conditions of human life. It is also essential that we recognize that the enormous waste of energy and resources that are a natural byproduct of conflict are no longer affordable by a world economy. Nations must conserve these assets in order to relieve the conditions that serve as the root initiators of the conflict.
This is the message and the challenge presented by Aikido. Whether the conflict is between individuals or nations, harmony through the spirit of cooperation and humanity is effective and fundamental to ending want through strife. Looking at life through this Aiki lens enables us to take on the role of peacemakers. In my experience making peace is the higest calling and challenge for any human being.
