CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT
"Change is inevitable, growth is intentional."
Glenda Cloud
A martial artist knelt before his master Sensei in a ceremony to receive the hard-earned Black Belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finally reached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline. "Before granting you the belt, you must pass one more test," the Sensei solemnly tells the young man. "I'm ready," responds the student, expecting perhaps one more round of sparring. "You must answer the essential question, 'What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?'" "Why, the end of my journey;" says the student. "A well-deserved reward for all of my hard work." The master waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. The Sensei finally speaks: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year."
As the student kneels before his master a year later, he is again asked the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" "A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art," the young man responds. Again the master waits for more. Still unsatisfied, he says once more: "You are not ready for the Black Belt. Return in one year." A year later the student kneels before his Sensei and hears the question, "What is the true meaning of the Black Belt?" This time he answers, "The Black Belt represents not the end, but the beginning, the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard." "Yes," says the master. "You are now ready to receive the Black Belt and begin your work."
Most of us have heard this essential Zen story. The message is simple. As martial artists we have all embarked on a journey that at the onset appears to be to achieve the rank of black belt. Somewhere along the journey, hopefully before the student in the Zen story, we recognize that our perception of the goal is not really the goal. Instead, achieving the rank of black belt is not the end of the journey but instead the end of the beginning. It marks the achievement of a fundamental understanding of all of the basic techniques of the martial arts and hopefully a conversion of our thought process to understand the real goal of the martial arts, which is an appreciation of the life long journey of personal improvement (KAIZEN) and the development of a hunger to serve others and make a difference in the world around us.
The other lesson that this Zen story teaches us is that of the ubiquitous cyclical nature of the world and the flow of Ki energy in our lives. The life lesson that we should learn from the concept of the black belt representing the end of the beginning is that we are surrounded by change and life is full of a myriad of the cycles of day and night; happy and sad; hot and cold; yin and yang; life and death. Recognizing this natural tendency of everything in the world to progress through a natural cycle is critical to living in peaceful harmony. The sixteenth verse of the Tao Te Ching beautifully expresses this concept.
16th Verse of Tao Te Ching
Empty your mind of all thoughts.
Let your heart be at peace.
Watch the turmoil of beings,
but contemplate their return.
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source.
Returning to the source is serenity.
If you don't realize the source,
you stumble in confusion and sorrow.
When you realize where you come from,
you naturally become tolerant,
disinterested, amused,
kindhearted as a grandmother,
dignified as a king.
Immersed in the wonder of the Tao,
you can deal with whatever life brings you,
and when death comes, you are ready.
In this passage Lao Tzu eloquently expresses the concept that change is the only constant within our world. Only when we can appreciate that change is the only constant will we be able to tap into the infinite power of the flow of Ki energy in our lives. We should recognize that in the normal cycles of life, every ending is also a beginning. When one stage of our lives ends another begins. When one relationship ends it creates the opportunity for another to begin. Beginnings are often experienced as painful endings. We all need to take time to be an impartial observer of life and adopt the motto that, "This too shall pass!" It is the endings that make space for beginnings.
KAIZEN!!!!
Steven M. Erickson
© Copyright 2009-11 Steven M. Erickson, MD
All rights reserved. Ki Inspiring Thoughts.
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