"HELL" IS GETTING EVERYTHING ONE "THINKS" THEY WANT IN LIFE
Apr
28
PRACTICES FOR GOODNESS
Last year when my granddaughters started lessons at the Pacific Shito-ryu Dojo, I walked with them to observe one of their first lessons. Lucas, 12-yrs-old, entered at the same time as us, but bowed his head as he entered - giving respect for the room holding the practice. Then he immediately got the wide broom and started walking over and back across the room to sweep it clean. As he completed the process, I walked over to him and asked, “How come you are sweeping the room? Is that your job?”
He looked at me, kind of surprised to be hearing such a question, “No.”
I again asked, “Then why do you do it?”
“I don’t know, he responded and then walked over to get ready for the warm-ups for that session of practice.
Later, the girls told me he was a black-belt student and had been practicing since before he was eight year of age.
Two years of twice weekly lessons and tournaments have now been completed and I am impressed with the learning of respect and responsibility that is generated.
The girls are showing us thoughtful choices and not just going along with all the choices of the popular kids at their Junior High and High School activities.
Highly valuing research with education, I have thoughts about why it is valuable to share my Japanese Heritage values with maintaining a Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington for the next 100 years or more.
An important outcome of Japanese history and the 200 year Edo Period from 1600AD to 1800AD is the bringing of Cultural Arts like the Martial Arts to a researched science. The masters in the arts and cultural activities, researched and published the experiences of the five senses that created the best results.
Just so those reading this blog understand, our household has plenty of daily nagging about cleaning their room and doing their chores. Of course we are all striving to expand our goodness!
