When Buddhists Attack: the Curious Relationship Between Zen & the Martial Arts
“Popular Culture has long exploited the image of the serene Buddhist monk who is master of deadly hand-to-hand combat,” says Jeffrey K. Mann, associate professor of religion at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., and author of the new book, “When Buddhists Attack: the Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts” (Tuttle, 2012). “While that may romanticize the relationship between a philosophy of non-violence and the art of fighting, the link between Zen and the martial arts is not only real, but natural.”
Exploring the origins of Buddhism and the ethos of the Japanese samurai, Mann – who is a martial arts practioner – traces the connection between the Buddhist way of compassion and the way of the warrior.
“From samurai meditating in Buddhist temples before heading off to decapitate each other, Zen priests teaching Imperial Japanese soldier to die bravely in battle, to a karate teacher lecturing on both compassion and how to break a clavicle in the same afternoon, Zen and budō – the martial arts of Japan – have a long history, and ongoing relationship, with each other.”
The idea of the Asian martial artist studying Zen has become stereotype, says Mann.
“It’s an oversimplification,” he says. “A lot of the stories or accounts are either not accurate or overblown.” As a result, there’s been a reaction among some that Zen holds no special role in the martial arts. “But this backlash is also problematic,” he says. “The reality lies somewhere in between.”
By offering insights into how the qualities of a true martial artist are linked with ancient religious philosophy, Mann hopes to help other practitioners reconnect to an authentic spiritual discipline of the martial arts.
“When I first started exploring this material, I was interested in the benefits of Zen on the practice of martial arts,” he says. “It helps the mental game, if you will. But as time has gone by, that interest has shifted. Where I initially looked at Zen as a tool to help my martial arts, I’ve come to see the martial arts as a path to self-cultivation.”
Source: Dick Jones Communications
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Whistler Blowers, Insiders
Buddhists spend a lot of time sitting not doing any physical exercise, they meditate a lot. They introduced martial arts as a form of exercise. They started doing it for practical reasons.
Buddhism has been around longer, they hold all life sacred, yet could kill with their bare hands, and dont..makes you wonder..other religions push fear, Buddhism does not..balancing..its never forced on you either, you choose to live it
The Christian Bible teaches to leave the disinterested alone.
“…whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.” Matt 610, Mark 6, Luke 9, Acts 13, Isa 49, Gen 3
But, observant Christians have been stoned as a result of their exclusivity claims, in which there is no way to the Father except through the Son.
Reincarnationists do not hold temporal life sacred, much less eternal life, but seek exit from it.
Buddhists cite moral detachment for enabling them to kill and die, but consider “forced reincarnation,” a charitable act in that it eventually breaks the cycle of rebirth and suffering, as according to their worldview.
Not self-cultivation. Firstly, you are referring to selflessness. Ego death. Like lobotomy.
There is no cultivation. You do not earn your way or progress along a path. Your destination is given to you.
In Zombie-like service to the cult, there can be glass ceilings.
The Red Chinese do discuss these issues in their anti-Tibet propaganda, but are little different for their dishonor of the individual. Their lot is granted to them by their govt, not necessarily a meritocracy.
LOL……there will always be those who are confused or find conflict in whatever they experience….as THAT is their way or choice.
Martial Arts offers Self Cultivation as does any experience in life.
But, it is not so much the Art or Religion that is so important but rather..the PERSON!
For Life itself is ALIVE…ENERGY…..CONSCIOUSNESS….AWARE OF ITSELF.
For the person who has little self-awareness or maturity, this can appear to be a confusing challenge that seems to go no were of importance.
Incorporating a Religion or Philosophy into a Martial Art ‘can’ improve or limit that Art, depending upon the actual Laws of that Philosophy and the limitations involved, but also, it primarily depends upon the individual…and HOW that individual uses or practices said Art, and the Philosophies involved.
Of the 19 Arts that I have personally learned, practiced and trained in and taught, I have found that the blending of certain Arts mixed with specific Religions ‘can’ be of benefit, depending upon WHAT one’s purpose is and HOW they wish to proceed.
Most of the Martial Arts focus mainly on….Personal defense, using a myriad of techniques, pressure points, leverage, structures (and..of course Attributes like…distance, timing, rhythm, speed, power, strength, balance, agility, coordination, footwork, awareness, endurance, etc.)
Not to mention…certain attitudes can be developed like…the way of the Budo or Samurai….which has the attitude of fearlessness, respect & focused commitment, to name a few, while the Muay Thai fighter will focus more on an attitude of pure Brutality, looking not…to score a point in a tournament but instead….the focus is on DAMAGING one’s opponent….and still…the Shaolin Warrior is on another level altogether.
The Shaolin Art offers a beautiful blend of Yin & Yang ( the Spirit, inner, female, soft vs. the Scientific, male, hard, outer aspect) mixing their Art with a blend of hard core physical concepts, methods and philosophies, and at the same time, incorperating such ‘soft’ or Yin energies i.e. healing techniques, relaxation methods, meditational practices, health and food guidelines, etc.
There have been few Arts ( that I have found ) that offer this mix or blend of Spiritual and material.
Aikido, Hsing-I Gung-Fu, Bau Gua, Tai Chi and a few other Arts have added this Spiritual aspect
to their Art, n a major way, complementing it and adding a new dimension.
Those out there who are more inclined to follow a Spiritual pathway will often ( but, not always ) attract to these particualr Arts whereas, those who follow a more material or base way of learning will attract to the more physical attributes of an Art…clarifying the old adage:”Like attracts like and lack attracts lack”.
As Buddhism and Shaolin both promote….the learning of “self-awareness, and how to understand and let go of Attachments and Identifications so one can attune to or merge with…Universal Consciousness or what many call…GOD.
One of the best ( in my perspective only, lol ) learning lessons of Buddhism is the learning of identifications & attachments and learning how to FOCUS one’s mind and to….release one’s ego dramas in order to gain higher Spiritual awareness.
These Shaolin “Supermen” are so different in their philosophies and training which cultivates an inner harmony or balance between the mental, emotional, physical and Spiritual aspects of human nature, creating a…WHOLENESS or INTEGRATION of self.
I have witnessed monks doing 2 finger push ups, being suspended in the air by a 4 spears placed under the body as the monk floats effortlessly above the spears, bricks and steel bars being broken over heads, arms, legs and stomach areas, needles being thrown right through glass, and other un-believable feats of inner and outer strength and focus.
For me, the essence of Polarity or Duplicity or Opposing forces or Yin & Yang is expressed perfectly in these Martial Arts, and, as usual, it is the individual not the Philosophy that decides HOW one will learn and develop.
Some individuals see only the cup half full and still others…see it half empty….while others…do not even SEE the cup, LOL.
There is NO good or bad here..( at least, from a higher or Spiritual perspective) ONLY…..LEARNING…DEVELOPING and EVOLVING into higher awareness and understanding.
One gains more wisdom from difficult Challenges…. rather than complacency.
With Honor & Respect to all….
Light.