Mainly Void Thoughts

Everything has (at least) two sides to it. A coin, a piece of paper, a vehicle, all have a front and a back (and at least one side!). Life and death are opposites, yet still interconnected, becoming one. War wouldn’t exist without peace, nor would peace exist without war. Fear wouldn’t exist without calmness and security, nor would calmness or security exist without fear.

How one wishes to perceive these things are usually in their own separate incarnations. Which is completely and utterly wrong in my mind. One side feeds the other while it is diminishing in size. These “opposite” sides can take on a life of their own in a sense, growing, shrinking as they pulsate. Though, one cannot survive without the other. Neither can exist in a vacuum. Consider the symbol of Yin and Yang. Each side is utterly dependant on the other. Without one, the other also perishes. Such is life and such is death, because what would death be without life? A vacuum? No even less, as vacuum is something that can be defined and quantified.

A door has two sides to it as well, showing two completely opposite areas on either side, opening into different parts of different spaces. As it swings, that space changes, hinting at something different than where you are. One has to walk through that opening to see what the other side holds, at the same time leaving behind what is on (what is now) the other side. Passing from life to death is exactly the same thing. Passing from Yin to Yang is yet again the same. All symbolic of a complete transition from one state (of being) to another.

New experiences in ones life can be just as dramatically changing. Sometimes it just takes something small, perhaps just a little thought. Sometimes more extreme things are needed to understand that things have changed without you being aware (not that you didn’t see them, you didn’t look for them or understand them).

In the same fold, the theory of relativity also falls. Everything is relative. Even relativity. Consider something as absolute as time. Even time is relative. How it is perceived. “What time is it?”, “How long did that take?”, “Only five minutes!”, “Felt like two hours!” and so on. There is nothing that isn’t relative to something else. There is nothing that doesn’t have two sides to it.

Love & hate. Rage & serenity. Male & female. Horizontal & vertical. Forward & backwards. Omote & ura.

Everything has two sides, at least. Some have 8. Some have infinite. You just have to find them.

Great movie, if you still haven’t seen it. I had one or two things I got out of it. In particular a couple of lines from a poem Nelson Mandela quoted.

I am the master of my fate.
I am the captor of my soul.

A particular emphasis on “I” should be noted here. It might even be called “defiance” considering he spent 27 years in jail. Considering what he managed to achieve with the country and the people contained within its borders one shouldn’t forget all the hard feelings between blacks and whites. Managing to forgive ones captors after such a long time in captivity, I can’t start to imagine how he managed it. How do you forgive those who essentially took half your life away from you? How do you forgive someone who has beaten you with a stick, just for the colour of your skin?

Consider yourself in this situation, sitting in a cell barely big enough for you to spread your arms out. You have a blanket as your mattress on the concrete floor, a pillow and a chair. This is your home, for a very long time. Nothing you have is yours. You have no family. You have no future. What you can look forward to is a soggy meal and breaking up rocks, while your feet are in chains and the sun unrelentingly beating down on your back. Day in, day out. Week in, week out. Month in Month out. Year in, year out. Years on end. How would you cope? Would you feel that life is hopeless? I don’t think the word “possibly” even should be considered here, as I can guarantee you, that is how you will feel. Anger is pointless as it will only attract a beating, from other inmates or from the wardens.

Then read the above quote again.

There’s a lot of meaning hidden in those two sentences. Would you be able to be so benevolent to those who took everything away from you, and I truly mean everything. Even the food you eat, being allowed a drink of water, basic needs like going to the toilet. At the mercy of someone else. Someone who might beat you with a baton, just because you tried to ask for something you today take for granted.

Read the above quote again.

In the movie, the second sentence has one word changed, probably to underline Nelson Mandela was a captive for so long. In the original, it says “captain” and not “captor”.

Here’s the original text of that poem:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Everyday, be the master of your fate, be the captain of your soul, then you can conquer any obstacle in your life.

What makes someone a hero? Going to a foreign land, gun in hand, fighting a cause determined by his superiors? What cause is worth fighting for? Who’s cause? Why should you  fight for someone else? What is so important you have to go to a foreign land?

Media is filled these days with news about “terrorists”. Someone trying to make a living is a terrorist? Someone fighting for food and their own survival is a terrorist? What truly makes a terrorist a terrorist? Because someone labels them as such or because of the actions they take? What makes a soldier different to a terrorist?

On this time of the year, I am always thinking of those less fortunate than myself. Those without a big ham on their table. Those without heating. Those without a roof over their heads or even shelter. Those are the people to fight for. The rights of those people as well as the rights of myself. My rights as a human being are worth no more than a home less person. Worth no less.

So, what really makes a hero? Is a hero someone that stands guard over the vast opium fields in Afghanistan, because some government told them to? Is a hero someone that hands out food to the homeless? Which do you think is the bigger hero of the two?

Is a hero someone that convinces this lonely, tired, desperate person not to take their own life this Christmas? Is it someone that helps an elderly person across the street? Is a hero someone that aims a weapon at a religious gathering and fires rockets across borders, killing indiscriminately?

Typing this out, it seems obvious who are the real heroes. Watching the news bites however, I do not see heroes. I see soldiers carrying out orders from people who do not care who dies, as long as their objectives are carried out.

Where is your battle field? Who and what are you fighting for?

Personally, I find that guarding an opium field is just wrong. Burn the thing down instead!

A 5 year old, fighting cancer is much more heroic. Pick your battles in life and pick them well, they are what defines you and what you stand for. Let’s make a better world. Help your neighbour dig their car from under the snow. Spend an hour handing out food in a shelter. This is Christmas! Opium fields have never helped anyone but those making money out of them. Look after your family instead and your much more the hero. Help someone get home to see their family.

Being a hero starts every day you wake up. Every time you can make someones day better, you’re a hero. Every time you can help someone pack their grocery bags, you’re a hero.

To me, a fire fighter is a hero. An ambulance driver. A nurse. Those are heroes.

People guarding opium fields are just guards. People fighting over the opium fields are just thieves and thugs. People firing rockets into weddings, over borders, into civilian population, these are not heroes.

The police and rescue services who tried saving lives at a disaster are heroes. If you’ve ever helped anyone to get to a hospital or get medical attention, you’re a hero.

In other words, looking after your fellow man makes you a hero. Standing up for what is right makes you a hero. Disobeying an order to fire at innocents while you are wearing a uniform makes you a hero.

Be a hero this Christmas. It is not that hard. You just have to do something with love towards someone you love, or someone you have just met. You don’t even need to know their name. You just have to show compassion, and isn’t that what Christmas really is about?

Christmas isn’t really about getting lots of presents. It’s about becoming a hero to someone. Someone who needs you.

You want to be successful in what you do? You want to “be the best”? You want to have all your dreams come true? Most people tend to answer yes to these questions.

Are you willing to do what it takes to achieve those goals? Are you willing to put in the effort required to get there? Again, most people say yes here too. Only one problem, people generally do not realise the effort they may have to go through and how hard that road might become.

If you take a look at those that are really successful in what they do, no matter what it is they do, you’ll find a few select things they all have in common. First and foremost is the fact that they just never quit, never give up, no matter what they are faced with. They get knocked on the head and fall down, they’ll be right up on their feet again, getting back in there again, again and again.

I’ve heard a couple of quotes which fit very well in here, and I’ll also add a video, which actually is the reason I’m posting this in the first place. Take these quotes and remember them, saying them to yourself when you’re starting to falter. Because you will falter. We all do at some stage.

“There is no failure, only feedback.” – Milton H Erickson

“It’s not how many time you fall down, it’s how many times you get back up again.” – Unknown, references appreciated!
“Fall seven times, stand up eight.” ~Japanese Proverb

“We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender [...]” – Winston Churchill [Full speech]

“Do it with a smile!” – Sensei (you know who you are, Domo arigato)

Now, here’s the video.

Here we have a nice little topic that can stretch on forever and contain so many “don’t do this or that” finger wagging “lessons”. However, this is not my goal at all with this post. Instead I’d like to try to convey a few things I’ve learnt on this but mostly what I still have to learn. (Isn’t it great to know the path ahead?)

I often find myself thinking, saying or even writing not so, should we say, favourable things about something (or even someone). Let’s be honest here shall we, at one point or another in life, we all think, say or do something not too nice about or to someone else. We’ve all called someone a “complete and utter waste of the air he breathes”. If you haven’t you’re either a saint or have lived an extremely sheltered life. That or you are just lying to yourself.

I try to be balanced and objective as much as I can. However, even such an exercise can lead me down the path of not being very polite. On one end of the spectrum something nice is said. Try to be objective, one also should highlight the negatives right? The “problem space” here isn’t about highlighting something negative, but how and what is highlighted.

Example: “He’s a complete and utter arsehole, but he sure knows a thing or two about this subject!”

In one sense I am here saying just what I feel, “he’s an arsehole”, which isn’t very nice of me is it? It may be as true as it wants, but the arse here is actually me. On the other side of the spectrum is me applauding this persons skills in something. That’s a heck of a lot nicer of me, but really shows more of the value this person holds.

This is where humility comes in. Which is the more important point here? That this person I am talking about is an arse, or that he knows something valuable? Quite simple isn’t it? But the above example easily demonstrates thought patterns and emotions that are quite easily stirred when one meets someone that may not be someone you take an instant liking to. From here it becomes very easy to just attach your own emotions to the negative. How come? What’s the point really?

Do you recognise yourself here? If you do, remember this: THIS IS A TRAP! Fall into this hole and if you “ventilate” these thoughts to anyone else all you accomplish is to dig a nice deep hole for yourself. Perhaps deep enough you can’t crawl back out again. Trust me, I’ve done this on a few occassions and neither of those have been pretty and certainly haven’t helped me in any way.

My suggestions here is quite simple. You have a couple of choices at this point.

1. If you have no use for the skills this person possess, simply ignore him/her. If you can gain no benefit, all you will gain is detrimental to your own success in life.
2. If you can gain or have use of this persons skills, feel free to utilize those skills as appropriate. Just make damn sure to remember to simply ignore the personality differences. In some cases you may even be able to express and agree with the individual you do not like each other, but that you can still work together on something. This latter usually only works if there is benefit for both parties.
3. Never, ever, let your emotional dilemma become an anchor around your own neck. Turn any negatives away and lift up the positives instead! You can truly achieve some amazing feats in life and only you are the one that can achieve them. You have absolutely nothing to gain through pursuing negative emotions or thoughts.

To me, this is what humility really is: a vessel that let’s you overcome obstacles in life and let’s you persevere through anything life throws at you.

No, I’m not saying you should become a monk or a nun. Sure, religion advocates humility, but it is not necessarily something that is possible to attain just for religious people.

I consider this “spiritual”, which you can be without being religious. To be more precise, I consider this “being of your spirit”. This is how I use the term “spiritual”, in reference to my own “spirit” and not in terms of religion.

Studying Martial Arts has led me to start looking at a lot of other things as well. There’s a whole batch of things I’m revisiting, new things I’m finding (which aren’t that new really, but rather a few thousand years old), and new ways to look at things. A heck of a lot of things to be honest.

As time permits I try to learn some Japanese. Why? Well, there’s quite a lot of details that dissapear when something is translated to another language. Lots of the interesting things I’m uncovering has their basis in either Japanese culture or Chinese culture. However, learning Chinese is quite a daunting task if you consider the various dialects and major difference between them.

I also study Sun Tzu and the Art of War. Rather, to be more precise, Sun Wu. If you didn’t realise what I just said, I’d suggest that you should really study it. There is a nice 3 volume set which contains 12 books. Translated works of Thomas Cleary : On Strategy and Counsel. It is probably the most amazing set of books I have read, especially considering the original authors have been dead for between one and two thousand years. At least, that’s the assigned time line. Massive amounts of these teachings span even further back in time. Then, once those volumes are completed, I’d recommend reading them again, to better understand it all. Basis for the Art of War is not only how to manage troops and outsmart your opponent, but how you can lead your own life, the life of others and even whole communities, cities or indeed even countries. Much of those teachings are interlinked with the I Ching and the Tao Te Ching.

On a completely different front, which isn’t that different, I’ve also taken up a course in Hypnotherapy. Which is a really powerful way to help people to reach their goals. Extremely useful for those who needs help feeling motivated, have fears or anxieties, want help to lose weight or just about any such thing. No, it’s not a replacement thing for your ordinary doctor. Doctors are great at stitching people together when then have hurt themselves. However, despite lots of studies and research, we humans still do not know a heck of a lot about how our brains work. You know, this little part of the body which also keeps our mental state, our memories, feelings and so on. This is still very much a “magical mystery” to the Western medicine and therefore not very commonly used or trusted, by those doctors anyway. However, “alternative medicine” which also includes Hypnotherapy includes quite a broad range of ways to treat people. Some good, some not so good. I’m now going of on a complete tangent here though. What I wanted to really say though was, by starting to study Martial Arts (note: not Martial Sports) I am learning lots about myself along the way. And yes, the Hypnotherapy is actually linked quite nicely together into my Martial Arts training/studying too …

I’ve been reading a lot recently. More specifically, what I’ve been reading is advice written up a few thousand years ago. It’s quite interesting advice too, as one can very easily see how society today is blatantly ignoring the most basic things human kind has discovered, a very long time ago. The authors I’ve read of so far are Sun Wu, Zhuge Lange, Liu Ji and Sun Bin. Most people will ask “Who are these guys? Never heard of them.” Well, all of those authors have a common denominator. They were all ancient martialists, Generals of armies. Sun Wu is more commonly known here in the West as Sun Tzu and Sun Bin is actually a direct descendant, sometimes referred to as Sun Tzu II.

An American Martial Arts Sensei has recently made a post as well on this topic : Etchical Leadership Returns to Fashion

How come leaders of the world have abandoned these teachings? There’s a lot of valuable lessons and advice from these Generals, which actually still do apply as readily today as they did over 2000 years ago. All I can surmise is, they have done so, because it is so much easier to get back handers when there is no real sense of loyalty to the people one is ruling. In other words, greed. Looking at how the Irish government has behaved over the last 10 years, this is blatantly obvious. However, no ruler here has been convicted of such things. Nor will they. Back handers and pats on the shoulder, a secret handshake, and you’re off the hook.

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t just in Ireland I’m talking about. Have a look at just about any other country in the world, and you’ll see similar patterns. Do you really believe you’ll see President Bush or Prime Minister Blair on a war tribunal for what has been done to Afghanistan and Iraq? Hardly. Most notable pattern you’ll see is, make the rich richer and screw the people who are having a hard time. There’s so many people on this globe, the rulers don’t have to care about them, because if some die of decease new work force will have grown up soon enough. There is absolutely no shortage of work force on this planet. Just look at all the unemployment figures. Yes, even before the economic down turn.

So, leadership to me, when I do step into such roles, is about giving direction and then helping the ones I direct to actually perform their task. It’s about trust and loyalty. It’s about listening at least as much as talking. It’s about compassion as much as it is about control.

Leaders today, on all levels, have this belief that they should command and the ones below them should blindly follow. Try that with an army under fire. If you don’t have their loyalty and their trust, you simply do not have an army. Problem is, a lot of people think “well, at the workplace, I’m not a soldier, I’m a worker”. Sure, what is the real difference? There’s a common goal. There’s specific tasks needing to be done in specific order or at specific times. There’s stress. There’s times of relaxation (read: peace). There’s supply issues. There’s in short a heck of a lot that is in common. Principles for an army works just as well in the workplace.

So, this ancient set of books. These may well set the rules and governing controls for whatever may come along after the current way of ruling teams, companies, armies and countries collapse. Because collapse it surely must. This is inevitable.