There is nothing wrong with individuals pursuing things like physical mastery, relaxation, health benefits and tournament trophies ... we are simply pointing out that this is very different than engaging in these Arts for personal/spiritual development ... Mastery or Enlightenment.
Unfortunately, though these arts are gaining in popularity (Yoga and Karate esp. and even Chi Kung these days), they suffer the result of mainstream exposure - dilution and distortion. This is fine if we are aware that it is so ... but is the general population aware of exactly what they are seeking and where to find it?
We could benefit from asking ourselves: what is it I truly seek by coming here? If the place you are engaged with offers you what you want, then that's great. When you know what you really are looking for, it will assist you in determining the place to look for. Many mainstream studios gaining in popularity are becoming more like gyms: physically oriented with some basic 'feel good principles ... positive thinking and so on...' and basic therapeutic results. In many studios, Yoga is beginning to resemble 'physical therapy' ... or what people also call physiotherapy. This is not a judgment ... it's a reality. This is also perfectly fine - if that is what someone is looking for!
Personal and spiritual growth involves deeper work ... it's different but can look the same on the surface. This is how distortion originally occurred. For example, in older times, 'Masters' only taught after having done their own Work and having walked a spiritual path for many years. Gaining wisdom and 'Knowing' (experience and wisdom) over time, they were then ready to share with younger students ... drawing from their own inner knowing ... having mastered themselves. These days, anyone can teach Karate or Yoga or Reiki ... after only so many hours of certifications and teaching. We are certificate oriented - not experience, time and wisdom oriented as much.
Where is the depth and Mastery obtained ... over time? Where is the personal and spiritual growth ... which goes on for a lifetime ... reflected in the one who is teaching us? We have young people or older individuals who are only now beginning to study and gain certification who have yet to truly meet themselves face to face (or experience the Essence of who they really are)... or travel through life with its many challenges - leading others who are lost, ill and seeking. We have individuals assisting us with our personal and spiritual growth who have stopped working on themselves ... or who have not done their own 'Work'. Can they really guide others with their knowledge (not true Knowing from mastery over time and experience)? Rather than judge or insult, I truly seek to share clarity on this growing reality. If you feel insulted, that is not my intention ... ask yourself why you would feel so. Be honest with yourself. Also, ask ... what is it I seek?
Traditional arts demand a certain level of stress placed on the body, mind/emotions and spirit of the individual... particularly if one has not been on the journey since childhood ... even then many students are often also dealing with having to do a great amount of inner and outer 'Work' before they are even ready to tap into their true potential. Though we can have fun and work gently at times, true growth is not always blissful! It also involves challenging work - something many places and studios don't talk about these days - or skim over it as if it's just a physical effort. With the proper attitude and approach ... as well as understanding, we can learn to engage with this challenging work in a lighthearted and yet serious manner.
Often, when our Work moves deep enough, we may be surprised to find that buried traumas or difficult memories emerge. Some people are not prepared for these things, and either bury them once again, or resist moving into these places to bring more light and healing. I do not promote extremes ... in general, there does need to be a certain balance of intensity and gentleness ... action and receptivity ... yin and yang! Eventually, we learn to seek out this unique personal balance for ourselves according to our own nature, but this takes time to develop within ourselves. See the picture above and reflect on its many meanings. Also, we are at different phases at different points in our lives.
We tend to seek to avoid pain or discomfort and move towards anything which brings us ease, bliss and comfort. While this is not bad in the 'idea of it', it does not assist us with transmutation: the art of transforming one thing into another. During the process of transformation we may encounter difficult experiences. We may have to 'go into the dark cave' in order to bring more light in our lives. The only way is in ... we tend to avoid that for many reasons: fear, illusions and ignorance are three of these major reasons.
Most of us are but a shadow of our innate potential. We are asleep to our true nature, and neither feel, see or hear the energies inside and around us. When we begin to see ourselves as we really are, there is often periods of inner challenge, as many of us have buried traumas and fragmented parts of ourselves which we have banished to a place deep within - away from our consciousness and awareness. When we access these deeper places, we may find that we are facing things we would rather not and that it is difficult - the benefit is what we gain access to once we transform these buried experiences and energies.
Most of us live from the neck up - out of touch with our breath and bodies as well as our inner wisdom. We have learned to dissociate from our bodies and experiences, and so relearning how to be authentic, present, aware and to experience life as it is may feel awkward ... even unnerving. Even if we can breathe well, we tend to stop at the 'physical', ethical or 'mental ideas' of what the common used of the phrase 'spiritual evolution or development' can potentially represent. Again, we have to ask: What is it, I truly seek? The path of personal and spiritual growth and evolution I speak of is for everyone; however, not everyone seeks out this sort of path and there is no judgement in that either. We naturally seek this out when we are ready for it. That is one meaning of the phrase "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear." The truth is always around us ... it is we who transform and eventually come to see it or to seek it.
This can lead to misunderstanding and imbalance in the individual's psyche, energy and body. We are not walking hearts only ... we have an entire matrix of energies and qualities as a human being ... a balanced human is in touch with all of his/her aspects ... from the lower 'chakras' to the higher. There are as many people who are cut off from their heart down as there are people who are cut off from their neck up (because we stress the mental and rational so much)!
While we certainly require work in our heart area in order to experience a deeper connection to all things, it is not at the exclusion of the rest of who and what we are! Overemphasis on higher 'chakras' (though not always spoken of in that way) is seen everywhere. I cannot stress this point enough.
More on mainstream schools:
Generally speaking, in most schools, a person can attain a black belt in Karate (depending on the school), in less than 5 years of full time participation. Some black belt students then go on to open their own schools ... with very little of their own experience and work in the art.
Traditionally, a black belt meant that a student was now 'teachable' in the art and has a basic foundation in the art ... the black belt meant that the real life-long training has now begun. In some schools, traditionally, in various martial arts, a student was not even given their first sash or belt until they were observed and noted for certain inner qualities ... and finally accepted as a student.
We can observe a similar trend in Yoga in modern times.
We can ask ourselves ...
What do these certificates, degrees, belts, sashes, trainings and so on really mean?
What is the real value of these things?
What is it we are truly seeking?
Will we have the potential to attain that in the place we are engaged with?
Without judgment or insult to anyone else, seek out what you truly desire and you will find the right place for you. It may be in a mainstream school or it may be in a more traditional school focussed on personal/spiritual growth and Mastery. Only you can decide what it is you desire for yourself right now. The important point is to see your self, things, people and places for what and how they really are.
