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Long ago in Japan there was a famous archer he toured everywhere and was never beaten. One day in his travels he came across a remote village and although well off of the beaten track his reputation had gone before him.
The villagers held him in great esteem and the elder of the village said ' Oh venerable master there is an old man at the top of the mountain, a hermit and mystic he was said to be the best archer of all time'. The master went to meet the old man and said 'you are or were the best archer of all time, how so'? The hermit took the master to edge of a two hundred foot mountain edge and there the mystic stood right on the edge on one foot drew his bow and fired at a distant eagles nest ( the arrow could not reach the nest, it was just a target) and it was higher than the edge of the mountain.
The master shuddered he was scared to balance on one leg at the edge of the mountain with a huge drop below. He asked the hermit to teach him. Two years later the master could stand at the edge and release the arrow. The master then continued his arrogance and boasted he was the best.
The hermit then said you see that village down there a mere speck from that height, well down there is village elder who is better than I am he might have something to offer you.
The master then descended the mountain and went to meet the elder and said 'I was sent here by the hermit and he said you are still the greatest archer' with that the master looked for a bow in the home and could not find one and he said to the Old Man where is your Bow and Arrow and the old man scratched his head and said 'whats a bow and arrow'?
The master went away thinking the old man was senile and a dotard. But you and I know he wasn't
SHACK
Sensei and Sifu emphasized that the use of training physically with the breath and meditation was to overcome the ego, find compassion and be cheerful, happy and joyous. To have a still mind, empty and free mind. If one still wants to practice that is fine so long as it is not for trophies and beating another, no fuel for the ego. Having attained a modicum of peace and tranquility many went to write poetry, draw and sketch or just live ordinarily in the village content and tranquil. (SHACK)
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