Being Able to
Discard Weapon
Let me tell you the truth. Life is a lethal weapon unto itself.
Your
weapon is the part of yourself that can most easily attack an opponent and that
can best fend off his attack. Otherwise, your weapon immediately ceases to be a
weapon. Therefore, the weapon should be able to be discarded whenever required.
You should not attach yourself to it. It is wiser to subdue your opponent with
discarding a sword than to fail attached to it, and more desirable to preserve
your life at the cost of an arm than to keep an arm at the cost of your life.
Not
only sword, spear, hand or foot, but everything of Taekwondo can be a weapon,
so it is the very nature of correct Taekwondo to follow the right way with
attachment to nothing. This is the great freedom of no form. This is the same
as what Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu[1]
have taught. On the other hand, since it can be likened to the joy of
passionless and attachmentless Nirvana (寂靜涅槃) it is also the
same as what the Buddha has taught. These are both the part and the entirety of
Taekwondo. When you are attached to no weapon you can be independent of any,
and ultimately gain them all. You can possess all only by embracing
non-possession (Mu-soyu, 무소유[無所有])[2].
Thus,
the great freedom of not clinging to any single weapon is one of Taekwondo’s
weapons itself, and life itself is a weapon, too. Therefore, the perfect weapon
should not be out of your life but in your life, in your mind, and ultimately
in yourself. Taekwondo itself is always a perfect weapon whenever needed. By
making yourself a Taekwondo-Een you become a perfect weapon too.
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