Div.8 Chapter 62

The World in a Falling Leaf

“Am I now sufficient?”

“You are still deficient in the arrangement of your life.”

How should one live? Every doubt a man has concerning the truth begins from and returns to this question. This question is the faithful companion to life. A consistent system of attitudes or concepts regarding the answer to this question may be called a “value conception”.

So closely is Taekwondo related to life that one can find in a Taekwondo-Een the positive value conception he comes to possess through training, one gained through endless strain and the transcendence over the self. Although you can manage your life well in different ways, in Taekwondo you may intensely drive yourself up to the border of life, for you desire to live a more positive life. On the one hand, you have to admit your opponent is superior to you in many aspects; on the other hand, you never cease seeking out his every blind point. Though it may seem but a trivial flaw within the finely woven pattern of his poses and movements, finding such a point, you are ultimately able to subdue him and preserve yourself. This is possible only with the positive mind that can find pleasure even amidst pain and trial and can discern twinkling stars in the night’s darkness, as well as with the creative mind that can discover in the smallest details a world open to infinite possibilities. This is the value conception of a Taekwondo-Een.

This value conception gained from Taekwondo can cover all kinds of virtuous worth. There can be no falsity in plunging into life itself, prior to thinking, with full acceptance and understanding of all, including the truth. How good it is to discern infinite possibility even through life’s barest detail hint, and to turn this positive outlook towards mankind. This is the foundation of ethics. This value conception of a Taekwondo-Een becomes harmonized when actions and cognitions, which constitute the process of life, are mediated without thinking, and then it is beauty which you feel, which advances to an art form. And knowing that all of these are one, you can open the door to transcendence.

Someone may say all of these are mere sophisms, but by gaining words one loses reality. So is it especially with Taekwondo and life. The ultimate significance of a word belongs not to the word itself. The finger that points to the moon is no moon. The ultimate significance of word lies in its ability to lead those who understand it in right way. When a finger points to the moon, look at the moon. Though here there are many words about fighting, they are not to help you fight others but to lead you along the correct path.

A good soldier regards himself fortunate if he never has to fire his weapon. Just because TAEKWONDO leads you to the right path, you as a Taekwondo-Een always should practice TAEKWONDO throughout your daily life. The lethal weapon is mere small aspect of Taekwondo. On the other hand, lethal weapons are everywhere in life, hidden even in words. Unless you can discard them when you ought, they will harm you. Why is it said you must abandon everything to attain Taekwondo? Because life is a lethal tool.

Do you want to achieve perfect Taekwondo? Then seek everything of Taekwondo and life. And when you’ve got it, abandon it all. Only then will perfect TAEKWONDO be attained.