Div.8 Chapter 64

Oneness and Nothingness Finish in One Another

“Please, explain further.”

…(A calm smile).

Taekwondo is like a conversation. Its basic motion is to a word what Poomsae is to a sentence, and what an actual Kyorugi is to dialogue. However, Taekwondo has this difference from the dialogue of words: the story made of Taekwondo cannot include a falsity and its dialogue makes no distinction of question and answer but maintains them in oneness. How is this possible?

As it was said at the beginning, in its essence Taekwondo is the skill of killing a man. This essence is found on the border between life and death, i.e. the borders of daily life. One main feature that constitutes Taekwondo’s essence is that it stands on the opposition; particularly, on the very extreme of the confrontation of existence. This extremity of the confrontation of existence brings one to the place where life meets death face to face. The meeting place of life and death; here one can discern everything gathered at one spot in a single moment; here one can see the evident truth. Therefore, Taekwondo reveals the truth of life. Just as you can more easily discern who is truly benevolent when things are scarce than when things are prosperous; and you can more clearly discern who possesses true courage to protect others during grave danger than during times of security. Every falsity cannot help disappearing in the extreme figure of Taekwondo.

How can there be falsity? There can be falsity because a thought differs from the world; a word differs from a thing; and what one intends differs from what one reveals. The distinctions that produce all of these also generate falsity.

However, the dialogue of Taekwondo is itself a reality. An intention shows itself as nothing but intention, and the entire sequence presented as one. That is, there is no “distinction”, which is the house where falsity dwells. Taekwondo cannot be expressed in words because its truth is beyond distinctions. Instead, the truth of Taekwondo is to be delivered from mind to mind.

When you go over the distinction between this and that you can destroy the distinction between your mind and the opponent’s one. Etiquette and human equality are to be harmonized among these open minds. And the relation among open minds is extended to the inside of Taekwondo, to every aspect of our lives. Therefore, those who do not respect their parents in truth cannot attain the ultimate step of Taekwondo; those who do not respect their master in truth can never begin learning Taekwondo; those who do not love their friends can never make good use of Taekwondo; those who do not serve their forefathers can never know the value of Taekwondo; and those who do not love their country can never find themselves in Taekwondo.

What has been said in all of this? It is this: overcome the illusion generated by intention and distinction, and transcend to the inside of life. Ultimately there is no difference between distinction and non-distinction, and between intending something and following the changes of nature. You as a Taekwondo-Een, who have realized this truth, will see that knowing something is neither the same as nor different from never having known it, and so you will renew yourself everyday. There is no end in sight.