Memory of a path in Orwell Dojo.
“Tonight, (31st January 1998), my Aikido teacher, (Tony Sargeant) went to great lengths to explain the theory of the path. His explanation was rich in practical techniques to demonstrate his ideas on some of their inherent problems.
My recollection is – ‘the path there is and many seek it, the map there is and many hold it. As we progress, more of the map becomes clear. Sometimes a tree (problem) will bar our way, if we detour then we must remember why we did so, for if the tree is later removed, we must return to the old path. The detour was not the true path, merely a convenience of the time.
Eventually we will neither seek the path nor will we ever know that we are on it, for then we will be the path.’”
My teacher’s analogies and short stories always inspired the imagination and brought new depths to understanding. The stories remain long after the memory of technique has faded . . . perhaps that is also the path.
“Tonight, (31st January 1998), my Aikido teacher, (Tony Sargeant) went to great lengths to explain the theory of the path. His explanation was rich in practical techniques to demonstrate his ideas on some of their inherent problems.
My recollection is – ‘the path there is and many seek it, the map there is and many hold it. As we progress, more of the map becomes clear. Sometimes a tree (problem) will bar our way, if we detour then we must remember why we did so, for if the tree is later removed, we must return to the old path. The detour was not the true path, merely a convenience of the time.
Eventually we will neither seek the path nor will we ever know that we are on it, for then we will be the path.’”
My teacher’s analogies and short stories always inspired the imagination and brought new depths to understanding. The stories remain long after the memory of technique has faded . . . perhaps that is also the path.