That is why Socrates, like the Buddha, like every wise [person] ever, began his teaching with "Know thyself, and thou shalt know the universe." That is the spirit of traditional Zen and Bushido; and in studying that spirit, it is very important to observe one's behavior. Behavior influences consciousness. Right behavior means right consciousness. Our attitude here and now influences the entire environment: our words, actions, ways of holding and moving ourselves, they all influence what happens around us and inside us. The actions of every instant, every day, must be right. Our behavior in the dojo will help to condition our everyday life.
Every gesture is important. How we eat, how we put on our clothes, how we wash ourselves, how we go to the toilet, how we put our things away, how we act with other people, family, [a spouse], how we work- how we are: totally, in every single gesture.
You must not dream your life. You must be, completely, in whatever you do. That is training in kata.
The underlying spirit of Budo and Zen tend to that end: they are true sciences of behavior...one should live the world with one's body, here and now. And concentrate, completely, on every action.
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