Thoughts on Mastery and Perfection

[jdoub]

To all:

 

What does it mean to be a Master??

 

I love to drink green tea. I love jasmine green tea. I especially enjoy Peet's Jasmine Downy Pearls, which is a rare tea. I am in search of the "perfect" cup of green tea. There are so many variables that can effect the cup of tea like; freshness, the type of water (distilled, tap, or spring), water temperature, what kind of tea pot is used, what kind of cup, time of day, and of course your own disposition. With so many nuances to try and balance, and how to get them just right, the pursuit of that perfect cup can take a while - some may think, as I, it can be a lifetime of learning. Once you enjoy that perfect cup of tea, would you still want to drink one tomorrow??

 

In the Martial Arts, one can come from the approach that the understanding of one's chosen art has a beginning, middle, and an end. The End of learning suggests that there is nothing more to be gained or appreciated from that person. If we assume that there are many layers and levels to "uncover," or discover, in the Martial Arts and that each new discovery reveals to us yet more things that we must explore, maybe learning and understanding and assimilating can [or should] be a lifetime pursuit.

 

Of course on another note, I can barely master my own life let alone consider myself to be now (or ever) a Master of anything.

 

Good luck to you all in your respective travels!!

 

John

 

 

[Patrick]

I don't know... but I am a Grandmaster and James is a Master.

 

hahahahahahahahaha

 

 

[jdoub]

...and I am just a traveler down the path.

 

Good luck in your forum.

 

John

 

 

[Patrick]

Good luck in your forum.

 

Thanks, but it sounds like your leaving?

 

 

[jdash]

wow, very well written, and it makes sense, what is the point of life if you reach a 'point or an end' as you put it of learning? Is not life made up of learning? Your example fits very well as well, good job.

 

I can tell that I will be learning a lot from you in the future.

 

 

[Blood Eagle]

No offense but when I drink tea, I don't really care how I make it or time of day and so on....

 

But I haven't tasted green tea,how does it taste? When I think about green tea, I think about some sort of marijuana drink

 

 

[trunksreznor]

Very well spoken. I couldn't agree more.

 

I'm dealing with that sort of inadequacy in my life right now. I'm a very diverse person, and I am never going to be the best at anything (I suppose, never a Master.) I am fairly good at many things, but there is nothing to call my own. I'm also not the best fighter on the planet, but I've only been training a year and a half. Maybe I'm a slow learner when it comes to physical things.

 

But... maybe the battle is more important than the victory. I'll never be a Master, but... perhaps not everyone is meant to be. If everyone was a Master, there'd be no such thing as a Master, because there'd be no one to teach. I am a Student... will always be.

 

 

[Blood Eagle]

Why don't you just set a goal? That you want forfill, then you may find something that you can say" The best thing I can do is..."

 

But your'e not me, and i'm not you, so this is the way I do it

 

 

[KUGB_Chris1985]

I agree. My goal is to get to my 5th Dan and teach at my own club. Then I'd like to learn different styles and gain Dans in them.

 

Sounds like a big goal.

 

2nd Dan in 5 Days???

 

Oss

 

Chris Pullan

[iamrushman]

hello jdaub; i truly understand the tea issue you submitted. the art of the tea preparation is very old in the japanese culture. they say the preparation is more important than the consuption. and that the preparation intensifies the consuption. therefore to prepare is to master.

 

thank you for reminding us that the road of learning is to master to road.

 

_________________

 

rushman

 

3rd dan

 

wtf/kukkiwon

 

florida

 

[ This Message was edited by: iamrushman on 2001-06-05 09:57 ]