Respect and dignity

[terryl965]

When all is said in done in one's life here on this place called Earth, can you look over to the man on your left and say I lived by the code of Tae Kwon Do. I simply ask this because it has been wieghing heavenly on my mind lately. I would like to think that I have always tried to live by these simple rules but then again thinking about some of my action either on a forum or in the school I have to second guess myself, can one really live by the codes and still get ahead in today world. I mean it seems the one's that back stab or even cheat get a head in life quicker than those that live by this. What does this mean as far as a society and of our selfs, can we provide the gap between rightous and good compared to the other lifestyle that some choose.

My student base looks up to me for advice every onc ein a while and even though I try to be as understanding as I can it sometime bothers me that they believe I should be able to help, I try to listen but then when they leave I am asking myself why are they asking me, I am just an Instructor who is trying to find the means to find enlightment in every aspct of my life. not an easy task for one self. My journey is one of self involvment in my family, community and myself. Should my journey be more about what I can do for everybody else and the rest should fall in line without a second thought?

The way of life has always been a big part of Tae Kwon Do so what is the way of life and how does one find total enlightment in today world? What can one do to help the journey along? How can one be totally enlighten in a world like ours?

The book Living the Martial way has always been one of my favorites books out there but it tends to leave no reall answers about how to.

Just writing on thoughta spinning in my head. There is probaly no real answers out there but one can only hope.

 

[Sukerkin]

This is an important philosophical question, Terry, one that has plagued people for millenia (well, those moral enough to give it a second thought anyway ).

There is no simple answer, for it is true that those who forge ahead by any means necessary are not hampered by the codes of behaviour that we would consider to be civilised or 'Good'.

The only answer that rings true for me is that if I try my best to live a moral life and can sleep at night then I'm not too far of the path. Of course, where this falls down is that those that lie, cheat and steal also have no trouble sleeping at night, despite their actions .

It depends, I suppose, on how we define our goals. If a notion of 'success' involves material wealth then the moral person is in trouble, for noone ever got rich through honest labour {other than maybe gold miners :lol:}. Other than that tho', it is perfectly possible to seek to live an honourable life and even to catch the odd glimmer or two of enlightenment to help us along the way.

 

[newGuy12]

There are people who never ask themselves such things, because they truly don't care about such things -- at all.

Now, this TKD is harsh, you punch and kick -- HARD -- to destroy some target. There is a flow in sparring, you know, a sort of "good feeling", but still, the nature of this TKD is very aggressive. The students want to be able to put big power on the target -- FAST. So, this is not what someone would think of a "nice" person doing.

But, many don't think about that too much, just practice, then go home, and enjoy the good feeling you have after practice, it is not too much more.

Some students though -- not many, but SOME -- will wish to emulate the Teacher in every way. They will try to walk like he does, dress like he does, and so on. They use the Teacher as a model for their own lives, to make themselves into the best person they can be. They wish to be LIKE their Teacher.

If they have a Teacher that robs people, or steals people's money, or anything else, these students will do the same, they are not thinking for themselves, they only wish to become like their model. If they were not so shallow, this would not happen.

Also, people change, of course. They may give up certain ways. But the TKD Teacher should not be expected to be a very very nice person all of the time. I was told that in the old days, in Korea, there were teachers who were VERY MEAN. Period, no joke. Whenever anyone got hurt, nobody cared.

This is a very forceful martial art, after all.

 

[DArnold]

When all is said in done in one's life here on this place called Earth, can you look over to the man on your left and say I lived by the code of Tae Kwon Do. I simply ask this because it has been wieghing heavenly on my mind lately. I would like to think that I have always tried to live by these simple rules but then again thinking about some of my action either on a forum or in the school I have to second guess myself, can one really live by the codes and still get ahead in today world. I mean it seems the one's that back stab or even cheat get a head in life quicker than those that live by this. What does this mean as far as a society and of our selfs, can we provide the gap between rightous and good compared to the other lifestyle that some choose.

My student base looks up to me for advice every onc ein a while and even though I try to be as understanding as I can it sometime bothers me that they believe I should be able to help, I try to listen but then when they leave I am asking myself why are they asking me, I am just an Instructor who is trying to find the means to find enlightment in every aspct of my life. not an easy task for one self. My journey is one of self involvment in my family, community and myself. Should my journey be more about what I can do for everybody else and the rest should fall in line without a second thought?

The way of life has always been a big part of Tae Kwon Do so what is the way of life and how does one find total enlightment in today world? What can one do to help the journey along? How can one be totally enlighten in a world like ours?

The book Living the Martial way has always been one of my favorites books out there but it tends to leave no reall answers about how to.

Just writing on thoughta spinning in my head. There is probaly no real answers out there but one can only hope.

Only you can answer these questions but to quote you, "...can one really live by the codes and still get ahead in today world."

What do you consider getting ahead? Will you have food on the table tomorrow, a roof over your head, will you still be teaching tomorrow?

Why do you compare yourself to others?

What makes your question any different from all those that have come before you?

If you can not answer these questions, (are not a peace/happy with what you are doing) then these questions will always bother you.

And yes, no one can answer your questions for you! Many make lots of money trying to convince others that they can... Dr. Phil, Dr. Spock... but in the end you must answer the questions to the best of your ability, and if your answer is wrong in the future... change it

 

[Marginal]

My student base looks up to me for advice every onc ein a while and even though I try to be as understanding as I can it sometime bothers me that they believe I should be able to help, I try to listen but then when they leave I am asking myself why are they asking me, I am just an Instructor who is trying to find the means to find enlightment in every aspct of my life. not an easy task for one self. My journey is one of self involvment in my family, community and myself. Should my journey be more about what I can do for everybody else and the rest should fall in line without a second thought?

I would guess that people asking your advice respect your integrity and trust you, so they go to you for advice based on that. Enlightenment in every aspect of life's a very long term goal, and it's a highly subjective one at that.

The way of life has always been a big part of Tae Kwon Do so what is the way of life and how does one find total enlightment in today world? What can one do to help the journey along? How can one be totally enlighten in a world like ours?

My cheap answer to that is you get there by helping the world be a better place to live in. How one does that, and their satisfaction with their end results will change from person to person.

Naturally, there are people who cheat, back stab etc to get what they want, but they're likely not searching for much more than money or fame, somethign along those lines. In a hundred years, who's going to care that they held fifty 10th dan rankings in a bunch of styles they probably never trained in a single day of their lives etc?

 

[terryl965]

Only you can answer these questions but to quote you, "...can one really live by the codes and still get ahead in today world."

What do you consider getting ahead? Will you have food on the table tomorrow, a roof over your head, will you still be teaching tomorrow?

Why do you compare yourself to others?

What makes your question any different from all those that have come before you?

If you can not answer these questions, (are not a peace/happy with what you are doing) then these questions will always bother you.

And yes, no one can answer your questions for you! Many make lots of money trying to convince others that they can... Dr. Phil, Dr. Spock... but in the end you must answer the questions to the best of your ability, and if your answer is wrong in the future... change it

Master Arnold I try to liveby the sodes that was tought to me and by my parents,am I getting a head yes for me. My question is no difference from anybody else just thought I would get other people perspective on it.

As far as comparing myself to other this is easy other compare you so it is jsut a way to measure one self, now does this means that I need to be like other for heaven sake not, I walk a path that is so important to me at this venture in my life. My path is about self preservation and a path for my sons to follow.

I have always believe we all have so many paths to take but in the end they will all come together in that great place called heaven.

 

[garrisons2]

Terry,
Lot's of deep thoughts, to which I'm afraid there are only more deep thoughts, not really answers

Take your question "Should my journey be more about what I can do for everybody else and the rest should fall in line without a second thought?"

My thinking is that TaeKwonDo is useful here as it all come back to balance

Best Regards

He who conquers himself is the mightiest warrior.
-Confucius