Mar 08.qxd - Connection Magazine

The Art Of Letting Go
by Sensei Rod Sanford, Hanchi
MY SENSEI USED to say
that as martial artists we
should strive to become
“Artists of life.” When I was young
the physical lessons of punching,
kicking, striking, throwing and grappling
dominated my interest. I wanted
to know every possible technique
and every possible way to generate
more speed and power. Now, after 47
years of training I find myself
emphasizing to my students the
importance of developing one’s character,
of becoming an artist of life.
Throughout the years O’Sensei
would interweave within our incessant
physical training lessons that
would help us develop living skills.
One that I would like to share with
you today is the lesson of “Letting
Go.” When teaching this lesson
O’Sensei would often tell us this
story:
Two monks were sent on a long
journey. On the second night it rained
heavily so they took refuge in a temple.
Early the next morning they set
out and shortly came upon an attractive
young woman standing in the
middle of the road. The woman carried
a parasol and was dressed in a
beautiful kimono with fine sandals.
She stood looking at a large mud
puddle that blocked her path. There
was no way around. When the two
monks walked up one greeted her
politely and said, “It’s obvious that
we all must cross this puddle and
since I am sure to get muddy anyway
there is no need for you to soil your
fine clothes. I would be glad to carry
you across if you would like.” The
young woman was very grateful and
agreed to accept the monk’s kind
offer. The monk scooped her up in
his arms, carried her across the puddle
and set her down. The two bowed
politely and all went on their way.
The second monk was strangely
quiet all day. Late that evening he
suddenly broke the silence, “I’m
very disappointed in you!” he said to
the other monk. “We are monks and
we have taken certain vows. You
should not have carried that young
woman across the water this morning.
The only reason you did is so
you could touch her body! You have
broken your vows and should be
ashamed of yourself!” “No,” the
other monk said quietly, “I carried
the woman across the water and set
her down on the other side. You are
the one who has been carrying her all
day.”
As humans we are certain to
experience anger and other negative
emotions in our lifetime. There will
be times
when we
become
angry, we
become
sad, our
feelings
will be
hurt and
so on. If
allowed
to, these negative emotions can
become very harmful to our health.
When negative emotions come we
must practice “Letting go.” It is our
choice. We can experience them and
then let them go and move on
through life or cling to them as the
second monk did. If we hold on or
cling to them they will only cause us
grief. The poisons, as O’Sensei
taught were; anger, jealousy, hatred,
greed, resentment, desire, envy and
deceit.
Sensei Rod Sanford was one of
Professor Richard Kim’s senior students.
O’Sensei Kim was referred to
as, “Karate’s Guiding Light.” He
was a 10th dan and in Japan known
as a busei, martial arts saint. Sensei
Sanford now carries on for O’Sensei
Kim as president of the Zen Bei
Butoku-Kai and one of the technical
directors for Kokusai Butokukai.
Contact Sensei Sanford at Rod
Sanford’s Traditional Martial Arts in
Soquel, (831) 475-9676 or
www.mydojo.com
Page 10 ▲ The Connection Magazine ▲ www.theConnect.com ▲ March — April 2, 2008