On Bunbu Ryoudo 文武 両 道

On Bunbu Ryoudo.

By Toshitsugu Takamatsu 33rd Soke

To use the literary and Martial arts for the nation means to prepare for societies turbulence. It is very common to have at least one social disturbance in every “reign.” You should never abolish learning the bugei (warrior arts), even in a short period. There are so many kinds of martial arts and among them only ju-jutsu is needed, this is also true in times of peace. At this time it may be used for self-protection.

At the same time, a person that studies jū-jutsu, also learns how to endure. The warrior understands the importance of separating anger from everything. Those who study ju-jutsu have good common sense and great character. If you ruin yourself over trivial things you may lose yourself, if you lose yourself you may eventually lose your home.
This is a never ending cycle and... you may not ever be able to recover from it.

As with children and parents, the people to the nation, and to the country, sometimes you must sacrifice yourself for these things, in other words place them above yourself.
To give an example, the Ōtomo family was prepared to die in the mountains or the sea (in the poem to die for the emperor).

Complete mastery of Budō in ancient times allowed warriors to make flying birds drop from the sky by using Kiai (spirit shout), through training in martial virtues.
Training with the essence of breaking evil and allowing just to prevail. If I paraphrase this you could say, the way to attain the summit is to follow the laws of nature.

Therefore, there is no space between heaven and earth, yourself and your opponent, there is no space between anything in nature, all is connected and all is chaotic.
In heaven it is natural to have In and Yō (positive and negative aka yin and yang), and on earth the virtue of hard and soft.

There are two main things that should be studied in Bunbu (literary and martial arts). These are the Golden rules (Iron rules in Japanese) of nature.

The true warrior learns by himself.

In the middle of heaven and earth, one learns the mental status of preparing to die."

Where is Your Attention? Is that place, or thing, or idea, worthy of your attention? You have a choice. Consider for a moment a specific event or condition that has challenged you this week.

With that situation in mind, ask yourself, "Where is/was my attention?"

Is your attention on the inner or the outer?

On the seen or the unseen?

On the good or the bad?

On what is right or what is wrong?

On the frustration or the opportunity?

On worry or joy?

On satisfaction or lack of satisfaction?

On what you desire or the lack of it?

On the light or the dark side?

You have a choice.

What do you want to see with your attention?

Be gentle with yourself as you answer these questions.If you do not like your answer, laugh at yourself with loving appreciation and make a new choice.

Where is your attention?"