Do you know the most repeated phrase in the enormous Book of Ninja? “To be orally transmitted.” Again and again, The Book of Ninja reminds the reader that the details and essence of the teaching reside outside of the words on the scroll. That’s because the…
In this final post on practicing prajna, wisdom, I want to talk about wisdom as being transcendent. We have to be careful though, because transcendence does not mean other-worldly, as if we have to somehow remove ourselves from the here and now in order to obtain…
As humans, we constantly create perceptions. Many, if not most, of these perceptions are false. When a perception is correct, it’s called wisdom. Wise perception is the art of discerning what is true. One way we can practice wise perception is by becoming more aware of…
In every encounter or experience, there is the potential for gaining our enlightenment, the possibility of finding that one missing piece of the puzzle that brings about illumination. -Masaaki Hatsumi Enlightenment opportunities are everywhere. That isn’t to say they are easy to notice, or to accept.…
Of wisdom’s many qualities, the most prevalent description is that it brings light. To be more specific, it doesn’t just bring light; it is light. Wisdom has been described as our inner sun. It provides light and warmth to our lives and circumstances. It illuminates our…
I’m currently reading The Other Shore, Thich Nhat Hanh’s commentary on the Heart Sutra. The Heart Sutra, which includes the well-known phrase “form is emptiness; emptiness is form,” calls us to forget ourselves. This, for Westerners, is problematic and disturbing, because we often define our entire…
Miyamoto Musashi says a true martial arts master knows when to break rhythm. Sometimes, the predictability of a beat will lead to your defeat. If you want to best your opponent, take control of the cadence, and change it to your advantage. In other words, think…
In my last post on wisdom, I shared an easy, accessible way to practice wisdom: read wise words daily. Today, I want to talk about the second step of that practice: be mindful of your media diet. This second step is harder, and usually met with…
Just in time for the weekend, here is an easy, accessible way for you to practice wisdom: read wise words daily. I know, this is appallingly obvious. But it bears repeating that we do not gain wisdom through osmosis. We gain it through attention and proximity.…
Cardinal rule of the ninja: hold your tongue. This meant never speaking frivolously, never giving too much away, always choosing to listen far more than you speak. Long before “loose lips sink ships” became a war slogan, the ninja realized that their silence ensured their safety.…