Study the teachings of the pine tree, the bamboo, and the plum blossom. The pine is evergreen, firmly rooted, and venerable. The bamboo is strong, resilient, unbreakable. The plum blossom is hardy, fragrant, and elegant.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of learning from nature's resilience and beauty.
Morihei Ueshiba's quote reflects on the valuable life lessons we can gain from observing three distinct plants: the pine tree symbolizes perseverance and strength through its consistent greenery and deep roots; the bamboo represents adaptability and resilience, thriving in various conditions; and the plum blossom embodies grace and beauty in hardship, blooming in adversity. Together, these elements encourage us to adopt these traits in our own lives for growth and elegance.
In practice
In a motivational speech about personal growth.
PRACTICE OF THE Art of Peace is an act of faith, a belief in the ultimate power of nonviolence. It is faith in the power of purification and faith in the power of life itself. It is not a type of rigid discipline or empty asceticism. It is a path that follows natural principles, principles, that must be applied to daily living. The Art of Peace should be practiced from the time you rise to greet the morning to the time you retire at night.
EACH DAY OF HUMAN life contains joy and anger, pain and pleasure, darkness and light, growth and decay. Each moment is etched with nature’s grand design-do not try to deny or oppose the cosmic order of things.
Foster and polish the warrior spirit while serving in the world; illuminate the path according to your inner light.
THE BODY SHOULD be triangular, the mind circular. The triangle represents the generation of energy and is the most stable physical posture. The circle symbolizes serenity and perfection, the source of unlimited techniques. The square stands for solidity, the basis of applied control.
Aikido is the spirit of loving protection for all beings.
The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity; the heart of martial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love, and friendship. Emphasis on the physical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is always limited.
Experience without theory is blind, but theory without experience is mere intellectual play.
Take one thing with another, and the world is a pretty good sort of a world, and it is our duty to make the best of it, and be thankful.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
Littera scripta manet - 'The written word will remain'. That's true, but it won't be that much comfort to me.
Let the human mind loose. It must be loose. It will be loose. Superstition and dogmatism cannot confine it.
The stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things which matter for a nation - the great peaks we had forgotten, of Honor, Duty, Patriotism, and clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of Sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven.
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