Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything - even mountains, rivers, plants and trees - should be your teacher.
Interpretation
Learn from nature and the wisdom of others to navigate life's challenges.
This quote emphasizes the importance of observing the natural world and seeking wisdom from various sources, including nature and revered texts. Ueshiba suggests that everything around us can provide valuable lessons, encouraging a mindset of openness to learning and growth in both personal and spiritual aspects of life.
In practice
In a speech about personal development, this quote can illustrate the importance of continuous learning from our surroundings.
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.
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.
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.
Running around accusing others is not as good as laughing. And enjoying a good laugh is not as good as going along with things.
Let the unseen days be. Today is more than enough.
When the world throws you too much information, the only way you can stay sane or survive is to look for pattern recognition. Amidst all the blurs, is there a constellation that emerges, is there a straight line that's emerging?
Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it.
It is reasonable to have perfection in our eye that we may always advance toward it, though we know it can never be reached.
The human mind treats a new idea the same way the body treats a strange protein; it rejects it.
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