Should we look in the mirror before practice or attending an event at the Dojo? What would it be like if we disregarded our appearance or equipment? How might our own appearance impact our mind? Without our equipment well maintained, we will be concerned with its performance. How might our own vehicles perform without normal maintenance? Should we take pride in our own appearance and equipment and take care of them? And of course, what would Sensei think?
Found in various letters to Samurai warriors, Yamamoto Tsunetomo wrote, “It is said that one should rise at four in the morning, bathe, and arrange his (or her) hair daily. Eat when the sun comes up, and retire when it becomes dark”. Of course we all have various schedules we keep. Getting up at four in the morning may not be on the top of one’s agenda. An additional passage by Tsunetomo included, “Ordinarily, looking into the mirror and grooming one’s self is sufficient or the upkeep of personal appearance. This is very important. Most people’s personal appearance is poor because they do not look into the mirror well enough”. Might this basic ideology and daily practice be beneficial?
Our equipment, uniform and weapons used in training at the Dojo are important. A warrior’s mindset includes being clean and having all uniforms, armor, or equipment to be accounted for and ready for battle. Or in our case, we prepare ourselves for training and pursuit of self-betterment. What would a dirty uniform, unserviceable or missing equipment or weapons say about our intention to strive for improvement? What would Sensei say if we arrived for training without our uniform or belt? This translates outside of the Dojo in our everyday lives. This speaks much about us and our state of mind. A look into the mirror reflects our desire to always improve and learn. Tsunetomo wrote, “To place one’s armor out splendidly is a fine discipline, but it is sufficient if it is simply all accounted for.”
We all have a responsibility to strive to be the best that we can be. Let it be known that the motivation for this short article was not due to a negative experience at the Dojo. I believe one should take the time to set positive examples for others to follow. Training the warriors’ mind might just begin in our daily preparation and readiness, with a look in the mirror.
Thank you,
Darin MccCall