The Greatest Tragedy Is To Have an Enemy

Among other things, I am a martial artist, and likeI was meditating on my behavior, lately, and I like
many who have elected this path and put init, especially the politeness I have been showing,
years of practice and study, I have returned to athanking people, and saying "please" often. I've
place of contentment where the last thing I wantbeen patient in traffic, acknowledging people for
in my life is violence of any kind.their telephone assistance, and effortlessly
There is a memorable scene in one of thecomplimenting folks for the small gestures they've
Frankenstein movies, when the monster isbeen making on my behalf.
befriended by a blind fiddler. Without speech, theThese are little civilities, I know, but they've been
brute ingratiates himself and is accepted for hismet with reciprocating gentleness and appreciation.
inner beauty, and without sight, the fiddler isI'm beginning to hear the fiddler, and feel the
appreciated for his hearth, his warmth, and hiswarm fire tickling my thickened skin.
hospitality.Could we devise a martial art based on good
They become friends, as the firelight flickers inmanners and appreciation?
the modest cabin, somewhere up at the treeIs this, in part, the basis of the Japanese Tea
line's edge, beyond the reach of the town and itsCeremony?
torch bearing tormentors.Is this the spirit that the Aikido founder, Morihei
The "Tao," the revered book of Chinese wisdomUeshiba, was inspired by?
attributed to Lao Tsu, says the greatest tragedyIs this the true strength of committed pacifists,
is to have an enemy.like Gandhi and Martin Luther King?
This line presupposes that in living, deep conflictsMake friends with yourself, and heal your torn and
are optional, not customary. In a sense weconflicted motivations, and then see what kind of
choose an adversarial life, and if this is so, it is amartial artist you become.
very bad election to make.