WARRIOR SPIRIT CIRCLE Over the last weeks we have been discussing the 4 NOBLE TRUTHS; a core concept of the martial arts training and of life. Recap of the Four Noble Truths: 1st Truth - There is Suffering, it exists and we cannot run from it. There is suffering because things in life are always changing and therefore all things are impermanent. Impermanence, is the principle that in every part of life, all things evolve and truly these changes cannot be controlled by us. 2nd Truth - There is Cause or Origin of Suffering - It is not enough to just know what the pains or challenge are of a situation, we must also understand the root cause of this suffering.  3rd Truth - The Cessation of Suffering - There is an end of Suffering. The third truth is a liberation one experiences when they let go of their suffering. This happens when one can release from their desire to hold on to what is causing their suffering. 4th Truth - The Way out of Suffering — There is a path out of Suffering. The way out of suffering is through the Eightfold Path, which gives way for happiness, virtue and nirvana. Happiness is a mental state where you detach from all the passions, needs, wants and free yourself and achieve a state where you go beyond your ordinary limitations and experience bliss/great joy and well-being. Virtue is moral excellence. A foundation of principles of good moral being.  Nirvana is an awakening, the cessation of all suffering, the removal of wrong perceptions we have in life, can be translated as freedom, freedom from views. The fourth truth acknowledges a “way out” of the suffering, it gives us permission to leave the pains of the past and take the lessons with us. The Eightfold Path is the way to enlightenment.  In our training, the Eightfold Path embodies what we as martial artists strive for. Since our first days as a white belt onward, all of these elements have been embedded in the training: in our martial arts mindset, our intention, our effort, our action/behaviour, our mindfulness and meditation and our concentration and focus.  The EIGHTFOLD PATH (The path to enlightenment) includes three levels of training: meditation, wisdom and ethics. The Eightfold Path consists of: 
  1. correct view, an accurate understanding of the nature of things, specifically the Four Noble Truths 
  2. correct intention (correct resolve), avoiding thoughts of attachment, hatred, and harmful intent, 
  3. correct speech, refraining from verbal misdeeds such as lying, divisive speech, harsh speech, and senseless speech, 
  4. correct action, refraining from physical misdeeds such as killing, stealing, and misconduct, 
  5. correct livelihood, avoiding trades that directly or indirectly harm others, such as selling weapons, animals for slaughter, intoxicants, or poisons, 
  6. correct effort, abandoning negative states of mind that have already arisen, preventing negative states that have yet to arise, and sustaining positive states that have already arisen
  7. correct mindfulness, awareness of body, feelings, thought, and phenomena (the constituents of the existing world), and 
  8. correct concentration, single-mindedness.
Karate is just one of the ways to reach enlightenment. Watch here for more about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.   By Kohai Dianne Hadad 3rd Degree Black Belt, Renge Dojo Certified Professional Coach, Warrior Spirit Circle 647-203-4882 |  dianne.hadad@gmail.com The WARRIOR SPIRIT CIRCLE creates conversations for kids, parents and martial artists to discover their true self and embody their warrior spirit. Our mission is to share the practical wisdom from the classical martial arts virtues and philosophies to inspirit resiliency, confidence and vibrancy.