No high-concept blog tonight. I’m tired. I started the day at the pool, THE pool – the new swimming pool built on the CSUMB (California Sate University Monterey Bay) that is 25 meters by 25 yards. I do underwater laps across 25 meters. With mask, snorkel and long freediving fins I train there 2 or 3 days a week. I also try and walk 30 minutes a few times a week as terrestrial exercise lowers my blood sugar, swimming doesn’t.
I do 50 meter laps underwater at 13 ft. depth, actually 13 ½ (inside information from the pool designer, they dug an extra half foot deep). I’ve trained all year, diving in the ocean 2 or 3 times a month, depending on my schedule and ocean conditions. Yesterday and today I broke through and am now able to do 2 and a half laps. That’s once across, back, and half way back again. When I break through again I will be doing 75 meters underwater at 13.5 feet depth. This will be a major spiritual milestone.
I went to Monterey and trained first in Enshin Itto Ryu Battojutsu, an ancient combat sword art, (with the class), then did the Bujinkan Ninjutsu class, both with my teacher Julio Toribio who is the top student under Machida Koncho, a grandmaster of several martial arts and a Mikkyo Shingon priest. When we go to Japan we train in front of his temple and then eat dinner with his family.
My tendonitis hurts from sword drawing. I have point tenderness right on the insertion point of the ulna tendon on my right arm. I learned the final kata for my second degree black belt test. Now I just need to practice.
Everything I do is in orbit around the Gohonzon and Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. I believe, I know this, but I’m not a stellar Buddhist. I try. I have faith. I practice happily in SGI. I do the best I can.
In 1999 I was in the Caribbean on the Island of St. Maartin. I was stuck there when hurricane Lenny came through and sat on the island for days until it finally died out. In the darkness and depression I experienced during the category five hurricane (Cat. 5 for a short time anyway) I foresaw the times ahead. I was able to look ahead into the future and know that winter always turns to spring. I am now living the future I foresaw then.
Myoho exists. It is the fabric upon which the painting of life resides. Reality has the final say. We bicker, we argue, especially in Nichiren Buddhism we wage a war of perspectives. Some of us practice with others, some of us dabble alone pretending our discussion group lists are “sangha “of sorts.
We pretend, and we imagine.
Reality will have the final say.
Much of what we do, say and believe is merely distractions from the real issues in our lives. If we become free we can think, do, feel and learn freely, without fear of making mistakes we can’t correct. Sometimes when we think we’ve made big mistakes we try and convince others that they’re making the same mistake, in a useless effort to validate ourselves and make ourselves feel right again.
More and more now I am realizing I am free. That’s all that matters now, being free, and teaching my children to be free.
Your mileage may vary. One look on buddhajones and you can see what it’s like to not be free.
I was lost, now I'm free.
Rev. Greg, Shidoshi and freeman
Low concept blog...NOT. It's doing the simple stuff that makes such a big difference in life.
Man, I get tired just reading your exercise day...I am a neophyte to all this fitness and martial arts stuff. I know how much my middle aged body likes to move in all those ways. I'm at the very beginning my path in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido and Ju Jitsu. These early months have been a challenge mentally and physically.
Just thanking you for all the time you have spent helping me to free myself from the bondage of letting crazy people define my life.
Besides you also have great taste in shoes.
Mimi
Posted by: Dr. Mimi at April 11, 2004 01:45 PM