"In a heart that is one with nature though the body contends, there is no violence. And in the heart that is not one with nature, though the body be at rest, there is always violence. Be, therefore, like the prow of a boat, it cleaves the water yet it leaves in its wake water unbroken." - Master Po

The above mystic wisdom comes from the TV series Kung Fu starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine. It was first broadcast on ABC as Episode 8—Sun and Cloud Shadow, February 22, 1973. The year before, the same year that Kung Fu first appeared as a TV movie, I had received my Black Belt from the Philadelphia School of Korean Karate and Kung Fu. Many years before, I had begun my martial training not out of a desire to prove myself or protect myself, but out of my desire to find a mystical teacher such as Master Po, the blind Shaolin monk and Caine’s mentor. Unbelievable, but this TV series was mirroring my own thirst for the spiritual wisdom and the martial power of the East. It’s success only reconfirmed my feeling that many others, martial artists as well as non-martial artist, were as thirsty for this type of mystical training as I was. And thus I set out on my own musha-shugyō (warrior pilgrimage) throughout the mountains and the valleys of this earth seeking my own Master Po.

Today after 30 years of seeking and the knowledge, experience and wisdom accumulated from it, I am offering my expertise in the spirituality of warriorship to other school owners and black belts.

We are now in the 21^st Century and locked in a fear-based culture with the threat of terrorism hanging over everyone’s head. As a society, we are in a state of chaos. But with chaos comes opportunity. And the opportunity lies within our reach. We as martial artists have an effective antidote for these troubled times: the spiritual side of the martial arts, not religious but spiritual.

Spirituality has nothing to do with organized religion. But it has everything to do with the individuals search for meaning, power and healing in life. This is where the warrior sage archetype comes into play. I feel that we have the opportunity to enter into an age of enlightenment in the martial arts that will do justice to the legacy of the mystic warriors of old, non-fictional as well as fictional.

The mystic warrior (sage) may be defined as a spiritual philosopher that brings meaning, peace and unity to the chaotic separateness of life. This wise one was known as a healer as well as a warrior and one who had quested through the mountains and the valleys of the earth. Being ever the spiritual truth-seeker, he/she focused on a life pilgrimage that embraced the experiential knowledge and mystic wisdom of the unknown as well as the unity of creation.

As a martial arts culture, we need to surrender the belief that effective fighting, competition, values training and rank awarding are the only things of worth that we have to offer to society. And we need to acknowledge that the majority of schools, even in my opinion aikido schools, are lacking in a strong spiritual component, which in the chaos of life is more important than physical ability. Of course, the ideal state is a balance of both, the physical and the spiritual. So how can you and/or your school begin to bring more spirit to the physical?

MYSTIC WARRIOR (SAGE) TRAINING

To bring more spiritual knowledge and power to your martial arts training, you may choose to participate in a monthly Internet yearlong training program. The fee for this special Mystic Warrior (Sage) Training is $95 per month plus membership in the Morning Star Order, and participation in a summer weekend training in the Olympic Mountains, Washington State: Fee - $395. For further information and an application form, please Contact Us or e-mail us at – spirit@divinehumanity.com.

The Order and the Hakusan Dojo as well conduct a Mountain Mystic (Sage) Training Program during the summer. For further information and an application form, please Contact Us or e-mail us at – spirit@divinehumanity.com.

The Addition of the Mystic Warrior (Sage) Ideal to your School’s Curriculum

The steps in bringing a spiritual component into your school’s offerings are much more difficult than learning a structured system of fighting. Of course, there are different course offerings for you to learn the ends and outs of meditation as well as going on guided visualizations or mind journeys. And most areas of the country have an eclectic mix of New Age offerings. But as with the martial arts, buyer beware, and be discerning about the courses and programs that may be offered to you. We do have an alternative for you. We will bring our Mystic Warrior Trainings to your dojo. We also offer our trainings on both the East Coast as well as the West Coast.

Mystic Warrior (Sage) Dojo Trainings:

Four weekend trainings and our Puma and Dragon Ways - 4 day mountain experience - are required to be certified. These trainings are conducted on Long Island at the Academy of Martial Arts, 656E North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst, L.I., N.Y. (631) 225-5326 and in Washington State. Mystic Warrior (Sage) Trainings may also be sponsored and taught at your dojo. For more information, please contact Mark Speranza at the number above or Contact Us or e-mail us at – spirit@divinehumanity.com.

Hakusan Dojo White Mountain Martial Arts The Last Samurai