| I was really surprised when my Tai Chi instructor, | | | | you subject it to cold, it freezes. If you heat it |
| a fifth degree black belt in Karate, told his class | | | | above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it boils and turns |
| that anger is not a useful tool in the martial arts. | | | | to vapor. But its natural, H2O, remains the same. |
| All the movies I had seen, with all the shouting | | | | Thus, as you develop tranquility in your life, no |
| and angry faces, led me to believe that anger | | | | matter what happens, you can remain the same. |
| was at the center of the martial arts. The | | | | Calm and collected. So that you may react as |
| instructor went on to explain that shouting can be | | | | you wish. This is a proactive solution to many |
| part of the practice, but that's because it can help | | | | anger challenges. When you are at peace, you will |
| center the movement of the blow. In other | | | | find that you have an appropriate move ready |
| words, strengthen the performance of the | | | | for use. A martial artist is at peace with his art |
| maneuver. This was from a man who had been | | | | because he knows his mind and body are |
| elected to the state martial arts hall of fame. So, | | | | prepared because of hundreds or thousands of |
| I listened, despite my surprise. | | | | repetitions. His is proactively ready. |
| Tranquility he said was the key to a good | | | | When you develop peace of mind within yourself, |
| performance in the martial arts. Tranquility gets | | | | you are ready. Nothing can then blind side you |
| one's anger under control, or dissipates it | | | | because you know who you are. You know you |
| altogether. This serenity actually helps one defend | | | | can be ahead of anger because you have |
| one's self. If anger clouds or even covers over | | | | discovered who you really are. |
| sound judgment, then one cannot perform as one | | | | You discover this about yourself through |
| ought or needs to in martial combat. What | | | | meditation-like exercises of the mind. There is at |
| replaces anger, then, is a sense of knowing that | | | | the center of all of us a place of peace and calm. |
| what you are going to do next, your next move, | | | | An undisturbed place. You find that be quietly |
| is already for you. You repeat and repeat the | | | | thinking about it. Over the course of weeks and |
| movements so many times that they become | | | | months you become more and more familiar with |
| second nature. You do not even have to think | | | | that place. You know it as a "safe-room" within |
| about what comes next. It just occurs in the | | | | yourself that nothing and no one can trouble. Hear |
| course of the need that presents itself to you. | | | | me now. This takes time and effort. You won't |
| Life is that way. Wouldn't it be great that you had | | | | develop this safe-room over night or with just a |
| everything so arranged in your soul that the next | | | | few session of meditation-like time. You have got |
| move you need is already there for you? Of | | | | to work at it. The more deeply you are into |
| course, to be realistic, no one can be so well | | | | anger, the longer it may take to be proactively |
| prepared that every situation in life is covered. | | | | calm. It can happen for you, however. Make up |
| But the foundation can be such that you are | | | | your mind in this moment to develop this |
| prepared for anything by way of mental or | | | | safe-room with yourself. Know that there no one |
| spiritual posture. Take water, for example. No | | | | and nothing can get to you. You are proactively |
| matter what happens to it, its nature is such that | | | | chilled out. |
| it retains its identity. If you punch it, it splashes. If | | | | |