I, Deshi, deliver my report on this week's training.
As I have mentioned before, most of us studying with the Antagonistic Buddha arrived as accomplished martial artists. The mythology and mistaken notions so many ordinary people carry regarding martial arts have already been purged. We are realists about our training. Long hours of hard training have taught us that skill comes through work, and is paid for in sweat, tears, and -- not infrequently -- blood and injury. We put little stock in the mystical.
We finished a session this week and the class began to disperse. One of the older students muttered a joke to his partners about how the technique we'd been practicing would've been easier if he had the power to cloud men's minds. This jest caught the Antagonistic Buddha's attention.
The Great Sage clapped -- the sound split the air like thunder -- and called the class back to attention.
"Clarke made it clear: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
The students watched the Great Sage expectantly.
"Technology is applied science. What else is martial arts but applied science? We take advantage of physics at every opportunity. Should our application of science end with physics? The power you are joking about is merely applied psychology.
"Sonshi wrote: All warfare is based upon deception. For example, a quick feint to the head draws the opponent's guard so you may strike elsewhere. Do we not apply psychology when we exploit misdirection? This is Kyojutsu -- an exchange of truth and lies. Kyojutsu is related to the feats of Genjutsu."
We looked as each other, for few of us had heard this term before. The Great Sage sensed our confusion and so, he demonstrated the "Unbendable Arm," and then the "Immovable Seat." He invited students to test him on these. None could budge him, and many were amazed.
The Antagonistic Buddha shook his head, "These are but parlor tricks. Genjutsu is nothing but stage magic. I am manipulating your minds through feats of physics. You believe you see the impossible because you are distracted."
He then explained how these tricks work. (Please note: when I told the Great Sage of my topic this week, he asked me not to divulge the "secrets." The truly curious can easily find out how to perform these feats, but it is not our job to make it easy for the unscrupulous.)
"The tricks of Genjutsu are useless in and of themselves. But you may employ Genjutsu to unbalance your opponent's mind strategically. Misdirect their attention so it is difficult for them to assess your true ability.
"Let your opponents enhance your legend for you. It was said, for example, that a Shaolin Monk could walk through walls; but it was not a Shaolin Monk who said this. Likewise, most people will tell you that ninja do not exist; but that is exactly what the ninja want you to believe."
He smiled at this.
"As you advance here, you will learn to use seemingly magical abilities. But you will also learn the ordinary nature and limitations of them. There is nothing mystical and mysterious about clouding a man's mind. Women have been doing this since before history."
As I have mentioned before, most of us studying with the Antagonistic Buddha arrived as accomplished martial artists. The mythology and mistaken notions so many ordinary people carry regarding martial arts have already been purged. We are realists about our training. Long hours of hard training have taught us that skill comes through work, and is paid for in sweat, tears, and -- not infrequently -- blood and injury. We put little stock in the mystical.
We finished a session this week and the class began to disperse. One of the older students muttered a joke to his partners about how the technique we'd been practicing would've been easier if he had the power to cloud men's minds. This jest caught the Antagonistic Buddha's attention.
The Great Sage clapped -- the sound split the air like thunder -- and called the class back to attention.
"Clarke made it clear: Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
The students watched the Great Sage expectantly.
"Technology is applied science. What else is martial arts but applied science? We take advantage of physics at every opportunity. Should our application of science end with physics? The power you are joking about is merely applied psychology.
"Sonshi wrote: All warfare is based upon deception. For example, a quick feint to the head draws the opponent's guard so you may strike elsewhere. Do we not apply psychology when we exploit misdirection? This is Kyojutsu -- an exchange of truth and lies. Kyojutsu is related to the feats of Genjutsu."
We looked as each other, for few of us had heard this term before. The Great Sage sensed our confusion and so, he demonstrated the "Unbendable Arm," and then the "Immovable Seat." He invited students to test him on these. None could budge him, and many were amazed.
The Antagonistic Buddha shook his head, "These are but parlor tricks. Genjutsu is nothing but stage magic. I am manipulating your minds through feats of physics. You believe you see the impossible because you are distracted."
He then explained how these tricks work. (Please note: when I told the Great Sage of my topic this week, he asked me not to divulge the "secrets." The truly curious can easily find out how to perform these feats, but it is not our job to make it easy for the unscrupulous.)
"The tricks of Genjutsu are useless in and of themselves. But you may employ Genjutsu to unbalance your opponent's mind strategically. Misdirect their attention so it is difficult for them to assess your true ability.
"Let your opponents enhance your legend for you. It was said, for example, that a Shaolin Monk could walk through walls; but it was not a Shaolin Monk who said this. Likewise, most people will tell you that ninja do not exist; but that is exactly what the ninja want you to believe."
He smiled at this.
"As you advance here, you will learn to use seemingly magical abilities. But you will also learn the ordinary nature and limitations of them. There is nothing mystical and mysterious about clouding a man's mind. Women have been doing this since before history."
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