n the philosophical teachings which form the foundation for the Ninja Warrior's
lifeways, there is a principle known as the 'law of interdependence.' This
so-called 'law' is not a must-do rule which one must follow, nor is it to be
confused with dependence or co-dependence as it is seen today where one or more
individuals who cannot or choose not to provide for themselves, lean on and
'depend' on the work and resources of another for the fulfillment of their
needs. Rather, the law of interdependence is something that is to be recognized
as a basic 'truth' in the world.Much like the law of gravity or cause and
effect, it is something that is 'going-on,' always, regardless of whether we
'believe' in it or not. In fact, contrary to our need to believe that we are
what we are, this principle in action shows us that we are more like others
than we know.
Unlike the law of gravity, however, which is difficult to understand and
explain; interdependence is relatively easy to explain. Let's use a simple
analogy to understand this 'goings-on.' We'll use something simple, like a
Whopper. No, I'm not being paid to endorse a food franchise and you can feel
free to substitute this item for any of a thousand others. But, for our
purposes, it will do.
Now, most people would agree to the connection between themselves and all of
the individuals working in the restaurant at the moment you visited and placed
your order for the sandwich. Someone took your order; another was busy making
the product; and others made sure it found its way to a tray or bag and
ultimately into your hand. In this simple view, there is an interdependent
connection between you - the person who 'wants' the sandwich, and those who are
making sure that you get it.
Of course, seen from the viewpoint of any worker, they are mutually dependent
on you, and many others throughout a day, wanting and willing to pay for a
sandwich so that they can get a paycheck at the end of the week. For you: no
restaurant - no sandwich. For them: no customers, no restaurant, no paycheck.
But, in the words of the enigmatic guru "Morphius" from the popular movie, "The
Matrix", if you really want to see "how deep the rabbit hole goes," we can look
much more closely at that simple sandwich.
Let's begin with the wrapper. It wasn't made there at the restaurant. It was
delivered, probably by truck. Which means what? Well, where do you want to
start? Driver? Truck dealership who sold it to Burger King? Truck manufacturer?
Trailer manufacturer? Get the idea?
For now, let's stay with the driver and truck remaining associated with the
restaurant. But, already we're talking about more than just the employees
working in the restaurant, aren't we. Many, if not all of them have families
which will benefit from their paycheck in some way just as the company is
benefiting from their desire or willingness to do the job they're doing.
The wrapper itself is paper which now extends our connection to people working
in the logging and paper production industries and their families. The ink does
the same along those lines; and so on throughout the rest of the parts of the
sandwich like the burger, vegetables, and so on.
"What's the point?", I can hear you asking. "How does this relate to personal
development, martial arts, self-defense or my life?" After all, aren't we
different than a sandwich?
I don't think it's the answer that will drive the point home as much as a
question: If a burger can be made up of the materials, effort, energy,
intention and connections of so many that it almost touches the lives of every
other person on the planet - how can we believe that we, as so-called
'individuals,' can be any different? After all, haven't each one of us been
influenced, positively or negatively, by other people, places, and situations
that caused us to believe, act, and engage the world the way we do?
Can you imagine how different you would be had those influences been different
or not there at all? Just think about what motivated you to take up martial
arts training. Regardless of whether it was for self-defense, the allure of
Asian culture, or soemthing else - you were first exposed to those 'other
things' - giving you your reason to take up the arts. The saying goes, "no
(wo)man is an island," and it's true. No matter how much we would like to be an
'individual,' we are nonetheless, tied to every other human being on the face
of the planet - if by no other means than the water we drink and the air we
breath. The law of interdependence teaches us to recognize the value in all
things and to treat everything as though it were 'me.' Only then can one be
sure that we are not acting in an egotistical, self-serving way that will harm,
alienate, or hinder ourselves or others.
What does this have to do with our training? It is the person who recognizes
and acts knowing that this is true who builds his or her world rather than
isolating themselves as important and in contrast with everything and everyone
else that is seen as 'obviously' of lesser value. It is the ego who must be
"right" and "righteous" that needs to attack others - to fight for 'right.'
There is an old saying that goes: "the truest measure of a person's character
is in the way he or she treats those least important to them." Once we
understand, and can 'see', how our every thought, word, and action acts upon
the world, we can take control of the process and decide to build a character
that takes responsibility for the way it affects others. No longer will we act
out of a state of disconnection and isolation, but move purposefully through
our world with compassion and disciplined action.
We have a choice. We can be 'nice' to others because it's proper manners to do
so, because we expect to get something from them, or because we have to live
with them. Or, we can treat others with respect and honor because we recognize
that we are already connected to them in some way already.
Jeffrey M. Miller is the founder and master instructor of Warrior Concepts
International. A senior teacher in the Japanese warrior art of Ninjutsu, he
specializes in teaching the ancient ways of self-protection and personal
development lessons in a way that is easily understood and put to use by modern
Western students and corporate clients. Through their martial arts training,
his students and clients learn proven, time-tested lessons designed to help
them create the life they've always dreamed of living, and the skills necessary
for protecting that life from anything that might threaten it. Shidoshi Miller
is also the author of the "Foundations of Self Defense Mastery" eCourse. To
learn more about this and other subjects related to the martial arts,
self-defense, personal development & self-improvement, visit his website at
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