Comments on: “How can anyone control the emotional mind?” by Bruce Baker

By: YoungIn Park

YoungIn Park — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:34:41 +0000

I would suggest reading “On Combat” by Dave Grossman.

By: Rick Berry

Rick Berry — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:13:41 +0000

When I perform a movement or sequence, not of the conscious mind, and it turns out to be a blessing for me or beneficial for someone else, or I discover (in the middle of an exercise) a technique I have never done before, the realization hits that it comes from a connection of my mind with universal mind. This has been my experience.

By: Corky Quakenbush

Corky Quakenbush — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:00:08 +0000

That was a great reflection. So true how hard it is to transcend our conditioned or autonomous reponse in the face of acute anxiety, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned training. But our training has to be in the right discipline.

Osensei’s uchideshi Kanshu Sunadomari Shihan has often said that focusing only on technique will bring to a wall in your training. It is by actively pursuing the spiritual goals outlined by the Founder that we start to gain true understanding of the nature of aikido.

Isn’t it true that when we practice aikido with a sense of joyousness that we achieve higher levels of harmony? When partners care about each other, even in the midst of vigorous training, don’t we feel more connected and satisfied by our training. Could it be that our training is more about how we come together to learn aikido than how well we execute some technique? Maybe when we are attacked off the mat the conditioned response will then be the emotional state of beneficence and joy that we cultivated on the mat.

I feel like I am mostly elaborating on what you have already said, and I will certainly agree with your last statement - “It ain’t easy!”

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

By: bruce baker

bruce baker — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:13:38 +0000

It is probably silly to comment on my own blog, but I see many mistakes in the construction of the words, and some missing letters in some other words which makes me think I should say something. Well, my mind is like a thick fog these days as the pressure of pain and noise in my head is a constant thing vying for my attention trying to drive me crazy, part of the Meniere’s thing ya know.

Push though, and get the gist of the thoughts behind the words.

If what I say does more good than harm, form your own thoughts. If it does more harm than good, forget about it!

My apologies if what I think insults anyone, but the point of the blog was ….. you should examine the thoughts in the back of your head that make you angry, and learn how to turn emotions into positive energy, or at least use those uncontrolled thoughts/ emotions in a more positive way. It ain’t easy …