So What? Who Cares? Why You?

Comment

Comment by Stephen I. Hsu, MD, PhD on July 18, 2011 at 4:13pm

Several common elements in the Japanese cultural view that remain in modern times and that is evident in the way Japanese approach the business encounter even for Japanese who don't formally study zen are that: 1) the martial arts is only a spiritual practice; and 2) do everything as if your life depended on it. Regarding point 2, I am reminded of something that my Kyudo (Japanese zen archery) teacher Shibata Sensei once told me: "Shoot with big heart. Think one arrow, one life." Translation: "Shoot every arrow with the intent that it is the last arrow that you will ever shoot." Now, translate that into business practice and consider why the Japanese are so successful, if not "pretty intense and serious" when it comes to business dealings. Of course after the deal is sealed, they host you for dinner and get completely stinking drunk...

Comment by Stephen I. Hsu, MD, PhD on July 18, 2011 at 4:06pm

O'Sensei Ueshiba taught the way of non-violence.  Keith's quote is spot on.  I practice Iaido (Way of the Sword) and Kyudo (Way of the Bow) as forms of standing and moving zen meditation.  I have always aspired to learn aikido.  But alas, it is difficult to start a martial arts practice when you are over 40.  Maybe when my 2 year old Alexander Chao-Yi Hsu is old enough to learn Aikido, I will learn with him.  Kind of like the Suzuki method for martial artists.  Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the greatest swordsman in Japanese history (undefeated in his life time and who won legendary duels using only a boat oar), eventually transcended the sword and took up zen painting and calligraphy.  In a famous book "The Book of Five Rings" that he authored while living in seclusion in a cave, he came to the conclusion that the most powerful martial arts form was "no-sword."  I think that if O'Sensei Ueshiba and Miyamoto Musashi had been contemporaries, they would have co-founded Aikido.

Comment by Lydia Nichol on May 26, 2011 at 12:58am

I'll try again to get a message to someone! The other one went somewhere into cyberspace! Ok I just joined this group. Hi, wow, it's a small group. What I meant to say is that I did attend the Cade Prize Night and I saw the group win the $50,000 prize. Now, they didn't win last year. I was very impressed about the whole evening. Way more than I had ever dreamed about. Yes, beyond my wildest dreams. There were so many groups of inventors displaying and demonstrating their products and there was so much food. I had never thought it would be such a grand evening. I would love to join one of the groups of inventors and win the Cade Prize next year. I need the key or maybe just a prize winning idea. I'm also back in school working on my master's in special education. Maybe I will learn something worth-while. What's going on with this group? Can I hear from someone?