The Road to Mastery

A Master is someone who recognizes his own imperfection – it isn’t perfection he is after; how would that be possible in such an imperfect world with flawed beings in its domination? People often strive to be perfect; others think they already are.

In martial arts, we train to perfect ourselves. But, in the journey we realize the impossibility – the sudden revelation that perfection isn’t the goal nor obtainable; we understand that we are imperfect and accept it; yet, we continue to work toward it anyway. Duality.

Mastery is misunderstood. Folks often aspire for the wrong goals – without knowing it. Sooner or later they believe they have reached their perfection; and, they begin to act important – like they made it; though, they are more likely caught in the simple wind of arrogance. They gravitate to satisfaction and not to the work that realizes satisfaction.

Imperfection, as a self-realization, should be the goal. Beyond that, the desire to work on it – knowing that trying to be perfect is a frivolous journey yet commendable – through the strength of humbleness, the person persists in the pursuit – obtaining mastery without knowing it, like the subtlety of aging.

In letting go of thinking in such abstracts as imperfection/perfection, the person will be set free to simply pursue – to chase dreams freely, like the wind chasing leaves through trees. Everything is perfect in its imperfection – everything. So, where is the fault, then – if it exists? It lies either in arrogance (the thought of being perfect) or in the mind-set/action-set of doing nothing – failing to follow the wind, failing to follow a dream, failing to act. Laziness isn’t the answer; yes, it is imperfection; but, it is the kind of imperfection that will termite dreams, lives, successes, and land a person far short of a successful, demonstrative life that allows them to recite, while on their death bed, “I chased my dreams, I ran with the wind, I pursued, and all the while I did so in an imperfect way; and yet, I succeeded in capturing many of my dreams – I own them”. “It was imperfection that drove me; it was courage that set me free to do so.”

Accept your own imperfection – in the deepest sense; then, pursue your life without glancing back, with full fervor, with no regret, without excuses, without laziness, and know that without the driving force of imperfection you will be lost on the map of pursuit – clouds look darker, winds seem stronger, direction dulls, confidence drops – the circle of failure circles the mind circles your life circles your deathbed.

What, then, sets you free? What is the elixir that Masters have while others continue to spiral out of control? Masters understand flaw – imperfection; and, they use it to their advantage. The understanding of imperfection is what makes them Masters; the core of their pursuit lies there.