“Ideals are peaceful. History is violent.”
This is a quote I picked up from the powerful movie, “Fury.” The quote is from a movie about WWII, but it’s the same with the bow. We read and hear and think about the ideals of form and shooting. They are simple and peaceful, but when we go to the target with our bodies, the result is most often far from the ideal.
Why?
Why not?
Our bodies didn’t necessarily agree to the terms of form. Niether did our equipment, the environment, other archers, chaotic forms within us. We go to shoot and it is messy, brutal, frustrating, difficult to see clearly. When we go to shoot we are at war with all of the outside variables while our disconnected mind seeks to submit all to these lofty invisible ideals.
This is the situation. Where we go from here is up to us.
How violent is your kyudo?
How peaceful is your kyudo?
Which is better?
Green Leaves Forest 