11 September 2021

Week 2021-36: Toshitsugu Takamatsu - Collected Quotes

"As the sennin lives on wonderful pictures of Mother Nature and makes the singing of birds and the sight of animals his mental food, so do the ninja." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"Being natural is the ultimate secret of our art." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"Develop a Zen spirit and understand its implications. Become aware of sincerity and faith. Self-reflection and self-realization, then thankfulness and benevolence, are to be pursued." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"Even when you are faced with certain death, die laughing." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"For taijutsu, the flexibility of the legs is the most important factor, not the strength of the legs." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"'How difficult is life when one is not surprised by anything and laughing every day? " (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"I'm not telling you to defeat the enemy, but be a man who can live. Never be enslaved by martial arts take pleasure in them." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"If an expert in the fighting arts sincerely pursues the essence of ninjutsu, devoid of the influences of the ego’s desires, the student will progressively come to realize the ultimate secret for becoming invincible - the attainment of the ‘mind and eyes of god’." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"Ninja should have the benevolence to protect men of justice since there are lots of good and respectable people in the world." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"Supernatural power is not a skill or trick. It exists in your heart, in your sincerity. Religion is the same, too." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"The heart of taijutsu is important and only through training will one polish that heart (like a gem) and understand true taijutsu." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"The ninja should dedicate themselves to sincerity and justice." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"The skills of self-protection, which should provide a feeling of inner peace and security for the martial artist, so often develop without a balance in the personality and lead the lesser martial artist into warped realms of unceasing conflict and competition which eventually consume him." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"The true value of Budo is to train the mind to see clearly and maintain spiritual strength." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"The way of the martial artist is the way of enduring, surviving and prevailing over all that would destroy him. More than delivering strikes and slashes, and deeper in significance than the simple outwitting of an enemy, NinpƓ is the way of attaining that which we need while making the world a better place. The skill of the Ninja is the art of winning." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"The way to experience ultimate happiness is to let go of all worries and regrets, and to know that being happy is the most satisfying of life's feelings. Reflect back on all the progress in your life and allow the positive, creative and joyous thoughts to outshine and overwhelm any sorrow or grief that may linger in the recesses of your mind. Knowing that disease and disaster are natural parts of life is the key to overcoming adversity with a calm and happy spirit. Happiness is waiting there in front of you. Only you can decide whether or not you choose to experience it. Take this to heart." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"[...] the enemy who stands against the laws of nature has lost his battle before he begins the fight. The first priority to the ninja was to win without fighting." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

"What matters in a text is read between the lines in the spaces between the words." (Toshitsugu Takamatsu)

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