An act of helpful activity
One of the most important questions in life is what and who we serve. Yet before we answer this question we need to ask ourselves how do we personally define service??
Modern times have created a service-oriented society that is designed with the idea of self-service. Drive thru, automated tellers and computer banking have all made service quick and painless. Unfortunately this can also produce a misconception that all service should be easy… and all about me.
The term samurai can be translated to mean that it is someone who serves. The difference is that the samurai service was to a person, and more importantly a cause that was bigger than themselves. The idea that the purpose was more important then the person was the foundation of how they defined service.
A dojo is made of a group of individuals with a common goal. To benefit from the dojo as an individual we must all be of service to each other as a whole. From the most junior white belt to most senior black belt we all must serve the same set of core values.
Individual sacrifices on behalf of the dojo are just as much a part of the dojo environment as when the dojo accommodates the individual. We all witness this ebb and flow as we train as an individual to motivate the group and then the dojo trains as a group to motivate the individual as we prepare to grade.
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
Sarah chessman.
You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.
Winston Churchill
