Lectures & Individual / Group Classes Scheduled By Request
Disclaimer I am not a Guru.
I am not Gurmukhi or a Shaman nor do I claim in any way to be a Master or Sifu or any such concept.
For these are titles people give to those that have some knowledge, experience or wisdom beyond the norm that imply a stature above the people or student. As a teacher ( one that shares knowledge ) one is not above his or her students. To teach is to serve and that makes one a servant, a person of servitude always eye to eye with those knowledge is being shared with. It is a great honor and responsibility requiring virtue and sincerity.
A teacher ( sensei ) is first and foremost a student. For if one were not a student he or she couldn't be a sensei. And so it is much more like an advanced student sharing knowledge with a lower level student than any Master or Grandmaster title that could only serve the Self-Ego and create a barrier between student and teacher.
I could refer to my Sensei as Iemoto, O-sensei or Grandmaster, but to do so would be counter to his wishes. So, in honor he will always be simply Sensei. We were one as he filled my mind with his overflowing wisdom.
Menkyo has always been nothing more than a methodology of measuring one's level of development as skills and information are passed from Sensei to student. It is not a rank, but more a form of graduation.
It is not as many think, a matter of years of dedication or pedigree, but rather that one is imbued with a gift that may and should be shared to complete the essence of having that gift. The full cup can hold no more and a still pool goes stagnant. There must be flow, exchange, to fulfill the natural way and stay fresh, vibrant and growing.
The bird doesn't sing to amuse or teach music and the flower doesn't bloom to advance art. These are natural exchange of the beauty and process of those gifted with those wonderful yet unique skills and developments.
Buddha is another title. To be Buddha-like is to be enlightened to a high degree. However, it is possible to be enlightened and to share wisdom without embracing any title or expression of astuteness. In fact, how does one know when personal enlightenment reaches Buddha level? That would seem to be subjectively biased to the observer and that person's understanding and belief of Buddha-like traits and characteristics and indeed acceptance of a Buddha-like title or thought would defeat the very self-egoless purity of enlightenment.
So, I'm afraid if you seek a Master, Guru or Buddha to sit before you or your group one must look elsewhere.
As a Tetsugakusha, I am one studied in the art and science of philosophy and human / social interaction.
I am but a man many years along a path being travelled in quest of self-development and enlightened wisdom. I have experienced much and likely have much more to experience, but I cannot give you what is developed within me. I can explain it and share knowledge, but bestowing any natural development is not my right.
I can be a philosopher, speaker, teacher and artisan, but I cannot be a Master. It is not in my nature.
AJ Gentry The Secret Path of Life
" One is... Thinking is a barrier to Doing, Doing is a hinderence to Being, Being is ineffective if you try. " Sensei Chou Li
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