points for lion dance [martial arts]

dancing lions

1. physical training
it's not about pushing oneself to the extreme, but to slowly build up the stamina over a long period consistently and incrementally. to achieve this, it is important to have self-discipline.

without physical toughness is like a building without foundation. to be able to perform and compete at the highest level, it is crucial that we have a solid foundation. we are aiming to compete and to be the best in two years from today. train your physical body on a daily basis. alternating between strength and stamina training.

2. mind training
the gosho states, 'exert yourself in two ways of practice and study. there can be no buddhism without practice and study.' it is important to read as many sensei guidances as possible. only then, we will be able to understand the correct spirit of mentor and disciple, the lifeblood and backbone of the organisation. without this correct understanding, it is easy for us to lose our way. when we become good and develop some abilities, we can easily grew arrogant and look down on gakkai. thus, all the training and effort we have put in will be meaningless. thus, we must read the flow and cosmic. consistently.

3. faith training
the best form of faith training is chanting daimoku. chant and chant and chant. it is only through chanting that we can develop our concentration, focus and endurance. without which we will never succeed in anything we do. the purpose of chanting is also to remind ourselves, to believe wholeheartedly ourselves, that we are buddha. each and every one of us.

'though it is thought that Sakyamuni Buddha possesses the three virtues of sovereign, teacher and parent for the sake of all of us living beings, but that is not so. on the contrary, it is common mortals who endow him with the three virtues.'

4. common sense
-no smoking. never ever do that. since we are training our body, it will be double blow if we smoke.
-develop rhythm in our daily life. regimented living. set certain time for daimoku, study, training, etc.
-no carbonated drinks or chilly before training. it's difficult to do streneous physical work after consuming these foods.

5. compare with oneself, not others
we must always remember this - if we cannot defeat ourself, we will never defeat others. but defeating oneself is the most difficult task of all. we must overcome our own weaknesses. we may be irresponsible, careless, lack discipline, lazy, arrogant, greedy, etc. it is our weaknesses that will destroy us. so, we must be able to win over ourself. win over the you, yesterday, today.

6. gratitude
everything is possible because of the organisation. and the organisation is in malaysia due to ikeda sensei. he fought with his very life, every single day for the past 50 years, unceasingly, to bring this buddhism to every corner of the world. thus, we must always remember that everything is possible because of sensei, sgm and the pioneers. what we have done, our efforts, are really very little. we must always appreciate and repay our gratitude to sensei. how do we do that? by becoming victors in life. by gaining trust in society and by spreading the ture greatness of our mentor and the daishonin's philosophy to as many people as possible. without a sense of gratitude, we are even worse than animal.