Verified on October 7th, 2009

http://www.budomartialarts.com

Budo Martial Arts Academy - Canada

Zen - " Attaining Self Perfection Through Meditation Budo - " Attaining Self Perfection Through Karate Do
Thursday, June 11, 2009

Karate is the most Zen-like of all the Martial Arts. It has abandoned the sword. This means that it transcends the idea of winning and losing to become a way of thinking and living for the sake of other people in accordance with the way of Heaven. Its meanings, therefore, reach the profoundest levels of human thought.

For a long time, It has been emphasized that karate is Budo, and if the Budo is removed from karate, it is nothing more than sport karate, show karate or even fashion karate the idea of training merely to be fashionable.

Karate that has discarded Budo has no substance. It is nothing more than a barbaric method of fighting or a promotional tool for the purpose of profit. No matter how popular it becomes, it is meaningless.

At Budo Martial Arts Academy we emphasis the practice of passive and active Meditation and encourage each student to understand the true meaning of Budo and attain self perfection through Karate do.
Posted by SPEAK THE TRUTH at 12:48 PM 0 comments
TRUE MEANING OF ZEN
The students at No Wind Monastery were flabbergasted! They could hardly believe what they had just heard. Master Blusime, the greatest Zen Master since Dogen Zenji had just revealed what they never thought they would hear. In their traditional morning congregation Master Blumise had said, "My most beloved family, I really need your help. Yesterday evening a guest at our renowned monastery asked me a very good question. He asked me, ‘What is the True Meaning of Zen?’ and asked if I could summarize it for him in just 3 words. My loved ones, please help me as I don’t know what to reply. I have asked the visitor to wait till the end of the week and then promised him my response. So please, by the end of the week, in 3 words give me the definition of Zen. The definition of Zen is also the definition of life. I look to you for help in this great crisis that has befallen me and the reputation of our great institution is at stake. Please save us from humiliation."

Master Blumise had just confessed that he had been stumped by a question! That he did not know the answer and that too, to such a fundamental question. Perhaps he was loosing his mind, maybe senility was setting in, maybe this was a test, maybe he was no longer enlightened and had fallen back into Maya (illusion), the rumors were thick in the air. All the students had their take and all of them also saw this as a great opportunity to shine — to be the hero — to be the one who would save the day — all the students save one — our wise monk Tara. Midst all the excitement and gossip stood Tara, every so often just having a big laugh whenever the conversation was breached in her presence. She laughed and laughed all week in some secret delight, while the others mulled and mused the answer to this most interesting question.

Finally, the week ended and as requested by Master Blumise all the answers were written and submitted. They were to be read out after the morning breakfast in the Great Hall. The monks were anxious and excited… all but Tara, who continued to enjoy her private joke. Some monks, irritated by her mysterious behavior, finally approached her and inquired into the reason for her weird demeanor.

"The monastery is in trouble, Master Blumise has confessed he can’t answer the question of the visitor, this is a very serious situation for us and we have all worked very hard to solve this puzzle, but all week we have not seen you make any effort. All you do is laugh and giggle constantly. What is so funny?"

Tara, though, did not reply and shrugging her shoulders made off toward the Great Hall for the answer reading ceremony.

All is One: Wrong

All is Nothing: Wrong

Just be Yourself: Wrong

Follow Your Heart: Wrong

All is illusion: Wrong

All is Love: Wrong

Be Here Now: Wrong

I am God: Wrong

Zen is Zen: Wrong

I am nobody: Wrong

Bliss, Being, Consciousness: Wrong

I am That: Wrong

All is Mind: Wrong

All is Emptiness: Wrong

All is Buddha: Wrong

All are Enlightened: Wrong

Tick Tack Toe: Wrong

Then Finally….

I Don’t Know: RIGHT

Tara had realized that Master Blumise was right all along when he said that the answer to the Question, "What is the True Definition of Zen?" was "I Don’t Know." She also knew that the great master was far from loosing his mind. Master Blumise bowed to Tara with a blissful smile for her right answer and Tara bowed back utterly grateful to her teacher for sharing his wisdom and love.

The True Meaning of Zen is also the True Meaning of Life. If you can understand this answer completely you will understand all there is to understand. You will understand the heart of Zen, you will understand the heart of meditation, you will understand what all the great teachers have been trying to teach mankind over the centuries.

I can explain this answer in great detail, but instead let me suggest another way for this insight to explode in you. Can you right now, absolutely, sincerely, actually come to the point where you can say "I don’t know" to the question "What is the purpose of life?" Which is just another way of asking "What is the Meaning of Life or Zen?" If you can come to that point where you are have no answer to offer, the mind will have nothing to pursue. As long as you think you know what the answer is, think you know what is important, think you know what is worthwhile, think you know what to do to get where you think you need to go, you will chase. As long as you chase, you will never find. Can you drop the apple and not take the next bite? Heaven is waiting…
Posted by SPEAK THE TRUTH at 12:45 PM 0 comments
SENSEI SRIRAM MESSAGE



Welcome to the new budomartialarts.com web site. The new site has been designed with our Karate Ka's in mind. This web site will be a community for students, parents and our social partners to keep them posted of all new programs and activities that we will be conducting and be involved in.

Most people think Karate is 90% Physical training and 10% Mental training, but the very truth is opposite and it is 90% Mental training and 10% Physical training. When we train and push the students to physically challenge them, they are first stretching their minds and then only their body.

This lesson of ones ability to push forward at time of hardship and challenge is a valuable lesson to be mastered and through Karate training our students learn first hand just to do that and apply the lessons learned in Karate to their regular lives.

Passive and Active meditation is part of our training, any thing that is done with total concentration and focus is meditation. Zen is know as attaining self perfection through passive means such as meditation and Budo is know as attaining self perfection through active means such as Karate Training. Karate is also know as moving meditation.

At Budo Martial Arts Academy, Social Responsibility becomes our number one priority, we not only help students build character, but also encourage them to contribute positively in the society they live in. We help students develop leadership quality and make them a valuable asset to the community they live in.

With accredited centers in Canada, India and the Swiss, Budo Martial Arts Academy is taking this philosophy world wide, Our Instructors are certified not only to teach Karate but also in first aid and CPR.

Budo Martial Arts Academy is determined to be a leader in the community. We are committed to continuous improvement and want to be part of your children’s life in a positive way. Together, we can create positive impact on our children’s lives by teaching them self confidence, determination, self respect and respect for other.

I welcome your suggestion, inputs and feed back, please do not hesitate to call me or email me directly.

In Budo,

Sensei Sriram Rangan
sensei@budomartialarts.com
416-360-BUDO
Posted by SPEAK THE TRUTH at 12:40 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
EMPOWERING WOMAN SEMINAR

August 22nd 2009

Budo Martial Arts Academy along with Get Fit Toronto organized an Free seminar called Empowering Woman on the 22nd of August 2009 at the Imperial Event Centre located at 3021 Markham Road, unit 54, Scarborough, Ontario.

More then 15 woman took part in this seminar in which 30 minutes of self defense techniques were taught by Sensei Sriram Rangan of Budo Martial Arts Academy. Sensei Sriram said that Karate is not about Attacking, Karate is not even about defending, but karate is about Preventing and by learning to defend oneself, one is confident enough to prevent an attack.

Also a 30 minutes of Yoga was taught by Vaishali Thorat who also spoke about the value of yoga, stretching and balancing ones mind and specially the importance of yoga for today’s busy woman.

After the yoga 35 minutes of Nithya Dhyan was done, Nithya Dhyan is a guided meditation taught by the young enlighten master Parmahamsa Nithyananda all over the world. A powerful meditation technique that not only breaks the patterns of the mind but also teaches you to un-clutch from your thoughts and attain peace with in.

Also laughing meditation was conducted by Mr. Previn Sharma of Metro Learning Centre followed by an introduction to skin care by Mrs. Shilpa from Herbal Mystique from Brampton. The participants enjoyed this two hour seminar organized by Budo Martial Arts Academy and Get Fit Toronto.