MEDITATIONS UPON THE FOUR STONES
Basho Genji

COMPASSION

Basho Genji rose from meditation at the shrine and spoke on the Stone of Compassion.

"Compassion is at once the most accessible of the stones, but also the most elusive. We must remember that compassionate acts must be done unselfishly, and without thought of gain or advancement. Only through the application of Humility, Detachment, and Discipline will all desire be stripped from Compassion, thus insuring that compassionate action is right action.

"When you see a warrior resting, heal him or give him food. When you see someone struggling with a demon, slay that demon. When someone begs for food, give of your food. Remember that the innocent creatures of Dereth are not to be killed unless in self-defense. Do not harm the auroch, the cow or the rabbit, for they pose no harm if left to themselves."

DETACHMENT

Basho Genji arose from meditation at the shrine and spoke on the Stone of Detachment:

"The Stone of the Firebird is set far away from Illusion. It sits atop the very mountains of Truth. How does one understand such a Stone, when one is steeped daily in Illusion?

"Detachment is the separation of one's energies from doubt and failure, or pride and succes. Detachment is the denial of the power Illusion over our practice. As the Oxkeeper learned from Jojii, our failures and successes must not overwhelm us, lest they become the force behind our actions.

"If we are slain in combat, we are nontheless successful if we practice Detachment to perform Right Action with proper Compassion, Discipline and Humility. We are not addled by guilt or failure, but rather will work to improve ourselves. When we best a demon in combat and then lose ourselves in the rewards of pride, wealth and status, we fail.

"There is a famous tale of a warrior who whips himself each time he is victorious. Why? Does it not hurt? He answers that, of course, it does. But does not Detachment help him to perform this act of Humility? Is it not more valuable to his practice than a night of drunken debauchery in the pub, where friends will slap his back and whores will beckon him to show other facets of his prowess? Thus, Murasaki Tanka teaches us that we must not seek the pleasures of the city and the countryside -- of the Illusion, of the flesh -- when we seek comfort or celebration. Murasaki Tanka never spent a night in an inn, fearing the temptations of Desire might threaten his Detachment.

"Detachment allows us to focus on Right Action toward the Truth, and not be riddled with the doubt, questions, and pride of Illusion."

THOUGHTS
Eoain

A disciple of another sect once came to the Village Master as he was eating his morning meal. "I would like to give you this personality test", said the outsider, "because I want you to be happy."

The Village Master took the paper that was offered him and put it into the cook stove -- "I wish the stove to be happy too."

THE SOURCE OF HUMILITY
Shinjin Myoken

Achieving the enlightenment of Jojii, we might see that all things are one, that the dualistic, "self" and "other" manner of seeing the world is illusory, false, delusional. But, we must be cautious not to replace these illusory concepts of self-existing, individual "things" with another illusion: that of a great "oneness" or "unity". That, also, is simply a concept. For, did not Jojii also point out that reality is in constant flux, changing, impermanent, transient? That nothing remains, moment to moment, fixed and unchanging?

Thinking of these things, we might discover the true source of humility. Seeing what is, we see what we ourselves are. Ultimately, there are no "things"...there is only what is, nameless, impossible to trace or hold, beyond conception, seamless...and, strangely enough, us.

All of this talk is nonsense, of course. To realize, to truly experience rather than to talk about, and to manifest with one's own body here and now...that is the Way of Swordmanship as I have understood it. Words, after all, are only tools to lead and teach; they are like telling a child that yellow leaves are made of gold, in order to stop his crying.