The Mountain of Life

The Mountain of Life

A metaphor for your personal development

 


  I love using the mountain as the metaphor for life.  It just seems to relate very well to the ups and downs of life and how we know that where we are supposed to go is harder than just staying where we are.  As a lover of the hiking and climbing mountains, (on trails not cliffs) I can relate to the feeling of peace at the top of the mountain that accompanies the feeling of accomplishment.  It is also represents a very clear destination for a long journey, instead of aimlessly traveling down a path that you have no idea where it is going.

     I actually came up with the name of my dojo while hiking on the Appalachian trail here in Massachusetts.  I felt an idea start to form and take shape while I was walking along heading up one of the hills.  The Sage Institute of Martial Practice and Life Energy came to my mind like I already knew it and was simply remembering.  The acronym is SIMPLE which refers to my philosophy that smaller machines are less likely to break.  In life it is easier to follow a single path instead of navigating a maze of streets in the big city.  One technique mastered is better than a thousand learned.  I think you get the point.

     Back to the mountain.  The top of the mountain represents enlightenment or full understanding of life.  It also represents the fulfillment of our life goals.  The farther away from the top of the mountain you get the less connected we seem to feel to our higher selves.  Try to imagine what it would be like to have complete clarity is life where you no longer want anything or feel like you are lacking anything.  Imagine crossing all the items off of your life "to do" list and standing on top of that mountain in a level of peace that words can't describe.  If you can grasp that concept then you understand the importance of the mountain and what it represents.

     Down at the bottom of the mountain is where most people live.  Some are there because they haven't looked up yet and seen the mountain.  Others are there because they are just starting their journey and haven't found there way out of the crowd.  Most stay there because it is where they think they are supposed to be.  Lets imagine this like a huge village on the side of the mountain which has vast lands covered with people.  The land on the uphill side of the village is clean and of relative peace compared to the danger and disease located on the farthest down hill part.  People are free to come and go as they please and there are some that venture up the mountain a ways and come back down to the village after a while where is feels more comfortable and safe.  Some people go the other way down the hill deep into the dark and dangerous woods.  Sometimes they come back or perhaps sometimes they don't.

     I think you can see the connection the mountain has to life.  To travel up the mountain is to live a more God like life while going down is a living less God like.  The journey up the mountain from the village takes confidence, perseverance, dedication and faith.  The task requires getting outside your comfort zone and redefining yourself as a "mountain climber".

     As a mountain climber you are going to need a good pair of shoes and a pack filled with skills to help you along the way.  That is what The Sage Institute is all about, helping those who choose to climb the mountain to pack right and to find the right shoes.

Your pack is where you fit your skills.  These skills are what make up your Sage System of martial practice.  You are creating your own personal martial arts system that you are going to use to train your mind, body and spirit for the journey of life on the trails up the mountain.  The skills of your system are based on who you are and what you believe.  They are designed for your physical body type and emotional disposition.  They will be what defines you.  These skills are not necessarily typical martial arts skill.  They can be any life skill that you want to study and improve at that will have value to your life.  Running could be one of your skills or even hunting or dancing.  The skills that you choose will define you but the way you set about mastering them will define them as martial art skills.  (This is true because combat changes depending on what your adversary is.  When you are fighting for clarity it life, you bet dancing can be a weapon you choose) 

The shoes that you wear on your journey are the only things that physically connects you to the mountain.  Your shoes are the vehicle that help you keep moving up.  They represent your own personal faith and belief system.  Choosing the right shoes is a very important part of the journey.  Your shoes may be made up of many different patches of fabric sewed together or a bright and shiny mass produced pair of the shelf at the department store but if they fit you perfectly and you take care of them they will get up to the top.

I hope that I have clarified why I use the mountain as I explain life.  In upcoming blogs I will talk about the pack theory and how to pick your skill as well at the practical parts of building your own system.  Faith alone won't take you all the way to the top just like diet without exercise won't get you into shape.  We have to keep things in balance to keep moving properly.

I understand that this can seem a little complicated but just like learning any skill you have to start by understanding the basics.  When you understand the basics you practice them.  When you are ready you learn more and in tern practice that.  Don't worry about understanding everything at once.  My hope is that you can see the mountain and that you will start packing for the journey.

Thanks again,
Sensei Keith