The Ultimate Secrets of Swordsmanship | Ancient Music in the Pines 05 | OSHO

Ancient Music in the Pines

Talks on Zen Stories

Talks given from 21/02/76 am to 29/02/76 am

English Discourse series

9 Chapters

Year published: 1977

Ancient Music in the Pines

Ancient Music in the Pines

Chapter #5

Chapter title: The Ultimate Secrets of Swordsmanship

25 February 1976 am in Buddha Hall
Archive code: 7602250
ShortTitle: ANCIEN05
Audio: Yes
Video: No
Length: 83 mins

YAGYU YAJIMA NO KAMI MUNENORI WAS A TEACHER OF SWORDSMANSHIP TO THE
SHOGUN.
ONE OF THE PERSONAL GUARDS OF THE SHOGUN CAME TO TAJIMA NO KAMI ONE DAY
ASKING TO BE TRAINED IN SWORDPLAY.
'AS I OBSERVE, YOU SEEM TO BE A MASTER OF THE ART YOURSELF,' SAID THE TEACHER.
'PLEASE TELL ME TO WHAT SCHOOL YOU BELONG BEFORE WE ENTER INTO THE
RELATIONSHIP OF TEACHER AND PUPIL.'
THE GUARDSMAN SAID: 'L DO NOT BELONG TO ANY SCHOOL, I HAVE NEVER STUDIED THE
ART.'
'IT IS NO USE TRYING TO FOOL ME,' SAID THE TEACHER. 'MY JUDGING EYE NEVER FAILS.'
'I AM SORRY TO DEFY, YOUR HONOUR,' SAID THE GUARD, 'BUT I REALLY KNOW NOTHING.'
'IF YOU SAY SO THEN IT MUST BE TRUE, BUT I AM SURE THAT YOU ARE THE MASTER OF
SOMETHING, SO TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF.'
'THERE IS ONE THING,' SAID THE GUARD. 'WHEN I WAS A CHILD I THOUGHT THAT A
SAMURAI SHOULD NEVER BE AFRAID OF DEATH, SO I GRAPPLED WITH THE PROBLEM, AND
NOW THE THOUGHT OF DEATH HAS CEASED TO WORRY ME.'
'THAT'S IT!' EXCLAIMED THE TEACHER. 'THE ULTIMATE SECRETS OF SWORDSMANSHIP LIE
IN BEING RELEASED FROM THE THOUGHT OF DEATH. YOU NEED NO TECHNICAL TRAINING,
YOU ARE ALREADY A MASTER.'