Observations placeholder
The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War - The Quiescent Sword
Identifier
008307
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
The Quiescent Sword
[The two characters used for "quiescent" in the expression "quiescent sword" literally mean "spirit" and "wonder."]
The spirit is within, the wonder manifests outwardly; this is called an inscrutable marvel. For example, because there is the spirit of tree within a tree, therefore its flowers blossom fragrantly, it turns green, its branches and leaves flourish; this is called
the marvel.
Even though you may break wood down, you do not see anything you may call the spirit of tree; yet if there were no spirit, the flowers and foliage would not come
out. This is also true of the human spirit; even though you cannot open up the body to see something you may call the spirit, it is by virtue of the existence of the spirit within that you perform various actions.
When you stabilize the spirit in situations where swords are quiescent, thereby all sorts of marvels appear in the hands and feet, causing flowers to bloom in battle.
The spirit is the master of the mind. The spirit resides within, employing the mind outside. This mind, furthermore, employs psychic energy. Employing psychic energy in external activities for the sake of the spirit, if this mind lingers in one place, its function is deficient.
Therefore it is essential to make sure that the mind is not fixated on one point.