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~A simple scroll is attached to the board~ After much reading, inner reflection, and hikes into the mountains I have found the answers I searched for. While at a small pond in the mountains a small Raven silently landed across the water. Above the pond was a nest of large bird eggs, too large for the raven to pick up, and too dangerous to raid in the nest. The Raven searched the pond shore for a stone, finding a flat thin stone in his beak. He looked up to me and it was as if he winked before rising to the nest above the water. I watched as he placed the stone under the large egg, standing on the other end he leveraged it out of the large nest. The egg falling surely would break as it hit soil, however the nest being over the pond fell into soft sandy soil on the shore without breaking. Satisfied the Raven hopped down with his stone and cracked the egg open before consuming its meal. Such a small bird was able to overcome his limits with such intelligence and crafty application of a simple stone. I find that the Raven reflects my inner self. The Raven being an intelligent creature, and a source of great knowledge to overcome challenges. Just as the Raven uses it's knowledge to survive, so does a Do. Not every situation in life calls for brute strength, or full force of martial prowess that we posses. A Do knows the precise amount of force to apply in a fight and when to fight. I draw on intelligence and the wisdom I cultivated to apply it to what life throws at me. If this be a fight, a Goh match, fencing, or holding back a Han invasion from the walls of Koguryo... intelligence is a core trait. A blade without knowledge is no more than a metal stick in those hands. Footwork with no understanding is bad dancing to the untrained. Blows at an armored foe without direction are just the flailing of a mad man in battle. Just as the Raven only had its knowledge and a stone, a Do and his weapon can achieve more than it appears when we draw upon our training. ~Brother Sotae | |