The Zen Way to the Martial Arts Book

The Zen Way to Martial Arts is a phenomenal work. It explained how martial arts were not about competition, but a way of life, the journey to self mastery. It emphasized the importance of breathing, meditation, living/being in the present moment, and letting go of attachments. It articulated doing things wholeheartedly, as if it were the last moment of your life. It explained how the dojo was the place of enlightenment,meditation, and learning. It intimated how the ideogram "bu" used in words such as bushido, budo, bujutsu, etc., meant to sheath/stop the sword and to cease combat. So these words don't actually means arts or ways of war, but ways of peace or restoring it. It explained how the samurais were not to be just warriors, but they had to study Buddhism, Taoism, Confusion, literature, etc., to be well-rounded and proficient in virtue. Reading this work was like sitting with Master Deshimaru and absorbing his wisdom. It is truly a guide and reminder on how one should live their life that I will continually pick up to remind myself.