Question
I have studied Zen for almost two years and practice zazen regularly, but it seems that some of my actions and words in everyday life are excessive. For example, I wanted to help my father, who had just been attacked downstairs by neighbors I thought at the time were thugs.
As an iaido practitioner, I went downstairs armed with an iaito (an unsharpened sword) to deter the three people who had attacked my father. I went outside with it, and seeing that it was useless, I put it in the entryway to talk with them, while my father had gone to file a complaint. But while I was talking with them, one of them stole my sword. I do not regret losing the weapon. But as I write, my father is filing a complaint, and these men have my sword and could say I threatened them with it. I regret losing my temper with this weapon, which I ultimately neither drew nor used, but which these men saw and can use against my father and/or me. It is the most excessive thing I have ever done in my life, and I am clearly far from self-mastery and Zen… I deeply regret acting as I did, but was I right to act?
How can I make up for this mistake?
Thank you in advance for an answer.
Gassho.
Emmanuel
Answer from Master Kosen
You acted well, except for losing your sword. You know that when you draw a sword, it is to cut, and nowadays cutting people’s heads off in the street is a bit delicate. And if you do not intend to cut with your sword, you look ridiculous in the street with such a weapon.
This is a good lesson for you in understanding the authentic spirit of iaido more deeply.
In such a situation, a nunchaku would be more effective.
Kosen