2 questions

[Dark Protector]

Hi. i stumled on a web site about the termanalagy of kendo. I was wondering, One word there says: " Kan ken no metsuke: A teaching of Miyomoto Musashi that you should not only observe with the physical eye but also mentally observe with the spiritual eye."

What do they mean by spiritual eye?

And, in the art, what is more inportent and why? Training with the sword, or the part that teaches you stuff about life or whatever/ how ever you word it.

Dark Protector

[Nishi]

Your first question is commanly known as the two fold gaze...Musashi says "sight is weak and perception is strong" and it is this perception he asks the reader to train, not just seeing the opponent as you would daily... but perceiving the opponents moves before they occurr, and even deeper still, perceiving the opponents intentions...this is the "sight" we should aspire to use and train in Musashi's way of strategy (as he calls it).

If i understand your second question you are asking whats more important, kendo training or the application of the things you learn through kendo training into your daily life...(i think this is what you meant)...I would say training correctly with vigorous spirit was more important, for me, i only understand the application into daily life because of correct training...not the otherway around...i hope thats not confusing.

[Neil Gendzwill]

Training with the sword, or the part that teaches you stuff about life or whatever/ how ever you word it.
Training with the sword is the part that teaches you stuff about life. There isn't any section of class where they sit you down and say "this is how to be a better person".

[Dark Protector]

Intresting. Thanks both for replying.

Nishi: I think I understand.


Dark Protector

[A P]

From my opinion....

I think that the way of Musashi or whatever is about improving one self in

kendo and perception of things(think a head). To become a better kendoist

and to become better at anticipting. Perhaps observe and learn to think a

head would be how I put it.

And it is about one self

[Shiro]

I think the spiritual eye means your perception. During a shiai, you should not think, but feel. If you think, you're lost.

I think you need both, since kendo is about attitude and spirit.

[Nanbanjin]

Hi. i stumled on a web site about the termanalagy of kendo. I was wondering, One word there says: " Kan ken no metsuke: A teaching of Miyomoto Musashi that you should not only observe with the physical eye but also mentally observe with the spiritual eye."

What do they mean by spiritual eye?

And, in the art, what is more inportent and why? Training with the sword, or the part that teaches you stuff about life or whatever/ how ever you word it.

Dark Protector

Another interesting point is the "four important elements of kendo", which are in order

1. Gan (eyes)
2. Soku (legs)
3. Tan (lower abdomen or sei-ka-tan-den, also sometimes interpreted as courage or "guts")
4. Riki (Strength)

Eyes are most important. For 3. I prefer the purely physical interpretation because it explains the importance of centre of gravity.
Musashi apparently was also keen on legs so to speak. Note that strenght, while still listed is the least important element.

The Japanese characters here are

一眼
二足
三胆
四力