the Art of Peace

The Art of Peace is a book of maxims by Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Much like the Tao Te Ching, the Art of Peace is applicable to almost any situation in life, and makes for a good daily meditations for teachers. With the magic of substitution, I will demonstrate:

“One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Teaching. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to teach.” (No matter how underfunded your school district may be, that is where you have chosen to work, and in spite of the rundown facilities, and mostly Title I eligible student body, here is where you will do your great work.)

“If you have not linked yourself to true emptiness, you will never understand the Art of Teaching.” (This is where you find yourself in the zone, when everything is going right, and your passion for the subject takes hold. It feels almost like you are having an out-of-body experience…the learning becomes this tangible thing, and for one instant, instead of having a collection of individuals stuck in a room, you have something more like a communion of minds. It never lasts very long, and the magic fades almost as soon as you become aware of it.)

“Learning is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as good as dead. The Art of Teaching is a celebration of the bonding of heaven, earth, and humankind. It is all that is true, good, and beautiful.” (The purpose of learning is a lifelong pursuit, and isn’t necessarily about “knowing stuff”. There is a much deeper purpose to learning, and part of teaching is helping students see past the “stuff”, and experience life itself.)

“Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with your own, becoming the Breath of Life itself.” (Teaching is a job full of constant demands, and the tension of never having enough time or energy to do all that one would desire. Consequently, you will find yourself getting burned out from time to time. When this happens, it’s good to unplug for a while, forget about everything, and go outside where there’s no distractions. Sometimes you just need to let go of the tensions, the frustrations, and the aggravations, and just be alone.)

“Your heart is full of fertile seeds, waiting to sprout. Just as a lotus flower springs from the mire to bloom splendidly, the interaction of the cosmic breath causes the flower of the spirit to bloom and bear fruit in this world.” (This quote speaks to both the teacher and the students. Teachers have tremendous gifts to share with others, and can do so in the most unlikely of circumstances. Likewise, students are often like rough diamonds in need of polishing. Underneath the most unpromising exteriors, often lurks a great deal of potential. Students need encouragement to “bloom”.)

“As soon as you concern yourself with the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.” (Don’t worry about what other think or say, do what works best for you. Likewise, don’t compare your students to each other. It’s not fair to them either.)

“The Art of Teaching does not rely on punitive discipline or power to succeed; instead we put ourselves in tune with the universe, maintain peace in our own realms, nurture life, and prevent destruction. The true meaning of the term teacher is one who serves and adheres to the power of love.” (You can have the kind of classroom you want without resorting to fancy classroom management plans or punitive disciplinary sanctions. By working with your students, rather than against them you do not have to needlessly expend your energy.)

“Study the teachings of the pine tree, the bamboo, and the plum blossom. The pine is evergreen, firmly rooted, and venerable. The bamboo is strong, resilient, unbreakable. The plum blossom is hardy, fragrant, and elegant.” (These are metaphors for the different attributes of your students, who come with different strengths. The key to working with students is understanding what their strengths are, and working with them.)

“Always keep your mind as bright and clear as the vast sky, the great ocean, and the highest peak, empty of all thoughts. Always keep your body filled with light and heat. Fill yourself with the power of wisdom and enlightenment.” (Teachers are almost always constantly innundated with the needs of others, and often forget to take care of themselves. It’s a good idea to take a break, de-clutter the mind, and regroup as often as needed.)