In February of 1996, I took that very opportunity. Not knowing at the time what it would take, I faced it head on. After a few years of practice, I had read a daily meditation passage in a book of Tao.
I knew then that this is what it would take to practice Karate and become good at it. That passage is called: Commitment. I consider it my Mantra. Here is that passage.
Commitment
One may be quite far along the path, but if one meets a beginner who sincerely seeks guidance, then one should help without reservation. If such a beginner were to come to you, what would you say? This is what I would say to someone today.
“The time of beginning is one of the most precious times of all. It can be very exciting and full of wonderful growth. The first thing to do is to make up your mind that you are going the distance.
“When I first began, I made a lifelong commitment. I determined that I would learn from my teacher for at least seven years. Now it has been much longer than that, but the essential element is still the same: Commitment.
“But commitment needs something else in order to be perpetuated. It needs discipline. This is perseverance to keep on when things are tough. Adversity is life’s way of testing and perfecting a person. With out that. We would never develop character.
“Rice suffers when it is milled. Jade must suffer when it is polished. But what emerges is something special too, then you have to be able to stick to things even when they are difficult”
Commitment and discipline ------these are two of the most precious words for those who would seek Tao.
In my own words I would say that, “ Life gives you many choices and opportunities but, you must choose the right path for you and that it must be a wise choice. With that, your life should be full a gratification. No matter what obstacles stand in you way.