山伏
キウイ
Never claim or even think to be the best
Never claim or even think to be the best. This is a losing strategy. To be the best, you have to be the best continually. This means a constant effort to, well, be the best, and that’s not easy. If you claim to be the best, you have to live up to what are pretty lofty goals. If you think you are the best, even though you may not be, you become complacent and risk losing your status.
The thing is, you learn much more by having someone better than you, and even just thinking that someone is better than you. Well, because they are different to you, they must be better than you at something, but by putting yourself on the lower pedestal, you open yourself up for learning.
As soon as you claim, or even think to be the best, you’re kind of saying ‘I’ve learned everything there is to learn, no one can be better than me.’ Which is impossible. It’s best to always be learning something new, and by claiming or even thinking that there’s someone better than you, you learn more in the process.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hi, I’m Tim Bunting AKA the Kiwi Yamabushi, a New Zealander who became a Yamabushi Ascetic in the Dewa Sanzan mountains of north Japan. I’m part of the Yamabushido team, and we host life-altering Yamabushi training on the Dewa Sanzan (website link). People come to us for the ultimate mindfulness experience, to reach the next level, or simply connect with nature and themselves.
I’m on a mission to summit all 100 Famous Mountains of Yamagata Prefecture to spread the splendour of this fabulous location, and in dedication to all those who lost their lives out in nature, including my father.
On my daily blog I post thoughts of a practicing Yamabushi that I hope people can use to better themselves and live as fulfilling a life as possible.
Sign up to the weekly Mountains of Wisdom newsletter, follow me on social (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, TikTok, Clubhouse, all @kiwiyamabushi), or send me an email via the link below to stay in touch.
Tim.
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