Arrows of Integrity

Integrity is the quality of being unimpaired, sound, and whole. In embodying integrity, body,
speech, and mind move as one. We are not at cross purposes with ourselves, with others, with our
Source. We are confluent.

How is this so?

If we regard ourselves as a bow, a strong power from which arrows are hurled into action,
there are four major arrows in our quiver, four arrows shaped and made true in aim and quality
by our daily moment-um.

For each arrow, there is a pull back and a release. The pull back is a settling into the body, into
earth energies. The release is an allowing and opening into the life force of spirit, into heaven
energies. With pull back and release, we are embodying heaven and earth: the prime
responsibility of a human.

We are the bow. We are the arrows. We are the target.

The understanding of these four arrows is derived from the principles and practices of the
martial, healing, and spiritual arts. All three arts focus specifically on embodying.

Embodying

The Buddha himself appreciated the power of embodying. He was a great walker and hiker,
while also advocating and enjoying the necessity of mindful sitting.

In The Flower Ornament Scripture, it is reported he had this to say:

“Then the Buddha, with the unimpeded, pure, clear eye of knowledge, observes all sentient
beings in the cosmos and says, ‘How strange--how is it that these sentient beings have the
knowledge of Buddha but in their folly and confusion do not know it or perceive it? I should
teach them the way of sages and cause them forever to shed deluded notions and attachments, so
they can see in their own bodies the vast knowledge of buddhas, no different from the
buddhas.’” -- The Flower Ornament Scripture, Tr. Thomas Cleary, p. 1003 (my emphasis)

Buddha thought it very strange that we sentient beings “have the knowledge of Buddha” but do
not know it, are asleep to “the way of the sages.” His wish was that we see this vast knowledge
in our own bodies.

How can this be so? We generally walk around as if we are someone. We identify with some
fantasy of who we are and will defend that fantasy to the death. In that mode, we
forget to settle down within our embodying and open to that which breathes us, that which calls
us into being each moment.
The body is like a bookmark, holding our place in this great story. When we get lost in the
whirlwind or the desert of life, we return to our body, to our breathing. We settle into the home
we have always known. It is from here, this place of settling, our core of being, our center, that
we can open to the greater awareness of which the Buddha speaks.

Jesus also affirmed this when he said “the kingdom of God is within you.” Greater Awareness is
within you. It is not out there somewhere.

Arrow of Radical Openness

Radical means “arising from the root or source.” Openness means no barrier, no obstruction.

The Pull Back: Rooting, Grounding, Settling, Deepening

In the Christian Holy Book, there is a rhythmic phrase that is fun to repeat with one’s whole
body moving in accord: “rooting and grounding in love.” In some of my seminars, we stand in a
large circle, repeating this phrase aloud while acting it out with our bodies. For it to be effective,
it must be done with verve and vigor.

Rooting and grounding is no special exercise to be done only in one’s meditation closet. All of
life is a “coming-out” party. While standing, sitting, walking, talking, we continue our practice of
rooting and grounding.

The Release: Opening, 360 Degree Awareness, Radiance

Now that we have pulled back deeply into the Source of our being, we can open to all around us
with calm radiant awareness. The radiance is not forced and is not the radiance of personal
energy (which is quickly exhausted). We radiate universal energy, the life force of our Source.

We shine like the sun, all around us, without reservation.

Arrow of Relentless Surrender

The Pull Back: Condensing, Focusing, Relentless

The samurai had a saying: “Seven times down, eight times up.” When we fall down, we get up.
When we fall out of Integrity, when we split into our small selves that war with each other, we
recognize this, condense them into one, come back into focus. We are relentless in this practice.

The Release: Letting Go, Allowing, Transformation

We surrender to our Source. We let go of all our clingings. We allow the energetic wisdom of the
Wellspring to call us into being. In doing so, we are trans-formed, called into a higher form,
while living our daily lives.

Arrow of Mindful Lovingkindness

The Pull Back: Mindfulness, Presence, Now Consciousness

I envision a watch with each of the 12 numbers replaced by “Now.” The time is always now.
Mindfulness is to live in this now. And as this now. Nowhere but here. Fully present.
The Release: Lovingkindness, Virtue, Compassion
When we are truly mindful, we naturally release lovingkindness and compassion. The Tibetan
Buddhist practice of Tonglen emphasizes this. When breathing in, we breathe in all the negativity
around us, all the pain and hurt of others. It disappears into the cosmic vacuum cleaner. When
breathing out, we breathe out lovingkindness to all. (Caution: When beginning this practice, one
may wish to breathe in lovingkindness and breathe out lovingkindness.)

Virtue is a spiritual energy (as in the Tao Te Ching, the Book of the Way [Tao] and Its Virtue
[Te]; and as in the recounting of Jesus feeling the virtue leaving him when the woman who
touched him with faith was healed [Mark 5: 30]). Virtue is the unimpeded life force flowing
through us.

Arrow of Calm Engaging

The Pull Back: Weight Underside, Relax Completely, Calm

Two of the four Ki principles taught by Aikido Sensei Koichi Tohei are “Weight Underside” and
“Relax Completely.” A long exhalation through the mouth will allow the muscles to relax into
weight underside. When proficient at this, one can anchor oneself to the earth, immovable, while
relaxed and light above.

Our Source is giving us mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at all times. Our Source is an ever-
replenishing Wellspring. Our Source is in our favor. We can relax. Completely. We are at home.
Ancient Tai Chi wisdom: "Be still as a mountain and move like a great river."

The Release: Engaging, Perichoresis, Blending

Perichoresis is a Greek word for the interwhirling of all things, of all life. Each calls the other
into being. No separation exists, only the Dance. When we truly know this, the arrows that we
are have flown from the bow that we are into the open receptivity of the target that we are. We
are fully engaging. We live in the eternal Now, infinity in all directions. Feet on the ground, head
in the sky, we are embodyings of heaven and earth.

Radically open, relentlessly surrendering, mindfully compassionate, we calmly engage the world.

(Published in Simply Spiritual 2010: http://www.simplyspiritual.org/index.html)