Moving toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan [Paperback]

Dave Lowry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 15, 1999

Moving Toward Stillness is a collection based upon Dave Lowry's magazine articles from the past decade, mostly from his highly regarded column in Black Belt magazine. Written from an almost Japanese perspective, it offers an entertaining and informative view of the Martial Arts' arts. Topics explored include entering the Martial Artst's way, making the pursuit of traditional Asian Martial Arts' arts a part of modern Western life, the paradoxes and conflicts such a path inevitably generates, how to adapt to the mindset necessary for true mastery of a foreign art, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dave Lowry, a resident of Maryland Heights, Missouri, has written over 100 articles on the martial arts published in the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. He is also the author of Persimmon Wind (Tuttle, 1998) and Autumn Lightning.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1 edition (February 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804831602
• ISBN-13: 978-0804831604
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #464,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful collection of essays, February 16, 2004

By 

magellan (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Moving toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan (Paperback)

This books brings together a number of Lowry's columns over the years on Zen and the martial arts, and you can learn a lot that is worthwhile about Zen and how a Zen master would apply these principles in everyday life from reading this book. There is no doubt in my mind that many martial artists and westerners in general could benefit from adopting certain Zen principles in their lives, especially in regard to the West's dysfunctional obsession with the individual ego and individual consciousness.

That having been said, I have a problem with books like this. The problem is the same one I had with Alan Watts's famous work, The Book, On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are, back in the 60's and 70's, which I saw as catering to that segment of the western readership who are perennially eastern-obsessed and therefore too naive and uncritical of their philosophy. Back then, there were just too many young people, who, having rejected whatever western culture they were brought up in, simply accepted, lock, stock, and barrel, Zen, Tao, Vedanta, and/or Buddhism after having read one or two books and therefore having finally discovered "the truth."

Well, looking back, that is perhaps too harsh an assessment, and as I said, you can learn a lot that is important and worthwhile from reading Lowry's books about Zen and eastern philosophy. But having studied many of the world's philosophies and religions, I would have to point out that no one philosophy, whether eastern or western, has a monopoly on the truth. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, and no one philosophy or system has all the answers. But overall, I think Lowry has done an important service by writing so clearly and articulately for the westerner who may be at a loss for how to approach a subject as esoteric as Zen philosophy.

I had one more comment, by way of leaving you with a little more perspective perhaps on the relationship between east and west. The great philosopher of history and culture, Frederick Northrop, in his comparison of eastern and western modes of thinking, once pointed out that at the highest levels western epistemology and Zen both become theories of perception, although they take different approaches. The western approach is to look "hard" at something, trying to analyze every possible facet of the perceived object. The Zen master's approach is just the opposite. His approach is more passive, but also more reflective and receptive. He sees more by "looking softer," and letting the object reflect its qualities to him by emptying his mind of all preconceived thoughts. This is the principle of "mind like the moon," and it is one of the most interesting Zen principles, and a useful one for the martial artist too (at least Mas Oyama thought so, which is good enough for me). Lowry discusses many other Zen principles in his book and how a true master might apply them in his everyday life, and that you may also find useful in your own life.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for martial artists, March 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Moving toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan (Paperback)

It should be noted that the subtitle of this book is: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan. This is a well crafted and engaging work, it should appeal to those who are not martial artists. Yet, the primary audience is likely to be those who practice some form of martial art.

Clearly, Mr. Lowry's thoughtful insights were derived from his life long pursuit of excellence using the vehicle of traditional Japanese martial arts. Thus, he strikes a rather aristocratic tone that is hardly in keeping with our equality and self-esteem obsessed culture of instant gratification and self-worship. In this area I applaud Mr. Lowry's willingness to go against the grain.

Unfortunately, Mr. Lowry also feels the need to take a number of swipes at those who practice nontraditional martial arts. His supercilious characterizations in this regard are shallow and stereotypical. Perhaps he forgets that once upon a time the traditional martial arts were new and innovative and pragmatic. One person's body of tradition is another person's rigor mortis.

Also, his nipponophile tendencies are a bit much. I believe his view of Japanese society and culture is overly romantic and unrealistic. Japan, like American society, is under profound assault by the forces of modernity, materialism and anti-culture.

But these points aside, there is much to savor in Moving Toward Stillness and it merits a wider audience than it is likely to achieve.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Though-provoking articles..., September 19, 2002

By 

Yuri Kuzyk (Toronto, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moving toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan (Paperback)

Lowry's book, a collection of his articles, is surprisingly consistent in theme. His outlook reminds of Merzel's "Beyond Sanity and Madness" for his fairly stern reminders that the Path lies within simplicity and that the early lessons in any of the martial arts (and many other Eastern disciplines such as Qigong and Zen) contain the essence that you, as a beginner, are unfortunately unlikely to recognize for a long time.

I also enjoy his viewpoint regarding the the 'need' for less ego and posturing; instead he consistently points out that 'Master' depends upon what is deep inside and is displayed through consistent behaviour at all times. Certainly this viewpoint is sorely lacking in many so-called 'Masters' at this time.

Lowry also gives some valuable insight into aspects of Japanese culture that are quite fascinating including Noh and the tea ceremony. He also includes many tidbits about visiting Masters that I found very informative.

Even if you are not that interested in martial arts I believe there are many lessons in this book that make it worthwhile to read.