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Morris at times comes across as boastful, often listing his many titles and accomplishments. Paradoxically, while he calls himself a Master, he also insists many times that he is a mere "hobbyist" when it comes to the martial arts. The book may frustrate anyone looking for a step-by-step manual on how to learn ninjutsu; such a book would almost inevitably be a failure, as the very nature of this elusive art is nonlinear. Morris also conveys the fact that this book, like any book, can only be a starting point; you can't learn any martial art or spiritual tradition solely from a book. Morris delves into the many common points the ninja tradition shares with Taoism, chi gung and yoga; he places a lot of importance on awakening the kundalini energy. Since ninja have entered the popular imagination, mainly through TV and movies, it has become difficult to separate the real from the fake and merely commercial. This is compounded by the very nature of the ninja, for whom hiding and misdirection are primary strategies. It is similar in some ways to studying the Western esoteric tradition, where the ever-present thief god Hermes often makes it difficult to see the line that divides truth from lies.
Although I am certainly no expert and not able to judge Morris' credentials, I think Pathnotes is an honest contribution to the field. This conclusion is based on the stress he places on following your own inner guidance and the recommendation to widely study a variety of teachings. One of the distinguishing traits of ninja is that they ultimately follow an inner path rather than any outer authority. It is also a very entertaining book for anyone interested in the martial arts and Eastern religions.
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