Our normal, confused thinking can put us in danger in many everyday situations, especially in self-defence. The trick to getting around this is to allow the mind to flow where it will, without conscious, and therefore potentially deluded, control. When a person does not think the mind shall effectively extend throughout the entire body and to move to any place at all, this is discipline. Not stopping the mind is object and essence. Do not restrict your mind to one direction; allow it to be in all directions. When a life-threatening situation arises, if you allow your body to be controlled by anger or fear it cannot respond properly to the situation at hand. In a dangerous situation an attitude of alertness and inner calm is the most powerful tool for self-defence, it allows the body to do what it has been trained to do.
Conclusion
That concludes the section on teachings from Zen and Buddhist masters, they are teachings that can be used throughout your life and may quite possibly be some of the most important teachings I pass onto you. It is at this point I feel we should discuss the relationship between teachers and pupils. A teacher is a stepping stone; never believe your training over once you have finished training with one master, there will be many masters to study under after your first teacher, experience, life, pain, love, compassion, metaphysical teachers but teachers none the less, they shall teach you much in your life and you should remember their lessons well. Of course, there are going to be other human teachers in your life, but I just felt that this needed to be said, think of me as a stepping stone for it will give you the mind set to always know you can learn more.