When I think of ideals in motion I'm struck by how easy it is to lose momentum. Life happens, comfort develops, societal expectations take hold and I look up one day and find I'm living a life that I hadn't planned for. My dreams – my ideals – have gone into hibernation. The voice of reason has sung them to sleep.
Deep in the martial art traditions of Japan there is a concept called bodhimanda. It's from this concept that the idea of a dojo – a place of practice – was born. All martial artists practice in a dojo. It's a place to be a learner; it's a place to practice to mastery; it's a place that connects the "artist" to the ideal of the particular martial art being practiced. The concept of bodhimanda imbues the dojo with a meaning that makes it a special place in which to practice. Bodhimanda is a Sanskrit word that means, literally, a place where we come together to wake up.
Do I have a place in my life that challenges me to "wake up" my ideals? In our organizations do we have a place that keeps us awake and cognizant of the organization's ideals? What would be such a place? It's possible that mindful and intentional conversation could be the bodhimanda of the organization. Conversations that challenge us; that jolt us to awaken to the ideals we came together to realize.
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