Illuminated spirit presents the everyday wisdom of Hideharu Onuma, fifteenth-generation master of the Japanese art of kyudo, or traditional archery. His words are remarkable for their plainness and simplicity, and are as easily applied to daily life as to the discipline of archery. When they arrived in Japan in 1981 to teach English for a year, Dan and Jackie DeProspero had no plans to study kyudo. But that year stretched to nearly a decade under Onuma's tutelage. Eventually they came to live in Onuma's home, and from this extraordinarily advantageous position were able to regularly hold casual but far reaching conversations with the master. In response to the DeProspero's searching questions, Onuma offered his views on managing anger, channeling stress, taking responsibility, and striving for excellence. He provided them with new insights into the arts of teaching and learning, and helped them see that they could achieve harmony with others only if they first found peace within themselves. Illuminated spirit gathers together Onuma's words as he spoke them, always clear and unadorned, bringing us back to the most basic truths. "To learn technique you must carefully control the workings of your mind and body. This is what students misunderstand. Controlling the mind and body does not stifle the spirit; it sets it free." A frank and accessible account of a spiritual journey, Illuminated Spirit is an indispensable guide not only for those interested in the martial arts or the teachings of Zen Buddhism, but for anyone who feels the need to slow down and regain a sense of inner calm.
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