| Relationships are constantly facing crisis. Everywhere | | | | known, is made of the strongest steel. Made |
| we look people are in dispute with one another. | | | | hundreds of years ago in feudal Japan, many |
| Companies are in dispute with one another. Countries | | | | examples of these swords are still in pristine |
| are even in dispute with one another. | | | | condition. They will stand up to the very best |
| Arguments, litigation, divorce, even war are the | | | | modern steel making technology of today. |
| products of relationships in crisis. | | | | The katana gets its strength from the many |
| What is the purpose of fuelling animosity? Life is so | | | | separate and symbiotic processes that the sword |
| short. It's too short to waste precious time with such | | | | smiths of the era employed. (Re "The Craft of the |
| unproductive pursuits. Do we really need to keep | | | | Japanese Sword" - Kapp and Yoshihara - ISBN |
| conflict going? What can possibly be achieved by | | | | 0-87011-798-X - for more information) |
| constantly fanning the flame of conflict? But people | | | | One of the most important qualities is the katana's |
| do it. | | | | soft malleable inner core. This embedded soft steel |
| When one party has the strength to step back, | | | | inner core allows the weapon to absorb outer hits on |
| conflict, or the escalation of it, can often be avoided. | | | | its striking surface without serious damage. |
| Strength? Yes I did say strength. It takes strength | | | | There is little doubt that the katana was a fearsome |
| and courage to take the first bold step of | | | | weapon in its time. It still is. Yet at its heart lies the |
| reconciliation and peace. Some might consider such a | | | | softest metal giving the weapon its greatest |
| move as being soft or weak. | | | | strength. |
| Allow me to give you an example of strength borne | | | | You can learn to be like the samurai sword. You can |
| through softness. | | | | develop strength through softness. Be the samurai |
| The samurai sword, or katana, as it is more correctly | | | | sword. |