Moving Toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan

by Dave Lowry

Moving Toward Stillness: Lessons in Daily Life from the Martial Ways of Japan is a distillation of the most important lessons learned from a lifetime devoted to martial arts training.

Drawing from his highly regarded magazine columns in Black Belt magazine, author Dave Lowry sets out lessons that not only guide us to a deeper understanding of the social values and moral imperatives that are the ancient heart of budo, but speak to us also of the universal nature of those values and of how they remain relevant to us, in the modern West.

Among the 45 chapters of this martial arts philosophy book you'll find lessons addressing everything from such well-known martial concepts as "one encounter, one chance" to the art of being alone, from strategy for the modern-day battlefield to the luxury of anger, from subduing the self and bending like the bamboo to maintaining an unwavering calm in the face of death.

Essays include:
The Way of the Master
Excess Baggage
Swimming 'Round the Stone
Simple Things
Even if I Die
Not Knowing, But Doing
and many more

Genres: Martial Arts, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Japan, Zen, Reference

185 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Blindzider · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of various writings and columns Lowry has produced over the years, this book contains a tremendous amount of wisdom. Lowry's writing exudes serenity and knowledge with every word. He uses ancient Japanese lore, legends from masters of the art, and personal experiences to relate a basic idea, easy to say and read but difficult to master. It's both comforting and instructional, soothing and inspirational. A must-read even for those not practicing the Way, because it serves as a guide toward inner peace.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave (I feel that we are on a first name basis, since I have read so many of his books) shares various insights on life he has learned during many years of serious martial arts training. He has a gift for tying his knowledge of the history of the samurai and the martial ways of old with present day training and life.

[Lisa Stacholy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dave Lowry has a wonderful view of the world.

[Christopher Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a good overview of the values and morals of the budo culture as well as the values that they still contain to the West. I appreciated the refrains on the idea of the luxury of anger, and the metaphor of bamboo - which is flexible in the surface but contains strong roots. The parallel to having strong training techniques and yet not being rigid when growing has many parallels.

Lowry comes across as a bit preachy and anti-Western, but if you can look past the scolding tone at time, you will see a disciplined man trying to impart his perspective to future generations.

[Eagle Monsoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this is one of the greatest books I have ever read. Definitely in my top 10. It isn't just about martial arts, or Japan, or a collection of stories. To me, it also represents a different way of thinking. I have enjoyed everything I have read by this author, but this is definitely one of my favourites.

[Benoit Provencher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great philosophy book about the martial arts (or martial Way).
Get one step further in the knowledge and spirituality of the Japanese martial arts.

[Rico Surridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few people get it like Dave Lowry gets it. Fewer, if any, can write about it.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thoroughly disappointed. I was weirded out by the over romanticism of Japan that basically pervades through the entire book. He claimed that it was not against the West, but rather against modernity. Japan, by any standard, is modern (and arguably more so than the West in some areas), so I'm not sure where exactly he was coming from.

Still, it was worth a read and certainly martial artists (and others too!) will find nuggets of knowledge or philosophy here.

[Dean Marquis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a timeless book. This is the second time I've read it. I read it going to the Dojo and coming home again. He talks about subjects which are not common
He has an excellent mastery of the English Language and talks about serious issues. Japan is an xenophobic culture and this perspective is important. Japanese Culture is no different from others. Japan is also the only country that has nuclear bombs dropped on it not just once but twice.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is a collection of essays written by Dave Lowry on various subjects within the martial ways and daily life. I can not say I agree with everything Dave has to say, but it was a great book to seed some thoughts on the subject. It forced me to think more about why I do what I do, what I hope to get out of it, and what it is like to be on this journey.

[Matthew Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great collection of well-written essays covering a breadth of subjects as they relate to the modern budo practitioner. There is so much wisdom to take in that I will be re-reading this in the future.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very much what I had envisioned the martial arts to be, an excellent read!

[Alona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a treat and unforgettable experience, every single bok I've read by Lowry...

[Kalen Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the travel writing story but the history lessons were a bit too dense for my interest level. I’ve read his other book and preferred the lighter easy reading travel story.