In martial arts as in many other things -Practicing strenuously because it’s a requirement will NOT make you grow. You may want to believe but sorry it’s only a recipe for stagnation and denial. Practicing strenuously because you understand the “why?” the logic, the strategy the philosophy is growth. The mind HAS to get it for the body to express and validate. First in the mind then in body. You don’t necessarily need a Guru/Master if you are just truly inspired and see things clearly that is enough. Nobody can teach you what you can teach yourself. Nobody can validate what you can prove yourself. But there is a beginning where one believes that if one practices one can truly feel liberated- just follow through with that belief until you are stuck. Being stuck is your divine opportunity to unravel yourself. Work yourself out. Each little success is yours and yours alone and each adds to the growth. This is when you grow. You throw away all the nonsense. Soon what is left behind is only light. You have been scattering light all the time. This realization is just like a sunrise. It always rises all the time someplace somewhere.

-Kaustav Guha, 6 March 2018