We sometimes bring bad outcomes on ourselves in two ways. Sometimes we expect that one bad outcome follows another. Other times, by dwelling on an initial bad outcome, we lose focus and our strong spirit, and thereby increase the chances of more negative outcomes.
Nakitsura ni hachi 泣面に蜂 [pronounced “nah-kit-soora nee hah-chi”] literally means “bee bites the crying face” — but as one might imagine, there is more to the phrase than a warning about bees.
Nakitsura ni hachi 泣面に蜂 can be understood in two ways – one of which is that we often see bad things happen in clumps. The phrase is somewhat analogous to the American English expression "when it rains, it pours." Nakitsura ni hachi 泣面に蜂, used in this manner, is in general use in modern-day Japan as a common expression.
However, there is another more subtle, and perhaps more important, interpretation of Nakitsura ni hachi 泣面に蜂 and that is this: we often bring bad outcomes on ourselves by complaining about a smaller negative event. In other words, we effectively create a predilection for bad outcomes by our own negative attitude.
The Rain becomes a Flood
There are so many common expressions in different cultures that refer to the perception that bad things happen in groups.
"When it rains, it pours."
"Famous deaths occur in groups of three."
"Misery loves company."
Is this really true, though? Or is it that we selectively choose to create a pattern out of unrelated events? In fact, that is generally the case, especially when we are filtering news events to build a "line" that connects unrelated dots.
Yes, if we look hard enough, for instance, we are bound to find three relatively well-known deaths that occur within a small space of time. But those deaths are quite unrelated and there is actually no pattern to be had.
However, we can consider that creating an expectation of something bad happening can, in fact, become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we have any control over events – for instance, events that we are involved in – it is quite possible that we have created our own outcome, even a negative one.
Understand that there is certainly no "universal" force that exists to act upon events to force a succession of negative events. Unless there is an actual connection (a cause-and-effect connection, for example; or related activities, as another example) then nothing ordains that one bad thing will follow another.
Yes, misery may love company, but only to commiserate and move on: don't let commiseration turn into a self-perpetuating string of bad events.
Did We Bring the Rain on Ourselves?
If we dig deeper into our own attitudes, we can also begin to understand that we have quite a bit of control over the events that occur.
Consider this: sometimes we define the difference between kyu belts and dan belts (blackbelts) in this way: events happen to kyu belts whereas blackbelts happen to events.
This is not just a pithy saying: it illustrates that a strong, experienced karateka with a strong spirit (kokoro: read more) can alter events and change outcomes. And if this is true, would not the opposite of this also be true? A karateka with a weak or even a negative spirit can alter events as well, but not for a good outcome.
Sometimes we see a physical version of this phenomenon. For instance, when we have an injury, we tend to alter our movement in ways (sometimes in a subtle manner) to accommodate that injury and promote healing or continue functioning despite an incapacitation due to the injury. However, in doing so, we sometimes create "compensating" injuries in other parts of our body because of our altered movement.
It's important to keep in mind that the mental version of this phenomena is just as real: we can create "compensating" bad outcomes because of how we react to a previous bad outcome.
Work Against "Bad Luck"
Strong focus and strong spirit can help guard against creating self-fulfilling prophecies of future bad outcomes.
As karateka, we obviously train to improve our focus and cultivate strong spirit. It is important to remember that we do so not for a theoretical good in the future, but sometimes for a very real and present need that we have right now.
Do not dwell on the negative, and do not let your strong spirit devolve down to a "crying face" – Nakitsura ni hachi 泣面に蜂 reminds us to move past the present bad so as not to create a future that we do not want. Moreover, it reminds us not to expect a negative future based on a negative past.
The past, as is often said, is not prologue for the future – or at least it won't be if we don't allow it to be.
| Kanji/Katakana | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 泣面 | crying face (qì-Men/nakitsura) |
| に蜂 | bee (ni hachi) |
Editor's Note: This lecture was delivered by Sensei at the Goju Karate dojo in New York City on 4 September 2024.
