Since writing Guardian in the Night, I’ve been asked a number of times to explain the concept of Fudoshin. I learned the concept originally from my martial arts teacher, Master Daniel Cohen, who taught me much of its meaning.
Unpack Fudoshin and you find flavors of ‘immovable mind’, ‘immovable heart’, and ‘immovable spirit’.
Gandalf and the Balrog explain more.
2:33 minutes in to the video: “You cannot pass.”
When Erica and I learned of Ari’s life threatening heart condition at our 18 week ultrasound, we faced a decision. We chose to fight. Fight to the end. With the support of our family and friends, immovable mind we had; immovable spirit we prayed would come.
3:10: “YOU SHALL NOT PASS”
Ari’s Ross procedure. Out of our hands now. The doctors and nurses took over from here. Wielders of the flame of Aror, they stood at the bridge and stared down the Balrog.
If we’re lucky, many of us have to do this only once. Or at least only once in a while. Somehow the doctors and nurses do it every day. This takes a rare and special quality.
Immovable heart.
3:38: You give everything you have, and you think you got him. Your tank now completely empty, you turn to leave, but with great vengeance and furious anger, the Balrog counterstrikes.
Emergency mitral valve surgery needed, with no good options for a kid with seemingly no reserve left. And then, after surgery, Ari himself is the last line of defense. He had but one weapon left to wield.
FUDOSHIN!
We can only do so much. The doctors and nurses can only do so much. But that little guy?
Immovable spirit.
4:17 forward: This is how I imagine Ari in his battle after his mitral valve surgery from Thursday June 21 to Saturday June 23.
With no one else left to fight the enemy, Ari takes up his sword.
And attacks.
Ari, of course, is not the only one who has done this. All these little warriors fighting for their lives. They have their families and their care givers, but at some point they all face their Balrog alone. They do so with a spirit most of can scarcely fathom.
As they fight, they teach. Master Cohen introduced me to meaning of Fudoshin.
Ari has filled in the rest.
Echo of Hope 
[…] so often follow heart surgery at this age. Maybe he’ll remember that, even though he faced the Balrog for the third time, his Mom-mee and Dah-dee were always there the moment he opened his eyes from […]
It is a learning experience to see our little ones 🙂 … They are so small, they look so vulnerable and, yet, they have to face their life for the very first time!
They constantly challenge the world around them and themselves in order to survive, to improve and to grow.
They do everything on their instinct…. It is amazing!
(I am sure we loose some of that capability and courage, as we grow older.)
All the best for little Ari! 🙂
King Ari, the lion, the King of warriors continues to teach all of us the meaning of the word perserverance and courage. Love you all, the keepers of the flame of hope.
Kisses and Hugs
You three are all warriors and keeper of the flame. Know that we are here supporting and loving you. and give those sweet cheeks a kiss from me. Love
Love it Mike. Last week I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Just when I was about to complain about my new diet I thought about you guys and how diminute it seems to what you’ve been through for the love of your baby. I have you guys to give me strength and inspiration. Thanks for keeping it meaningful.
Love this. I can feel your immense love for Ari in all of this post. Hope you are all doing well!
We often talk about this too. We think of how much went into saving our daughter’s life and giving her a second chance. But when it all came down to it – Haven was the one who fought the hardest, she was the one who somehow finally came off ECMO, with all of us including the doctors standing helplessly around her. In the end, she always fought the hardest battle – alone with her sword just like Ari. They are incredible little warriors and there is so much to learn from them and the unbelievable strength and perseverance they continue to show. We are so glad you guys were all together and at home for Thanksgiving. With love, Molly, Brian, Haven & Ronan
I see in Ari’s eyes that strength, and it is pure, it is sweet, it is strong and now I know it is Fudoshin. The connection between Father and Son goes on and on.
Thank you Mike.
Just beautiful, Mike…………………….