Mr. Carter's new book provides readers with a fine introduction to several classical Japanese art forms, while it explains how these cultural arts function as "Ways" that lead to spiritual realization. The author's many years of experience in this field are clearly evident, and the book will appeal to readers well familiar with these disciplines as well as novices.

As a martial artist with 34 years of experience, I believe I've found a real gem! Prof. Robert E. Carter has certainly outdone himself with his groundbreaking new book, The Japanese Arts and Self-cultivation. In it, Carter explores Japan's unique approach to ethics by focussing in on and examining 5 examples of its arts: Aikido, landscape gardening, the way of tea, the way of flowers, and the way of pottery. Much of this exploration takes the form of interesting personal experiences and lively interviews with great masters of these arts.

The various arts of Japan are perceived by many people either in a wholly pragmatic, utilitarian manner -- as practical methods of achieving some end -- or as mere artistry and aesthetic affectation. Some people are able to appreciate that the application of the philosophical and psychological dimensions of such training can aid technical prowess. Beyond this, precious few seem privy to a much grander vista; specifically to a realization of the extreme importance of the social, ethical, and spiritual domains, and the impact that training in the Japanese arts can have on one's personal development in these areas. All of this is clearly and forcefully articulated by Carter in this book.

In his typical fashion, Carter uses a cross-cultural, comparative approach to clarify eastern and western positions and further elucidate his thesis. The most obvious characteristic of all these arts is that they are intensely physical practices and, thus, they perfectly exemplify the Japanese means to ethical training -- the cultivation of ethical behaviour through concrete, physical action. This stands in stark contrast to the western approach to ethics which is predominantly analytical, academic, and intellectual. Carter's profound conclusion: morality and ethics are not learned through mere words, by memorizing lists of rules, but by actually, physically practising them! And the Japanese arts are avenues that can amply provide such practice. In a similar vein, an authentic morality is not based on a fear of punishment or a promise of rewards (a position that seems predominant in western religious ethical thought) but is dependent on the cultivation of specific pro-social attitudes, in particular that of empathy, a felt connection to others, and the compassion that results. It is this which is more correctly understood to be the true source of authentic ethical behaviour, and it is to the cultivation of these various attitudes that the Japanese arts aim and excel.

Throughout his book, Carter offers a penetrating analysis into the Japanese view of ethics and the cultural methods developed since time immemorial to cultivate its values. From the arts as mere practical skills, to the arts as pathways to self-realization (the discovery of one's connection to/oneness with the universe), to ethical cultivation and a strong social focus, the thing that Carter makes clear is that a practice of the different arts impacts all of these levels of self-development simultaneously. Ultimately, an immersion in the physical practice of an art can lead to the psychological state of emptiness/no-self that not only is the source of all unconscious, skilful action but is also the basis for all empathetic, ethical behaviour -- of our ability to come together in correct human relations. So far, I have not yet come across another book or author that deals with this important, seminal topic in such depth and in as clear and engrossing a manner.

In conclusion, I believe that this outstanding book would be of great interest not only to philosophers and students of philosophy (those interested in ethics generally and in Oriental ethics and arts specifically) but to the general public as well. In particular, I recommend it wholeheartedly as essential and necessary (as well as relatively easy and engaging) reading for every serious martial artist who wishes to develop a greater understanding of the deeper dimensions of the arts. I also highly recommend, as an intimate companion to this book, Carter's previous book, [[ASIN:079145018X Encounter With Enlightenment: A Study of Japanese Ethics (Suny Series in Modern Japanese Philosophy)]], which provides important philosophical foundations for the very same topic.