Deshi:  Sensei, no one believes that his/her Aikido is frail and without merit. Even out of those that come to believe that progress is something that is still on the horizon, something not yet here, none believe that his/her Aikido as a future entity is with fault. 

Sensei:  There are many universes in this single world.

Deshi:  Yet, there are degrees of quality to be witnessed.  Of those different qualities, is it not reasonable to believe that some will fall on the side of merit while others will fall on the side of fault?

Sensei:  From a given point of view, once determined, no two worlds are equal.

Deshi:  However, points of view alter and change.

Sensei:  Then so too does the quality which we see.

Deshi:  Points of view change, qualities change, and we are all prone to see our own world as the universe itself?

Sensei:  Your first two points are correct.  Your last point references only a very common tendency.  It is not a given amongst all humankind.

Deshi:  Then we ourselves, in how we see our own Aikido, can rise above the delusion of our own egocentric sense of merit?  How?

Sensei:  This we do by constant reflection and constant deconstruction.  Through such things, points of view remain subjective, prone to the given moment, and thus they remain too fleeting to support the delusion of egocentricism.  As such, truth comes to us as we resist the temptation of seeing ourselves as Truth. 

Deshi:  In the end then, we question our Aikido more than any other could?

Sensei:  Yes, this is correct.  To constantly run into a point of view that you yourself have not already reconciled is to not be steadfast in one’s own reflection processes.  To have others’ most “profound” contemplations be your most elementary is to show that you are training well.

Deshi:  Then is it important to expose ourselves to others and to their points of view?

Sensei:  It would be common sense to believe so, but often common sense is flawed.  This is such a case.  To be side by side with 10,000 souls who cannot reflect and/or who cannot deconstruct will do nothing for you.  However, to be near one soul who can reflect and who can deconstruct will alter your world forever.  Such a person will bring verification to your universe like no amount of people can.  Yet, even better, to be yourself that one soul who can reflect and who can deconstruct his art - this will keep you and your Aikido pure.