“You get lost in thought, a reverie, until someone comes along and asks what you're thinking about—erasing your entire world.”
S H U H A R I
We are all students and teachers—constantly learning from one another, our environment, and ourselves.
Adapted from the Japanese martial arts concept, Shuhari compassionately takes the reader on a pilgrimage shared by teacher and student, from the initial spark of knowing to the zenith of mastery.
Through symbolic illustrations and inquisitive poetry, Joshua Thaddeus reveals a three-stage path—守 SHU / Witness, 破 HA / Approach, 離 RI / Yield—designed to bring about profound integration and transformation. A poetic discourse between master and pupil explores loss, failure, and deep-rooted fears, and how such challenges can serve as catalysts for enduring change.
And yet, life's lessons are inherently painful. When self-doubt bubbles to the surface, who—or what—will you look to for wisdom? Whether it's yourself, others, this book, or the world at large, teachers occupy every corner of the cosmos.
Will you, as the student, embark upon this alchemical journey by turning the first page?
守 SHU / Witness
Listen and learn, so that you may understand.
破 HA / Approach
Question what you understand, so that you may know.
離 RI / Yield
Let go of what you know, so that you may transcend.
Personal stories, creative obsessions, and reflections from the writing desk—plus prompts and poetry to spark your own thoughts.