[By Agency Reporter//Published: Sunday, 9 Nov 2008] Even Olympic gold medallists sometimes need a little spiritual guidance.AFP reports that Japanese judo star Satoshi Ishii made a surprise appearance at a speech by the Dalai Lama, asking Tibet‘s exiled spiritual leader for clues on how to achieve peace of mind.
”Hello, I am Ishii,” he told the Dalai Lama after joining a queue of people waiting to ask the Nobel laureate questions.
”I had a big turning point, and now I don‘t know what to do. So I have received advice from many people,” said the star, who announced this week that he would switch to the cash-rich world of mixed martial arts.
”After listening to advice, I wonder whether I should make a decision for myself, or I should sometimes yield to the powerful. Please tell me,” he asked.
The Dalai Lama replied, ”Ultimately, your own investigation – that‘s most important.”
”Yes, you can dig ideas with people, but finally, you must base your decision on experiments, then decide,” said the Dalai Lama, who was on a one-week trip to Japan.
Ishii was one of only two Japanese who made the podium in men‘s Judo at the August Beijing Olympics, where he competed at the top level for the first time.
His decision to switch to mixed martial arts – which is still widely seen as a make-believe sport designed largely for television – disappointed many in the homeland of tradition-bound judo.
Japan‘s judo establishment bans professionals in any other combat sport from competing under its auspices, making it impossible for Ishii to go for another gold at the 2012 London Olympics if he makes the switch.
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