AME-NO-UKIHASHI/ NAKA-IMA
AME-NO-UKIHASHI is the "Floating Bridge of Heaven" ..or the bridge between matter and spirit. Izanagi-no-Mikoto and Izanami-no-Mikoto (15th and 16th Kamisama to appear, 7 generations from origin of TAKAAMAHARA Universe) stood on Ame-no-Ukihashi and used Ame-no-Nuboko (jeweled spear representing power of centripetality) to create TAKAMANOHARA the solar system. This ritual of creating the solar system is known as the second dimension in the process of creation....AMENO UKIHASHI should be known as the dimension or time in which the solar system was created. The Guardian of Ame-no-Ukihashi is Sarutahiko Okami.
Ueshiba O'Sensei repeatedly asserted that Aikido was Misogi...a method/sacred path whose movements were given by Sarutahiko Okami (Kami of KI, ancestor of all Earthly Kami and guardian of Aikido)...these movements can bring about an inner "correctness" or alignment with the life giving forces..when we tune our physiological structure/ antennae/ himorogi we can come closer to receiving the heartbeat and breath of Okami.. ultimately we can become like Sarutahiko Okami..and to stand on "Ame-no-Ukihashi" the bridge between energy and matter, action and non-action.
Ame-no-Ukihashi is the bridge between heaven/ earth, this shore /other shore...it is the place between action/ non-action. The Oharahi-no-Kotoba, the most important words of Shinto explains the place between non-action and action as the place where small errors were made by the Kunitsu/Earthly Kami during the process of creation-- the work of following the divine blueprints provided by Amatsu/ Heavenly Kami. The Oharahi-no-Kotoba and O'Sensei further state that the mission of human beings is to become like (and ultimately interchangeable with) Kunitsu Kami/ Sarutahiko Okami and retroactively purify those errors. To accomplish such a divine mission we must stand at the pivot point-- the point of power... we must stand at Nakaima.
Naka-ima translates literally as “the middle of now”. We can say that Nakaima is the doctrine of “presentness”.
“Presentness” implies being fully alive in the current moment—this is a place of amazing power and potential. A place from which all events unfold.
Yamamoto Yukiyasu Guji teaches us about the classical philosophy of Heraclites—who postulated that the present does not really exist. The opposite of the view of Shinto and it's manifestation Aiki-do which is the present is the only authentic reality. Nakaima means each moment and it’s activities are treasures… Guji teaches us that we should not look upon life as a series of peremptory moments, necessary yet irksome stepping stones to the future..but the future as it comes to be.
When we can successfully gather the diverse elements of ourselves from the past and imagined future into the current moment, we enter the ongoing wavefront of creation--- we realize each moment is completely new and will never return, we achieve balance, we have access to all our abilities to act as proxies for Sarutahiko Okami and create order from chaotic situations….. this is the middle of now and the physical, mental and spiritual “stance” of balance is the experience and power of being truly alive as a human being.
Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
Koichi Barrish
Tsubaki Kannagara Kannushi
