Blog

Recent Posts:

Categories:

Tags:
Category: Aikido Event
Jun 12 2010

Tahoe 2010 Summer Seminar 8/20-22

Flier of Tahoe 2010 Summer Seminar at Matsuba Dojo
Category: tsumi kegare
Apr 25 2010

Shinto begins and ends with Purification

 

re: Tsumi and Kegare

Basic in Shinto is to purify yourself and your surroundings to order improve conditions for
yourself and your family. Harai/purification begins at home...we purify ourselves and our
surroundings to improve every aspect of our lives and our fate. Tsumi/ kegare,
dust, impurity and negativity all accumulate each day...to purify such things
thoroughly by cleaning is basic.

Harae refers to purification of an individual or group carried out by the Shinto Priest. 

Many of the Japanese terms commonly used in Shinto have no English equivalents--- beyond the lack of literal translations true understanding is further challenged by differences in basic attitudes and ways of thinking inherent in any cultural matrix.

Basic of Shinto thinking is that impurities are acquired from our own action or the actions of others. These impurities then have an obscuring effect, however through the purifying straightening and invigorating power of ritual Oharae/purification we can remove these impurities tsumi and kegare and be restored to our original state of  freshness and purity. 

Harae is as completely natural as bathing before going to bed or washing our faces in the morning.

Usually tsumi refers to impurities caused by errors in relationships between individuals or between individuals and groups while kegare refers to ones own impurities.

In the Oharahi-no-kotoba the Amatsu Tsumi are errors committed by the Earthly Kami as they carried out their divine mission of creation following the blueprints provided by the Amatsu (heavenly) Kami. Kunitsu Kami refers to errors are committed by human beings. 

Okaseru tsumi

In the Oharahi no Kotoba (Great Words of Purification) we can hear the words "Okaseru tsumi" repeated 4 times in the section dealing with lack of harmony arising from excess movement. impurity caused by imbalance and actions of certain Kami....when these difficulties are completely and repeatedly purified we can move towards solution.

Okaseru tsumi: means the illness that results from excess competitive spirit. Further implying that without purification impure deeds (and one's own impure actions) result in working against the logical sequence of creative/life-giving forces.

Okaseru/ Okasu = Okaseru tsumi means an impurity that penetrates to the hear/center of the structure and becomes like ones nature. This type of impurity can be passed through generations as Generational Kegare or Karma. Okasu tsumi means an unintentional/ accidental impurity that is much less serious but if uncorrected will penetrate deeper and become more serious Okaseru tsumi.

 

 

 

To add your comment for this post, please go to the page of this blog post
Category: Shinto, Aikido, AmenoUkihashi, Nakaima
Mar 30 2010

Ame no Ukihashi Naka Ima

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

To add your comment for this post, please go to the page of this blog post
Category: Aikido Event
Mar 29 2010

Kannagara Aiki Taisai 2010

To add your comment for this post, please go to the page of this blog post
Category: Shinto living
Mar 28 2010

Itadakimasu

Itadakimasu/ Gochiso sama

 

Prayer before eating:

 

Tanatsumono momono kigusamo amaterasu

Hi-no-Oo—Kami no megumi etekoso.

Itadakimasu

 

Momomean 100 (or many many)

Kigusameaning is trees and plants

Amaterasuis in this case a verb meaning shining brightly.

Hi-no-Okamiis Amaterasu Omikami

Megumiis blessings of Okami.

Etemeans to receive

 

Basic meaning is: All the trees and plants thrive and grow by receiving the blessings of divine solar energy. When we eat these sacred plants we receive the life sustaining cosmic vitality of Amaterasu Omikami. I will humble partake/receive………….

 

 

Prayer after eating:

 

Asayoini monokugotoni Toyoukeno

Kami no megumi wo omoe yonohito.

Gochiso sama.

 

 

Asayoinimeans morning and evening

Monokugotomeans each time you eat something

Toyouke no Okamiis Kami of sacred foodstuffs that sustain our lives

Kami no Megumimeans blessing of Kami/ Divine Nature

Omoemeans to consider deeply

Yonohitomeans people.

 

Basic meaning is: each time we eat let us consider deeply the divine gifts of life sustaining food --- carrying divine solar power to each of our cells ..what a feast…what a joy to be alive!!!! Arigatou gozaimashita.

To add your comment for this post, please go to the page of this blog post
Category: Misogi jumbi taiso
Mar 28 2010

Ame-no-torifune-no-gyo

AME-NO-TORIFUNE-NO-GYO

 

Sometimes called Fune-kogi-undo. Ame-no-torifune is one of the Misogi Jumbi Taiso or exercises to prepare the mind/ body/ spirit for the activity of Misogi Shuho. These exercises have been widely adopted as Aiki Jumbi Taiso.

Torifune (Bird Rowing)

1. Stand straight and put your left leg forward

2. Clench both fists with your thumbs inside

3. Lean forward and move your arms as though rowing a boat starting from your left knee and ending near your *armpits. As you "row," shout "Yie".

4. Perform this 20 times and then repeat Furitama

5. Changing to a right leg stance, repeat the Torifune shouting "Ei" and "Ho" alternately. Do this 20 times and then repeat Furitama

6. Return to the left foot forward stance and remake the clenched fists as before and bring the hands up to the chest to a shout of "Yie" and thrust them down and forward with hands opened and fingers extended to a shout of "Se" After this, once again repeat the Furitama

The Object of Torifune-no-gyo

The basic purpose is to introduce a dimension of physical calisthenics along with the spiritual. Since misogi is a psycho-physical experience, both types of  preperatory exercises are necessary. " Torifune-no-gyo (done properly) is very grounding and invigorating. The kiai organizes the hara… centripetality/contraction and centrifugality existing simultaneously while grounding relates very directly to the organization we want to manifest during Aiki waza.

 

 

 

 

 

TAMA FURI/ Furitama-no-Gyo

Tama(soul) Furi (shake) basic meaning is the self Chin-kon and relates directly to the furube-no-kamu-waza of Chinkon Saho.

Furitama ( Soul Shaking)

1. Stand with your legs apart about shoulder width .

2. Place your hands together with the right hand over the left. Leave space between them big enough for an imaginary ping pong ball.

3. Place your hands in that position in front of your stomach and 0shake them vigorously up and down.

4. While shaking them concentrate and repeat the words: Harae-do-no-Okami - an invocation to the kami of the place of harai.

The Object Furitama-no-gyo

The purpose of shaking the soul is to generate awareness of it within yourself. Kon, (the soul), in Shinto, is one of the four important elements along with Mei (life), Rei (spirit) and Ki (which means Spirit in its causal aspect - Ki is a kind of energy source). Kon is the most important of the four since human beings can also be described as Waketama (separated individual souls), which is another way of saying "children of the kami".

 

 

Chinkon kanji can also be read as Mitama Shizume..the basic meanings are:

1)     to reintegrate the elements of self/soul into the current moment

2)   to quiet or pacify the soul

3)    to invigorate the soul

4)   The kanji of Chin-kon can also be read Sho Kon and carry the nuance of pacifying and assisting the raising of vibration for the Mitama of a person who has left this life

 

Tama-furi aims at the reception of strong spiritual waves/higher spirit/ refined vibration.

 

The aim of activities of  Shinto Gyo (tuning practices) Misogi Harai (self purification)  is to quiet and reinvigorate the very soul these activities can be called

1)    misogi harai

2)  mitama-furi

3)  tama-furi

4)  mitama shizume

5)   chin-kon

 

all these are written with the same kanji these activities relate directly to the function of I-buki-do-nushi-no-Ou kami who is one of the Harae-do-no-Ou-kami and deals directly with purification by out breath.

IKU TAMA /TARU TAMA/TAMA TAMARU TAMA

 

During the Misogi Jumbi Taiso (preparatory exercises) the  Otakebi (shouting) begins with: Ikuuuuuuuuuuu Tamaaaaaaaa/ Truuuuu Tamaaaaaaaa/ Tama Tamaruuuuuuuuuuu Tamaaaaaaaaa…

 

In KAMI-NO-MICHI Sendai Guji, Rev Yukitaka Yamamoto wrote:

 

Shouting Iku-tama activates the soul which is just coming to awareness. Taru-tama affirms the awareness that you can realize the infinite in your soul. Tama-tamaru-tama confirms both and keeps the soul activated at its quantum level.

 

When we shout together by the riverside and our voices echo into: 1) the distance 2) the earth and 3) into the sky it is a really profound human experience that simultaneously  elevates and grounds us (centralized expension).

 

As we examine the meaning of the kanji (Chinese characters/pictographs) we can gain further insight………………

 

IKU TAMA (shouted out horizontally) comes from the verb Ikeru (to live- exist) Tama is from tamashii (soul) IKIRU TAMASHII means Life-soul… this relates to the triangle shape..to exist

 

TARU TAMA (shouted towards the Earth) Taru can be read ashi (leg) implying to stand on the Earth in the current moment…Taru also comes from tairu (enough/sufficient) implying fulfillment/support and relating to the circle shape………….life

 

TAMA TAMARU TAMA (shouted in ascending manner)  comes from Tama (jewel), Taru (pool), and Tama (soul) implies deep nourishment, setting-sealing and relating to the square shape which implies continuous echoing

 

 

All these types of Gyo, Furitama-no-gyo, Torifune-no-gyo, Otakebi  as well as Chinkon Gyoho activities have real power to activate our KI.

 

Effects of Gyo:

 

  1. True understanding of our lives as Kami-no-Ko children of Divine Nature.
  2. Cultivation of the the Heart/Mind/Spirit of service to society.
  3. Transcending Ego and greed and understanding the Mission of Human. Beings. Understanding of Kyoson Kyoei principal of mutual co-existence and co-prosperity.
  4. Health benefit of increased circulation of blood and KI and spiritual revitalization.
  5. Strengthening overall constitution to become more genki.
  6. Sharpen the intellect (mind).
  7. Tamashii (soul) is renewed…you can feel Inochi (life principal).
  8. Bring new creativity to daily life.
  9. Misogi purifies the three temporal worlds: past/present/future…you receive KI of Divine Nature and give KI to others.
  10. Power to improve KI of Family.
  11. By raising spirituality you increase your contact with OKami and your ability to feel the heartbeat and breath of OKami.

To add your comment for this post, please go to the page of this blog post