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SPIRITUAL AIKIDO
WEEK THREE
Spirituality is as much about the body as it is about the soul. The physical universe is more than merely
an arena in which we evolve spiritually, it is the very means by which we evolve spiritually. It happens here.
It happens not in the Garden of Paradise, but in the Garden of Paradox. The body is not only a vehicle for soul
manifestation, it is a sacred facilitator of soul realization.
Rabbi Gershon Winkler
Notes on Jewish Spirituality
Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, so keep it in shape. Don't get fat; overeating is one of the
lusts of the flesh. Exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep and eat healthy foods. Wear attractive and
clean clothes and keep your home clean. You want to be your best for your spouse, family and the Lord.
Spiritual Growth
From Christian website
In all major religions, the body is the temple of the soul or spirit. As we work on the spiritual side of Aikido,
it is extremely important to realize that this side is tied into the physical side of our lives and our training.
In Buddhism you reach Nirvana, or the state of enlightenment, through the Eight Fold Path.
1. Right Understanding
2. Right Thoughts
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Understanding a little bit about Budhhism, we help us understand a lot about Aikido. Learning Aikido isn’t
about learning a specific technique, but learning to understand it, learning to think about it, learning to
talk about it, learning to act up on it, learing to live by it, learning to train, learning to become aware
and learning to focus
your ki or spirit.
What is it we are actually doing at the dojo?
We are learning more about ourselves than we are about
throwing our partner.
In order to improve, in order to grow in Aikido, we must grow our understanding of the spirit and of the heart.
Pot Lid Zen
www.bujitsu.net/zen.htm
Yagyu Matajuro was a young member of the Yagyu family, famous for the family tradition of swordsmanship. However
Matajuro’s father was disappointed in his son’s tendency towards laziness and banished him from the dojo. Matajuro,
his pride stung resolved to seek out a master and return as a great swordsman. Matajuro journeyed to the Kumano shrine
in the province of Kii, where he had heard of a great teacher called Banzo. The monks at the shrine told him that Banzo
lived as a hermit in the nearby mountains, and showed him the trail to follow. Eventually he found Banzo asked to be
accepted as a student.
“How long will it take me to learn swordsmanship?” he asked.
“The rest of your life,” was the reply.
“I can’t wait that long. I will accept any hardship, and will devote myself completely to the study of swordsmanship.”
“In that case, ten years.”
“What if I train twice as hard?” tried Matajuro.
“In that case, thirty years.”
“Why is that? First you say ten then thirty years. I will do anything to learn, but I don’t have that much time.”
“In that case, seventy years.”
Sensing the direction of the conversation, Matajuro capitulated and agreed to work as long as it took, and do anything
he was told. However, for the first year all Banzo had Matajuro do was to perform simple physical tasks such as chopping
wood. After a year of this Matajuro was disappointed and demanded that Banzo teach him some swordsmanship. Banzo merely
insisted that he chop wood.
Matajuro went to the woodpile and was chopping, but inwardly he was furious. He resolved to leave Banzo the next day.
But while he was chopping Banzo crept up behind him and struck him painfully with a wooden sword. “You want to learn
swordsmanship, but you can’t even dodge a stick,” he said.
From that day on Banzo would creep up on Matajuro and attack him with a wooden sword. Eventually Matajuro’s senses
became heightened, and Banzo had to change tactics. Now Banzo would attack repeatedly, even when Matajuro was asleep.
For the next four years Matajuro had not a moment’s rest from the fear of unexpected attack.
One day, when Matajuro was stirring some food on the fire, Banzo crept up and attacked him by surprise. Without thinking
Matajuro fended off the blow with the lid of the pot without taking his mind off stirring the food. That night Banzo wrote
out a certificate of mastery for Matajuro.
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