<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<!--
	Downloaded: 05-21-2013 12:07 PM
	From AikiWeb Aikido Forums, http://www.aikiweb.com/forums
	Userid: 20025
	User Name: graham christian
-->

<blogEntries>
<blogEntry id="4846">
	<title><![CDATA[Shomen]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I have no faith for faith is me,
 I polish daily my own divinity,
 There's no superior or superiority,
 For divinity in me is divinity in thee.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>05-13-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4842">
	<title><![CDATA[Land of the rising sun.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[As I spiritually view the land of the rising sun,
 The land of kotodama, where all springs from the one,
 Where Anjin San visited and a  new journey began,
 Where the lotus flower bloomed from which Aikido sprang.

 Where cherry blossoms grow then as the petals fall,
 The kami of the kamikazi, I can here them call,
 I see the snow topped peak of Fuji yet below nothing at all,
 A land of history and mystery like the soul of us all.

 And as the sun meets the sky and the moon meets the sea,
 A devine calm descends and spreads through humanity,
 I see O'Sensei smiling, raising a toast, a bowl of best saki,
 I smile back and raise a toast, a nice hot cup of tea.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>05-07-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4834">
	<title><![CDATA[PEACE.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[As you follow the path of peace,
 The view of enemies fade and cease,
 Life becomes the path itself, free of belief,
 True budo you become, from a cocoon released.

 What were those foolish thoughts of fight and opposition?
 What were those foolish wants for power and position?
 The kami dance for joy, buddha nature is expressed,
 When religion disappears divinity and holiness is left.

 G]]></body>
	<date>04-27-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4831">
	<title><![CDATA[If Only.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[If only people knew respect is non resistance,
 If only people knew all else is non existence,
 If only people knew if only don't exist,
 The fog would clear and left would be a swirling mist.

 Yeah but, no but, yeah but,yeah but no but what if?
 There is no yeah but or no but or what if, it's all a myth.
 The mist now clearing the sun shines, and it detects, 
 The formless forming and shows, if what? Respect!
 
 G.]]></body>
	<date>04-24-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4826">
	<title><![CDATA[Dance of the universe.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Innocence sees and moves like a cool breeze,
 Flowing and knowing no need for a,b, c's.
 Inviting, uniting, divine intervention,
 Centre of centre, the quiet dimension.

 Blending with goodness, a divine form collection,
 Blending with the spirit of loving protection,
 Cherry blossoms, trees, rustling leaves,
 The world, the earth, the universe, kokyu breathes.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>04-21-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4745">
	<title><![CDATA[Spirit of Kokyu]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I enter with universal love, pure power, harmless,
Introducing a heavenly calmness,
No physical space, time, place or energy,
No illusion, shin no budo, so no enemy.
 
For when all that is gone what remains in it's place?
But heavenly motion supported by grace,
When all is gone what is there left to see?
The way of the awakened, the way of aiki.
 
And as I look and listen the echoes I hear,
Of beings trapped in karma, unawakened, in fear,
Projecting illusions and living a false hell,
It's making me depressed now, sadness starts to swell.
 
How to face such a scene I am faced with the infernal,
Then God whispers to me, "Hope springs eternal".
Quietness descends, a flash of lightning and silence,
The echoes turn to joy as they realize non-violence.
 
The flowers start to sing along with the trees,
The rivers glisten as they listen to mother natures breeze,
Non-opposition, non-aggression, non -disturbance, harmony,
I re-enter with Kokyu, the universe is me.
 
G.]]></body>
	<date>03-12-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4739">
	<title><![CDATA[True Aiki]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Love invites non-resistance,
 True budo, no insistence,
 Love covers both space and distance,
 Timeless motion born in an instant.

 As egos talk about big bang theory,
 So backward, boring, dreary,
 Caught up in physical strength and fight,
 Blind to the explosion of silence and light.

 Nothing is something for those who see,
 It's not nothing at all, it's alive and free,
 Aikido explains life and all existence,
 Remember love invites...non-resistance.]]></body>
	<date>03-05-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4735">
	<title><![CDATA[Aikizen]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[One man said "I'll fight to my last breath!"
 Another man said "I'll fight on to the death!"
 Yet another man said "I'll do what I gotta do!"
 The Aikido man said "I'm just passing through."

 G.]]></body>
	<date>02-27-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4730">
	<title><![CDATA[Moon in the hara.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Born of innocence, the universe's source,
 Thus the universe was born and follows the universal course.
 The spirals the changes the physical and the flows,
 Born of innocence for innocence knows.

 Born in ignorance, that what we are,
 From stupidity to innocence, that journey is far.
 Proving how good you are is egotistical stupidity,
 Knowing how stupid you are is wisdom and humility.

 The sun of the heavens shines brightly and glows,
 The earth contains life and everything grows,
 In between is centre from which everything flows,
 The moon is in hara and as innocence, knows.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>02-22-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4725">
	<title><![CDATA[Holy Aikido Trinity]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Love is Budo, Aikido's heart,
 The beat, the rhythm, the flow, the start.

 Harmony, Aikido's soul,
 Reflection, direction, and that's the 'do'.

 Aikido's spirit? Well that is Ki,
 Non-resitance, eternally free. 

 Peace.G.]]></body>
	<date>02-17-2013</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4642">
	<title><![CDATA[Open the 'Do']]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Koshi, the gateway to Harmony,
  Aikido's base, set Karma free,
  Koshi, organic divinity,
  The gateway called humility.

  Center, the gateway to Budo love,
  The supporting hand of breath, the glove,
  Center, holy, not some martial fashion,
  Center the gateway called compassion.

  Joining together as heaven and earth,
  Complimentary, now complete worth,
  From the center of center shines the Aiki light,
  Like the aiki cross of the star at night.

  The story of Aiki, the story Samsara,
  The oneness, the floating bridge...Hara,
  The wondrous workings, the way of peace,
  Ki flows, life grows, Aikido knows, Release!

  G.]]></body>
	<date>10-09-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4635">
	<title><![CDATA[O'Sensei Rap]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I tell people but they don't understand,
 When I tell them bout heaven earth and man,
 Teaching, they look at at me like I'm barmy,
 Me, the universe and the kami army.

 I talk spirit and they wonder why?
 There is no you only I and I,
 I say Ai is love and harmony,
 Minds clunk and click, they smile nervously,

 They come, I've already met,
 What I say I know they will forget,
 So they relate to what others past state,
 Don't they realize that past is too late.

 But some will maintain spirit as the main frame,
 Always was and always will be again,
 In the void there's no body and no mind,
 Just a sword of budo, martially kind.

 kI of kindness the light ends the blindness,
 I leave this riddle and I hope they find this,
 In yo, I strike the earth with my holy Jo,
 And all over the world appears an aiki flow.

 Job done, I wait for others to see what's been seen,
 I wait for others to awaken and  live the dream, 
 When they see that peace is the true time stream,
 And life is here now, where it's always been.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>09-30-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4616">
	<title><![CDATA[The Path]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[In Aikido there is no control, no domination, no ego,
 How can this be? That means there's more to know,
 Neither control nor no control, in-between is Aikido.

 No aim to dominate no need to sit and wait,
 No need to panic, disturb or agitate,
 No need for fight or need for flight, in-between, Aiki state.

 In paranoia enemies all around, they surround, they abound,
 In Aikido enemies don't exist, you look and look yet none can be found,
 So the Aikido view pierces right through such illusion so truth can expound.

 Now surrounded by enemies who think they are so, join in not, be Aikido once more,
 And as they attack they enter the path, and are met by an almighty silent roar,
 Aikido destroys with the peace it employs yet no one cries, no one dies, in-between all restores.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>09-15-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4613">
	<title><![CDATA[Change]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Aikido, motion of calmness,
  Effectively harmless,
  Precision of motion,
  Bathed in an ocean,
  Openly infectious,
  As angels reflect us,
  Ageless yet new age,
  Old scriptures, a new page,
  The land of the rising sun,
  Ended the land of the gun,
  Mended the ways of the past undone,
  Lended a hand of peace to everyone,
  Transcended.]]></body>
	<date>09-09-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4604">
	<title><![CDATA[The Seeker.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I trained and I trained and I trained and I trained,
 Seasons passed, it snowed and it rained,
 Then summer came and what did I find?
 Centre and the understanding mind.

 I trained and I trained and leaves fell to the ground,
 Returning to earth, colours, hues all around,
 Life in action, I looked, what did I find?
 Universal Ki and the kindness mind.

 I trained and I trained and now nature seemed real,
 From nothing came everything to feel and reveal,
 The universe singing with joy what did I find?
 Infinite capacity mother nature and earths mind.

 I trained and I trained through both ups and downs,
 Even to depths with darkness all around,
 Pierced by a light I entered what did I find?
 Expansion and Oneness, universal loving mind.

 I trained and I trained I learned and I taught,
 Through the spiral of loving protection I sought,
 To find the unfindable then what did I find?
 A diamond, a pearl, a reflection left behind. 

 G.]]></body>
	<date>08-27-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4597">
	<title><![CDATA[Spiritual Jewel]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Budo is Love, but what does it mean?
 Iki Inochi? The Universal unseen,
 Budo builds life and life breathes kindness,
 Iki Inichi forever and timeless.

 Budo is Love so why then oppose it?
 It's unopposable and true aiki shows it,
 And if you think opposite to love is hate,
 Then you've entered the door and missed the gateless gate.

 There are no opposites but only inversions,
 Logic has opposites and thus false assertions,
 Leading you to a myriad of diversions,
 Inverted budo carries warring aspersions.

 So what is the inverse? What is it's name?
 What is this devil of suffering and pain?
 Inverted love takes you out of now and here,
 Thus is born false budo, the budo of fear.

 Fear is suspicious, fear is in a hurry,
 Fear justifies it's actions with worry,
 Fear is weak and thus searches for power,
 Inverted budo, lost yet searching.

 For it cannot forever live in the dark,
 For true budo never dies so there's always that spark,
 Always that knowing, that can stop you from falling,
 Always that truth, always a true calling.

 Always that spiritual jewel, pointing the way,
 Always showing a path of peace life and play,
 Always unopposing and always unopposed,
 Only the gateless gate is never ever closed. 

 G.]]></body>
	<date>08-20-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4593">
	<title><![CDATA[It's all good]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Calm your Ki, polish your ai,
 Follow the way, keep ma-ai.

 Never neutralize, but always from neutral,
 See the path clearly, through though not brutal,

 Bu is the love, Bun is the way,
 Ki is kindness, help is the play,

 Fire is warmth, water is clear,
 Earth is all embracing, heaven is here,

 Metal is spirit and life expressed through wood,
 Aikido is what? Ha, ha, It's all good.

 G.]]></body>
	<date>08-15-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4580">
	<title><![CDATA[Zanshin]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Zanshin, it's all about the now and here,
 Thoughts of speed and time disappear,
 There's only outside and fast is slow,
 There's only one thing and that's a Ki flow.

  Don't fight it, invite it, and thus realigned,
  Experience Zanshin, a true budo mind,
  Non disturbance, invigorating, spiritually free,
  Revealing, healing, the sword and me.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>08-01-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4564">
	<title><![CDATA[Faith]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Aikido is an art, it's an art of transcending,
  That's why there's harmony and with it the art of blending,
  Like life it's a discipline, eternal and never ending,
  It's about not only life but the art of true life mending.

  The transcended path of peace known as the way,
  Relieving suffering and pain that's true budo play,
  The spirit of joy encapsulated and released in spiral,
  The universe in action reaching through it becomes viral.

  And you're the one responsible for making this fine place,
  And your the one to practice making all a better space,
  And your the one who returns enemies to that innocent base,
  Through God, through the universe, through budo, through yourself.....

  Faith!!!  

  G.]]></body>
	<date>07-15-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4555">
	<title><![CDATA[I never knew]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I never knew spirit, I never knew Ki,
  I never knew by not knowing I never knew me,
  I thought I was a body with a name that's all you see,
  Then I became a mind and an identity.

  But neither mind or body can ever be me,
  I am the viewer, the spirit and always free,
  My place is here my home is now my life is eternity,
  I'm 24/7 heart in heaven spreading peace and harmony.

  I never knew Aikido could be dark and missing the light,
  I never knew that only identities look to fight,
  I never knew that minds believe that mind leads Ki,
  If that's so then how comes their minds cannot lead me.

  I never knew so many only see quantity,
  Yet they are a quality and yet they don't wanna be,
  Locked up in physical hiding in vanity,
  Us and them, divisions, human insanity.

  So if you never knew you never knew then maybe you'll never,
  But never's a long time and you can't hide forever,
  So pick up your sword of life and restore your Ki and health,
  By cutting through your own mind and body, revealing your true self.

  Revealing your ai, revealing your Ki, 
  Revealing your oneness, reveal and see,
  Spirit guides physical abides,
  From the moment where all resides,
  Aikido the sea of life and it's tides, 
  No mind, now we see where ego hides.

  Peace.G.]]></body>
	<date>07-08-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4553">
	<title><![CDATA[Standing]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Standing on the floating bridge like a baby in a cot,
  Standing on the floating bridge, know when I am and when I'm not,
  Watching others search for it's meaning so they read, go back to the start,
  Alas, the floating bridge can't be seen by mind but only by the heart.

  Whoever stands in hara, Aikido attitude, acting in the moment, now,
  Also stands there with me to them I take a bow,
  Standing on the floating bridge the motion flows through like perfection,
  Standing on the floating bridge in a space of loving protection.

  Standing on the floating bridge, all is a flow, there is no ridge,
  Standing on the floating bridge, all is alive, no mind baggage, 
  No enemy inside or outside or ever,
  No separation, oneness, forever.

  Standing on the floating bridge there is no against, how could there be?
  There is no two, only one and zero, timeless, no you, no me, we.
  Dynamic yet flowing, Aikido growing, moving throwing, taking off, landing,
  Joy manifested with life force invested, from the centre of centre..............

  Standing.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>07-02-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4546">
	<title><![CDATA[Calling....]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Tomorrow I'm meeting my past, should be fun,
  Tomorrow, old timers reunited as one,
  Tomorrow, who knows? Today it's a mystery,
  The following day it will then be just history.

  Tomorrow the student returns to the fold,
  Memories awaiting, new stories untold,
  Tomorrow don't exist now but tomorrow it will,
  My old teacher is calling, still there, still.

  I feel the sun shining and the moon all serene, 
  I feel a certain inner glow, like a timeless dream,
  I feel a move in the heavens and the turn of the earth, 
  Tomorrow I return to the place of my Aikido birth. 

  Tomorrow.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>06-22-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4532">
	<title><![CDATA[Kannagara]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Not gonna tell you about no new religion,
 Not gonna tell you about no cultish schism,
 Not gonna tell about no Bodhidharma,
 I'm talking  Aikido........, Kannagara.

 It's not religion but would make them better,
 It's not the word but it is the main letter,
 It's not a trend but the original trend setter,
 It's been forgotten, are you a forgetter?

 It should exist in all known religion,
 Because its all about universalism,
 All embrasive basis of the spiritual,
 It comes before all rites and ritual.

 The best results come from being with divinity,
 True love, true power, gifts of the infinity,
 Food of the heart food of the soul food of spirit and natural flow,
 So are you eating, are you feeding, creating healthy Aikido......

  Peace.G.]]></body>
	<date>06-07-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4519">
	<title><![CDATA[Capacity, space and flow.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Aikido's a capacity, a space and a flow,
  All thoughts of physical don't exist, so let go;
  Within, without, is one no doubt,
  Silent and quiet, the light shines out.

  Capacity, nothingness, in which to stand,
  From which comes faith, the only hand,
  Which holds within it both space and time,
  And harmonizes as is Gods plan.

  The space, the love joins in and Kokyu is born,
  Devoid of hatred, intention, control or scorn,
  The heavens opening, the heavens gate,
  Pass through, learn kokyu before it's too late.

  And let the polished spirit, the kindness flow,
  Interfere not for it knows where to go,
  8 directions, five circles, enjoy the ride,
  No need to escape or run or fight or even hide.

  And all returns to peace,
  The enemy healed and now released,
  Injured bird healed and now set free,
  The way of Aikido, are you ready?

  G]]></body>
	<date>05-22-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4510">
	<title><![CDATA[They Come...]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[They come I move, they stop I move,
  They fight I move, I have nothing to prove,
  
  I turn they turn, I turn they follow,
  No internal, no external, for all is hollow,

  "How so?" they shout, "What tricks do you know?"
   No tricks, life turns, a natural flow,

  They come again grabbing, say my arm is like steel,
  But there is no arm, it's just calmness they feel,

  So they try intention to disrupt my center,
  I remain untroubled for they're free to enter,

  Then one pushes and strains, till it's bad for his health,
  I look with compassion asking "why do you push yourself?"

  Confused yet astounded they ask "Aikido? Is this it?"
  I smile, they leave, I turn, I sit. 

  G.]]></body>
	<date>05-10-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4504">
	<title><![CDATA[Be Graceful]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[The sound of silence brings a peace of mind,
 The sound of stillness leaves all thoughts behind,
 The sound of serenity opens up the space,
 The sound of tranquility, a noble place.

 Life and Ki flow all powerful yet harmless,
 The sound of life and self, the sound of calmness,
 Voices raised against the truth are charmless,
 And fade away into the void....karma...bless.

 As mother nature shows the joys of life,
 As heaven opens showing how to end strife,
 As Saints and Buddhas smile the universe shakes,
 As the sleeping nature stirs and all awakes.

 The sword appears and brings a moving peace,
 The holy staff spins and all joys increase,
 The bowl appears and it reflects God's will,
 The fan removes the clouds, a breath of heavens mill.

 Fudoshin, immovable yet mobile pierces time,
 Mushin from the void to heaven, bright, devine,
 Senshin, Zanshin, meeting, embracing all as one,
 Shoshin, center, inside is outside, the circle has won. 

 G.]]></body>
	<date>05-05-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4491">
	<title><![CDATA[Mother Aikido]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[In the Martial Arts world people look to and admire each other,
 The world of fighting arts where all compete as brother to brother,
 Through testing and besting, losing, improving all done under one cover,
 They're all martial arts for sisters and brothers but Aikido is the Mother.

 From the Aikido did the rest form,
 From Aikido were those babies born,
 From Aikido all martial arts sprang,
 And sibling rivalries' where competition all began.

 So recently O'Sensei realized and he brought back the way,
 He brought back the Mother for the children had all gone astray,
 Many came home from where they were and like naughty kids began to play,
 But met with patience for Mother knew, in time, they'd understand one day.

 Meanwhile some still resist and try to make it what it's not,
 Some try to understand and those who do learn quite a lot,
 Beyond the trips and traps of physical thinking, like one great plot,
 Designed to capture you, to lose yourself and be what you're not.

 Lies Aikido, the realm of free spirit and soul and heart,
 Invincible yet not of controlling, opposing or stop and start,
 Unholding, unlabelled, unclosed, an open gracious art,
 From which the universe began, oneness, all parts yet one part.

 So feel the stillness from center, let no uneasiness enter or distract you,
 Then from the center line view through calmness, you'll find what to do,
 And from your hara embrace from now and feel love pouring through,
 The breath of life enters yet expands through the universe too.

 And Koshi opens to the void while soul awakens born of humility,
 Instability, servility, inability vanish now there's just tranquility,
 So heart and soul grows, Ki flows, the blue stillness heals and all goes,
 Spirit smiles at all the egos who want to know what Aikido itself knows.

 But like a Mother it just comforts it's offspring,
 Provides itself as a home to return to when they're suffering,
 "I'm always here" she says, and puts the children to bed,
 Confident that one day they will hear what she has said.

   G.]]></body>
	<date>04-25-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4484">
	<title><![CDATA[Awakening.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[The wind through the valleys and the hills blows free,
  Free as a bird as the spirit in me,
  The light shines through the darkness and reaches,
  Illuminating all you need to learn and thus teaches;

  All perfect, all there, coloured by fear and mind emotions,
  Removed by compassion all clears revealing life's oceans,
  As life dances and flows and in it that same light glistens,
  Can you hear the sound of innocence, shhhhhh listen.

  Calmness awakes, the earth quakes, negativity runs for the hills,
  The breath of infinite out and intakes as chaos sinks and stills,
  And through the void and the gateless gate the golden light reveals,
  Kiatsu in form, Aikido, the cure for all mans ills..........Shhhhhhhhhhh.

  G]]></body>
	<date>04-14-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4474">
	<title><![CDATA[Beyond the sounds of the Kotadama]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Beyond the sounds lies the end of all fight,
  Beyond the sounds is not sound but pure light,
  Beyond the sounds is the end of all violence, 
  Beyond the sounds is the sound of silence.

  As yesterday I heard the sound of 'u' (ooh)
  The void, the place of no thought and no you,
  But from nothingness something became true, 
  As truth was revealed as the light shone through.

  As yesterday I heard the sound of 'o'
  Time seemed to stop and I froze, temporarily though,
  As all manifested in form like a glow,
  Time disappeared and yet now remained so.

  As yesterday I heard the sound of  ah,
  All was near no matter how far,
  All was embraced and all understood,
  All was o.k. in fact all was good.

  As yesterday I heard the sound of 'i' (ee)
  Through space and clearness I could now see,
  Spirit awakened and joined in with me,
  Spirit in joy was immaculate and free.

  Then as I floated beyond and above,
  The whole universe became the universe of love,
  No sounds, quiet motion, calm flow and still center,
  Both inside and outside allowed peace to enter.

  The birds started singing, the clouds cried with joy,
  The seas and the oceans at one became free,
  The heavenly gates released holiness to employ,
  True essence, true nature, true harmony, Aiki.

   G.]]></body>
	<date>04-03-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4465">
	<title><![CDATA[The Path of Peace]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Peace is an energy, both active and real,
  Manifest in Kokyu Ho, acknowledging Gods will.
  War is but illusion, a trick of the mind,
  Sore is the confusion, unbudo, unkind.

  As stillness races forward in the flow of divinity,
  As shihonage forms from the symbol of infinity,
  The two cuts of the sword, the sword that restores health,
  The true sword, invincible, undisturbing cuts self.

  And all turns to quiet as faith is returned,
  All of the binary code, basics relearned,
  For I am nothing and I am one, the empty cup reflects us,
  The selfless path of Aikido, the path of peace disects us.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>03-23-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4444">
	<title><![CDATA[Sen no Budo.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[People ask me is Aikido about sensitivity.
  I say 'obviously' for it contains no negativity;
  For that has one purpose, the purpose to negate,
  But Ki is infinite so negativity must infinitely wait.

  Some people ask me is Aikido a budo art, 
  I say 'which budo? and send them back to the start;
  The budo of war of games and strategy, chess, monopoly or ludo?
  Why no of course not it's the one of truth, it's called sen no budo.

  Some people ask me if it's to do with control thus for control freaks, 
  They point out it has within it a certain set of control techniques:
  That illusion being is what they are seeing thus unbeknown live with dischord, 
  For those control techniques are merely the motions of a sword.

  So then they ask is Aikido thus the art of slicing and dicing, with cutting and flows?
  The way of the Samurai, to be brave and stand up to all enemies and foes!
  Alas no I say for bravery is hollow but courage is full of the spice of life,
  The sword makes an empty bowl of faith in turn which heals all life.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>03-01-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4437">
	<title><![CDATA[Here in Aikido]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Here in Aikido, there is no time,
  There is here and now, there is the divine,
  Here in Aikido there is no power,
  There is only comfort, the effortless flower.

  Here in Aikido there is no control,
  Just blending and mending the heart and the soul,
  Here in Aikido the spirit is free,
  No enemy, no contest, you the universe and me.

  Here in Aikido where nothing is taken,
  We give and receive and we slowly awaken,
  Here in Aikido Samurai and Budo converge,
  The heart of the Samurai, to love and to serve.

   G.]]></body>
	<date>02-20-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4414">
	<title><![CDATA[True Martial Art]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Aikido, the true martial art;
  Aikido, the way of the heart,
  Aikido, the sword and the bowl,
  Aikdo, not just heart but also soul.

  Aikido, where stillness replaces mind,
  Aikido, where timelessness becomes time,
  Aikido, where martial becomes clear,
  No matter the illusion, there's only the now and here.

  Aikido, the spirit and the faith,
  Aikido, the motion without trace,
  Aikido, the calm, the peace, the quiet,
  No violence, no fight, no control, the way of war? don't buy it.

  Aikido, universal and eternal,
  Aikido, there is no internal,
  Aikido, the art of true veracity,
  Aikido, just three truths, space, center, capacity.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>02-03-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4400">
	<title><![CDATA[Grass Grows]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Life itself enters here from the now of Kokyu,
  Joins center as Hara, a manifestation we call Kokyu Ryoku.
  Divine workings of the in and out flow of heart and the soul,
  Of love and goodness breathing, thus we can learn and grow.

  From heavenly Kokyu comes a gift, the sword of life,
  The sword of Aikido, shining kindness, the golden knife,
  Forever cutting through the darkness, that thing called fear,
  For other arts may use that sword of death, it's not welcome here.

  The spirit smiles realizing Aikido is based on love,
  No longer gripped by fear but supported by this heavenly glove,
  And given a second gift of wisdom, the Aikido spear,
  To pierce and shatter that road of ignorance!!! Ahh, stillness and humility appear.

  So breath with spirit, breath out love that you may breath in care,
  Breath in here and now, let go of the past for it's not even there,
  That the spirit of joy formed of Hara may give you another gift, the Jo,
  And in non disturbance feel the vitality of oneness the blending the flow.

  Then finally realize we can sit in humility, centered in love, and living in faith,
  With heavenly presence allowing life's essence to live, with goodness our base.
  And when others from fear and doubt and worry says he's an expert and that that he knows,
  Stay martial in spirit with nature and remember one thing only......Grass Grows!

  G.]]></body>
	<date>01-19-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4395">
	<title><![CDATA[The Way Of Enlightenment, Shhhhhh.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[The truth of Aikido, priciples creating a path,
  First you try then you apply then yoy relax and laugh;
  No wasted energy, no interfering mind,
  No more false views to follow, no more being blind.

  And as you smile and sit whilst your body is standing,
  'Attacked' by enemies all about,
  They come for the lessons you're handing out,
  They take them away like a puzzle to solve,
  You smile and watch their delusions dissolve,
  So every time they lost they won, 
  For they left with some light and heavenly sun.

  For we are manifestations from now yet we meet here,
  Thus we enter the center to learn understanding so that all may be clear,
  Then when we make it we find at the center theres peace, silence! but no fear,
  What's this? Love and goodness join you, and now becomes here.

  Then you find they are active and in comes life and you feel the flow,
  Your spirit awakens and with faith sees clearly what to do and where to go;
  The heavens surround you here on earth breathing, space, and kokyo,
  Just you, God, and life, in harmony, wow where did the mind go???

   No more intention, or even desire and not even any starts,
   No begiinings or ends but only the blending and of joining with everyones hearts,
   Ans the motion of grace non disturbing, divine, a universal dance,
   Where all souls join as one! soul brothers and sisters, divine motion yet one stance.

   And therein lies the lessen of Aikido, completion!!! that's the message to send,
   Foe all are trying to reach completion yet they think that's the end:
   But it's merely the point where all is aligned, so now now you know, 
   This isn't an end it's just the beginning of the birth of truth, an infinite flow.

   Silence!!!]]></body>
	<date>01-13-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4388">
	<title><![CDATA[Standing on the floating bridge.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I stand in the center, facing my foes,
  I stand at the gateless gate, where heaven and earth flows;
  I stand in the center, sounds of the mountain echo cease,
  Only heavenly love and earthly peace.

  They look for an opening but none can appear,
  For I'm already open and all remains clear;
  Motion in stillness without and within,
  No self protection just pure welcoming.

  They seek to attack, plans and strategies, depending,
  They know their plans and they know their desired ending;
  But they can't seem to find me, for I'm winning without winning,
  I'm center, not the middle or end, but the infinite beginning.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>01-01-2012</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4385">
	<title><![CDATA[SPIRAL]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Some people enter the spiral of violence,
  They call it self defence or the opposite of silence;
  Some people enter a whirwind romance, 
  Like a leaf dancing happily but but no base, no stance.

  Some people enter the spiral of hate, 
  Revenge and destruction and that is their fate; 
  Some people see the spiral as power,
  But it's just the vessel, the path, sweet or sour?

  Some people talk about spirals of in yo ho,
  But do they know why spirals appear and then they go?
  Some spirals relate to a harmonious flow, 
  Some spirals don't alas and that's not the way to go.

  And when you're at peace, a state of ultimate humility,
  The spiral of peace reaches out, true strength, our own servility,
  Bereft of fear yet all is clear and one plus one is one,
  No fight, no enemies far or near, Aikido you've become.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>12-14-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4361">
	<title><![CDATA[The sword of life, the healing sword.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Recently it was explained to me,
  The healing sword, out quite logically, 
  Alas, pure logic, devoid of feeling, 
  Cannot see the truth of healing.

  But so be it, if it fits, that;s nice, 
  So stay with that view was my advice,
  But meanwhile I'll open the door to way, 
  Of the healing sword borne of the healing way.

  So let's get inspecting, let's add some refinement, 
  To heal needs a quality and that is realignment, 
  Back to what was or even better, 
  The sword that does this, anew trend setter.

  The sword that rehabilitates, returning what's been lost,
  The sword that heals not the sword that costs,
  And in this brief glimpse and minor exploration, 
  May you see the swords goal which is Restoration.

  With it's edge so sharp it gives sight to the blindness, 
  The edge is made up of pure spirit of kindness,
  And the heart and the soul both contained there within,
  The solution that cuts through and everyone wins.

  And like that sword we could go on to the jo,
  What is it's purpose and what's it's true flow?
  A weapon? a tool? ha, ha, spiritually a toy,
  Borne of spirit once again, the spirit of joy.  

  The earth and the heavens, the stars and the sun,
  The true nature of it all thus Aikido is fun,
  So pick up your true sword and jo and join in, 
  Aikidos an experience felt without and within.

  Regards.G.]]></body>
	<date>11-24-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4360">
	<title><![CDATA[In or Out?]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[One out, all out, this is the spiritual shout,
  Let me introduce you to what I'm taliking about,
  One out, all out, All for one, one for all;
  Organic, organisms, organize, oneness is natural.

  One out , all out, peace is completeness,
  What can defeat this? Fighters are defeatist,
  Warrior spirit, at home in serenity,
  Empty of emnity, no sympathy, pure empathy.

  When one point is in, then so is Ki flowing,
  So is weight underside, relaxing and knowing,
  When one is out so are all, nothing left but a wall,
  One in all in, then there is no wall at all.

  So one out, all out, do you have your centre?
  Because without all stays out for nothing good can enter,
  Kokyu is the breath of life that leads to co-existence,
  No control, no domination, Gods breath, divine  consistence..

  No Kokyu, no divine breath, no space below or above,
  No kokyu, heaven, no universal love.
  No center line, no goodness, no axis around which things turn,
  Thus no neutral, no warmness, only freezing or burn.

  So one in all in, that's the spiritual calling,
  Aikido the art of building, not the art of falling,
  And one out, all out, that's the spiritual warning,
  Is it a dark day ahead for you or is a new day dawning?

  G.]]></body>
	<date>11-22-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4338">
	<title><![CDATA[Fear of Life]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I used to think people were afraid of death;
  They would fight their enemies till the very last breath,
  They would learn to face weapons from the sword to the knife;
  Then I realized actually they were afraid of life.

  Afraid of humility so they translate it as weak;
  Afraid of compassion so they critically speak,
  Afraid to admit that they can live without fear;
  Afraid to accept why Aikido is here.

  If there are no enemies that means we all are just friends,
  But how many see this? Or hide behind 'it depends'.
  How many have seen Aikido's truth in resplendence?
  How many know it's a gradual path of transcendence?

  Afraid to look many cling to the past;
  Ideas of self defence guide them like a ships mast,
  But that wind has one direction and it's continually blowing;
  It takes you backwards so you end up less knowing.

  Defending the indefensible, they they talk about Aikido in a fight;
  Not even sensing that's insensible yet it's hidden in plain sight,
  Thinking that against greater strength Aikido helps you escape;
  Thus the truth is missiing thus they are yet to awake.

  Aikido, a path of harmony following truth that are always there;
  Truths don't fight or clash or fear but bring about life to share,
  Expressed through a martial art, that's new and quite unique I say;
  Thus it brings about a whole zen koan, for you to work out one day. 

   Peace.G.]]></body>
	<date>10-25-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4332">
	<title><![CDATA[Five Spirits of Budo]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I'm gonna start with the mind of Shoshin;
  Principles to learn and to live and even wash in,
  Beginners mind like a sponge with a light inside it;
  Every barrier you come to love it and ride it.

  Then while you practice and improve towards ability;
  Shugyo your catchphrase? well it should include servility,
  Always aware of all that is in your vicinity;
  For Zanshin is the start of all divinity.

  Plenty to do and learn to develop both states of mind;
  Plenty of gains to earn as you search and seek and find,
  Before you relax, let go and enter the void;
  Where new gains and new rules are yet to be employed.

  The state of no mind, nothing yet not nothing at all;
  The state of stillness yet yet stuckness don't exist at all,
  Mushin, where courageous live but brave must fall;
  Where you have nothing yet in truth you have it all.

  Now you can pick up your sword and truly begin;
  Learn the ways of focus whilst maintaining still Zanshin,
  Learn the ways of bright clearness yet leaving no opening;
  Not a mind that can't move but one that doesn't: Fudoshin. 

  Then the clouds evaporate and out and in are blending;
  Any forces come your way you borrow as they're for lending,
  You, the universe, nature, sharing all as one breath breathing,
  Senshin!!!

   I'm done, I'm leaving.......

   G.]]></body>
	<date>10-20-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4327">
	<title><![CDATA[Spirit of Aikido]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Do you know that for every part of  Aikido there's a spiritual side?
  Do you know it, use it and grow it or do you spiritually hide?
  Do you know the sword, jo and spear that you see as effective deterrent,
  Have their spiritual sword jo and spear in you so theyre actually inherent.

  Do you know for every technique their's a spiritual one on which it is based?
  Do you know the physical is just a reflection of what you think you've erased?
  Do you know the physical principle of ma-ai has a spiritual one that actually invincible?
  Do you know you have mental and physical but primarily spiritual is the principal principle?

  Do you know or do you just think, do physical training then go for a drink?
  Do you know or do you surmise, intellectualize, yet still can't see the link?
  Do you know that Aikido is universal so all your answers inside it reside?
  Do you know that without spirit Aikido would have already died?

   So when you practice you should ask yourself are you doing it from the right spiritual place?
   Physically you have the walls around you but universal love is the spiritual space.
   And did you know everything has an axis around which everything turns?
   And thus centre line must be understood spiritually if indeed you truly want to learn.

   So do you know or do you have 'knowledge', a poor substitute I must say,
   For when knowing meets understanding then you may throw all knowledge away.
   And when truth like the element of metal gets real, no longer a philosophic saying,
   Then you will know and live Aikidos truth and the physical is just something to play in.

    G.]]></body>
	<date>10-13-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4324">
	<title><![CDATA[The DO of AI-KI-DO]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[What is Aikido? Or what is it to me?
  When I look at it then what is it I see?
  A heavenly creation, a heavenly gift,
  Where all martial arts combine, joined in a time shift.

  And in all techniques I see abundantly clear,
  Manifestations of the sword, the jo, the spear.
  Those timeless principles, yes they were always here;
  They are so hard to see because they are so near.

  Techniques though are but part of one gigantic ocean,
  Spontaneous results of divine ai-ki motion;
  And those motions cover all  geometry and all directions,
  And then I realize that they are in essence faiths reflections.

  The eye of hara sees as it looks through compassion,
  That there's more to this art than merely following fashion;
  The selfless self enters and joins with the spirit and the soul,
  The elements align and heaven and earth become whole.

   The yin of kokyu, the yang of koshi expand from centre,
   And all are one so there's nothing to escape or even to enter;
   Pure self, pure heart, pure mind, pure spirit, complete non-   resistance,
   True nature in stillness, in motion, the art of co-existence. 

  And as I look at it more my whole being begins to laugh,
  I see inherent in it, itself reveals a path;
  The path's a circle yet it's straight and bright and clear,
  The end is masakatsu and agatsu, the beginning is right here.
 
  G.]]></body>
	<date>10-10-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4319">
	<title><![CDATA[The Way OF the Sword]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I love the way of the sword because it's so unique,
  The only way to lose yourself is to focus on technique;
  A samurai sword, many folds, balanced, universal admiration,
  A deadly weapon? A work of art? From a divine inspiration.

  Is it meant for defence or attack? What is it really meant to do?
  Is your sword a weapon of peace? Is your sword part of you?
  It defends only one thing in truth, and that is your centre line;
  The axis around which everything turns, the connection or spirit ,body and mind.

  And in attack it doesn't chop, block or parry, or even thrust like a spear,
 It does one thing only and that is cut and when you know that you will finally hear;
 For the true cut is through the universe not through person or physical thing,
 Only when you achieve this will you hear the sound of silence begin to sing.

  A discipline, a focus, where the end and beginning are one,
  A timeless motion without question, execute, done;
  Non violent, non resistive, a healing tool of the Lord,
  And if you interfere not but align, one cut and all is restored.

  So how could such a thing teach you focus and such a state of pure calmness?
  And make you face up to all of your fears and even find the truth of harmless?
  And clear the path of ignorance, self doubt, arrogance and reveal such a prize, a forgotten goal,
  Because through all that training may you one day find the truth of the sword, you own soul.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>10-01-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4314">
	<title><![CDATA[Quality.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[I've been through highs I've been through lows,
  I've been to the places where everyone goes;
  Is Aikido life? Giving you painful techniques and throws,
  Subtly teaching you with it's ikkyos and nikkyos?

  When it seems all is lost and you feel it's all too much,
  When peoples advice sounds to you double dutch;
  Maybe all seems against you, hopeless and dark,
  Remember there is one thing, you, a light, a spark.

  And what is that spark? For it is not a quantity,
  For you are not a thing my friend you are a quality;
  When things look too much it appears quantity rules;
  It's only belief in such make us blind and as fools.

  For five and five or three and seven may indeed equal ten,
  Until you get the eye of zen and then look again;
  For then all is just one,  more than that is a number,
  And one is a quality which no quantity can asunder.

  And quality my friends transcends both time and space,
  One quality sword cut is worth a thousand misplaced;
  You may have had a thousand flings but there's only one quality wife,
   You may try a thousand things but there's one quality life.

   So if I may be so bold and use someone else's phrase,
   Quality gives you correct feeling, quantity leaves you in a daze;
   So always remember no matter where or what you do,
   Quality transcends all and that quality is you.

  Peace.G.]]></body>
	<date>09-28-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4312">
	<title><![CDATA[Universal]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Love is all embracing, love is kokyu, life's breath,
  That joins with the universe and puts my soul at rest;
  As I stand in the void, the true place of all birth,
  Aikido becomes kokyu joining heaven and earth.

  And though my soul's in stillness my spirit opens a path,
  Of a thousand Buddhas pointing to 'you can be free at last';
  Yet this spirit as Ki illuminates and suddenly I see,
  Revealed the truth unhidden but residing in you and me.

  Now together uniting there is borne the true Aiki,
  Ingested, manifested, like the blossom of the cherry tree;
  And from infinite capacity to the infinity of my space,
  Everything manifesting in a circle and that circle is pure faith.

  One true source shows through goodness and I see everybody's         sentience,
   Whilst Hara fills with compassion revealing the centres entrance;
  Through which lies a bridge, on which what do I see?
  Someone looking at me smiling and that somebody is me.

  I am holding kokyu as a fan and also faith as a bowl,
  Then flashing stillness as a spear and Hara turns into a jo;
  And spirit becomes a sword cutting through the universe and all is revealed,
  Silence, no more doubts or confusions, the way of peace, healed.

  G.]]></body>
	<date>09-23-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4309">
	<title><![CDATA[The power of one.]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Just got back from training, back from having fun,
  But you can only have fun when you train as one;
  The power of one where there's no separation,
  Oneness and completion, it's all one vibration.

  There is no two, no me and you, 
  No let's see now what should I do;
  No rehearses and no versus,
  No separate universes.

  Just disciplined interaction,
  Nothing missing, no distraction;
  No opposites, they have no meaning,
  Just freedom, such a good feeling.

  G..]]></body>
	<date>09-21-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4305">
	<title><![CDATA[Japanese Matsuri]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Just returned from a Japan Matsuri,
  Like I've been home, a certain vibe runs through me;
  Ikebana, Kendo and Taiko;
  Aikido, Judo, Karate, It's all my flow.

  My chance to donate, like a personal pilgrimage,
  A chance to give and give some more, 
  And come away with cherished image;

  Japan, physically far away yet today it felt so near;
  So glad that though I couldn't go there a part of it came here;
  For some it is another place, the land of the rising sun,
  For me it's just a reminder that in truth we are all one.

  Regards.G.]]></body>
	<date>09-18-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4299">
	<title><![CDATA[Heaven and Earth]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[When I'm talking balance I'm talking centre,
  A place where all can leave and all can enter;
  And after much trial and error all one rehearsal,
  To feel the in and out breath of the universal.

  So much talk about moving weight or being weightless,
  But wait, centre is the gate that is actually gateless;
  There's no insistence, resistance or intent to flow,
  There's only courage and the faith of truly letting go.

  For then the gravity, earth energy, doesn't dissipate,
  For with you in harmony it just becomes the weightless weight;
  And all the energy of heaven brings with it a sense of clarity,
  As heaven and earth join as one removing all disparity.

  No internal, no external, for that's been transcended,
  No superman, no strategic plan, nothings started or ended;
  No winning or losing which to some is confusing, it's never ending;
  The Tenchi infinity, pure in it's divinty, Aikido, the Art of blending.

  Bless.G.]]></body>
	<date>09-11-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4295">
	<title><![CDATA[Spirit of Loving Protection]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[If you train with the spirit of loving protection,
  You're Aikido takes on brand new direction;
  Focus increases and discipline too,
  Cos you realize eventually it's not about you.

  Self defence is very good for the selfish,
  Yet do they know what the truth of the self is?
  Searching for power to make them feel safe,
  An illusion, a deception, but an alluring place.

  True spirit expressed through the spear and the knife,
  Through the Jo of the Hara, through the Sword that gives life:
  Through the warrior spirit, filled with humble politeness,
  Where the selfless self replaces wrongness and rightness.

  I ain't a preacher or a monk or a llama
  I'm just in tune with the sound of kotodama,
  And the spirit of universal loving protection,
  It's all around us in all eight directions.

  Peace.G.]]></body>
	<date>09-06-2011</date>
</blogEntry>

<blogEntry id="4292">
	<title><![CDATA[Timeless]]></title>
	<body><![CDATA[Aikido is an art like a book that's page-less,
 Spiritually zen like, modern? no, ageless,
 It's Infinite so it has no ceiling,
 Forever revealing, restoring and healing.

 Some say the techniques were there for the stealing,
 But such is ego for it has no true feeling;
 For with feeling and dedication you will understand,
 Thus the truth passes to you, shared from hand to hand.

  For all old Masters were offering, but who could see,
  The blind had to steal but what they stole was empty;
  When I hear such voices I hear no poetry, it's rhyme-less,
  So I return to my centre, moving stillness, timeless.]]></body>
	<date>08-30-2011</date>
</blogEntry>


</blogEntries>