Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

New blog post!

"Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3"

Enjoy!

Chris

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

Hello Chris,

It is very good that you are translating this lecture. Have you come across a book published in 2008 by Serge Mol? The title is Invisible Armor: An Introduction to the Esoteric Dimension of Japan's Classical Warrior Arts and he deals with many of the Mikkyou concepts discussed by Tada Shihan.

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

I've seen it, but I've never read it. Do you recommend it? I don't know much about Serge Mol except what I read here.

Best,

Chris

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

I have mixed feelings about his two earlier books and I am not really in a position to recommend this one. I received it only recently, but a superficial reading offers a basis for relating what Tada Shihan discusses about Mikkyou to Morihei Ueshiba's own training.

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

Wow! I was happy to see thee previous parts of this interview being published, but now I am ecstatic. Thanks!
I think this is one of the best aikido lectures I have read-- the ones from the founder being usually my favorite. But, this one is much more explicit than those, regarding what a student should research to really start to understand. It is also consistent with some other stuff I've been researching (see below).

Since Tada Sensei brought up Buddhism, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this.
I think it is really helpful especially from the point of view of the sentiment described in the lecture: that is, all religions being expressions of a single source, and Buddhism being central to the techniques of spiritual training in Japan. (Meaning this book may be directly applicable to an aikidoka's spiritual explorations.)

I am still trying to read it, but specifically, this book has two things of particular interest here: 1) the intro, describing the Buddha's own training and development of his understanding - very interesting when compared to this lecture and O-sensei's; 2) description of meditation techniques used and recommended by the Buddha - Dhyana is treated in great detail (spelled Jhana since the book uses Pali not Sanskrit) as being a tool for realizing one's unity with the universe. The point of entry for a beginner is also explicitly described as a breath-based meditation technique.

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

I haven't read it yet, but I had trouble getting to the link, there was an extra <br> tag on the end - try:

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/a...ngs/index.html

Anyway, glad that you enjoyed it, I guess that means that I'm in the ecstasy business. :)

Best,

Chris

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

As usual, sounds like yet another case of either "we already do that" or "that's not aikido" depending on who you ask!
Thanks for the link update.

Re: Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Tada - the Yachimata Lecture, Part 3
 

And now - Part 3 is available in Romanian, courtesy of Aikido Jurnal. The original version in English is available here.

Best,

Chris