Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
Greetings All,
I have raised questions in the past about the various schools of Aikido and the different affiliating Aikido organizations. The question that I have is which Aikido Organization has the greatest focus on Spiritual Content as a part of their recommended AIkido training? |
It's not in the branches :-)
Rather than "branch" I would say routs. Aikido's spiritualism is in its routs.
From the little I saw here and there, it is the Sensei who would emphasize spirituality, not he organization. As well as I know, the amount of spiritual teaching is not something that is decided by any particular aikido organization. |
Re: It's not in the branches :-)
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To start with Shodokan Aikido - spirituality low. That said my teacher for a time taught at Ueshiba's old Omoto-kyo dojo and the Kamiza at Shodokan honbu is blessed by Omoto-kyo priests once a year. Just that Aikido practice is primarily technical and any lectures reflect that. Shodokan Aikido |
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I like Kanshu Sunadomari's statement that aikido practice itself can be thought of as a spiritual exercise. Again I don't believe that it is necessarily so for everyone, but I think I understand what Sunadomari Sensei means. Alex |
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By the by - the way you describe rei is exactly how I do. Its use has the added effect to prepare yourself for what is to come. It certainly does not fall into the technical realm of Aikido. |
Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
I don't think anything can be presumed about the mindset or intent of someone performing rei. Perhaps they're just thinking, "Oh, my ankle hurts," or "I wonder what's for dinner?" In this, as in all things, the world of sposed-to is immaterial.
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If all I thought about was "lunch" (guilty of that too) then my answer would be low spirituality. With respect to rei - the demonstration of respect is spiritual - again not necessarily religious. My bar for spirituality is probably far lower than yours but I do consider the mental aspect of what we due to be spiritual as opposed to the technical. |
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This is much like the weird thing that I have noticed over the years about my obi. Something about my missing class (and this is happening a lot lately due to lack of time and chronic vertigo) makes my belt shrink. Stupid belt. |
Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
How do you define spiritual content? Meditation? Chanting? Scheduled lectures? In terms of technical emphasis within the techniques?
There are aikido teachers who are ordained priests. There are aikido teachers with extensive academic credentials in eastern religions, philosophy, and related fields. There are dojos with Buddhist and/or Shinto altars on the premises. There are dojos that schedule meditation retreats, and there are dojos that schedule rock climbing trips. What are you looking for? Katherine |
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Its kind of annoying how widely interpreted "spirit" is. We should add some works to delineate...would prevent a few arguments.
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Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
Perhaps in these terms, - the "point" of Aikido, Aikido gives people the capacity to take down an attacker without hurting them, why? Because it relates to holiness and the ideal that its offensive to the Creator or the First Cause of the universe to kill and or hurt and maim people. Aikido teaches us to live our lives in such a way as to gain the favour of the Creator. How do we reach the Creator, chants, meditation, prayer etc. Ki, the point of Ki Energy perhaps the ideal that its meant to heal people spiritually and physically? This would be the start of the information I would be expecting from a spiritual branch of Aikido.
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Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
My feeling has always been that aikido is as spiritual as you make it. I think it's a mistake to go looking for "spiritual" aikido training because there's no guarantee you're going to find someone whose idea of spirituality matches your own, and because there's nothing about aikido training in and of itself that qualifies someone as a spiritual instructor. Better to decide what kind of spirituality you want in your own life and then bring it to aikido with you.
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Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
This definition would include all branches of Aikido.
From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirituality Definition[edit] There is no single, widely-agreed definition of spirituality.[1][2][note 1] Social scientists have defined spirituality as the search for the sacred, for that which is set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration, "a transcendent dimension within human experience...discovered in moments in which the individual questions the meaning of personal existence and attempts to place the self within a broader ontological context."[8] According to Waaijman, the traditional meaning of spirituality is a process of re-formation which "aims to recover the original shape of man, the image of God. To accomplish this, the re-formation is oriented at a mold, which represents the original shape: in Judaism the Torah, in Christianity Christ, in Buddhism Buddha, in the Islam Muhammad."[note 2] In modern times spirituality has come to mean the internal experience of the individual. It still denotes a process of transformation, but in a context separate from organized religious institutions: "spiritual but not religious."[5] Houtman and Aupers suggest that modern spirituality is a blend of humanistic psychology, mystical and esoteric traditions and eastern religions.[6] Waaijman points out that "spirituality" is only one term of a range of words which denote the praxis of spirituality.[10] Some other terms are "Hasidism, contemplation, kabbala, asceticism, mysticism, perfection, devotion and piety".[10] Spirituality can be sought not only through traditional organized religions, but also through movements such as liberalism, feminist theology, and green politics. Spirituality is also now associated with mental health, managing substance abuse, marital functioning, parenting, and coping. It has been suggested that spirituality also leads to finding purpose and meaning in life.[3] dps |
Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
After looking at several (about 90) techniques demonstrations, it seems to me the only difference between the old jujitsu I learned and aikido, is the spiritual aspect.
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Katherine |
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I think that aikido and spirituality go hand in hand. When O'Sensei developed aikido many believe he did so based on the teachings of the Omoto religion. Outside of that basic foundation I think that we all interpret our training in different ways that are spiritual to us.
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Re: Which branch of Aikido emphasizes Spirituality?
To my humble knowledge it is Sunadomari sensei's Manseikan Aikido organization that still has some connection with the Ōmoto religion.
I have read an interesting comment from G. Ledyard sensei here on Aikiweb, in which he states he once had asked Mitsugi sensei who, among Osensei's disciples tried to understand the Founder "from his own reference points." (Osensei was said to have always talked from a spiritual perspective) Three names came up, namely Abe Seiseki, Kanshū Sunadomari and Michio Hikitsuchi. I guess doing a research on these teacher's work and their Aikidō might give you some clues as to where you could find "more spirituality" among the various Aikidō schools today. You might also be interested in Koichi Barrish sensei's work, he is also operating and is the grand priest of an authentic shintō shrine in the US, which sounds quite spiritual to me. It goes by the name of Tsubaki grand shrine, if I'm not mistaken. |
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