Today's Doka
 

The sun, the moon and the earth
All have become Aiki.
Standing on this bridge,
The great expanse of the sea is
The Way of the Mountain Echo.
- Morihei Ueshiba

This doka was posted here more than once recently. So, just to kill time, instead of doing what I should be . . .

Sun (Yo +)
Moon (In -)
Earth (Man =)
Have all become Aiki (Balanced)
Standing on this bridge (by this means)
The great expanse of the sea is (everything is)
The Way of the Mountain Echo (reflected effortlessly, fully, perfectly and without delay, and or disruption (unbalancing)

Okay, back to what I should be doing . . .

Re: Today's Doka
 

Nice... Thanks.

Re: Today's Doka
 

And for the real geeks:

日地月å�ˆæ°—ã�«ã�ªã‚Šã�—æ©‹ã�®ä¸Šå¤§æµ·åŽŸã�¯å±±å½¦ã�®é�"

Best,

Chris

Re: Today's Doka
 

Oh pooh, now what did I do with that benjo gami? (Sorry, Chris)

Oh yes, great quote (verbatim?) , it really moved me, as it apparently did others. Lots to ponder, but how magnificent the wonder of Aiki.

Hope you got back on track, Alan!

Re: Today's Doka
 

Real men use hashi!

,

Well, obviously not. At least I don't think O Sensei spoke English that well.

Thanks. I liked it too. Maybe I can write why later. One of my favorite long time students and friends is in town for four days, after that I never now when I'll seeq him between, distance, obligations, and deployments. I'm on lunch break.

Re: Today's Doka
 

So when I opened my dojo, Shirata sent a large dojo sign with the name of the dojo 光道館　Way of Light Hall. And a poem that was written on a scroll (along with a congratulatory letter). The poem went something like this:

As the Sun
And Moon
Sparkle and shine
Kodokan

Today's take:

As the Sun (Yo +)
And Moon (In - )
Sparkle and shine (are reflected effortlessly, fully, perfectly and without delay, and or disruption (unbalancing)
Kodokan (this is The Way "of Light" studied here)

For the same occasion my Shodo sensei gave me a calligraphy in which he brushed:

Heart
Intent
Power

and also gave me a lantern (he was also a Japanese gardener) that had Suns, Moons, and Squares carved in it. Representing Triangle, Circle and Spare, representing . . .

Now you may be able to see why today's Doka caught my attention and attraction.

All of these guys are no longer with us. But they the reflections and reverberations of their influence continue on.

Re: Today's Doka
 

Shoot! I neglected to say, "Happy Birthday Francis!!!"

I hope you are enjoying your day.

Kindest regards,
Allen

Re: Today's Doka
 

Hi Allen
Just more examples of Ueshiba saying things that were practical and pragmatic. His own students and some people here being "moved" by the doko but not having a clue as to what it really means, and others in aikido saying, "well that's just one opinion of what it means." really says it all.
It's nice to see a Shihan "moved," too bad he has no idea that it's a description and even a method of describing-of a known common concept to physically train the mind/body for power....to defeat others in budo. Words of an enlightened Kami that no one could understand? Not even close.

There are many quotes from DR, Koryu and from Chinese art to support these common teaching, but why bother. The myth makers want to remain ignorant and lift Ueshiba up as some kami that no one could understand. IMO, Chiba telling us he didn't understand him says more about Chiba than Ueshiba.
It certainly doesn't say much for an Aikido shihan or most of the people here either when a newbie in the ICMA could have explained these mysteries.

Using one source is plagiarism using many is research!!
Just as Ueshiba did with DR, using the work of others to fuel something he could call his own vision, this method of using nature and the cosmos to explain internals is common.
The more I read the translations now thankfully being taken out of the hands of the earlier people who didn't have a clue, the more common Ueshiba becomes; just another guy using previous systems and knowledge to power his own, then, sweeping away his tracks.

As we move along in the hands of more competent translaters now learning these skills, it will be interesting to read more of these known teachings -that he was only quoting and were anything but original- and see where they lead to. With that in mind, if he ever told anyone that his comments were quotes, and concepts already established and known by others. That might be an interesting step in new translations; to see if he was honest enough, (like the known guys here talking about IP/aiki) to at least tell people this stuff was everywhere, instead of just pointing to himself.
Wanna make a bet?
Dan