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Re: Can a pacifist study (apply) martial arts?
the complete
sequence of associations if found in the "four souls" and "one-spirit"
formulation: sachi-mitama, nigi-mitama,(pacific soul) ara-mitama, kushi- mitama, and ichirei
[ ] associated with earth, water, fire, heaven, and primordial void, in that
order.
Pacifiism is an element of the whole based on the function of nature. We are all, and possess, all of them, whereas we are usually 'heavy' in one department. The purpose of training is to balance the earthly (universal) elements that exist in, around and among us. Nigi Mitama is the pacific soul, or water soul. Last time I checked we were chock full of water (both individually and planetarily)and balancing that element with the others outlined in the above quote would be a damn
good plan for practice.
The quote at the beginning came from Abe Sensei's translations.
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