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Old 12-08-2008, 08:19 AM   #16
Joe McParland
 
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Dojo: Sword Mountain Aikido & Zen
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Re: Why did O'Sensei create aikido?

Quote:
David Skaggs wrote: View Post
He did it for strength and martial ability, not religious or philosophical reasons.

From http://aikidoonline.com/Archives/200...500_dosh1.html
Also from Aikido Online
Budo Training in Aikido - Preface

by Morihei Ueshiba, O-Sensei

Editor's Note: The following is the preface of Budo Training in Aikido by Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido...

Bu derives from God's own substance and mind, and is a major spiritual component of the truth, goodness and beauty embodied in the founding of our nation. Bujutsu arose along the way of the Imperial nation and lays its foundation on the sincerity of Kotodama expression coming from the Aiki between Man and the hundreds of gods (Kami). Moreover this sincere mind, which we call the Yamato Spirit, is attained through training the body. By trying to unite the body in this spirit, which is oneness resulting from the training of the sincere soul, Bujutsu takes as its purpose the building of the sincere man, possessing the spiritual oneness and unity which allows not the slightest opening between the body and the spirit.

As soon as Man is born, he encounters troublesome times. However, if you train in such as way that every encounter is seen as a major crisis, that is, as true Shugyo or as a vitally important trial, then you can go back and forth between the arenas of the living and the dead and it becomes possible to transcend the very idea of life and death. The main thing is to attain the "Way" which opens up [reality] calmly and clearly, just as in "every-day" situations, no matter what kind of terrible crisis or dangerous events you may face.
Why you chose a martial path and what you discover along the way are not necessarily the same thing.

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