meditation

Thanks for the info, AikiTom.
Actually, this Ki breathing sounds very interesting to me. There are a few Aikido web-sites that speak about it.
The one I first saw in connection with it was an interview with Tohei sensei.
Check it out at:
http://www.jhoonrhee.com/aikido2000/...hi%20Tohei.htm

Now, obviously, za-zen is to be done outside of our Aikido training. But I also see it attracts those who are meditators. So, of course I'm drawn it.

We do some of this in our dojo - focussing on the tanden etc. It seems to be more an energy thing than meditation but I am sure it has similar effects.

Related to microcosmic orbit etc.

Robert

Great that you do that at your dojo, Robert. I wish my sensei were more trained that way. We would no doubt be sitting at least for short periods.
Still, I can't understand why
O-Sensei would have considered Zen to be the opposite of Aikido, as AikiTom has said. It would seem to me to be right in line with the principles of the Aiki Way.
Zen speaks of seeing life directly, with no judgement, preference or color to it.
And from what I have learned Aikido teaches basically the same. If you have some preset way you think you will deal with an opponent and you are not just open to whatever happens, you're defeated before you start!
O-Sensei even had some kind of Satori which you just don't have unless you are living your life in some kind of meditative manner.
Basically, I feel meditation ought to be part of Aikido training or at least students should be encouraged to try and incorporate it somehow. We would all be that much more *present* while training.
On an interesting note:
Steven Seagal said that Aikido didn't really start clicking for him until he started looking into the spiritual side of Aikido... Go figure...

Nisanga wrote: Still, I can't understand why O-Sensei would have considered Zen to be the opposite of Aikido, as AikiTom has said. It would seem to me to be right in line with the principles of the Aiki Way.

Then it just may be time for you to stop listening to that old guy with a beard, huh?

-- Jun

Nisanga wrote: Oh, and P.S.... Here?s a site for you all to check out: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/7731/ It?s a web-page on the founder of Omotokyo... :-) [/b]

Onegai shimasu

Thanks for publishing the address of my homepage to everyone.

It's an incentive to go on the translating and publication.

There are two branches on the way:
- Nao Deguchi, A Biography of the Foundress of Oomoto;
- Bankyo Dokon.

Which one do you all prefer me to complete first?

Arigato gosaimashita

a haiku about meditation

OMMMM
SUUUUUU
OMMMM

Perhaps meditation is the "Holy Trinity"

During meditation, one must transcend (why does everyone keep using that frickin' word?) the human realm and become a sitting duck. Just make sure you are wearing blaze orange and there are no color blind hunters within your circle of influence.

Which brings me to my next point...we all see colors with our eyes if they are healthy, but in the immortal words of Maxi Jazz (lead vocalist for Faithless), "you don't need eyes to see, you need vision."

Final point..let gravity close your eyes during meditation, if you can still see a little, so be it.

--Drew "Tai" (red snapper I think) Gardner

Ah yes, why *do* people use that frickin' word, or I should say, OVERuse that word! Transcend...! "Oh, let's dance with our Auras"!
I just like to say that I get a distance from my chattering mind. No need to get esoteric! ;-) As I've heard it said by a wise man: "Awareness is more than enough."
Actually, you have it right about the eyes closing in meditation. It is said that about 85% of our energy is involved in our eyes. So, when you close them for meditation you are reclaiming all that energy. But then comes the tricky part -- not getting distracted from right here-right now! The only moment there is...
Here's the web-site of someone who seems to understand these things:
http://www.stevenseagal.com
Pretty Kewl Flash intro...! :-)

Well, I have a question to put out:
While it is true that many people don't feel they have the time to make meditation a part of their lives (for example, just to sit for one hour and watch the parade of thoughts go by), AND,
it is admitedly not really part of most dojos curriculum to add it to their routine...
So, my question is, How many of you try to have a greater awareness during training? That would almost take the place of a daily sitting meditation.
Comments please.