Ki Sayings

by "LeBar, Andrew, PWK"

The following are Tohei Sensei's Ki Saying with brief explanations. Tohei Sensei developed these Ki sayings to help us in our training of Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido and to help us coordinate mind and body in our daily lives.

MOTTO

Let us have a universal spirit that loves and protects all creation and helps all things grow and develop.

To unify mind and body and become one with the universe is the ultimate purpose of my study.

FOUR MAJOR PRINCIPLES TO UNIFY MIND AND BODY

  1. Keep one-point.
  2. Relax completely.
  3. Keep weight underside.
  4. Extend Ki.

The first sentence espouses the positive spirit we, in the Ki Society, take with us into our daily lives. The second sentence states the goal of our practice/study: to unify our mind and body and become one with the universe

In order to understand the FOUR MAJOR PRINCIPLES to unify mind and body we must first see that the mind leads the body. We can use the analogy of an iceberg to help us understand. An iceberg has 30 percent of its totality above the water and 70 percent below the water. The 30 percent represents the power we generally use or what we think we have everyday. The 70 percent represents the unused, unnoticed power that is naturally ours. Most people do not see and are not aware of the 70 percent of the iceberg that is under the water. During emergencies, people sometimes unconsciously tap into a fraction of their potential power, but for the most part, if you are not aware of it, it will go unused. Just as an iceberg consists of both the visible and the invisible elements, human beings also are made up of visible and invisible elements. The body is the visible element and the mind is the invisible element. The body is the mind made visible the mind is the body made subtle. We always train our bodies but the true power lies with both our mind and body, together as one.

Most people can see the difference between the mind and body being coordinated and the mind and body not being coordinated but they cannot see or understand how to maintain this state of being. We often think the mind is a difficult thing to understand because we cannot hold it in our hand, it has no color, shape or physical or visible boundaries. While the body is finite and has substance with visible boundaries. In today's society, we have to deal with our daily challenges and many of us suffer from anger, anxiety, sadness, etc..... This is because most people still think of the mind as being separate from the body. But, since both are born of the Ki of the universe, and are fundamentally one and the same, it is relatively easy to unify mind and body with practice. The difficulty is learning to maintain it in our daily life.

We have to understand the relationship that exists between the mind and body in order to achieve mind and body coordination. For the moment let us take the position that the body moves the mind. Then we ask the question, can the mind be made immobile? If the body is tied up, is the mind also tied up? Of course not, the mind moves more when the body is restricted. When we first begin to meditate, the body is still, but the mind is flooded with many thoughts and images. By sitting in silence, the waves (thoughts) of our mind can become still through this discipline and training. Sometimes we think that if the body becomes sick then the mind also becomes sick or gloomy and sad. Although the body can influence the mind, it does not lead it. We always have a choice. Many times when our bodies are sick, subconsciously our mind becomes sad and gloomy. The wonderful thing about the mind is that we can consciously choose to be happy and bright. By understanding that the mind leads the body, we can recover more quickly from physical illnesses if we chose to be happy and positive.

There are many outside influences that effect our lives. The outside world is always changing and changing. If we allow our mind to be influenced and controlled (this happened to me, or he made me mad, etc...) by the changing outside world, we are giving up the opportunity to make choices in our life and we become unstable. Everyday things come into our subconscious mind that works on our body. If we think that we are sickly and weak then we will probably be weak and sick. We must use positive thoughts and actions to achieve mind and body unification in our daily lives.

FOUR MAJOR PRINCIPLES TO UNIFY MIND AND BODY

The first and forth principles are principles of the mind (which has no shape or color) and the second and third principles are principles of the body. Principles of the mind are meant to "put or concentrate" the mind in the way specified. Principles of the body mean to focus or concentrate the body in the way specified. All four principles train the mind to lead the body. Like a house with 4 doors, each door leading to the same place, the Four Basic Principles all lead to the same place, mind and body unification. If you have any one principle, you have them all naturally.

1 - Keep One Point (Principle of the Mind)

Center on the one point in the lower abdomen where you cannot put tension.

The one point in the lower abdomen is where we want to put our mind. It is a point 6 to 8 inches below the navel and behind the stomach wall. A point near, in the center of where the pelvic bones are located, a place where you cannot put tension. This low place or point is behind the muscle wall and where all of the weight of your upper body naturally falls. This is our center of gravity. This is the place where our body should be balanced as we move. When we put our mind in our one point, this becomes a place that the mind and body connect. Throughout history the center (hara) or lower abdomen has been thought of as a place of power and stability. This, however, does not teach us how to keep one point. Many other martial artists teach people to put strength into the lower abdomen, but this often causes tension throughout the body.
There are many ways to teach a person about the one point. One basic way is to use a Ki test. While your partner is focusing on their one point while standing, you will stand at your partner's side and push (the fingertips of the testing hand are parallel to the floor and the thumb is pointing down) gradually but firmly in the middle of the upper chest. If the Ki test is given properly (no shoving, pushing more body weight than Ki, or if the Ki test is given suddenly or at an angle) then your partner has a chance to learn how to be surprisingly stable by putting the mind in the one point. If the Ki test develops into a contest then your partner pushes back and becomes unstable. Always compare the good stable posture (keeping one point) with one in which you do not keep one point in order to clearly demonstrate the difference.
We must think of the one point in the lower abdomen as a point infinitely condensed, not a solid immovable point. Once your mind has condensed your one point by 1/2 over and over until it is beyond your mind's ability to visualize it, stop there, leave it just as it is. Then forget about it and you can begin every movement from your one point.
Standing Ki Test

Let your body weight fall on your one point, not your legs or feet.

Because our one point is also our center of gravity the weight of our upper body falls naturally there. Try standing on the balls of your feet and if you begin to fall, relax your upper body. You will feel your posture straighten up with your one point on a centerline with the balls of your feet and the weight of your upper body will fall naturally along that centerline to your one point. To test this, have your partner try to lift your leg. You will feel very stable and you will not be pushing back. If you slowly lower your heels, just lightly touching the ground, and test again you will still be stable. But, if you lower your heels with all your weight on them, your ankle will be easily lifted off the ground.

Your breathing is calm and subtle.

When we become upset or angry our breath reflects our state of mind by becoming short and shallow. Likewise, when our mind is calm our breath becomes long and deep. And, when your mind is calm and focused on a task, your breathing becomes very quiet and deep. When the Samurai dueled it is said that the winner had the calmest mind and the calmest breathing. When one Samurai could detect the others fear or anger through their breathing, he would attack. The Samurai who's mind was calm and centered at the one point and who's breathing was not visible but very quiet and deep, it is said, usually survived the duel. This calm state of breathing is natural, not forced.

You can accept whatever happens without losing your composure.

Whenever you are not sitting, standing, or walking with good posture your one point will shift out of your body when you lean forward or backward or just move out of the natural posture. Especially when you are involved in rapid and vigorous movement (like Aikido) does your one point shift. Please note that it is not necessary to constantly pay attention to your one point. You begin the movement by focusing your mind on your one point, then let it go, forget it. If you lose it during the physical activity, then pause mentally and put your mind back into your one point. The one point is not necessarily a physical point you can touch, but it is a mental point of focus created by man to help us coordinate mind and body. Tohei Sensei teaches us that our one point can also act as a garbage disposal. Whatever you put into your one point disappears (fear, anger, or any negative emotions). When we use the one point this way we can function with a clear mind so that we can understand things as they truly are, with a much larger capacity to know what needs to be done and accept change without losing our composure.

Therefore you can do your best at any time.

To do your best means to keep one point first, then go to the task at hand. If you are not keeping one point then the unlimited human potential that is there cannot be used. This takes practice because many roadblocks we encounter today are of our own making.

2 - Relax Completely (Principle of the Body)

There are three basic states of the physical body; what we will call the "noodle" state, tense strength (tension), and relaxed strength (Relax Completely). The first is a state of nothingness, a noodle that falls limply. Tense strength is seemingly all-powerful but as Ki tests reveal, is ultimately weak. Relaxed strength is a state in which a person cannot be disturbed by the chaos that sometimes surrounds us.

Each part of our body settles in its most natural position.

We all know that tension can accumulate in our back, neck, head, feet, etc. But, we don't always know how to properly get rid of the tension or how to prevent it from accumulating in our body. Stress causes tension and we need to know how to relax in stressful situations. One quick and effective method to deal with stress is to stand with good posture and shake your wrists rapidly for one to five minutes. This exercise will allow your body to literally shake off the tension in your muscles. The proper way to shake your wrists is to begin by letting your hands fall to your side naturally and then begin to shake your wrists in an up and down, palms up motion. After one minute or so slow down by 1/2 until the wrists come quietly to rest by your side. If you want to relax your whole body, then shake your wrists vigorously so that your heels come up off the floor every time you shake. This helps you settle each part of your body in its most natural position.

You relax positively without collapsing or losing power.

Many people assume that true relaxation is a weak or limp state, but this is far from the truth. If we try to get rid of stress by more exercise, more stimulation or massage we are only dealing with the symptoms. Relaxation must be practiced so that we can become a more mature person who can be relaxed under pressure.

Your sense of presence makes you look bigger than you really are.

When Tohei Sensei walks into a room everyone turns and looks. He is so large, so composed, so relaxed. Tohei Sensei is 5' 2". Most people, when they are around larger people feel small and become tense. When you know how to relax completely your posture is correct and your presence is much larger.

You are strong enough to be relaxed.

This can be Ki tested by having your partner grab your wrist very tightly. If you try to move your arm by muscle tension it is very difficult. But, if you move in a relaxed way by thinking that you are just going to scratch your head, you move easily, hence strong enough to be relaxed. It is commonly believed that an aggressive behavior is stronger than a relaxed behavior. But, while one may receive a temporary advantage by being aggressive, in the end, the strength through relaxation behavior will win out.

Therefore you have an attitude of non-dissension.

When you are completely relaxed you naturally have an attitude of non-confrontation. Also, while you are relaxed completely and you have this non-fighting mind, you are open, aware and flexible enough to respond appropriately to any challenge.

3 - KEEP WEIGHT UNDERSIDE (Principle of the Body)

The weight of every object falls naturally underside. When we become tense our weight moves upperside. When we are calm and relaxed the weight of all parts of our body falls underside. Do not confuse Keep Weight underside with being heavy. Keeping weight underside is a feeling of floating, a buoyancy that has strength and gives us confidence in our movement. When we move, the principle of weight underside does not change. Even though the weight of our body moves when we move rapidly, if we remain calm, (avoid tension when we try to maintain our balance) we can move with quick grace and power.

You maintain the most comfortable posture.

Mind and body coordination is our original and most natural state and it should be easy and comfortable to maintain. The Japanese word, "shisei" is usually translated as just, "posture". But the word, "shisei" means attitude as well as posture. So, the attitude is calm and confident.
When we are first told to keep our weight underside we think, while being tested that we must push in order to maintain weight underside. Actually, when we push down we create weight upperside and lose our stability. Pushing gives more for the tester to push against. Just as when we try to push a balloon, football or basketball under the surface of water we see its weight come upperside. When we hang our clothes up, the clothes follow the laws of gravity naturally. They come to a rest at their most natural state. They will not hang in an unnatural way nor do they push/stretch to the ground. If you watch people you will notice they constantly shift around, trying to move their bodies in order to reduce their tension. Because their posture is not correct, the weight of every part of their body does not remain underside in all places. This means that they exert a lot of energy to hold themselves up, they are not assuming the most natural and comfortable posture. This posture both looks and feels comfortable.

Your body feels light and does not sag.

When we give a Ki test for weight underside we look to see if the person's weight shifts when we apply gradual pressure. Ask your partner to raise one arm parallel to the floor, then apply gradual upward pressure at the elbow. If your partner's arm moves upward, their weight will shift to their heels and upward. Now imagine trying to lift a coffee table from one end. Sure, you can tilt it, but try to hold it level off the ground. The coffee table's weight is naturally underside. If we hold our arm out with mind and body unified we become like the table and our arm will not rise up. We do this by not shifting our weight when we raise our arm. This can be accomplished when we raise the arm in one clean motion. Then, when the Ki test is applied our mind is calm and confident and the tester cannot raise the arm.

Your Ki is fully extended.

When you have one Ki principle you have them all. "Extending Ki" and "your Ki is fully extended" are the same in Japanese. Weight Underside is the same as, "your Ki is extending." Tohei Sensei developed each Ki principle with the goal of having everyone be able to understand when they are not mind and body coordinated and then be able to be mind and body coordinated in any situation in daily life. Each principle is one of four doors to the same house. Each person is wonderfully different and unique and might be able to understand and do one Ki principle quicker and better than another. It is part of a Ki Society Instructor's (goal and desire), to create new and understandable ways for people to learn mind and body unification.

You are flexible and can adapt to changing circumstances.

When you have weight underside you are mind and body unified. You are also calm and completely relaxed. Therefore you do not get upset when plans are changed on you or when things do not go the way you feel they should. So many times in life people get upset when things do not go their way. When we get upset we become tense and have weight upperside. When we have weight underside, the sudden changes that we have to deal with in daily life will no longer have control over you. You are able to make choices during change and become a much more effective person.

Therefore you perceive everything clearly.

How much we perceive depends upon whether we are relaxed and calm. When we are upset or angry the amount of information, in our surrounding world, that we can process decreases. Information is processed subconsciously when we sleep. When we are conscious and mind and body unified our mind is free to concentrate and clearly record and organize information so that we can make informed judgments as well as learn from our experience. An old Chinese saying tells us, "when the mind is absent, we look without seeing, listen without hearing, and speak without understanding ". When we have weight underside we have presence of mind.

4 - EXTEND KI (Principle of the Mind)

As we learned earlier there are over one-thousand words/concepts in Japanese that have "Ki" in them. In this book we have used the words "coordination" and "unification" interchangeably. The Japanese Language is conceptually different from the English Language. Translating from one language to another does not always give a clear understanding of the concepts being conveyed. When westerners hear the words, "Extend Ki", they think that they have to do something to achieve this state.
When we say, "the absolute universe is one and then two opposing forces appeared, yin and yang, plus and minus and the relative world was born", we are saying that everything came from the same source. Everything is Ki, but because our minds have to interpret the world by saying that this is different from that, we forget that we are all connected. The yin and yang and plus and minus mean that we always have a choice in life. When we chose a plus life our view of life is positive and happy. When we chose a minus life our view of life is negative and we are very unhappy.

1) You are not overly conscious of your body

When you tense your body, you are subconsciously and consciously aware of it. When one performs daily tasks, one is not consciously aware of the body; but when we become upset or tense in our daily life, we can notice many changes in our bodies. If we are speaking in front of a large group of people or if we are teased and become embarrassed, blood can rush to our heads, and we become tense and unable to think properly. When we are concentrating deeply (relaxed completely = extend Ki), we are not overly conscious of our own body and we are mind and body coordinated.

2) You make full use of the centrifugal force in your movements.

Any time a body is in motion centrifugal force is created. Because our eyes are in our head people tend to move from their head and shoulders first, separately from the rest of their body. This type of movement creates instability. When we are mind and body coordinated and we move from our one point, we are also extending Ki. We have all heard that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. When someone attacks us and we are aware of the Ki that is extending, his or her centrifugal motion of attack is easily redirected ( or led). If we think (with a calm mind) of the attack as a force who's energy will be always be reduced by half and therefore spent/used-up, then we can easily extend Ki. Extending Ki also means totally focusing on your opponent and leading your opponent's force/Ki/mind.

3) You have soft eyes and a poised manner.

The eyes are the windows to the soul. When we look at a person, some times we can tell what they are thinking and how they are feeling. We take cues from people's expressions and body language. Our own eyes and expressions show tension, anger, sadness, disappointment, relaxation, calmness, happiness, and confidence. Some people believe that hard eyes create power and control. It is also a good way to get into a fight. But soft eyes can show confidence and kindness. If you are relaxed enough to have soft eyes then you are extending Ki.

4) You show composure in your posture.

Remember the Japanese word, "Shisei", means posture and attitude. Extending Ki does not mean that you are doing something. It is a natural posture that is in line with the principles of the universe. A Ki test is a good way to check our natural posture. If one becomes tense during a Ki test, then our posture reflects that and our mind can be moved. When we relax completely our posture is strong and stable. A proper Ki test always demonstrates our state of mind and body unification.

5) Therefore you are bright and easygoing.

When you are extending Ki you are relaxed and easy to get along with. When you are tense or upset the people around you tend to move away. A smile always makes friends and this demonstrates that plus breeds plus. Being positive and having a smile on our face is a choice we make. This is extending Ki, your intention, focus, goal.

The Value of Our Existence

Our lives are born of the Ki of the Universe. Let us give thanks for being born not as plants or animals but as lords of creation. Let us pledge to fulfill our missions by helping to guide the development and creation of the Universe.

Every element of our physical and mental being came from the same fundamental particles. When we die we will go back to that source, to being those same fundamental particles. We are all connected in this way. We are very fortunate to be born as human beings, beings with a choice in how we deal with life and other people. We can choose to deal with life in a positive way. Everyone has problems; it is how we deal with those problems that make the difference in our lives. We can choose to be a positive guiding force and help other people. Plants and animals do not have this choice.

The Way to Union with Ki

The absolute Universe is one. We call this Ki. Our lives and our bodies are born of the Ki of the Universe. We study the principles of the Universe and practice them. We are one with the Universe. There is no need to despond, no need to fear. The way we follow is the way of the Universe which no difficulty nor hardship can hinder.

Let us have the courage to say, "If I have a clear conscience and a calm spirit, I dare to face and enemy of ten million men."

In the beginning there was one. We call this One, Ki. Everything we are came from this One. We study and practice this oneness and we call this oneness mind and body coordination. Because we are all connected we have a choice not to despond or fear. Because we are mind and body unified we can deal with life no matter what happens.

UNIFICATION OF MIND AND BODY

Mind and body were originally One.

Do not think that the power you have is only the power you ordinarily use and moan that you have little strength. The power that you ordinarily use is like the small visible segment of an iceberg.

When we unify our mind and body and become one with the universe, we can use the great power that is naturally ours.

When we are born we are naturally mind and body coordinated. As we grow older and we see the relative world we tend to see things as dualistic. Because we can see, feel, and touch our bodies and we cannot see, feel, and touch our mind, we forget about the great power that is naturally ours. The truth we seek lies beyond this relative perception.

THE ONE POINT IN THE LOWER ABDOMEN.

The universe is a limitless circle with a limitless radius. This condensed becomes the one point in the lower abdomen, which is the center of the universe.

Let us concentrate our mind in this one point and become one with and send our Ki constantly to the universe.

If we think of the universe as a limitless circle with a limitless radius, we can always be at the center of the universe. No matter where we are, we do not seem quite as small, in relation to the world around us, when we realize that we are (each one of us) the center of the universe, condensed through our one point. When we put our mind in our one point and are mind and coordinated, we are constantly renewing our Ki with the Ki of the universe.

RELAXATION

We are accustomed to having trouble with nervousness unnecessarily. Nervousness causes blood vessels to contract, making it difficult for the impurities to leave the body, and thus makes one susceptible to many diseases.

Relaxation is truly an elixir of life. Let us spread the true method of relaxation, which enables us to meet each day with a spirit like that of a mild spring breeze. If we practice this we, need never get nervous and excited in our daily affairs.

Because many people do not understand mind and body unification they become tense easily. Things in daily life do not go their way and they get upset/tense. As a muscle contracts, (tension) blood vessels contract. Blood carries oxygen to all parts of our body. Oxygen feeds our cells and blood cleans out waste and how well this system functions determines, to a large degree, how vulnerable we are to colds, the flu, and diseases. When we relax, our blood vessels and capillaries open up and allow the oxygen to feed our blood and cleanse our body thoroughly. When we are relaxed completely and have a positive attitude that greets and looks forward to each day, we can avoid tension, nervousness and conflicts in our daily lives.

LIVING CALMNESS

The weight of objects is always naturally underside. Therefore the physical expression of living calmness is that the weight of every part of our body is also underside.

Like the calm, still surface of the water that reflects the moon and a flying bird, true living calmness is the condition of our mind that reflects all things clearly. This is man's original and natural state. By understanding these principles, we can acquire true living calmness.

When our body is at rest it is easy to coordinate mind and body and have weight underside. When our body is in motion its weight should also be underside. The living calmness that is associated with human beings means that as we move through our lives we remain calm no matter what happens.

The analogy demonstrates how, when we are calm, we perceive things. When we are calm and see challenges clearly, we can deal with them appropriately. Remaining calm in daily life, although seeming difficult, is our original and natural state when we understand and practice mind and body coordination.

PLUS LIFE

The absolute universe is one. Then two opposing forces appeared, and the relative world was born.

In the Orient this dualism is called yin and yang, in the west plus and minus. A bright happy life is called plus life, and a dark gloomy one is called minus.

Let us eliminate every minus thought and strive for plus life henceforth.

Before we are born every element of our being is a part of the universe. Then we are born and as we grow we forget about being one with the universe and see the world as relative, positive and negative. We can choose to live a positive life or we can let life's challenges bring us down.

Eliminating minus thoughts, by constantly adding plus thoughts, is a difference we can make in this relative world.

THE SUBCONSCIOUS

The subconscious mind acts as a storehouse of knowledge and past experiences. The materials stored in the subconscious mind form the conscious mind.

Henceforth let us cease putting any minus materials into the subconscious. Let us always extend plus Ki and live our life with a positive attitude.

Every experience that we have had in life is stored in the subconscious mind. The conscious mind is constantly processing information throughout our day. Positive and negative experiences, thoughts and actions help shape the balance of how we view the world. When we make a choice to add positive thoughts and actions to our life, they add up to make our total mind more positive. The more positive thoughts we put in our subconscious mind, the more our subconscious mind supports our positive thoughts and actions of our conscious mind, etc. To paraphrase an Oriental saying, "If your mind is a cup full of tea (the tea represents colored, minus experiences or thoughts) and you wish to change the cup/mind to clear calm clean water/thoughts and actions, you must first add one drop of clear water at a time, and eventually the cup will become clear."

THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-DISSENSION

There is no conflict in the absolute universe, but there is conflict in the relative world.

If we unify mind and body, become one with the universe, and practice its principles, others will follow us gladly.

Do not say that this is a world where we must struggle to live each day. The true way to success is exactly one and the same as the principle of non-dissension, and that is the way to peace.

The absolute universe is one. The relative world is dualistic. Plus and minus, yin and yang appear as conflict and as opposites.

Mind and body coordination gives us the ability to lead others.

Struggle in life means there is conflict in your life. The principle of non-dissension means that we understand and practice non-conflict. This does not mean passivity. Non-attachment is different than detachment. We see that through mind and body unification we have a choice to follow the path of peace.

THE ESSENCE OF KI

We begin with the number One in counting all things. It is impossible that this One can ever be reduced to zero. Because just as something cannot be made from nothing, One cannot be made from zero.

Ki is like the number One. Ki is formed from infinitely small particles, smaller than an atom. The universal Ki condensed becomes an individual, which in turn condensed becomes the one point in the lower abdomen, which in turn condensed, never becomes zero, but becomes One with the universe. Thus we understand the essence of Ki.

The number One is the beginning of all things. Mathematically speaking if we have four parts of One then each one represents 1/4 of the original One. Each 1/4 is ONE/quarter. Therefore, it is not possible to make zero from One because, each part of One, no matter how small we make it, is still One.

Ki is the universe condensed at the one point in the lower abdomen. Our mind focuses on our one point and this allows us to be One with the universe (mind and body coordinated).

THE KI DEVELOPMENT EXERCISES

It is easier to coordinate mind and body when we are sitting or standing still than when in motion. But true unification means to maintain the coordination of mind and body even when we are moving.

The Ki development exercises train one to always maintain the unification of mind and body in our daily life. By applying them to our life, we can perform to the best of our ability in all circumstances.

A Buddhist priest, or our western equivalent, goes to the top of a mountain to find enlightenment (mind and body unification) where he meditates until he has found it. He then descends the mountain only to trip and fall at the bottom.
What good does static enlightenment do for us if when we go through daily life making the same old mistakes? We cannot sit on top of the mountain forever. Most of us must live our lives in constantly changing circumstances and physical motion. When we are mind and body unified we can deal with life's daily challenges in a positive and calm way to the best of our ability. This is what the Ki Development Exercise training develops in us.

THE UNITY OF CALM AND ACTION

Just as tops spinning violently and rapidly become steady, the most rapid movement results in calm.

Like the eye of the typhoon which is always peaceful, inner calm results in great strength of action. Calm and action are exactly one.

Only when we keep one point and unify our mind and body, can we find spare time even when busy. Keep a calm mind and you will be able to perform to the best of your ability even in an emergency or when facing important tasks.

The top that spins violently and rapidly is steady naturally. This calmness is a result of its movement.

When we are calm we can react better in small and large ways in daily life. In emergencies our actions are decisively clear when we are mind and body coordinated (calm in action).

In today's hustle and bustle life it seems difficult to find spare time for things we want to do. The pressures of work and daily life at home are dealt with best when we are calm during daily action. Only when are we mentally organized enough can we find spare time.

FUDOSHIN

True FUDOSHIN is not a rigid, immobile state of mind, but the condition of stability that comes from the most rapid movement. In other words like the steadiness of a spinning top, the state of perfect spiritual and physical stability arises from movement which continues infinitely and is so infinitely rapid that it is imperceptible.

This movement is condensed at the one point in the lower abdomen. By putting everything into the one point, we can experience FUDOSHIN and not lose our stability no matter what happens.

When we move in Aikido our mind moves first. Therefore since we are mind and body coordinated our mind is calm and stable no matter how quickly we move. The mind moves infinitely quick, so when our mind moves first, when we are mind and body coordinated, our body should appear to move very rapidly. This is because we are first, or One.

Movement always begins from our one point. When we move this way, by putting everything into our one point, we remain calm and stable.

KI BREATHING METHODS

Breathe out so that your breath travels infinitely to the ends of the universe: Breathe in so that your breath reaches your one point and continues infinitely there. The Ki breathing methods are an important way of unifying mind and body.

At night when all is quiet and calm, do this alone, and you will feel that you are the universe and that the universe is you. It will lead you to the supreme ecstasy of being one with the universe. At this moment the life power that is rightfully yours is fully activated.

The feeling of breathing out is a slow, calm movement of air infinitely outward. The feeling of breathing in is that your breath actually goes past your lungs into your one point infinitely with the same slow calm movement. This breathing exercise is an excellent way to coordinate mind and body.

It is easier to practice Ki breathing when all is quiet and calm. With practice you will feel very connected to the universe. Controlling our breath by the Ki breathing methods helps us to maintain mind and body unification in daily life.

KIATSUHO (Pressing with Ki)

We have learned coordination of mind and body and the Ki breathing methods. Therefore we can bring the Ki of the universe into our bodies at any time.

When a water pump is dried out, no water can flow from the well up through the pump. To start this flow again we must put some water back into the pump. In the same way, Ki does not flow strongly in a person suffering from illness or misfortune. Let us practice KIATSUHO to put Ki back into these people, stimulate their own flow of Ki, and give them a fresh start to happiness.

In order to do Kiatsuho we must be mind and body unified.

The water pump analogy shows how to help people when they are physically ill or injured. Many times people in these states add negative thoughts/energy to their illness or injury. By giving them Kiatsuho we can help open their Ki flow and allow them and ourselves to have a more positive outlook on life.

REISEISHIN

Man is blessed with a spirit that is one with the spirit of the universe. This spirit is called REISEISHIN.

The moon is clearly reflected in the water when the water is calm. In this same way when our mind and body are unified and calm, our REISEISHIN manifests itself completely. Once this happens all suffering and wicked desires fall away, and the universal spirit of love and protection for all things appears in us.

Let us strive to realize our REISEISHIN.

When we truly understand how we are connected to everything around us we develop an attitude of respect and compassion.

When we are relaxed completely and calm this attitude of respect and compassion (love and protection) increases and our inner pain and self-destructive desires fade away.

THE MIND THAT SEEKS TRUTH

We call the mind that wants to make the way of the universe clear and to put it into practice, the mind that seeks truth.

However clever a dog or monkey may be, they cannot realize the Universal Mind. Only human beings have the privilege and capacity to realize it. If you have the mind that seeks truth, you are happy because this is the proof that you are a real human being.

When we are on the path of mind and body unification we make the choice of perceiving clearly the world around us.

On this planet, only human beings have the ability to make choices about truth (seek truth) and this proves that we are human. We should be happy that we are given this chance.

WILLPOWER

An old Oriental saying tells us, "When our Willpower is concentrated upon a stone, it can pass through it. When our Willpower is focused and in harmony with the universe it can command the wind rain and thunder."

But from where does our Willpower come? Those who understand and answer this question are those who accomplish important tasks.

When we coordinate mind and body by stilling the waves of our mind to imperceptible, infinitely decreasing ripples, we can send forth our great Willpower that moves the universe.

When we are interested in something or we really want something we usually have the determination to get it.

When we understand this, we realize that we can choose to be interested and really want whatever we need to accomplish.

Mind and body unification means that we can choose to have the great willpower that is actually ours.

INTOKU (Good Done in Secret)

Just as the number One can never be reduced to zero, once we act or speak, our action or speech is never completely erased.

An old Oriental saying tells us, "sow good and the harvest will be good. Sow evil and reap evil." We must understand that everything we do comes back to ourselves.

Therefore before wishing for our own happiness and welfare and that of our children, we must do good in secret. To do good in secret means to act without seeking attention and praise, to act without any hope of reward. This is called INTOKU.

Among the various ways of performing INTOKU, to walk the way of the universe and to lead others along this way is best.

Simply put, in the West, many times when we do good we expect accolades. We say, "here I am, I did it." This secret agenda slows our growth and self-development. True "good" acts are done with a selfless attitude. We can do this best when we are mind and body unified.

SETSUDO (Teaching the Way of the Universe)

Selfish men have never understood and traveled the way of the universe in the past. Therefore when we realize the principles and way of the universe, the universe gives us the responsibility to spread them to the world.

Do not think that you cannot help another man. What you learn today, you can teach another the next day. The world is full of people who have lost the way of the universe and suffer from mental illness. Let us do our best to explain the correct principles of the universe to them.

You do not have to be a "good" or a politically correct person to be mind and body coordinated. But when we understand the true gift of mind and body unification we have a responsibility to help others by sharing/showing them the way of the universe.

Even the student who comes to class his second day can demonstrate what he learned the previous day. When people become tense and upset in daily life, they make inappropriate decisions, say the wrong thing, and feel miserable. We can do our best to teach them mind and body unification.