Shukansei

主観性 

SUBJECTIVITY

During the january Taikai in Buenos Aires, I tried to enphasize the work of the sword, from Muto Dori, Daisho Sabaki Gata and Shinken Shiraha Dome. The sword, just a media to use our taijutsu and finding the liberty of the movement, was also the vehicle to share my point of view about the subjectivity of Budo of the Bujinkan, as well as life.

According to what is pointed from the Dictionary of the real academy of Spain (RAE), subjectivity is the cuality of what’s subjective. It’s about what consists or relates to the subject, taken in oposition to the external world. On the other hand, the concept make reference to our way of thinking and feeling, and not to the object itself.

Though we use hundreds and infinite variants to express the movement of Taijutsu, we know that the escense of itself radicates on feeling. Sôke makes constant emphasis in expressing the feeling of techniques and the experience within the Uke while receibing the waza-

Depending the activities of each people, most of us can apply in daily life the escencial feeling more than phisical techniques.

On this days, Sōke Masaaki Hatsumi gave to our understanding that beyond Budō (martial way), we could get into Mudō (No Path). If we take this in the world of what’s subjective and objective, we should say that Budō is what’s objetive and Mudō is what’s subjective. Same way while using the forms to achieve the NO-forms, is where we can find the sence of subjectivity.

The difference between objectiveness and subjectiveness is clear while analizing different sentences as: “During the Taikai several feelings filled with happiness and friendship” is a subjective phrase, while “During the Taikai people trained sword techniques” is an objective phrase.

From my point of view, Budō begins with an objective training, but later on, practice takes the student into a more deep and subjective quest in search for the escence of the art and the human being. But the human being elaborates personal opinions based from experiences that in common expresses subjective truths, however within the existent objective lineage of the nine schools that form the Bujinkan, it requires the student to achieve certaing ethical, cultural and social values maintain the harmony and respect. Same way, pre-stated techniques that have objective points to train and learn, can take us to receive the subjective world of the Bufu ikkan.

More than 100′s points of view about the budō of Sôke where present this weekend on the Taikai, each one charged with their own experience of life, it’s tabues, myths, such as their virtudes and skills. Being able to share positive things respecting the differences of each one, helps the growing of all it’s parts. I feel that this Taikai, gave sinergy to all of the attendants, including me in tasting the good things each one have added. Several Shihan also participate and gave their luminous points of view: Maximiliano Rosatti, Nestor Iscovi, Mariano Parodi, Eduardo Hernandez, Mariano Perrone. To all of them my sincere gratitude for their friendship, representation, and knowledge to the event.

The buyu from several regions of Argentina, Chile, Brasil, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, and Méxivo that have made with their presence this wonderful Buyu encounter, have trained with enthusiasm and courage upon the high temperatures of the Buenos Aires summer. Samples of Musha Shugyo have been revealed during the Taikai and the posterior hot week

My most profund gratitud to Sōke, who offers his art to enjoy luminous moments and learn from the human configuration.

Beyond the several motivations of every participant and the subjective world of their own experiences, the next january Taikai 2013, maybe will bring you, maybe not, depending on the mental world and each desires,however I hope that january keeps being a point of encounter, not for my birthday, but for the feast of friendship of every participant and the value of the teachings of Sōke. Long live the instants of sharing, Ichi go Ichi E!!!

Bufu ikkan Shingitai !

Christian

Ichi Go Ichi E

Acerca de Ichigo Ichie

By Sôke Masaaki Hatsumi.

必問 武神 伝

DVD HIMON BUJIN DEN

 The ichigo ichie 一期一会(one moment, one encounter) is also a kind of Satori 悟り( enlightenment). I believe that a kind of  Satori is alright. But not so much enlightenment. There are those who want to be very enlightened. I believe that pherhaps the excesive quest for enlightenment, is inmature or a sign of illness.

When you come to a certain age, I don’t think that is neccesary to really pursue enlightenment. I call this kind of people “pacients with enlightment desease”. Are the ones who search too much for enlightment, those who try to grab on to this. However there’s also the matter of what kind of things are the “enlightment – Satori”.

 It is mentioned as things that fly, this and that, but what it’s called enlightenment is Ichi Go Ichi E. It’s not A-UM (mantra sound), It’s an event, of course, an image.

I believe that what refers as the place of sutil and deep memories. All and every moment, to express in a Japanese kind of way, it all reduces to the world of Zeami (founder of the Noh theatre), becomes in Yoroboshi or Yamanba (old mountain) (plays of Zeami of the Noh Theatre).

But the determination of Ichi go Ichi E is important. I beleive that pherhaps is good that exists a phrase as Ichi go Ichie E

Because life is a collection of moments. When I find myself with military men who talk of have made this kind of experiences, they talk about the real feeling of Ichigo ichie.

 

Bufu Ikkan Shingitai

The DKMS 2011 was full of marvelous moments. I was able to meet with many Buyu that I see around the world in different seminars  around the year, and with so many others that have the chance of meet once a year in Japan, and all of them enjoy the teachings of Sôke. This is without a doubt a treasure for our lives.

The result of training, beautiful teachings and frienship, is what we can name Bujinkan Dojo. There were many interesting teachings from Soke during the Daikomyosai 2011, some of them united with the past and some proyecting us to the future. I need to digest within time so many sensations and reflexions.

I feel that learning, sharing and following the Bufu Ikkan, is a way of finding the Shingitai 心  技 体 (union of heart, technique and body), however, without depending of others, we must understand that the path in individual, and sometimes even solitary. Even Miyamoto Musashi created a series of precepts that he put together with the title of Following The Lonely Path.

According to Masaaki Hatsumi  Sôke, “There is an expression that is the key on the philosophy of martial arts that is called Bufu Ikkan 武風 一貫 (righteous martial wind) The experience tells me that artists, whether are dedicated to ballet, music or painting, when they stop practicing a couple of days and return to it, always suffer a loss of faculties, at least the first time after the break”.

During this year, Sôke told me that he gave some 15 of his Yugodan students, the title of maestry of the Bufu Ikkan Shingitai. Sôke said that is a recognition for some who kept training during many years, without stopping, managing the escential sence of the Bufu Ikkan and trough this, being able to achieve the feeling of uniting the technique, body and heart  (心技体 Shingitai).

 

Surely and little by little, many 15 dan will get this special recognition. Today I feel honored of being one of them, and being able to give breath to those who are making a marvelous effort of training with the heart. While translating the certificate, I found a connection with a part of the letter Soke wrote to me 3 years ago, with the introduction for my book Ninpo & Budo;

“Until today, the Ninpô and Budô of the Bujinkan, it’s universe, was trasnsmitted and protected whitin communion with God as a secret with the power of the isshi sôden (knowledge transmission from pather to son). This implied the transmision of Magokoro (escence of the soul), in other words the transmission of the Budoka’s soul through the bufu. Happily, Christian Petroccello, who through a lot of time in the Bujinkan Dojo have manage the fusion of Shin Gi Tai and Bufu, has decided to publish this new book. It is a great joy for me”.

Maybe this certificate is the official feeling on paper over the words from Sôke many years ago, but I’m sure that it’ll also serve as inspiration for practitioners all around the world. I feel that many will be able to keep training with enthusiasm on the right direction of the Bufu from Soke, and achieve the Shin Gi Tai.

Sôke once wrote; “when a person makes a pause during training, later is not capable of recognizing he’s own mistakes. And this not only happens in the world of success and failure, as independently from the world you live in, the long pauses during training can make you end up in the aseptic mountain of Kume (Okayama Prefecture). According to the leyend, Kume no Sennin was and old ascet Budist who gained special powers from training with constancy, but feel on disgrace after being seduced by the legs of a woman that was washing in the river”.

Maybe, just like the legs of a beautiful woman that made Kume loose, the atractive that can make us dissipate may be a lot of other things, maybe a better job, power, money, or even the tough, emotional or psicologic times. Even if the mind is clouded, the teachings of the master can be misunderstanded. Many things can deviate us from the path and make us loose the right path of training. Being able to return to the path, requires courage and  bravery, and I applaud those who could, and those who are trying.

I encourage everyone to keep training beyond their doubts and concerns, and as always go deep in reflection and observation of the true motivations of training.

It all comes to this two simple words in Japanese, Gambatte Kudasai !

Christian

SHINSHIN SHINGAN

心神 心眼

When a Bugeisha deeply understands martial arts, his heart develops the internal eye look. This in Japan is known as ShinShin Shingan 心神 心眼  and can be translated as “Divine Heart, eye of the heart”.

A clear example of having the eye of the heart and the mind of God, was the famous samurai Nasu no Yoichi (那須与一) (c. 1169-c. 1232) who lived at the late Heian era. He became famous  because of and incident that ocurred on the Genpei wars, reported in the Heike Monogatari.

History tells that in march 22 1185, during the naval battle of  Yashima, the Taira had placed a fan on the highest pile of one of their ships, claiming that it protected the ship from arrows, and challenge warriors to take it down. Riding his horse over the waves, and despite the swinging that agitated the ship, Nasu managed to take the fan down on one shot.

Sôke tells that Shinshin shingan (mind and God’s eyes) is called Kanjin Kaname, and this is as important as when Nasuno Yoichi threw is arrow, taking down the fan.

Sôke tells that Nasu no Yoichi was able to do it well, because he was experienced en Kanjin Kaname. Sôke says that Kanjin Kaname is important to everything, as if one doesn’t have Janjin Kaname, many weak spots appear from us.

After the Genpei wars, the new shōgun Minamoto no Yoritomo awarded Nasu no Yoichi making him a Daimyō of the Tottori Castle, but ends up loosing this position after being defeated by Kagetoki Kajiwara in a hunting competition. He then abandons the Echigo province, and after the Yoritomo’s death, ends up becoming a budist monk in the  Jōdo Shinshū sect.

The martial art (as in life itself) hast two paths to choose from; one fake and one true. This is known as Kyojitsu. When the eye of the heart is blinded by egoism, vanity, jelauosy, money and ignorance, the true path can never be found. Even the eye of the mind depends on the concepts of good and bad according to conveniences, based on experiences of fears and both painfull or pleasure ones. However, the eye of the heart relies on feelings and love.

Determination, courage and feeling, are instruments for the martial wind (bufu)  to blow over the clouds that blind the eye of the heart. To tense the arch and let go the arrow is even a way to achieve Mushin.

 

 

To have courage doesn’t neccesarily open the eye of the heart and the mind of God, but even the courage can be just an animal attitude in it’s reaction of survival, and not neccesarily an experience of a human and divine conciense.

If the Kanjin Kaname doesn’t exist, the desitions with courage not always can lead you in a good path, they even can ruin you.

Feeling, devotion, discernment and training in the right place with the right people, help to dissipate the vail of ignorance (Haramitsu), leading us to the experience of Kanjin Kaname.

I think that Kajin Kaname, comes from the experience of Mushin 無心, not neccesarily in the Budô 武道, but also from Mudô 無道

I feel that I’ve becomed dependent of the presence of Sôke, as every time I travel and train in his classes or if I’m on his presence, the eye of the heart opens and I see everything more clearely. Maybe in time I might be able to keep the eye of the heart open without depending on Sôke, but for know, I can only say that I’m just a student trying to learn and feel clearely. I’ll keep doing my best, but I feel more important to continue feeding from his teaching by his side and while away, within the path and the no-path.

Christian Petroccello –  Tenryu

Taikai Madrid

 

2 Weeks Ago I came back from Spain, where we hold a seminar with Pedro Zapatero (Spain), Miguel Sanz (Spain) and Nestor Iscovi (Argentina)

With Nestor we have shared many seminars together, and we know eachother for more than 24 years, but it is the first time we hold a Seminar with Miguel and Pedro, which was very open to this experience.

I began the Taikai as a strategy in a state of observation, trying to perceive that what we could contribute to the more than 100 attendants. Then I was changing my strategy from observation to learn from my 3 partners. I have to recognize, I felt delighted with their Taijutsu and their personality each one of them represented.

It might sound selfish, but though they invited us to give a course in their country, It almost felt like I went there to learn from my partners, from the students, friends and Spanish culture. When I had to show and explain something, it was almost unnecessary to add something from what Nestor, Migue and Pedro had added from their Taijutsu and way to explain the teachings of the Bujinkan. Same way happened while observing the high level of the students. Everyone kept surprising me.

 

The second day, in which everyone was more relaxed and didn’t had so much expectations, everything began to reveal itself more clearly, all of us where there to share and learn. Maybe the 4 of us where the ones leading the orchestra, but all of the practitioners as musicians and their instruments (mind, body and heart) were giving a beautiful symphony called Taijutsu.

What does Taikai mean? It was one of the questions we had when the 3 day Taikai was over. Mi answer was; “That one feels and beleives what is a Taikai, That is a Taikai. And the set of all the feelings among the participants, it’s what becomes a TAIKAI (Special Meeting)”

 

 

I’d like to thank with words the welcome as hosts of the Spanish when we got into their land. Miguel and his  students, Pedro, his wife and his students, everyone had gestures of friendship and companionship that I hope I never let down.

The visit of Shihan Antonio Piqueras and Agustin from France, added more energy into the friendship of my heart while being able to share with them a moment of encounter, food, talking, smiling. Thank you so much for your valuable visit.

As I refered publicly in the Taikai, my deepest gratitud to Pedro Fleitas,  thanks to his contribution and good intentions have allowed that this encounter would be able to take place. A clear example of the courage and the free growing of his personal students and every practitioner of the Bujinkan.

Thanks to every practitioner for being a part of this entertaining experiment of encounter, many thanks to everyone who contributed  their time and sweat on the planning of this event, and with that contribute to the bonds of friendship and training among the Buyu.

See you soon, mata aimasho

Christian

Growing by yourself

There is a phrase Soke says several times “Jiyu ni atarimae ni Jibun de Narai, Jibun de ikiro” which means “Freely and simply, learn by yourself, live by yourself”.

The drawing at the end of a phrase it’s a turnip (Daikon) on which the translation can referr as “becoming something big”. The Daikon is used a lot. For example you can write Ninpo and below draw a Daikon, gives reference to become big within Ninpo.

On this case, to learn by yourself may transform you into something big, as also can make you a turnip. In Argentina, to say that you’re a Turnip, means you are an idiot. In Spain, a Turnip can mean chicken.

One way or the other, to learn by yourself can make you become a great spirit (Daikon 大 魂 )  being aware of the great present (Dai kon 大今)

In this painting that I made for one of my discipples, I capture the sense that with his training on simplicity and liberty, he’s learning day by day for himself, to become a great Bugeisha with great success (Dai Koo 大 功)

In every moment, we are learning for ourselves, learning from the example of others, of their teaching, their triumphs, and sufferings. Same way for ourselves we learn from our victories and defeats. The important thing is to move on learning and achieving a hospitable, caring and social spirit upon infinite changes, on which we can call Dai Kon (大懇)

One way or the other you must try !!!

Christian.

The Happiness of Budo

As you are training in the Dojo, you must feel the subtlety of Ninpo and in Budo in vibrant feelings of the heart.  That which aims the teachings of Soke Masaaki Hatsumi isn’t found on the reign of thought, but they come from an undefined and much more wide space than intelectual.

The training must manifest withing your inner space, on a different dimension in wich you find yourself attached most parts of the day. Budo is mostly irrational, but it will be which helps you break the limits of the borders of the mind, leaving aside dual concepts of rationality.

The Budo of the Bujinkan are enlightened teachings of Soke Hatsumi, which have the characteristic of vibrate in a dimension fullfilled of happiness and peace, taking human being to trascend which I thought where limits of his fisical and mental capacities.

Soke expressed some day during the Argentina Taikai on 1993, “I’m not from around here, nor there, I come from an undefined space which allows me do adapt to all circumstances”

Just like Soke could express that feeling with simple words, words really can’t express the true knowledge that Soke has. In my point of view, Hatsumi Sensei’s Budo is a way of self knowing, focused on your own Satori. The enlightenment (Satori) comes from the internal being that trascends time and space. Even so, being able to say that Satori is a physical experience, would not make sense. But, the body is influenced by the flashes of light that come from Satori,which beautifully enlightens everyone around it.

There is a light that may be momentary, repetitive, sporaduc or widely experimented, but the true Satori can be only experienced in the present time and it is wisdom in it’s maximun expression. However during training in the temporary line of your life, you may have those luminous times in which you understand everything and you’re present in state of peace and happiness, however that isn’t Satorim but more a punctual wink of the true nature of existence.

This way, you can use this feeling to continue your training on the real realization of the complete state of being.

Enlightenmente can only be experienced in the “now”, in the exact moment of present, where the force of the universe manifests with all it’s power. The power of the “now” resides in living behind the dual thought and connect with the sensation of being.

Though Soke Masaaki Hatsumi carries in his back the teachings of hundreds of masters, he can empty in the art of non thinking, where he’s not from here nor there, and allows him to create indefinitely, the art adapting all circumstances. In his making, the art of creativity under the light of inmutable wisdom (Fudo Chin).

Budo is a path of life, that allows us to clean the roughness of the mind and enhance the glowing of the heart. Daily, depending on which enviroments we use, we’re being influcenced by people and situations around us. Our mind gets dirty very easily. Even with publicity, a phone call, an email, a book, or a song, we can be influenced from the past, even from thousands of kilometers away. The mind gets influenced, sometimes for good, and sometimes for bad. To be able to recognize the bad influences is substantial for the path of a Budoka (partial practitioner). Keep training constantly is a way to help us cleaning the mind and luster the heart. I feel that who who has found in Budo a way to manifest his humanity and feels complete, when he stops training, the impurities of the mind increases and the heart gets darkened.

Through practice of Budo, sweating all over the Tatami, the lecture of text, self observation and searching for the correct judgement of the heart, body and technique, the martial arts practitioner must achieve the Shingitai Ichiyo (mind, technique and body in comunion). I feel that is very important for the Bujinkan practitioner, and that has connection with the Seishin Teki Kyoyo, which consists on the spiritual refinement through martial arts for whole human beings.

Soke used to explain in one of his books, “In martial arts there are 3 escential aspects: first, the vision and knowledge of self, Second, the sword of desicion through failure elimination, weakneses and unnecesary. And last, sincerity, feeling, devotion, internal and heart comprehension”

I feel that the order Soke used to write this teaching has an important meaning. As it’s impossible to get to the comprehension of the heart if not making an internal journey with sincerity, feeling and devotion. Soke tells that one must have the vision and knowledge of self, asking who is oneself is of high importance both inside and outside of the Dojo.Observing in the doing is important, but also is being able to achieve the not doing and hearing the echo of stillness that comes from the sounds of our past actions, is also good to understand the walked path. Silence on the stillness allows us to auto-observe, to be witness of the ming. Being able to leave the main character that runs all day with the characters we daily think we are, allows us to relax and leave aside that schizophrenic race of the mind.

Being able to see which character we are, or who we are believed supposed to be, is also meritory on our quest of finding ourselves. The ego is without a doubt fed since early ages with false believings, fears and tabues which condition us when truly knowing who we are, behind all those masks of characters we wear.

Soke once said “We must use te sword of desicion through the elimination of failures, weakneses, and unnecesary”. If feel that using the sword as instrument of desition, one can have an analogy that our disposal and strengh for eliminating failures, must be with total security just a precise cut of a sword master. And it is that a warrior must become it’s own master, in the art of eliminating the imperfections, Maybe with different instruments or means of knowledge that we get from Martial arts, the philosofy or maybe some religion, being able to observe and learning the perfect cut, to eliminate the unnecesary from the very root.

Failures and weakneses ¿Are we ready to accept them in our lives?, One must have courage as elder warriors had to protect their lives and cutting the head of the enemy. But if we analize old precepts, it’s quite clear that the worst enemy is inside every one of us, so before judging another person, before cutting his breath, dreams and his life, we must have courage to cut ourselves. We are our own creators of happiness, as we are of our sufferings, we are the constant makers of our limitations and weakneses, but also the authors of our skills, virtues and capacities.

If you have the habit of creating suffering, probably you’ll hurt others, and if you have the capacity of self-training, being happy because of what’s inside, and aknowlege yourself as an open and sincere being, you’ll be able to help others to find the same.

Accepting the present and the observations of the masters helps recognizing our failures. To recognize our weakneses and to transmute them with the sword of constancy, kindness, tolerance and sincerity, are ways of shaping the inner warrior

The heart manifests this things,  happiness, kindness, tolerance and sincerity, which can go as a sacred spring, where we can completely eliminate our weaknesses. Meanwhile, only a tricklewill even limiting these gestures of the heart only to people that interest us.

La sinceridad, es la verdad misma sin parches ni remiendos. La devoción es la admiración que se tiene desde el corazón por aquello que nos trasciende. Devotos del placer son simplemente personas encarceladas en la mirada egocéntricas de su yo. Devotos de lo sutil de la naturaleza, del ser humano y el universo con conciencia en lo divino, son personas que depositan con confianza sus anhelos en lo superior.

I feel it’s primordial to be able to learn with patience the changes in nature, and accepting the fact that if things don’t happen as we would like them to, it’s because they come from as a part of a superior plan. Achieving this shows also maturity on the looks and resonanze of the warrior. Being a warrior of peace and fighting with the instruments of the heart, shows the highest degree of Ninjutsu. Ninjutsu was also used to avoid war.

Evasion and confrontation must be the happiness of the warrior, at knowing that the one who carries the blessedness are other people, while then will be able to see with life to who may loose the encounter. The finding of struggle should be the lower level of a warrior, and if that happens, being able to  resolve it without taking the adversary’s life. Those are too the aspirations of Ninpo and Budo

Life is sacred, and protecting life of the adversary in combat would show highest habilities of a warrior even more, in technical, human and spiritual ways.

The means of a human being is happiness, and though surviving must be primordial for our specie, being able to achieve the living under the fact of surviving without crushing the heads of others, would show the next evolutional level of the human species. Though as humans we’re full of happiness when growing and see others grow as well, protecting and protecting others, being able to share happiness in the auto-achievement of spirituality would be a positive end as practitioners of martial arts in the highest human level.

Giving happiness and peace to neighbor is easy when it’s about people who we care and love, but giving happiness to people that differ from our way of thinking and even being against our belives, requires wisdom. The wisdom of the path as Bushi (warriors) requires having an inmutable heart that will allow us to adapt any situation, and before infinite changes keeping the treasure of happiness and peace as instruments of freedom.

Dar felicidad y paz al prójimo es fácil cuando se trata de seres que estimamos y queremos, pero poder dar felicidad y paz a personas que difieren de nuestra manera de pensar y hasta están en contra de nuestras creencias, requiere de sapiencia. La sabiduría del camino como Bushi (guerreros) requiere lograr un corazón inmutable que nos permita adaptarnos a todas las situaciones, y antes infinitos cambios mantener el tesoro de la felicidad y la paz como instrumentos de libertad.

Some moment ago, Sensei once said.

“The ultimate purpose of martial arts is keeping peace and freedom.

Martial arts are meant to preserve happiness, and taking the experience of happiness to others. To keep this type of martial art and this type of spirit is beacuse the Bujinkan Dojo exists”

Christian Petroccello

KU KATSU KYU

A couple of weeks ago, I received a letter from Sôke. It begins by saying Ku katsu Kyu, Uma. 久活久   馬, which means “To live a long life, horse”.

Sensei enjoys his Ponies a lot, and in the same letter figures a picture of his 3 ponies next to Sôke and his wife.

Sensei writes the Kanji 活 katsu, which means life, to live, and it’s also used in martial arts as “technique used to reanimate”.

By reading this, I bring myself to the feeling that the present is a moment of constant reviving, of rebirth, and that without going to far, we live  because of the forefathers. Sôke uses the Kanji 久 Ku, which can also mean long time, ancient history. Without a doubt, the ancient history of knowledge and teachings of the Bujinkan traditions, allows us to live our presents in a very particular and concious way. We know that we are in fact heirs of the past, but we don’t know what we can do with it in the future, so we have no other option that to enjoy the present.

Maybe the Ponies have a connection to the past, given that more than any other kind of horse, Ponies are a living remembrance of the youth of our planet. Neglected by the caregivers who wouldn’t bother to improve them, they keep the aspect of their ancestors, which lived free in a wild nature.

Sôke ends by saying “I’m glad you are alright. As the present indicates it, this year I’m enjoying this theme. The most important thing, is to do the things you like the most”.

My daily activities: Yoga, Martial Arts and Natural Therapies, wich are roads for self balance. That is why I’m always looking for a way of a good health, both in physical aspects as in mental and emotional. The teachings of oriental masters, have a load of wisdom that may help us to live on frantic times like these, in which society has lost (for the most part), it’s own nature. I don’t know if I’ve found my nature. but I keep rehearsing and experiencing the encounter of simplicity, and this is what I’m referring by sharing this message.

Sôke more than once has highlighted that health is weak, and we must take care of it. Surely at is 80 years of age, and the load of wisdom of the heritage that carries within his soul, are the knowledges that he shares with us to improve our lives. Little details like smileing, not over thinking, walking directly, eat healthy, sincerity, change and adaptability, training and flowing, living relaxed, and being spontaneous, are some of the hundred of things Sôke teachs.-

Finding our own nature, is an escential part, and being able to share it without destroing it, is a great challenge that we live in the present. The nature that we have, is also de heritage that we have received, and to take care of what has been given to us, is escential for humanity.

If you look back to the Kanji just bellow the photograph, you’ll be able to see that the ideogram of horse has a long tail, and he rest of the ideograms grab on to it, as if it meant that to hold on to the tail of a horse of wisdom, could allow us to live a long life.

Today I feel that I travel around the world sharing and learning from Budo, beacuse of the fact that with confidence I follow the teachings of Sôke. Maybe I’m just a bug that has grabbed tight to a Thoroughbred horse.

I follow his teachings passionately, more than a thousand times without understanding, but positively feeling with happiness, because those are part of the beautiful mistery of life.

My long life wishes to Sôke, and also to the teaches of the Bujinkan to the hearts of it’s followers.

Christian.

El Salvador

Yesterday i came back from El Salvador, where I spent almost a week sharing great moments with students and teachers from Center América and México. The organization by Romel Hernandez and some of his students has been with heart and sweat, a beautiful example of the latin blood in their effort for the Bujinkan Teachings live with passion and love.

The presence of Shihan Eduardo Hernandez (México) and Shidoshi Luis Bernal (El Salvador) with students from several countries from center américa, have made a seminar filled with martial friends with a spirit of joy and passion.

FOTO: Next to Eduardo, Romel and Luis, gentlemen of the Bujinkan.

I feel fortunate of being able to share the valious teachings of the Bujinkan. Feel happy of being able to make so many buyu around the glove, know their countries, their customs and culture, discovering that we have so many things in common. I try to not look at the differences, but always look at the things that join us and makes us stronger. We all have so many things in common under the divine eyes; similar and complementary things that can elevate us in human configuration.

El Salvador was in civil war for about 12 years (between 1980 and 1992) which marked a fighting spirit in many of their habitants. Survival is reflected in the eyes of many if their habitants, both in low economic class and those who have achieved a high patrimony (economic, politic and social). To everyone who has been participant of struggle, pain and death, the seal of war has been attached. The number of victims has been calculated on 75.000 to 100.000 dead and dissapeard, but the ake on the heart of an center american people, is uncalculable.

Many things can heal the heart of people, and I belive that love and the teachings of the Bujinkan Dojo tought by the right people, can be medicine of the soul. Just like how the lotus flower borns from mud and grows into an unexplicable beauty, so can the Bujinkan contribute luminous treasures, to calm suffering in many people (I think).

Seeing foreign and own nature is a quality called Kenshō (literally seing nature) Kenshō is not a permanent state of enlightening  (satori 悟り), but really a punctual sight of the true nature of the existence of own knowledge  (Kenshō 見性). That same self knowledge is what allows us to live healthy (Kenshō 健勝).

It has been said that the  Godan 五段 is a state that is reached with the Sakki test, but we all know that that instinct of survivorship and extra sensorial experience evaporates quickly if we stop training. Same way if we talk about Satori, as something distant only reachable to Budas, but let me tell you that enlightment is also a fleeting state that borns  when you stop thinking and you live the present with happiness, but evaporates quickly when the chain of thoughts activate and the emotions of competitiveness, jealousy and hate, among other negative thoughts , rule our heart.

I ‘ve found hundreds of people around the world in a state of Satori, and they have made my heart also shine for their valious presence. Obviously, Sôke has always been a being that seems to live in a constant state of “not thinking” and filled with happiness. Surely because of that, we all want to be near of his luminous presence and receive his charismatic teachings.

These days in El Salvador, I’ve found that the Satori shined within the smiles of many students, and that that fugacious instant will most surely  have repercussions in the prosper future of the Center America Bujinkan. The “dream world” that there was there was accompanied with the presence of Sôke, misteriously every night I had the asistance of Soke on my sleep. So every morning I woke up with an enormous energy of wantint to share the Bufu to my hosts and Buyu.

Thank you Romel, for your huge effort of wanting to get the Bujinkan to the students of your country and center America. Keep practicing with enthusiasm and happiness. Gambatte Kudasai !

 

Christian.

GYOTOKU

The Bufu moves our sails in several directions, but it is the heart who must steer on the right direction, must be the Budoka who canges the direction of the sails for the ship will reach port. To go in the path of benevolence or to cross the path with virtudes, its called Gyotoku.

In the budism it can be translated as the virtudes of the practitioner, of the one who follows the path. As like in Budo, I find of such importance this aspect of achieving virtudes while training. The Keiko, the training, is the flame who feeds our body, our intelect and our spirit.

To go, gives me the idea of continuing, of flowing  (nagare 流れ) . To follow the path is the escence of Bufu Ikkan, and being able to adapt to infinit changes in this “going” reminds me the famous and inportant teaching of banpen fugyo万変不驚 (infinit changes, without surprise)

In this going, sometimes the warrior loses love ones, in this going one leaves a lot behind, but you get to learn that following a path, means to live the present with total conciesness and Gratefulness, being preparated for infinit changes, that knowing from where you come from is important, as it is to thank people and situations that allowed us to receive the valious present, the “now”. Equally, to be able to see who are at our side every step of the way, and who will give his hand for us to go forward.

I feel that it’s important the fact of being in the “now”, also aware that the accomplished virtudes are merits of the own effort, but that our interdependence with hundreds of people, allowed us to learn and cherish the important things in life. A virtude of the “now” also is being able to learn to detached from the situations, things and people who are not worthy having close our space, but that in the end where necessary for our journey and learning.

The path of gyotoku is filled of ego traps, which as food for itself, can make us believe more than our own capacities. To detach from the achieved virtudes is important, as they won’t overcrowd the ego.

Maintain the peace flowing in the “going”, is of high value to convert periods of virtuous times. Perhaps, thinking in the virtue as a river that flows in times of peace, can have some connection with the Tokugawa Jidai  徳川時代  (Japanese Period of 1600-1867). This way, being able to find peace in the heart of the warrior, upon infinite changes  (banpen Bushinwa 万変武心和).

Over-believing can be good to project ourselves into the future, knowing that we still have a lot to learn and travel, but this shouldn’t be a “cause” of the abandon fo the unconscious of the present. A mind, should have faith and belief in the future, but being close enough while living the present. A warrior, a student of the path (Bugeisha) bust be an artist of it’s own enthusiasm of traveling and apretiate the walking, rolling, jumping and training with happiness. The motivation may come from hundreds of places and people, but they must awake the precious treasure of one’s inside, as something individual, characteristic, and remarkable of a daily life.

Inert Strenghts, are the ones that don’t apply in the path. Gyotoku refers to being able to make yourself day by day, of the antagonistic experiences and discover that problems can be confronted, accepted, comprehended, and if they can… be solved.

Many times, we take rigid Kamae, that won’t allow us to see clearly the enviroment, something so rigid and structured which doesn’t give place for us to empty ourselves and accept that many things that happen to us cannot be avoided. I feel that if one take Ma Ai  間合い (Right distance) into a heart position  (Kokoro Gamae 心 構え)  we can open ourselves and accept everything more broadly.

To accept makes me think in adaptability, and to adapt makes me feel the conection of flowing according to changes in evolution.

I affirm that in order to walk the path, is necesary to have in mind the reference of the main three virtudes (Santoku 三 徳)  courage, wisdom and benevolence. This way the person is doing himselft while walking, in a peregrins flowing with intuition and dignity.

This in Japan is known as  (Saitoku 才 徳) which can be translated as “Intelligence and virtue”.

This article has no other motivation than sharing my point of view in the “going”, knowing with joy that soon… I’ll encounter in the path with many of the readers, for sharing the frienship and the martial winds of the Bujinkan.