Today's Schedule:

6:30-7:30pm Aikido. All levels and ranks.

Always finish what you do. Always keep your word. If you can understand these two concepts, you are a true Warrior. It is definitely not easy. . . . . but it is what makes a Warrrior and what governs how he lives and thinks in all aspects of his Life. This is also called, "Honor" and "Integrity" - do you know what these words mean?

Spam on the internet - a disturbing monument to the loneliness and frustration in many people's lives today.

Don't fill your lives with "don't's" and "cannot's," do everything you want to do in Life. If you have the will, you will find the Way.

All martial arts begins and ends with etiquette and manners. After a lifetime of practice, I realize how important this fundamental teaching is. Understand this teaching NOW!

Monkey & the Moon:

Thank you for your reply and thank you for making such a great effort in your practice. I think your teacher should be very proud of you to see such dedication to your Aikido.

Yes, it is very difficult to just observe, without naming or judging or setting a value or assigning it to some category in your head. It is this process of trying to "define" and we find that it doesn't fit into any neat, little category in our mental filing system, we abound in questions, doubts, confusion. . . . .

In all aspects of our lives, it is an excellent practice to simply observe without "naming," and in observing, we begin to see everything as it is, not as we like to see it or as we want to see it. . . . . This means that we do not "grasp" at everything, but just observe things as they are and see their essential nature.

The story of the monkey is a very old one and very popular in the Muromachi Period, 16th century, as the popular subject of many "Zen" paintings during this period. Usually, it is painted as a long-armed monkey, hanging in a tree, grasping at the "reflection of the moon in the water" which it thinks is something "shiney" (which attracts his attention) or something to eat like a peach. What the monkey does not realize is that it is only a reflection and doesn't really exist. Because of the monkey's confusion between what is real and what is not (only a reflection in the water), it continues to grasp at the water. More than the poor monkey himself, we think it is how the monkey imitates humans - who are always grasping at things which are essentially non-substantial.

Miyamoto Musashi was very fond of this story and often employed this motif in his sword fittings.

In practice, please try to continue to simply observe, without naming or judging, and practice what you see. As you practice, understanding or awareness of what you are doing will come naturally. By judging and questioning before you have even tried to practice, you have already colored your perceptions. . . and, like the monkey, are grasping at something which is not there. In many other illustrations, the idea of the "moon reflected in the water," is a symbol of man's obsession with illusion.

The second half of your question is very difficult for me to answer because I prefer to stay away from making judgements of other groups of Aikido and this can easily be interpreted as taking a political stance. Isn't there too much politics in Aikido as it is.

As everyone knows, I am a strong supporter of Doshu and the Ueshiba Family so this means that I am also a strong supporter of Hombu Dojo. It is natural that many groups will evolve from O'Sensei's teachings, as we see from our study of history, people, and other arts and groups. In Japanese, there is a saying, "ten people, ten different opinions."

I am afraid that some groups have separated from Aikikai only because they want to be their own boss, or they have some complaint, usually a difference in opinion, or for some other reason. Most reasons for splitting away have been petty and small, and not for any significant reason outside of ego, I am afraid to say. Over many years in Aikido, I have met and trained under many teachers at different times so I am familiar with many of these various groups. I have always stayed close to Aikikai Hombu Dojo as I feel it is my personal duty, but I have also been very disappointed with many of these groups as well. . . . I have already said too much.

On O'Sensei's deathbed, he asked that all Aikidoists follow and support his successors. Although this happened almost 40 years ago, I still feel that it is the obligation of all Aikidoists to repay a debt of thanks for giving us this wonderful art.

You can ask your teacher about such things - but rather than this, please return your very difficutl and challenging practice of observing without naming.

Focus on your practice, forget about who is who and who is what. . . Mastering Katatetori Ikkyo is much more important than such political issues - a good place to see many "reflections of the moon in the water!"