Brief History of Aikido: Part 7 - Now

Our Small Home in Space

The World - This is where we all live.

Despite the ambitions of the unenlightened, the world cannot be changed. It will run the course of its evolution taking all life forms with it. Primitive thinking imagines all sorts of destructive delusions and fails to learn the lessons of history. At the lower levels, a consciousness of little understanding is buffeted by emotions which are frightened, spiteful, vindictive, hateful and destructive for all concerned. Such thinking attempts, in vain, to 'change the world' by doing this or that with little or no consideration for other living beings. False assumptions or wild guesses about the nature of existence, even when enshrined in dogmatic mass habituation cannot alter the fact based nature of existence, as it is. Failure to come to terms with the immutable laws of the universe, as it is, instead of how one might wish, or imagine, or hope, results in untruth, paranoia, imposition, infringement, theft, attrition and logically leads to all manner of violence and war.

Every living being is naturally imbued with the instinct and birthright to defend themselves, their rights and their freedoms. Naturally, evolution is not composed of the extinct but of survivors. But when injustice occurs, whether a small personal one, a global one, or any possibility inbetween, when it escalates, in spite of rhetorical pretences and hopes, everyone loses. No-one is in charge of the destruction that eventuates. All concerned are out of control, having made the choice to fail in acknowledging their responsibility for avoiding violence but choosing instead to knowingly make the wrongful choice to either initiate or participate in corrosive activity.

Everyone loses a war. That you can improve your lot by destroying the natural birthrights of others is an unsustainable tenet. Just look at history and all the empires that went before. Where are they now? The old paradigm must die if we as a species are to survive.

Although small compared to the universe we live in, we carry immense responsibility. But only if we learn how to unlock our innate creative potential. Conflict is a natural thing, but unlike the monkeys, who when pressed turn on each other and blame other monkeys, we must enter a new paradigm where we learn to take responsibility. For neither bullying nor victimhood works in the long run. Again, look at history.

What then is sustainable? Neither inertia nor excess solves the problems which the universe foists upon us as teaching. We have no option than to learn, or to resist until we break. The victim and bully syndrome is a tragic one with even more tragic consequences in the long run. Yet is exists everywhere, in the home, at work, in business and international affairs and the consequences are seen daily on TV news. Time, life and happiness is wasted playing this stupid game. Dressing it up in sophistication does not alter the fact that it's still the same stupid ape behaviour that detours lives from fulfilling their mission of creativity and the true original meaning of the word 'intelligence'.

Is it possible to get out of the bully and victim paradigm?

Is it possible to protect from bullies without bullying in return?

Is it possible to put a stop to toxic relationships without doing harm?

If so how?

There is another way. You can make a difference. We all can.

Communication is one of the keys. Communication in its true meaning, not gadgets.

And understanding.

Before we can truly communicate we need to discover who we are, to know ourselves. To understand our own nature through direct experience of all of its aspects. We do not change the world by imposing upon 'others', but by changing ourselves and learning to dance with the currents of existence, including conflict, but in a different way.

The new paradigm of consciously choosing to harmonise energy and possibility is the principle of Ai-Ki. This means having the raw guts to seek co-operation in place of contest. This enables a dance of co-operation even when none may seem to exist in the mind of the ‘other’ party. Peace, in order to work, must be active and well organised. And at the centre of the dance, you get to keep your integrity intact!

Why?

The principles of active Aikido are more than ideas, concepts or ideologies which seasonally come and and then fall like the leaves from a tree, but a personal discipline (Shugyo) which goes to the core of the primal patterns of creation which reside deep within our psyche and body-mind complex.

This method of training unlocks the very real spiritual, physical, mental and emotional flow of life which is a current that cannot die.

KI always was, is now in fullness and forever will be, even at the dissolution of this universe and creation of others. It is a foundation current containing awesome wisdom.

It can be tapped.

We do this by changing ourselves and letting others dance the dance of their choice without compromising or in any way sacrificing our own integrity. We bear the consequence of our own decisions and actions and learn thereby. And we let others bear the consequences of theirs.

Through regular Aikido training we align ourselves with The Great Harmony of the Universe which is the Source of existence and learn to navigate existence and life instead of fighting it. In this way we profit sustainably. And this at the deepest and most significant levels of our existence which then reflects into daily life.

And yes, there is a price. It can be challenging. Any discipline is. There is work involved in investing time and effort in unlocking your own deepest integrity. It may at times seem difficult, but it may also be thoroughly enjoyable and fulfilling. And this at a level far deeper and more soul nourishing than watching the same show on TV for the tenth repeat. By exercising your power of choice, you determine your future direction and become enabled.

THERE ARE MANY BRANCHES...

Respect them all. To name but a few would be unfair, yet to honour every single one a necessity.

To find more Aikido schools/dojos, or to find a school near you, or important related fields of violence prevention, go to our Links Page>>

Violence, aggression and contest are not theories but deeply ingrained pathologies. They cannot be healed by either theoretical means, lots of talk, nor by force. Theorising in the face of imminent attack is a foolish proposition and force merely escalates the problem because violent reactions are the effects of primal defence mechanisms gone wrong.

Whether on an individual or a larger scale, it often becomes necessary to deal effectively with violence. Going into denial simply makes victims. Mimicking the attacker's low activity, mere brutality. The best way to terminate endless cycles of escalation is to do so without generating violence in return. But this requires a new paradigm of thinking and consummate skill.

How is such skill obtained?

Only by thoroughly healing and reintegrating our inner circuitry, the mind-body connection; and understanding both ourselves and the universe, as it is, can we overcome the fears and greeds that lurk and wrongly motivate us.

Thereby we energise our creative potentials in harmony with the Great Universe. The body-mind connection is known as 'KI'. The harmonising and healing of the body-mind as 'AIKI'. 'DO' means, “THE WAY” There are many valid ways...

Aikido is such a Way...

Aikido is not some form of solo practice conducted for personal gratification alone or hiding away as an island in a futile attempt to avoid, escape or deny the energetic realities of existence. Rather the 'Ai' and the 'Ki' are enacted and HARMONISED in real energetic RELATIONSHIP; with real force, movement, action, interaction and attack!

Over time this brings about a clarification of the mind, understanding and lucid perception whereby the very real meeting place of physics and metaphysics is growingly understood. And with the increase of understanding comes the lessening of fear. And thus all the aberrations which fear engenders become diminished. This makes sane relationships increasingly possible and may be applied in all areas of life.

As a result of the benefits attained through practice, it places our minds at peace even in the most dynamic and testing of situations and we learn to understand the ebb and flow of AI and KI, find the CENTRE and thereby are enabled to relate harmoniously with any possibility.

This is a never ending personal transformation 'Do' or Way vast as the universe itself and gives meaning to being human, but also facilitates the calm and uplifting behaviours which result from a clear and lucid consciousness.

It is impossible to change others, especially against their will. But we have almost total jurisdiction over ourselves and our attitudes.

Herein lies the secret of true power.

What has all this 'philosophy' got to do with martial arts, self defence and fighting? Everything! Aikido is not a 'better' way of bashing, nor a 'better' way of struggling or resisting or fighting or being a martian. It is the active practice and discovery, at a practical level, in dealing with conflict before it turns into violence. Violence happens when the intention is misused because of mental unbalance and psychic disease usually derived from fear, greed and misunderstanding. By activating and utilising the new paradigm, that of 'Ai-Ki, or the harmonising of energy and action, we transform. The benefits are many and includes restoring and maintaining a healthy psyche, keeping fit, therapy, massage, mind-body connection and much more, all rolled into one.

The principles of Ai-ki constitute a way to de-escalate any form of stupidity, in particular that of violence without either avoidance or unnecessary confrontation but BALANCE. The best way to win is to not to have to fight, and thereby placing much at at risk. How can this be achieved? By implementing such conditions whereby aggression is made to becomes impossible! Being a better idiot only proves you are batter idiot. There is no such thing as a 'fair fight'. Violence solves nothing. Truth does. But it takes guts to face up to it. It takes practice. Hence the Dojo. (A place for practicing The Way. ('Way' means discovering for yourself as opposed to rote, blind eating of dogma.)

Whilst the basic techniques of Aikido can be the most devastating in an unavoidable situation where defence is necessary, these are merely the 'backup'. The preferred choice is to find ways to avoid destructive relationship where it is possible to do so. And to restore natural harmony where everyone wins. The starting point of understanding arises with the realisation that there is nothing to 'prove' and everything to improve and that we have a long way to go.

When we come to terms with our unresolved fears and angers, a new world view appears. One which was always there to be noticed. One where harmony prevails instead of those conflicts which reside no-where, but lurk in the dark corners of our own psyche. The only way to overcome fear, the only worthy cause, just war, holy war must be primarily enacted within one’s own heart and mind through any process that may assist the facing, meeting and acknowledging those spooks and shadows of subtle fear that reside in the insecure monkey mind and which warp human attitudes. And instead of blaming, fearing and attacking externals, rather through daily restoring the sanity which comes with lucid mind, enlightening our attitudes and harmonising our actions and relations. Peace must begin from within before it can be hoped to appear in the world.

It takes rare courage and skill to confront the insanity of violence, peacefully yet indomitably without getting infected into retaliation. Or receiving the intended damage. To be sufficiently aware to stem an attack before it happens. And this without violence or underhanded means. And then redirect the diseased intention back into the flow of universal harmony as much as it is possible to do so. To refuse to unleash dynamic defense skill until and unless it becomes finally inevitable. And to know the difference. And to do so without receiving harm. Or doing harm. It is much easier to cheat existence and oneself by initiating violence through destructive means. But the result of initiated aggression unleashes a horror where everyone involved loses far too much. And also those who are innocent. And much more than humanity can afford to lose. Global meltdown should not be a goal for humanity. With all our creative potential we are capable of far more than the pathological monkey-in-suit behaviour which seems to be increasing. We should make an effort to learn from the repeated lessons of history.

The sayings, poems and writings of O'Sensei, Master Morihei Ueshiba are a useful reference but more so when you train regularly and unlock these perennial truths for yourself.

 

"Aikido is for
the healing of fear.
Once fear disappears
there is nothing left to fear."

"Regular Aikido training evokes The Art of Peace.

What is peace?

Peace is a condition which must first be established within one’s own psyche before it can be found in the world. With deep inner peace a different way of relating to energy and circumstances appears. Instead of blindly reacting, conscious response based on immediate understanding becomes possible. Dynamic peace is an attitude where a new paradigm of strategy emerges. One where no victim need exist in order that victory or success be achieved. In other words, we must first cease to be victim of our own entrenched corrosive attitudes. Attitudinal healing is of paramount importance in the spiritual, physical, mental , social and artistic evolution of the human being.

This potential is not visible to the mind haunted with fears and riddled with lack of understanding. To such a mind, all existence and its circumstances poses a threat. In psychiatric terms this psychosis is described as ‘paranoia’. Paranoia gives rise to such pathologies as contest, abuse, bullying, imposition, theft, deceit, manipulation, victimhood and all the other injustices and insecurities that our dark side is heir to. This is because the foundation is one of fear, a rotten and corrosive condition for the human psyche to be burdened with.

A mind and soul established in true, deep peace, gives rise to a state where it is both practical and possible for everyone to win, gain and profit with no losers or victims.

How is this possible and why?

Wasteful excess of activity and willful destructivity is the result of a bewildered consciousness. The confused, ruled by unfounded fears, imagine more than exists and so do too much and thus wreak havoc.

The clarified consciousness notices that which is, as it is, and imagines no more and no less than actually is. It realizes that even that which appears to be aberrant has its existence in the same one source and that all energy and substance are subject to the same laws of existence. Adding opinions and ideas, found only in the mind, are unnecessary and cannot alter the nature of existence, the vast universe and its laws but merely entangle, confuse and make unnecessary complications for ourselves alone.

By effectively clarifying the consciousness and dispelling these excrescences, a calm direct understanding appears. One of respect for all life. From such a position of integrity, only that which is needful is done, and no more. And thus infringement, with all its repercussions, does not occur. Undue striving, which is a pathology of the mutated monkey psyche, is transcended, replaced by the Ki of the Universe, in tune with The Great Harmony which rules all existence and gives life its innate perfection.

This may sound poetic yet is deeply scientific, practical and applicable. But only for those willing to face the discomfort of change, leave the chimp ancestry well and truly behind; and unlock our constructively creative potential by doing the work required to move forward into our forgotten Origins...”

Ichino Wakudo - Mui-no-Shinnin