http://www.aetw.org/
One of the most famous modern-day exponents of the art of kotodama was Morihei Ueshiba - founder of the Spiritual Martial Art: Aikido.
Ueshiba, in adult life a follower of the Oomoto-kyo religious sect, devoted many years to the study and practice of kotodama, over time formulating his own version of the discipline which he incorporated into the Aikido system.
[It should perhaps be pointed out that, aged 7, Ueshiba was sent to Jizodera: a Shingon temple in Wakayama prefecture, where he studied Shingon Scriptures (as well as the Confucian classics), and it is likely that this immersion in Shingon Mikkyo doctrine at such a formative period in his life, would have influenced his later understanding and evolution of the kotodama art.]
Briefly:
At the core of the Ueshiba kotodama system lies the intonation of the nuclear syllable is SU.
SU is representative of the absolute center of the material realm - the very core of existence - the beginning of all things. It is the essence of that which existed at the precise moment of the creation of the Universe.
Other primary syllables include:
YU - signifying the affirmative: 'yes', is so', 'something'
MU - signifying the negative: 'no', 'is not', 'nothing'.
and the vowel-sounds: A-O-U-E-I:
A - signifying: 'moving up' - is voiced centered in the throat & mouth.
O - signifying: 'moving down' - is voiced centered near the heart.
U - signifying: 'returning to self' - is voiced deep in the hara
E - signifying: 'branching out' - is voiced in a way so as to be felt radiating out
.....................throughout the body.
I - signifying: ..'the life force' - is voiced so that it vibrates powerfully &
.....................eminates/projects outwards from the body.
'Usui' Kotodama
In the practice of kotadama, (and also, in the practice of jumon,) correct pronounciation of the syllables is of great importance, and, in both the Ueshiba kotodama practice and the kotodama practice which, it is now being claimed, was employed by Usui Sensei, the vowel-sounds have identical pronunciation:
A - vocalised as the a in 'father'
O - vocalised as the o in 'comb'
U - vocalised as the u in 'blue'
E - vocalised as the e in 'pen' (i.e. 'eh' - though some pronounce it closer to: 'ay')
I - vocalised as the ee in 'sleep'
Beyond the vowel-sounds, the following are the primary syllable-sounds apparently utilised in the 'Usui' form of kotodama:
KU as in 'you'
KI as in 'see'
HO, KO, YO - each as in 'blow'
NE - 'Neh' (- though some pronounce it closer to: 'Nay')
ZE - 'Zeh' (- some pronounce it closer to: 'Zay')
It seems it is currently being taught that Usui Sensei applied kotodama principles to produce a vocal alternative to the familiar 'names' of the four Reiki Symbols:
Kotodama: Pronunciation: Symbol:
ho ku ei hoe koo eh-ee Choku rei
ei ei ki eh-ee eh-ee kee Sei heiki
Ho a ze ho ne hoe ah zeh hoe neh Hon sha ze shô nen
a-i ku yo ah-ee koo yoe Dai kô myô
The theory is that these kotodama 'word-sounds' may be substituted for the symbols across the broad spectrum of their potential usage - e.g. in Reiki 'treatments', denju, reiju, and meditation, etc.
However, the reduction of words to primal phonemes in this way is a somewhat simplistic application of kotodama principle.
[Kotodama is a much more inclusive and broadranging discipline - involving many elements beyond the intonation of sacred phonomes or vowel-sounds.]
Such simplistic application of kotodama principle to the Reiki symbols is perhaps something one would expect to be devised by individuals only barely familiar with the discipline, rather than by someone as obviously well-versed in such matters as Usui-sensei?
In fact, I am of the growing belief that the elements of kotodama now being taught in relation to Reiki have actually been borrowed from the oversimplified examples of kotodama practice presented on several Aikido websites (- where the info is simply intended as an introducton to the principles of the discipline for new students)
General instructions for practice of the element of kotodama focussing on the intonation of phonomes or vowel-sounds:
Sit in the traditional Japanese zazen posture (- or on an upright chair, with back straight, feet flat on the ground) - with hands either palms down, resting on your thighs, or in the formal gassho position.
Focus your attention in your hara, at the area known as seiki tanden (a couple of inches below the navel).
Clear and still the mind.
Focus on the moment - there is ONLY the moment.
Draw the breath smoothly, steadily and easily in through the nose, then vocalise the kotodama as you breathe out through the mouth.
In a low and deeply resonant voice, intone each kotodama slowly, strongly - with total concentration and unity of body, mind and spirit.
Pronounce each 'word-sound' distinctly, separately - do not run or slur them together. Let each 'word-sound' fill your whole body - vibrating throughout every molecule - every atom.
Be aware of the resonance extending out throughout your aura into the very air about you....
*****
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
CHOK
Chok
Vi baserer det meste af vort liv på fornuft eller vi forsøger at forstå tingene rationelt. Hvis det var grundstyringen i vort liv ville vi ikke forstå ret meget af livet, i sin helhed.
Ser vi imidlertid tilbage på vort liv, må vi i drømme at alt som virkelig har flyttet noget, ændret vor opfattelse radikalt, har været ledsaget af et chok – af en oplevelse af at noget som i et nu eller som med et sæt blev ændret.
Forelskelse er en slags chok tilstand. Chokket gør seende eller blind. Man overrumples, troede ikke at det kunne ske, vaner og forestillinger rystes og værdien af gamle opfattelser testes. Men nu er forelskelse jo ikke en tilstand som opstår ret ofte.
Har man erkendt at chok, store såvel som små er en nødvendig faktor i udviklingen, fordi vor magelighed og stræben efter tryghed og stabilitet, vil få os til at falde i søvn, da vil vi begynde at ændre vor opfattelse af alt som i vort liv virker chokerende på os. Vi vil falde i søvn igen, men vi vil ikke sove så godt nu som vi gjorde før.
At træne Aikido er på sin vis chokerende. Mange drages mod Aikido, men opgiver ret hurtigt. Et af mine egne første chok var, at jeg blev konfronteret med den totale mangel på koordinering min krop og mit sind. Intet virkede. Jeg følte mig som et hjælpeløst barn som skal til at tage de første skridt, uden evne til at holde retning eller balance. Længere fremme i forløbet begyndte svagheder og svækkelse i kroppen at gøre sig gældende. Senere sindets tvivl om det nu også var anstrengelserne værd. Aldrig et endeligt svar – aldrig en endelig løsning. Aldrig nogen begyndelse eller afslutning.
Det er det rædselsfulde i situationen! Aikido er i sin essens en vedvarende Misogi eller lutring af sind og krop. På japansk kaldes denne proces for Do på kinesisk Dao. Forvandlingens proces eller I Ching.
Når krop og sind bringes i Harmoni med Kosmos, når den Ying og Yang, Lys og Mørke finder sin rette plads, da vil den Universelle Ki, som levende vand rense vor krop og sind . Verden er da resultatet af ligevægts virkninger.
Shock
We base most of our lives on reason or we try to understand things rationally. If it was due to management in our lives we would not understand much of life in its entirety.
However, we look back on our life, we must dream that all who have really moved something radically changed our view, has been accompanied by a shock - an experience of something as a present or as a set was changed.
Love is a kind of shock. The shock makes sighted or blind. When unprepared, we did not believe it could happen, habits and beliefs are shaken and the value of old concepts tested. But now love's not a condition which occurs quite often.
Have recognized that shock, both large and small is a necessary factor in development because of our complacency and striving for security and stability, will cause us to fall asleep, then we will begin to change our perception of everything in our lives seems shocking to us. We will go back to sleep, but we will not sleep as well now as we did before.
Aikido training is certainly shocking. Many are drawn to Aikido, but gives up rather quickly. One of my first shock was that I was confronted with the total lacke of coordination of my body and my mind. Nothing worked. I felt like a helpless child who is about to take the first step, without the ability to keep the direction or balance. Further on in the cycle began weakness and weakness in the body to assert itself. Later mind's doubts it really was worth the effort. Never a final answer - never a final solution. Never any beginning or end.
This is tre terroof the situation! Aikido is in its essence a renewable Misogi or purification of the mind and body. In Japanese called this process of Do in Chinese Dao. Process of change, or I Ching.
When body and mind brought into harmony with the cosmos, when the Ying and Yang, when light and darkness takes its rightful place, then the Universal Ki, as living water cleanse our body and mind. World is then the result of equilibrium effects.
Vi baserer det meste af vort liv på fornuft eller vi forsøger at forstå tingene rationelt. Hvis det var grundstyringen i vort liv ville vi ikke forstå ret meget af livet, i sin helhed.
Ser vi imidlertid tilbage på vort liv, må vi i drømme at alt som virkelig har flyttet noget, ændret vor opfattelse radikalt, har været ledsaget af et chok – af en oplevelse af at noget som i et nu eller som med et sæt blev ændret.
Forelskelse er en slags chok tilstand. Chokket gør seende eller blind. Man overrumples, troede ikke at det kunne ske, vaner og forestillinger rystes og værdien af gamle opfattelser testes. Men nu er forelskelse jo ikke en tilstand som opstår ret ofte.
Har man erkendt at chok, store såvel som små er en nødvendig faktor i udviklingen, fordi vor magelighed og stræben efter tryghed og stabilitet, vil få os til at falde i søvn, da vil vi begynde at ændre vor opfattelse af alt som i vort liv virker chokerende på os. Vi vil falde i søvn igen, men vi vil ikke sove så godt nu som vi gjorde før.
At træne Aikido er på sin vis chokerende. Mange drages mod Aikido, men opgiver ret hurtigt. Et af mine egne første chok var, at jeg blev konfronteret med den totale mangel på koordinering min krop og mit sind. Intet virkede. Jeg følte mig som et hjælpeløst barn som skal til at tage de første skridt, uden evne til at holde retning eller balance. Længere fremme i forløbet begyndte svagheder og svækkelse i kroppen at gøre sig gældende. Senere sindets tvivl om det nu også var anstrengelserne værd. Aldrig et endeligt svar – aldrig en endelig løsning. Aldrig nogen begyndelse eller afslutning.
Det er det rædselsfulde i situationen! Aikido er i sin essens en vedvarende Misogi eller lutring af sind og krop. På japansk kaldes denne proces for Do på kinesisk Dao. Forvandlingens proces eller I Ching.
Når krop og sind bringes i Harmoni med Kosmos, når den Ying og Yang, Lys og Mørke finder sin rette plads, da vil den Universelle Ki, som levende vand rense vor krop og sind . Verden er da resultatet af ligevægts virkninger.
Shock
We base most of our lives on reason or we try to understand things rationally. If it was due to management in our lives we would not understand much of life in its entirety.
However, we look back on our life, we must dream that all who have really moved something radically changed our view, has been accompanied by a shock - an experience of something as a present or as a set was changed.
Love is a kind of shock. The shock makes sighted or blind. When unprepared, we did not believe it could happen, habits and beliefs are shaken and the value of old concepts tested. But now love's not a condition which occurs quite often.
Have recognized that shock, both large and small is a necessary factor in development because of our complacency and striving for security and stability, will cause us to fall asleep, then we will begin to change our perception of everything in our lives seems shocking to us. We will go back to sleep, but we will not sleep as well now as we did before.
Aikido training is certainly shocking. Many are drawn to Aikido, but gives up rather quickly. One of my first shock was that I was confronted with the total lacke of coordination of my body and my mind. Nothing worked. I felt like a helpless child who is about to take the first step, without the ability to keep the direction or balance. Further on in the cycle began weakness and weakness in the body to assert itself. Later mind's doubts it really was worth the effort. Never a final answer - never a final solution. Never any beginning or end.
This is tre terroof the situation! Aikido is in its essence a renewable Misogi or purification of the mind and body. In Japanese called this process of Do in Chinese Dao. Process of change, or I Ching.
When body and mind brought into harmony with the cosmos, when the Ying and Yang, when light and darkness takes its rightful place, then the Universal Ki, as living water cleanse our body and mind. World is then the result of equilibrium effects.
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