A Letter from Bill Gleason Sensei
Dear Friends of Okugyo,
As we enter into the new year the yang spiritual ki of our
environment continues to grow in intensity. Nature is attempting to
purify the earth and all beings upon it. Unless we empty ourselves of
everyday concerns and self-centeredness, no amount of training will be
sufficient to merge with the times we are now living in.
We are living with the problems of global warming and natural
disaster, the general lack of clarity and awareness of the world
population, a worldwide instability of the financial markets, and the
population of people who are, for the most part, sleeping at the helm.
The ki of nature and the universe is pushing each of us towards
awakening, yet when we resist this natural power of evolution, the
result is only greater difficulty.
In these times it is especially important to live intentionally and
take responsibility for our own spiritual evolution. The rest of
nature evolves at the dictates of natures law and order, yet it is
natural for human being to become free and that requires intentional
practice with a definite purpose. First of all it is important to
become really clear exactly what that purpose is and then put it at
the forefront of our everyday lives.
I hope that more and more people, especially aikidoka, will take it
upon themselves to go beyond the mere study of technique and seek the
deeper meaning and potential behind this incredible training. In this
spirit I welcome each of you to attend Okugyo as often as possible in
this New Year.
If you are planning on attending a retreat, please sign up online as
soon as possible to it is easier to prepare for the number of people
attending. On the other hand, if you are not attending also, please
answer this email and let us know that you will not be attending. In
the same way this makes our planning much easier. Thanks and I hope to
see you in Vermont in February.
Sincerely,
Bill Gleason
see www.shobuokugyo.blogspot.com for more information on Okugyo Aikido retreats.
Test Prep Class Video
This clip shows the Dojo at practice during our test preparation time. I usually teach a regular class for an hour, and then we break into groups based on experience level. During this time, those who will be testing get ample opportunity to ask questions and learn the correct terminology. More senior practitioners gain valuable experience guiding others. We use this format for the month preceding the Seasonal Basics Seminar during which Kyu testing happens.
- Jay
Aikido Kick Defense Techniques
Excerpts from free waza after class with Jay Sensei. Uke:Amy Brown and Danny Kline.
The Art of Peace in Space and At Home.
Aiki is truly everywhere! Isabella finished a homeschool project on the harmony of the Solar System today, so we thought we would share it with everyone. We also decided to share three of our family practices: The Family Kiss, The Family Hug, and Voicing Gratitude to show some of the ways we try to manifest Aiki in our daily life at home as a family...
Enjoy,
- Jay, Karen and Isabella.
New Year's Eve Keiko
These are photos taken at the annual New Years Eve Keiko. We begin at 9pm with a major dojo cleaning. Around 10:15 pm we begin with a period of zazen, followed by the "year letting go" liturgy. During this ceremony, each participant is welcome to offer incense at the shomen for any intentions that relate to karmic unfoldings for the previous year. During this time, we chant the "Emme Juku Kannon Gyo" to invoke Compassion, forgiveness and healing. The Aikido practice is very formal, and we go through all the core Aikido techniques. As each technique is practiced, it is offered formally by Sensei as a prayer for world peace. As midnight nears, we again return to the still point of zazen, and at the stroke of Midnight, we begin the year welcoming liturgy. During this ceremony, we offer incense for intentions relating to the karmic unfoldings of the upcoming year as the "Sho Sai Myo Kichi Jo" Dahrani is chanted. The quality of this chant is of breaking though barriers. All the participants are welcome (and in fact encouraged) to frame these practices in whatever way makes sense to them. During this special time, Sensei wears a white hakama that was given to him by the students at the dojo years ago. The fellow who is not in a Gi is Sensei's dad Otto! After all of that, we enjoy a toast together to bring in the new year, and another one to wish Sensei a happy birthday!
The path less taken
It is not my intent to offend anyones sense of the reality of our current existence though I am fully aware that this might do just that. I am a firm believer that the reason why so many people are unhappy is the fact that we are living within the bounds of a emotionally destructive civilization built upon and dependent on the continuous suffering of the masses. This is the age of information and I would like to share what I feel is an important informational work called "zeitgeist". In a sense the matrix does exist - If you decide to take the red pill go check out http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/index.html. It also exists as a google streaming video at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5547481422995115331&q=zeitgeist&total=2537&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0
If you choose the blue pill then please ignore this post.
I'll admit to being on the skeptical side of life though you might not believe me with a post such as this. I'll also admit to doubting several sections of the Zeitgeist movie. Is it just another political trick helping to confuse? Unconstitutional Tax law? nothing new . . . We are all being tracked 24/7 for most of us via our cell phones - no need for chips. However with greater frequency I find myself asking why I'm so quick to discount strange ideas, non-quantifiable spiritual connections or even trying to put enlightening ideas into a format that is sharable to another person. At what point does one reach a conclusion that something is really authentic? Aikido has awoken my mind to the fact that the possibilities of this physical existence are endless.
What were you thinking about last year? ->
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2007/
-Bob
If you choose the blue pill then please ignore this post.
I'll admit to being on the skeptical side of life though you might not believe me with a post such as this. I'll also admit to doubting several sections of the Zeitgeist movie. Is it just another political trick helping to confuse? Unconstitutional Tax law? nothing new . . . We are all being tracked 24/7 for most of us via our cell phones - no need for chips. However with greater frequency I find myself asking why I'm so quick to discount strange ideas, non-quantifiable spiritual connections or even trying to put enlightening ideas into a format that is sharable to another person. At what point does one reach a conclusion that something is really authentic? Aikido has awoken my mind to the fact that the possibilities of this physical existence are endless.
What were you thinking about last year? ->
http://www.google.com/intl/en/press/zeitgeist2007/
-Bob
2 mentions
a quick note to let everyone know that...
1. the tecumseh club is now free for all shobu students to attend. just tell them at the front desk you are a member of shobu aikido of ohio.
2. my band and i will be playing the elbow room in ypsilanti, mi. on saturday, jan. 19. several bands perform. show begins at 10pm. -kline
BodhiDharma Workshop at the Toledo Zen Center
On Sunday January 20th the Toledo Zen Center will be holding a morning half day zazenkai from 9 to noon, and in the afternoon I will be conducting an afternoon retreat and workshop on the teachings of the Zen ancestor BodhiDharma. Aikidoka and practitionters of other martial arts may recognize BodhiDharma as the monk from India who brought the teachings of the Buddha to the Shao Lin Monastery in China during the early 6th Century. This pivotal teacher is thus at the root of both Zen and most all of the martial arts, including Aikido.
All who are interested in encountering the teachings of this great historic figure are welcome to attend the full days retreat or just the afternoon workshop. Please bring a notebook and pen to the afternoon if you attend, there is no need to preregister, but please do keep your eye out for the relevant texts that will be posted at www.toledozen.org.
Audio copys of the workshop will be available via www.thedrinkinggourd.org eventually...
- Jay Chikyo Weik
Cha-no-yu
Please go to the post on toledozen.blogspot.com to read about an opportunity to attend a traditional tea ceremony on an upcoming Friday evening. Follow the instructions if you are interested, or contact me with questions.
off the ground
the tecumseh aikido club hit the ground running tonight in large part due to the generosity of our shobu members tom, jim, and chris. my wife angela dusted off her hakama to join in and we made a new friend in lee the kempo karate instructor at the facility. thank you to all who are helping make this club possible, especially jay sensei. -kline
A good kind of tired
Have you had one of those days when you were hemming and hawing about whether to go to keiko? You know, work was tiring, and you weren't sure you had the energy for class. It was also so dark when you got home from work. That was tonight, but I wanted to say how glad I was I went to class. Yeah, it was tough and my knees were shaky, but you end up tired and also energized. If you're halfway mentally to the dojo, make that extra effort. I don't always follow my own advice, but I'm trying harder -- a New Year's resolution.
On another note, I've started to read "The Book of Macrobiotics," a book Sensei recommended to learn more about the concepts of yin and yang.
Finally, I put a link here to an aikido page on my Web site. It's mostly students who check out my site for homework, but maybe some of them will ask about aikido.
Tom
On another note, I've started to read "The Book of Macrobiotics," a book Sensei recommended to learn more about the concepts of yin and yang.
Finally, I put a link here to an aikido page on my Web site. It's mostly students who check out my site for homework, but maybe some of them will ask about aikido.
Tom
DAY TRIP?
i am planning on taking a day trip to attend the last day of oberlin's upcoming seminar with ellis amdur sensei on sunday, jan. 27 (the day after our basics seminar and kyu testing). i'm planting the seed for anyone who's just crazy enough to join in. -kline
ps here's my dog demonstrating tenkan.
ps here's my dog demonstrating tenkan.
aikido club details
happy new year everyone!!
for anyone interested in participating in the new michigan aikido club, it will be held weekly beginning on wednesday, jan. 9 from 5-6pm at the fitness connection 703 e. chicago blvd, tecumseh, mi. 49286 517.424.3399
thank you to all who have shared your thoughts about this new endeavor. danny kline
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