Faults

To give a person one's opinion and correct his faults is an important thing. It is compassionate and comes first in matters of service. But the way of doing this is extremely difficult. To discover the good and bad points of a person is an easy thing, and to give an opinion concerning them is easy, too. For the most part, people think that they are being kind by saying the things that others find distasteful or difficult to say. But if it is not received well, they think that there is nothing more to be done. This is completely worthless. It is the same as bringing shame to a person by slandering him. It is nothing more than getting it off one's chest. 


To give a person an opinion one must first judge well whether that person is of the disposition to receive it or not. One must become close with him and make sure that he continually trusts one's word. Approaching subjects that are dear to him, seek the best way to speak and to be well understood. Judge the occasion, and determine whether it is better by letter or at the time of leave-taking. Praise his good points and use every device to encourage him, perhaps by talking about one's own faults without touching on his, but so that they will occur to him. Have him receive this in the way that a man would drink water when his throat is dry, and it will be an opinion that will correct faults.

This is extremely difficult. If a person s fault is a habit of some years prior, by and large it won't be remedied. I have had this experience myself. To be intimate with all one's comrades, correcting each other's faults, and being of one mind to be of use to the master is the great compassion of a retainer. By bringing shame to a person, how could one expect to make him a better man?

The Hagakure

Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis Blog | Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu | Ted Hanulak Sensei

The Way of the Samurai

The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either/or, there is only the quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say that dying without reaching one's aim is to die a dog's death is the frivolous way of sophisticates. When pressed with the choice of life or death, it is not necessary to gain one's aim. 


We all want to live. And in large part we make our logic according to what we like. But not having attained our aim and continuing to live is cowardice. This is a thin dangerous line. To die without gaining one's aim is a dog's death and fanaticism. But there is no shame in this. This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai. If by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.

The Hagakure

Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis Blog | Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu | Ted Hanulak Sensei

Regrettable

It is truly regrettable that a person will treat a man who is valuable to him well, and a man who is worthless to him poorly.
One should have insight into this world of dreams that passes in the twinkling of an eye.

Hojo Shigetoki (1198-1261)

Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis Blog | Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu | Ted Hanulak Sensei

Living in the Moment

People constantly live in the future or the past, all the while the "now" is passing them by. We have a habit of lamenting the past or worrying about the future. It is ok to learn from the past. It is also ok to plan for the future. But we must remember that all that exists right now is this very moment. We must live in the present moment. How do we do that?

An Intellectual Understanding

The past is gone. It cannot be changed. Why lament it? The fact that you ran away from a fight in forth grade or you missed the winning touchdown pass in the big high school game should not define the rest of your life. For many it does. The bars are filled with "has-beens" or "never-has-beens". Every moment is an opportunity to change your life. Every moment is a fresh start. When you think in these terms, the future has endless possibilities. But you just can't daydream about what is to come. You must live every moment. The future is now.

A Practice

Meditation is a good tool to help live in the present. There are exercises such as "Shikantanza" (Jap.) "to just sit", where you fully concentrate on only what you are doing at that moment. It is a skill. A skill must be developed and practiced in order for it to improve. The more you do it, the better you get at it. Being aware of everything you do all day. Making everything you do or not do, important. For example, in the simplest of terms; You are going to go to the movies. Getting dressed, walking to your car, driving over to the theater is just as important as the movie itself. The journey is as important as the destination.

With a little understanding and practice you can learn to appreciate every moment of your life. Even the so-call mundane moments.

Ted Hanulak is the head instructor / Sensei of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu. He teaches Aikijutsu and Zen meditation out of the Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis http://www.aiki-jutsu.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Hanulak

Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis | Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu | Ted Hanulak Sensei

Burn the Books

Once there was a well known philosopher and scholar who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many years. On the day that he finally attained enlightenment, he took all of his books out into the yard, and burned them all.

Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis | Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu | Ted Hanulak Sensei

Pushing Through a Difficult Period of Zen Meditation

The following article deals with the "counting of breaths" meditation in Soto Zen. The first thing that you should understand about Zen meditation is that there is no "bad" meditation period. Struggle is good. When thoughts start flowing in and you think you are going to loose your mind, that is when the battle begins! Usually when you are taken in by extraneous thoughts you should simply just go back to your counting. If it seems to be extra difficult, then I would recommend the following:

Clearing the Mind

Take a moment to relax. Close your eyes and try to turn your eyeballs backwards as if you are attempting to look backwards. Do this for about 30 seconds. After 30 seconds, relax your eyes forward again and resume your counting. You may find that you have to do this a couple of time before it works. This may sound strange but it will work.

Kyosaku Stick

If you are sitting with a group or "sangha" that utilizes a monitor, the kyosaku stick is your best friend. Many groups allow you to raise your hand to ask for the kyosaku stick. Others will use it at the monitors discretion. The kyosaku stick is a flat stick that is used to strike the meditator's back and shoulders in the muscular area between the shoulder blades. This will stimulate your body and mind to push forward.

Kinhin - Walking Meditation

Kinhin is traditionally used for in between meditation periods. It helps stretch out the legs and also clear the mind. If your sitting alone and it gets unbearable, rather than quit, get up and walk around your house for a couple of minutes. During this time, try to only think about walking. feel the carpet under your feet. Be aware of every step you take. After a couple of minutes, sit down again and resume your meditation.

These are just a couple of ideas to help get through "difficult" meditation periods.

Ted Hanulak is the head instructor / Sensei of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu. He teaches Aikijutsu and Zen meditation out of the Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis


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Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis | Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu | Ted Hanulak Sensei

True Beauty

A priest was in charge of the garden within a famous Zen temple. He had been given the job because he loved the flowers, shrubs, and trees. Next to the temple there was another, smaller temple where there lived a very old Zen master. One day, when the priest was expecting some special guests, he took extra care in tending to the garden. He pulled the weeds, trimmed the shrubs, combed the moss, and spent a long time meticulously raking up and carefully arranging all the dry autumn leaves. As he worked, the old master watched him with interest from across the wall that separated the temples.

When he had finished, the priest stood back to admire his work. "Isn't it beautiful," he called out to the old master. "Yes," replied the old man, "but there is something missing. Help me over this wall and I'll put it right for you."

After hesitating, the priest lifted the old fellow over and set him down. Slowly, the master walked to the tree near the center of the garden, grabbed it by the trunk, and shook it. Leaves showered down all over the garden. "There," said the old man, "you can put me back now."

I Do Not Know

The emperor, who was a devout Buddhist, invited a great Zen master to the Palace in order to ask him questions about Buddhism. "What is the highest truth of the holy Buddhist doctrine?" the emperor inquired.

"Vast emptiness... and not a trace of holiness," the master replied.

"If there is no holiness," the emperor said, "then who or what are you?"

"I do not know," the master replied.

The Master Calligrapher

A master calligrapher was writing some characters onto a piece of paper. One of his especially perceptive students was watching him. When the calligrapher was finished, he asked for the student's opinion - who immediately told him that it wasn't any good. The master tried again, but the student criticized the work again. Over and over, the calligrapher carefully redrew the same characters, and each time the student rejected it. Finally, when the student had turned his attention away to something else and wasn't watching, the master seized the opportunity to quickly dash off the characters. "There! How's that?," he asked the student. The student turned to look. "THAT.... is a masterpiece!" he exclaimed.

The Natural Course of Life

A rich man asked a Zen master to write something down that could encourage the prosperity of his family for years to come. It would be something that the family could cherish for generations. On a large piece of paper, the master wrote, "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies."

The rich man became angry when he saw the master's work. "I asked you to write something down that could bring happiness and prosperity to my family. Why do you give me something depressing like this?"

"If your son should die before you," the master answered, "this would bring unbearable grief to your family. If your grandson should die before your son, this also would bring great sorrow. If your family, generation after generation, disappears in the order I have described, it will be the natural course of life. This is true happiness and prosperity."

It Will Pass

A student went to his meditation teacher and said, "My meditation is horrible! I feel so distracted, or my legs ache, or I'm constantly falling asleep. It's just horrible!"
"It will pass," the teacher said matter-of-factly.

A week later, the student came back to his teacher. "My meditation is wonderful! I feel so aware, so peaceful, so alive! It's just wonderful!'

"It will pass," the teacher replied matter-of-factly.

Who Am I?

A distraught man approached the Zen master. "Please, Master, I feel lost, desperate. I don't know who I am. Please, show me my true self!" But the teacher just looked away without responding. The man began to plead and beg, but still the master gave no reply. Finally giving up in frustration, the man turned to leave. At that moment the master called out to him by name. "Yes!" the man said as he spun back around. "There it is!" exclaimed the master.

Where's the Right Place to Practice Zen Meditation?

When people hear the term "Zen meditation" they envision robes, candles, incense burning, people sitting in pretzel positions, etc. They would be correct. That is the traditional view of Zen meditation. The wonderful thing is, you can also practice Zen meditation while walking the dog, waiting for an appointment at the doctors office, driving your car. In other words, anywhere.

The practice of "shikantanza" which is Japanese for "just sitting" can be use in any situation like "just walking"," just driving" or "just going to the bathroom". Whatever you are doing at that moment, is what you are doing. You concentrate on just that action. Many times people will drive while daydreaming or talking on the phone. This is how accidents occur. If you are focusing on the driving you may be able to prevent the accident. Shikantanza is the active practice of "living in the moment".

Another way of looking at it is "taking your Zen with you". It is important to sit everyday at least 20 minutes. "Sitting" implies sitting in meditation on the floor. Traditional sitting can be viewed as "charging your batteries". After sitting, it is time to unplug, get up and go live your day. Everything you do, walking across the room, picking up a pencil, looking to your left, etc. can be part of your practice.

Through this practice, situations that would normally aggravate most people, like being stuck in traffic, waiting for a bus, anything that would test someones patience, is simply more practice for you! Because of this, you will begin to feel more centered. These types of situations will not bother you as they once did because of the new way of looking at.

Remember Zen meditation practice doesn't end on the meditation pillow. It has to be part of every moment of your life.

Ted Hanulak is the head instructor / Sensei of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu. He teaches Aikijutsu and Zen meditation out of the Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis http://www.aiki-jutsu.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Hanulak

The Oasis

Two people are lost in the desert. They are dying from hunger and thirst. Finally, they come to a high wall. On the other side they can hear the sound of a waterfall and birds singing. Above, they can see the branches of a lush tree extending over the top of the wall. Its fruit look delicious.

One of them manages to climb over the wall and disappears down the other side. The other, instead, returns to the desert to help other lost travelers find their way to the oasis.

Which one are you?

X Marks the Spot

A Tibetan story tells of a meditation student who, while meditating in his room, believed he saw a spider descending in front of him. Each day the menacing creature returned, growing larger and larger each time. So frightened was the student, that he went to his teacher to report his dilemma. He said he planned to place a knife in his lap during meditation, so when the spider appeared he would kill it. The teacher advised him against this plan. Instead, he suggested, bring a piece of chalk to meditation, and when the spider appeared, mark an "X" on its belly. Then report back.

The student returned to his meditation. When the spider again appeared, he resisted the urge to attack it, and instead did just what the master suggested. When he later reported back to the master, the teacher told him to lift up his shirt and look at his own belly. There was the "X".

The Most Important Part Of Martial Arts Training - Learning To Attack For Real

How many times have you watched a martial arts class and thought to yourself "Nobody attacks like that in real life". Every one's defensive techniques looked great but the attacks themselves were lame at best. In real life, people often attack with wild abandonment - flailing arms, biting, kicking, eye gouging, tackling, etc.. Doesn't it make sense to train against these kinds of attacks? Of course it does.

Teaching a student how to attack his fellow student during training is perhaps one of the hardest parts of teaching the martial arts. Naturally, nobody wants to hurt each other in class but if you don't teach the student how to attack for real, the real damage will occur in the future, in the street when the stakes are much higher. Now this kind of attack training can start off slowly and the intensity can build as the students skill advances. But eventually the attacks must be full force or every one is just fooling themselves if they think that they will be able to defend themselves for real. Actual self-defense training is hard and it hurts. Anything else is aerobics.

Martial arts that are "sanitized for your protection" (which really means it is sanitized for the schools protection against being sued) should not be advertised as "self-defense". That would be false advertising. They should state that what they are teaching is a sport and nothing more. We all know that is usually not the case.

Next time you watch a martial art class, do not look at what the defender is doing but look at the attacker. Was the attack realistic?

Ted Hanulak is the head instructor / Sensei of the Japanese martial art of Senso-Ryu Aikijutsu. He teaches Aikijutsu and Zen meditation out of the Aikijutsu Academy of Indianapolis http://www.aiki-jutsu.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ted_Hanulak

The Cat Ritual

When the spiritual teacher and his disciples began their evening meditation, the cat who lived in the monastery made such noise that it distracted them. So the teacher ordered that the cat be tied up during the evening practice.

Years later, when the teacher died, the cat continued to be tied up during the meditation session. And when the cat eventually died, another cat was brought to the monastery and tied up. Centuries later, learned descendants of the spiritual teacher wrote scholarly treatises about the religious significance of tying up a cat for meditation practice.