Toshitsugu "Tiger" Takamatsu: (1887-1972) Considered the last "combat Ninja" Toshitsugu was born to a family with roots in both the Ninja and the Samurai classes. As a child he was taught by masters of several ryus, becoming the only person to have completed training in all aspects of Ninjutsu. As a young man he gained notoriety when he single handedly stopped a small riot. As an adult he sought adventure in China and acquired an unmatched reputation for ferocity in battle and personal integrity.
For most of his adult life he was the only man fully trained in the art of Ninjutsu. Only after retiring to his village did he take on a single student, Dr. Hatsumi Yoshiaki. After 15 years of instruction Toshitsugu declared Dr. Hatsumi his only heir in the art of Ninjutsu.
In his essay "Ninjutsu Hiketsu Bun" (essay on essence of ninjutsu) Takamatsu sensei makes this comment on religion;
"A religion, when based on faith developed through experience, a broad and questing mind, and unflagging pursuit of universal understanding, is of inspiration and comfort to people. Once a religion loses its original focus, however, it becomes a deadly thing with which to deceive, control and tax the people through the manipulation of their beliefs and fears."
No amount of faith, in any religion, or faith in any human being, can change the nature of heaven, Earth and man. We sometimes wish it would and we sometimes behave as though it has; as though the rules change in our favor as a product of our ever-increasing never-questioning faith. It is at this point we begin to invite evil into our lives in the form of great suffering and the destruction of our fortune.
Practically speaking, it is the fateful decision to leave behind our common sense in favor of the group consciousness that is the “fork in the road” to cultism and ultimate unhappiness.
Rev. Greg, Shidoshi
Posted by revgreg at August 31, 2004 07:27 PMIt is at this point we begin to invite evil into our lives in the form of great suffering and the destruction of our fortune.
Practically speaking, it is the fateful decision to leave behind our common sense in favor of the group consciousness that is the “fork in the road” to cultism and ultimate unhappiness.
* * * * * * * * * *
And so it is with nations. Minds with a 30 second attention span, swallowing whatever the media spew forth, who actually believe they have a "choice", that they have "freedom."
Such social constructs inevitably must collapse.
Barbarians with cellphones and the greatest weaponry known to mankind.
DOH! Great post. Wow, I'll have to re-read that a few times...
Ya musta been a ninja in a past life...
Thanks,
Rev. Greg DILLEY
Posted by: Rev. Greg at September 1, 2004 09:57 AMTakamatsu also wrote, It is the same with the martial arts. The skills of self-protection, which should provide a feeling of inner peace and security for the martial artist, so often develop without a balance in the personality and lead the lesser martial artist into warped realms of unceasing conflict and competition which eventually consumes him. You begin to see the contradiction in these two statements when you understand in martial arts, strict adherence to the teachings and the master leads to the balanced, greater artist. And the teacher is always the one to make that judgment call on the fatefulness of the student/follower. I was never schooled in any of the Martial arts and don't pretend to be qualified to speak of them. I was however, taught to read. Understanding the difference between cults and religions is like dreaming and being conscious, the state your in, seems the reality. Frankly, I feel Hatsumi his student is the real hero! He once stated that beer was considered a medicine, his brew Guinness, and thats not a bad state, in moderation of course
Posted by: Bob Dilley at September 1, 2004 06:32 AM