I have been studying the school of Gyokko Ryu Koshijitsu this year in great detail, detail previously not available to me. I can’t explain why this is now available to me, but I will at some time in the future when certain events unfold and specific dramas play themselves out . The story of what has taken place this year is certainly a tremendous benefit and worthy of a separate entry, but not just yet.
Gyokko Ryu is one of the nine schools of the Bujinkan and in fact the school from which much of our taijutsu, or movement, is derived.
We study this and other schools in our system in the US to the best of our ability, but often the versions and key aspects of the katas that are described towards the last part of the scrolls, or densho, come from teachers whom collected notes at some seminar they attended long ago, seminars taught by yet another instructor who may have learned their interpretation at some distant time in the past.
This actually isn’t as bad as it sounds as Soke Hatsumi teaches us to concentrate on the feeling and not so much on the specifics of the kata. None the less it’s easy to see that from one area to another in the US and throughout the rest of the world there are some pretty strange ideas on how these kata, or combat scenarios - which is what they really are - should be performed and taught.
This year however, quite unexpectedly, I found myself in the fortunate position to learn from someone who had intimate instruction from Soke Hatsumi and had actual copies of the scrolls themselves from which to teach.
I have learned, and taken notes, with an enthusiasm that is truly unprecedented for me in my martial arts career. I have absorbed the feelings of what I am learning, and taught what I have learned to my students as sincerely and accurately as I am capable.
The actual thing I am pursuing however is what Soke Hatsumi has stressed as long as I have trained in the Bujinkan - the feeling. This is a difficult concept . First one must accept that the feeling is not found in collecting techniques, rather it is an ethereal and vague essence which no one seems to be able to pass on verbally or otherwise.
What I now am coming to finally realize, now that I am able to more accurately learn the techniques of this wonderful school of combat, is that the feeling of the movements of Gyokko ryu can only be found in the doing of the kata - in the practice. It is only through the repetition of the forms that one can come to experience what the actual feeling is.
This recent lesson connects many things I have come to believe about - well - many things. Buddhism is no different. The truth of Buddhism is in practice. We Nichiren Buddhists are in a strange state currently as there are so many different and conflicting schools of thought and beliefs about the history and doctrine of our school of Buddhism.
I believe there are many who have confused the incessant and habitual process of debating with those from other camps with the Buddhism itself. We all must find our own paths in the end. The reality is that there are those who will only arouse feelings of faith and connectedness when they are slugging it out with the enemy. It is the way of the world, the truth of Ten Chi Jin,- Heaven Earth and Man.
In the end, I believe (for myself anyway) that when in doubt - practice.
I wonder that I could ever have a teacher of Nichiren’s Buddhism who actually had the "densho" to teach from. With such a teacher I could come to understand the true feeling of our Buddhism and know what was real and what was false. Of course this isn’t possible. Each sect has their own agenda, and in the end the only things we can know to be absolutely real are Nam myoho renge kyo, the Gohonzon, and the Gosho.
Everything else? Well, when in doubt, practice…
Rev. Greg, Shidoshi
Re: Kudos, and I must concur. The entire point of any form of Buddhism is practice. I, or anyone, can argue endlessly about doctrinal points, and not move a millimeter along the path towards enlightenment. I also believe that the specific organization, or doctrine, one follows is less important than that one PRACTICES something.
This is a great point to raise, I also believe 100% that at the end of the day it is NOT the organization or interpretation of doctrines that one follows, but it is the practice and belief one maintains. Interpretations change depending on the life condition of whom is giving them and what their personal agenda is, while organizations are always open to both the best and worst of human interventions.
The only constant in the whole equation, because it CAN be controlled, is one`s own practice and belief. Argument and debate can definitely help to mold ones practice, but they should never be seen to be the main driving force or (here is that terrible word again) mission in life.
Just my 2cents worth.
Peter Kearney (Tokyo)
When in doubt, throw Gohonzon out!
Posted by: Peter Röder at July 22, 2005 10:25 PM"Byrd, I didn't say it was right, I just say "it was". The truth is, in my experience, that there are those who only get their boats floated when they are debating and "correcting" the mistaken views of others..." -- Greg
Hi Greg & all,
Personally, I am preoccupied with correcting my own mistakes. It really helps to bounce ideas off others. It only becomes a debate if one has a stake in the outcome.
It makes no difference to me if Nikko was right or wrong. I am not even very clear about what his position was.
Taisekiji seems to have a big stake in Nikko having been right. I wonder what bearing that has on now? Then I recall it is the true lineage thing. Seems to me like one idiot in the chain of succession blows that.
But some of the 'stuff' on ARBN appears to be mostly a contest. I think the regulars there enjoy the sport.
robin
Hi, Greg - I'm sorry if I spoke in a way which made me misunderstood. I agree with you that the phenomenon which you described (some people just get off on fighting) just is. No need to ssearch, it's obvious. I agree completely. The dilemma is in trying to figurd out that since, perhaps, Nichiren may well have been one such person, is it possible for his brand of Buddhism to lead to world peace. I mean, if a willingness to fight (and let's face it,sometimes we rebuke for the sake of rebuking) is fundamental to our faith, can this lead to world peace at all? I wasn't meaning to challenge your point - I agree with it. I just don't know how we're supposed to accomplish the world peace goal while we're rebuking everyone -even those we don't know anything about. Best, Byrd in LA
Posted by: Byrd in LA at July 20, 2005 06:29 PMVery well said!
Posted by: queen lolo at July 17, 2005 08:10 AMYeah.
Posted by: Peter Röder at July 16, 2005 08:59 PMGreg, I agree completely. I've had religious and philisophical debates with friends who claim to be deeply religious or morale, but never act it. I've noticed, just as you mentioned, that their strong beliefs and devotion makes its strongest appearance when someone else is mentioning ideals that don't correspond exactly to their own. Not saying this is bad, of course, it offers great insight and much to learn. However, it is a shame that one can't do this without arguing fine points. But with practice, I'm sure it can be done.
Rev. Caleb Perkins
Byrd, I didn't say it was right, I just say "it was". The truth is, in my experience, that there are those who only get their boats floated when they are debating and "correcting" the mistaken views of others...
Search your feelings, you know this to be true...
Rev. Greg
Posted by: Rev.Greg at July 15, 2005 10:26 PM"The reality is that there are those who will only have feelings of faith and connectedness when they are slugging it out with the enemy" - OK, Greg. How does this take us closer to world peace? Or world peace through individual happiness? Or is that just an unsupportable piece of PR fluff in relation to Nichiren Buddhism? Since we're not all Nijas, I'm curious as to how you would speak to that dilemma. Thanks!
Posted by: Byrd in LA at July 15, 2005 07:43 PMRev. Greg -
Kudos, and I must concur. The entire point of any form of Buddhism is practice. I, or anyone, can argue endlessly about doctrinal points, and not move a millimeter along the path towards enlightenment. I also believe that the specific organization, or doctrine, one follows is less important than that one PRACTICES something. Just my 2C, of course.
Namaste, Engyo Mike Barrett
Posted by: Engyo Mike Barrett at July 15, 2005 01:40 PM