ainterview with ueshiba

8/11/2019 AInterview With Ueshiba

1/32

A:When I was a college student my philosophy professor showed us aportrait of a famous philosopher, and now I am struck by his resemblance toyou, Sensei.

O Sensei:I see. Maybe I should have entered into the field of philosophyinstead. The spiritual side of me is more emphasized than the physical side.

B:It is said that ikido is !uite different from "arate and #udo.

O Sensei:In my opinion, it can be said to be the true martial art. The reasonfor this is that it is a martial art based on universal truth. This universe iscomposed of many different parts, and yet the universe as a whole is unitedas a family and symbolizes the ultimate state of peace. $olding such a viewof the universe, ikido cannot be anything but a martial art of love. It cannotbe a martial art of violence. %or this reason ikido can be said to be another

manifestation of the &reator of the universe. In other words, ikido is like agiant 'immense in nature(. Therefore, in ikido, heaven and earth become thtraining grounds. The state of mind of the ikidoist must be peaceful andtotally nonviolent. That is to say, that special state of mind which bringsviolence into a state of harmony. nd this I think is the true spirit of #apanesemartial arts. We have been given this earth to transform into a heaven onearth. Warlike activity is totally out of place.

A:It is !uite different from the traditional martial arts, then.

O Sensei:Indeed, it is !uite different. If we look back over time, we see howthe martial arts have been abused. )uring the Sengoku *eriod '+-/+00-/Sengoku meaning 1warring countries1( local lords used the martial arts as afighting tool to serve their own private interests and to satisfy their greed. ThiI think was totally inappropriate. Since I myself taught martial arts to be2usedfor the purpose of killing others to soldiers during the War, I became deeplytroubled after the conflict ended. This motivated me to discover the true spirit

of ikido seven years ago, at which time I came upon the idea of building aheaven on earth. The reason for this resolution was that although heaven anearth 'i.e., the physical universe( have reached a state of perfection and arerelatively stable in their evolution, humankind 'in particular the #apanesepeople( seems to be in a state of upheaval. %irst of all, we must change thissituation. The realization of this mission is the path to the evolution ofuniversal humanity. When I came to this realization, I concluded that the truestate of ikido is love and harmony. Thus the 13u1 'martial( in ikido is thee4pression of love. I was studying ikido in order to serve my country. Thus,


2/32


3/32

O Sensei:t about the age of + or +0. %irst I learned Tenshinyo/ryu #u6itsufrom Tozawa Tokusaburo Sensei, then "ito/ryu, 8agyu >yu, ioi/ryu,Shinkage/ryu, all of them #u6itsu forms. $owever, I thought there might be atrue form of 3udo elsewhere. I tried $ozoin/ryu So6itsu and "endo. 3ut all ofthese arts are concerned with one/to/one combat forms and they could notsatisfy me. So I visited many parts of the country seeking the Way and

training. . . but all in vain.

A:Is that the ascetic training of the warrior5

O Sensei:8es, the search for the true 3udo. When I used to go to otherschools I would never challenge the Sensei of the do6o. n individual incharge of a do6o is burdened with many things, so it is very hard for him todisplay his true ability. I would pay him the proper respects and learn fromhim. If I 6udged myself superior, I would again pay him my respects and retur

home.

B:Then you did not learn ikido from the beginning.

B:When did ikido come into being5

O Sensei:s I said before, I went to many places seeking the true 3udo...Then, when I was about ;< years old, I settled in $okkaido. ?n one occasionwhile staying at $isada Inn in :ngaru, "itami *rovince, I met a certain Taked

Sokaku Sensei of the izu clan. $e taught )aito/ryu #u6itsu. )uring the ;ain or shine, you must practice at all times during your daily life in order toprogress. In particular, ikido is like spiritual training practiced using a 3udoform. It can never be cultivated as a tool by those who would use it forfighting. lso, individuals inclined towards violence cease to behave in thatmanner when they learn ikido.

B:I see . . . through constant training they stop behaving like hoodlums.

O Sensei:Since ikido is not a 3u 'martial method( of violence but rather amartial art of love, you do not behave violently. 8ou convert the violentopponent in a gentle way. They cannot behave like hoodlums any longer.

B:I see. It is not controlling violence with violence, but transforming violenceinto love.


10/32

A:What do you teach first as the fundamentals of ikido5 In #udo one learnsukemi 'falling( . . .

Kisshomaru Ueshiba:%irst, body movements 'taisabaki(, then "i flow. . .

A:What is "i flow5

Kisshomaru Ueshiba:In ikido, we constantly train to control our partner9s"i freely through the movement of our own "i, by drawing the partner into ouown movement. Ae4t, we practice how to turn our bodies. 8ou move not onlyyour body but your arms and legs together. Then the whole body becomesunified and moves smoothly.

B:Watching ikido practice, students seem to fall naturally. What kind ofpractice to you do for ukemi5

Kisshomaru Ueshiba:Dnlike #udo, where you grapple with your opponent,in ikido you almost always maintain some distance. &onse!uently, a freertype of ukemi is possible. Instead of falling with a thud as in #udo, we takecircular falls, a very natural form of ukemi. So we practice those fourelements !uite diligently.

B:So you practice tai no sabaki 'body movements(, "i no nagare '"i flow(,tai no tenkan ho 'body turning(, ukemi, and then begin the practice of

techni!ues. What type of techni!ue do you teach first5

Kisshomaru Ueshiba:Shiho nage, a techni!ue to throw an opponent inmany different directions. This is done in the same manner as the swordtechni!ue. ?f course, we use bokken 'wooden swords( as well. s I saidbefore, in ikido even the enemy becomes a part of your movement. I canmove the enemy freely at will. It follows naturally that when you practice withwhatever means you have available, like a staff or a wooden sword, itbecomes as much a part of you as an arm or a leg. Therefore, in ikido what

you are holding ceases to become a mere ob6ect. It becomes an e4tension oyour own body. Ae4t is Iriminage. In this techni!ue you enter 6ust as youropponent tries to strike you, and at that time two or three temi 'strikes( aremade. %or e4ample, the opponent strikes at the side of your face with his fistor hand blade 'tegatana(. Dsing your opponent9s power, you open your bodyto the left rear as you lead the opponent9s right hand with your two e4tendedhands, continuing the direction of his movement. Then, holding youropponent9s hand you move it in a circular motion around his head. $e then


11/32

falls with his hand wrapped around his head .... This, too, is the flowof KiThere are various sophisticated theories about this point. The opponentis left totally powerless, or rather, the opponent9s power is led in the directionyou want to take him. So the more power the opponent has, the easier it is foyou. ?n the other hand, if you clash with you opponent9s power you cannever hope to win against a very strong person.

O Sensei:lso, in ikido you never go against the attacker9s power. Whenhe attacks you striking or cutting with a sword, there is essentially one line orone point. ll you need to do is avoid this.

Kisshomaru UeshibaG Ae4t we do the following techni!uesG seated Ikkyofrom shomenuchi attack, Aikkyo, then 6oint techni!ues and pinningtechni!ues, and so on...

B:ikido contains many spiritual elements. $ow long would it take to ac!uirea basic understanding of ikido starting from the very beginning5

Kisshomaru UeshibaG Since there are both coordinated and uncoordinatedpeople I can9t make any general statement, but when a person practices forabout three months he comes to have some understanding of what ikido is.

nd those who have completed three months of practice will train for si4months. If you practice for si4 months, then you can continue for an indefinitetime. Those who have only a superficial interest will !uit before three months

B:I understand there will be a Shodan e4amination the -th of this month.$ow many black belt holders are there currently5

Kisshomaru UeshibaG The highest rank is -th degree, and there are four ofthem. There are si4 Eth degree black belt holders. nd the +st degree holderare !uite numerous, but of course this figure only includes those havingcontacted $ombu )o6o after the War.

B:I understand there are a considerable number of people learning ikido inforeign countries as well.

Kisshomaru UeshibaG Mr. Tohei has visited $awaii and the D.S. for thepurpose of teaching ikido. The most popular place for ikido is $awaii,where there are +


12/32

studying ikido after in6uring himself practicing #udo. $e wanted toe4perience the spirit of ikido but was not able to accomplish this in %rance.$e felt that to seek the true spirit of ikido he had to go to the birthplace ofthe art. $e e4plained that this is why he came to #apan. The *anamanianambassador is also studying ikido, but it seems that the climate in #apan istoo cold for him and he doesn9t practice in the winter. lso, there is a lady

named ?nada $aru who went to >ome to study sculpting. She has beencoming to the do6o since the time she was a student at the Tokyo School of%ine rts. I 6ust recently received a letter from her where she says shehappened to meet an Italian who practices ikido, and he treated her verywell.

A:nd concerning the interpretation of ikido techni!ues5

O Sensei:The essential points become masakatsu, agatsu, and katsuhayai.

s I said previously , masakatsu means 1correct victory1 and agatsu means1to win in accordance with the heavenly mission given to you.1 "atsuhayaimeans 1the state of mind of rapid victory1.

A:The *ath is long, isn9t it5

O Sensei:The iki *ath is infinite. I am E= years old now, but I am stillcontinuing my search. It is not an easy task to master the *ath in 3udo or thearts. In ikido you must understand every phenomenon in the universe. %or

e4ample, the rotation of the :arth and the most intricate and far/reachingsystem of the universe. It is a lifelong training.

B:So, iki is the teachings of "ami 'Fod(, as well as the martial way. Thenwhat is the spirit of ikido5

O Sensei:ikido is i 'love(. 8ou make this great love of the universe yourheart, and then you must make your own mission the protection and love ofall things. To accomplish this mission must be the true 3udo. True 3udomeans to win over yourself and eliminate the fighting heart of the enemy...Ao, it is a way to absolute self/perfection in which the very enemy iseliminated. The techni!ue of iki is ascetic training and a way through whichyou reach a state of unification of body and spirit by the realization of theprinciple of heaven.

B:Then iki is the way to world peace5


13/32

O Sensei: The ultimate goal of iki is creation of heaven on earth. In anycase, the entire world must be in harmony. Then we do not have a need foratomic and hydrogen bombs. It can be a comfortable and pleasant world.

One

The rt of *eace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed taskin the rt of *eace. :veryone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that canbe trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. 8ou are here for noother purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innateenlightenment. %oster peace in your own life and then apply the rt to all that

you encounter

Two

?ne does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the rt of*eace. $eaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.

Three

ll things, material and spiritual, originate from one source and are related asif they were one family. The past, present, and future are all contained in thelife force. The universe emerged and developed from one source, and weevolved through the optimal process of unification and harmonization.

Four

The rt of *eace is medicine for a sick world. There is evil and disorder in theworld because people have forgotten that all things emanate from onesource. >eturn to that source and leave behind all self/centered thoughts,petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possesseverything.

Five


14/32

If you have not@inked yourselfTo true emptiness,8ou will never understandThe rt of *eace.

Six

The rt of *eace functions everywhere on earth, in realms ranging from thevastness of space down to the tiniest plants and animals. The life force is all/pervasive and its strength boundless. The rt of *eace allows us to percieveand tap into that tremendous reserve of universal energy.

Seven

:ight forces sustain creationGMovement and stillness,Solidification and fluidity,:4tension and contraction,Dnification and division.

Eight

@ife is growth. If we stop growing, technically and spiritually, we are as goodas dead. The rt of *eace is a celebration of the bonding of heaven, earth,and humankind. It is all that is true, good, and beautiful.

Nine

Aow and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountainsand hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. 3reathe in and letyourself soar to the ends of the universe7 breathe out and bring the cosmosback inside. Ae4t, breathe up all fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. %inally,blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with your own, becomingthe 3reath of @ife itself.

Ten


15/32

ll the priciples of heaven and earth are living inside you. @ife itself is thetruth, and this will never change. :verything in heaven and earth breathes.3reath is the thread that ties creation together. When the myriad variations inthe universal breath can be sensed, the individual techni!ues of the rt of*eace are born.

Eleven

&onsider the ebb and flow of the tide. When waves come to strike the shore,they crest and fall, creating a sound. your breath should follow the samepattern, absorbing the entire universe in your belly with each inhalation. "nowthat we all have access to four treasuresG the energy of the sun and moon,the breath of heaven, the breath of earth, and the ebb and flow of the tide.

Twelve

Those who practice the rt of *eace must protect the domain of MotherAature, the divine reflection of creation, and keep it lovely and fresh.Warriorship gives birth to natural beauty. The subtle techni!ues of a warriorarise as naturally as the appearence of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.Warriorship is none other than the vitality that sustains all life.

Thirteen

When life is victorious, there is birth7 when it is thwarted, there is death. warrior is always engaged in a life/and/death struggle for *eace.

Fourteen

&ontemplate the workings of this world, listen to the words of the wise, andtake all that is good as your own. With this as your base, open your own dooto truth. )o not overlook the truth that is right before you. Study how waterflows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. lso learnfrom holy books and wise people. :verything / even mountains, rivers, plantsand trees / should be your teacher.

Fifteen


16/32

&reate each day anew by clothing yourself with heaven and earth, bathingyourself with wisdom and love, and placing yourself in the heart of MotherAature.

Sixteen

)o not failTo learn fromThe pure voice of an:ver/flowing mountain streamSplashing over the rocks.

Seventeen

*eace originates with the flow of things / its heart is like the movement of thewind and waves. The Way is like the veins that circulate blood through ourbodies, following the natural flow of the life force. If you are seperated in theslightest from that divine essence, you are far off the path.

Eighteen

8our heart is full of fertile seeds, waiting to sprout. #ust as a lotus flower

springs from the mire to bloom splendidly, the interaction of the cosmic breatcauses the flower of the spirit to bloom and bear fruit in this world.

Nineteen

Study the teachings of the pine tree, the bamboo, and the plum blossom. Thepine is evergreen, firmly rooted, and venerable. The bamboo is strong,resilient, unbreakable. The plum blossom is hardy, fragrant, and elegant.

Twent

lways keep your mind as bright and clear as the vast sky, the great ocean,and the highest peak, empty of all thoughts. lways keep your body filled witlight and heat. %ill yourself with the power of wisdom and enlightenment.

Twent One


17/32

s soon as you concern yourself with the 1good1 and 1bad1 of your fellows,you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing,competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.

Twent Two

The penetrating brilliance of swordsWielded by followers of the WayStrikes at the evil enemy@urking deep withinTheir own souls and bodies

Twent Three

The rt of *eace is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evildesires and all falsehood within. on occasion the Hoice of *eace resoundslike thunder, 6olting human beings out of their stupor.

Twent Four

&rystal clear,

Sharp and bright,The sacred swordllows no opening%or evil to roost.

Twent Five

To practice properly the rt of *eace, you mustG

&alm the spirit and return to the source.

&leanse the body and spirit by removing all malice, selfishness, anddesire.

3e ever/grateful for the gifts received from the universe, your family,Mother Aature, and your fellow human beings.


18/32

Twent Six

The rt of *eace is based on %our Freat HirtuesG 3ravery, Wisdom, @ove,and %riendship, symbolized by %ire, $eaven, :arth, and Water.

Twent Seven

The essence of the rt of *eace is to cleanse yourself of maliciousness, toget in tune with your environment, and to clear your path of all obstacles andbarriers.

Twent Eight

The only cure for materialism is the cleansing of the si4 senses 'eyes, ears,nose, tongue, body, and mind(. If the senses are clogged, one9s perception isstifled. The more it is stifled, the more contaminated the senses become. Thicreates disorder in the world, and that is the greatest evil of all. *olish theheart, free the si4 senses and let them function without obstruction, and yourentire body and soul will glow.

Twent Nine

ll life is a manifestation of the spirit, the manifestation of love. nd the rt of*eace is the purest form of that principle. warrior is charged with bringing ahalt to all contention and strife. Dniversal love functions in many forms7 eachmanifestation should be allowed free e4pression. The rt of *eace is truedemocracy.

Thirt

:ach and every master, regardless of the era or place, heard the call and

attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading tothe top of Mount %u6i, but there is only one summit / love.

Thirt One

@oyalty and devotion lead to bravery. 3ravery leads to the spirit of self/sacrifice. The spirit of self/sacrifice creates trust in the power of love.


19/32

Thirt Two

:conomy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, societydevelops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and thbest commodoties to trade in are sincerity and love.

Thirt Three

The rt of *eace does not rely on weapons or brute force to succeed7 insteawe put ourselves in tune with the universe, maintain peace in our own realmsnurture life, and prevent death and destruction. The true meaning of theterm samuraiis one who serves and adheres to the power of love.

Thirt Four

%oster and polishThe warior spiritWhile serving in the world7Illuminate the path

ccording to your inner light.

Thirt Five

The *ath of *eace is e4ceedingly vast, reflecting the grand design of thehidden and manifest worlds. warrior is a living shrine of the divine, one whoserves that grand purpose.

Thirt Six

8our mind should be in harmony with the functioning of the universe7 yourbody should be in tune with the movement of the universe7 body and mind

should be bound as one, unified with the activity of the universe.

Thirt Seven

:ven though our path is completely different from the warrior arts of the pastit is not necessary to abondon totally the old ways. bsorb venerabletraditions into this rt by clothing them with fresh garmets, and build on theclassic styles to create better forms.


20/32

Thirt Eight

)aily training in the rt of *eace allows you inner divinity to shine brighterand brighter. )o not concern yourself with the right and wrong of others. )onot be calculating or act unnaturally. "eep your mind set on the rt of *eace,and do not criticize other teachers or traditions. The rt of *eace never

restrains, restricts, or shackles anything. It embraces all and purifieseverything.

Thirt Nine

*ractice the rt of *eace sincerely, and evil thoughts and deeds will naturallydisappear. The only desire that should remain is the thirst for more and moretraining in the Way.

Fort

Those who are enlightened never stop forging themselves. The realizationsof such masters cannot be e4pressed well in words or by theories. The mostperfect actions echo the patterns found in nature.

Fort One

)ay after dayTrain your heart out,>efining your techni!ueGDse the ?ne to strike the ManyThat is the discipline of the Warrior.

Fort Two

The Way of a Warrior&annot be encompassed3y words or in lettersGFrasp the essence

nd move on toward realization

Fort Three


21/32

The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, andpolish the spirit.

Fort Four

Iron is full of impurities that weaken it7 through forging, it becomes steel and

is transformed into razor/sharp sword. $uman beings develop in the samefashion.

Fort Five

%rom ancient times,)eep learning and valor$ave been the two pillars of the *athG

Trhough the virtue of training,:nlighten both body and soul.

Fort Six

Instructors can impart only a fraction of the teaching. It is through your owndevoted practice that the mysteries of the rt of *eace are brought to life.

Fort Seven

The Way of a Warrior is based on humanity, love, and sincerity7 the heart ofmartial valor is true bravery, wisdom, love, and friendship. :mphasis on thephysical aspects of warriorship is futile, for the power of the body is alwayslimited.

Fort Eight

true warrior is always armed with the three thingsG the radiant sword ofpacification7 the mirror of bravery, wisdom, and friendship7 and the precious

6ewel of enlightenment.

Fort Nine


22/32

The heart of a human being is no different from the soul of heaven and earthIn your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction of heaven andearth, water and fire, yinand yang.

Fift

The rt of *eace is the principle of nonresistance. 3ecause it is nonresistantit is victorious from the beginning. Those with evil intentions or contentiousthoughts are instantly van!uished. The rt of *eace is invincible because itcontends with nothing.

Fift One

There are no contests in the rt of *eace. true warrior is invincible because

he or she contests with nothing. Defeatmeans to defeat the mind ofcontention that we harbor within.

Fift Two

To in6ure an opponent is to in6ure yourself. To control aggression withoutinflicting in6ury is the rt of *eace.

Fift Three

The totally awakened warrior can freely utilize all elements contained inheaven and earth. The true warrior learns how to correctly perceive theactivity of the universe and how to transform martial techni!ues into vehiclesof purity, goodness, and beauty. warrior9s mind and body must bepermeated with enlightened wisdom and deep calm.

Fift Four

lways practice the rt of *eace in a vibrant and 6oyful manner.

Fift Five

It is neccessary to develop a strategy that utilizes all the physical conditionsand elements that are directly at hand. The best strategy relies upon anunlimited set of responses.


23/32

Fift Six

good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind.

Fift Seven

The key to good techni!ue is to keep your hands, feet, and hips straight andcentered. If you are centered, you can move freely. The physical center isyour belly7 if your mind is set there as well, you are assured of victory in anyendeavor.

Fift Eight

Move like a beam of lightG

%ly like lightning,Strike like thunder,Whirl in circles around

stable center.

Fift Nine

Techni!ues employ four !ualities that reflect the nature of our world.

)epending on the circumstance, you should beG hard as a diomand, fle4ibleas a willow, smooth/flowing like water, or as empty as space.

Sixt

If your opponent strikes with fire, counter with water, becoming completelyfluid and free/flowing. Water, by its nature, never collides with or breaksagainst anything. ?n the contrary, it swallows up any attack harmlessly.

Sixt One

%unctioning harmoniously together, right and left give birth to all techni!ues.The left hand takes hold of life and death7 the right hand controls it. The fourlimbs of the body are the four pillars of heaven, and manifest the eightdirections, yinandyang, inner and outer.


24/32

Sixt Two

Manifest yangIn your right hand,3alance it withThe yinof your left,

nd guide your partner.

Sixt Three

The techni!ues of the rt of *eace are neither fast nor slow, nor are theyinside or outside. They transcend time and space.

Sixt Four

Spring forth from the Freat :arth73illow like Freat Waves7Stand like a tree, sit like a rock7Dse ?ne to strike ll.@earn and forget

Sixt Five

When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him7 if he wants to pulback, send him on his way.

Sixt Six

The body should be triangular, the mind circular. The triangle represents thegeneration of energy and is the most stable physical posture. The circlesymbolizes serenity and perfection, the source of unlimited techni!ues. The

s!uare stands for solidity, the basis of applied control.

Sixt Seven

lways try to be in communion with heaven and earth7 then the world willappear in its true light. Self/conceit will vanish, and you can blend with anyattack.


25/32

Sixt Eight

If your heart is large enough to envelop your adversaries, you can see rightthrough them and avoid their attacks. nd once you envelop them, you will bable to guide them along the path indicated to you by heaven and earth.

Sixt Nine

%ree of weakness,Ao/midedly ignoreThe sharp attacks?f your enemiesGStep in and act

Sevent

)o not look upon this world with fear and loathing. 3ravely face whatever thegods offer.

Sevent One

:ach day of human life contains 6oy and anger, pain and pleasure, darknessand light, growth and decay. :ach moment is etched with nature9s granddesign / do not try to deny or oppose the cosmic order of things.

Sevent Two

*rotectors of the worldnd gaurdians of the Ways?f gods and buddhas,The techni!ues of *eace

:nable us to meet every challenge.

Sevent Three

@ife itself is always a trial. In training, you must test and polish yourself inorder to face the great challenges of life. Transcend the realm of life anddeath, and then you will be able to make your way calmly and safely throughany crisis that confronts you.


26/32

Sevent Four

3e grateful even for hardship, setbacks, and bad people. )ealing with suchobstacles is an essential part of training in the rt of *eace.

Sevent Five

%ailure is the key to success7:ach mistake teaches us something.

Sevent Six

In e4treme situations, the entire universe becomes our foe7 at such criticaltimes, unity of mind and techni!ue is essential / do not let your heart waver

Sevent Seven

t tthe instant warrior&onfronts a foe,

ll things&ome into focus.

Sevent Eight

:ven when called out3y a single foe,>emain on gaurd,%or you are always surrounded3y a host of enemies.

Sevent Nine

The rt of *eace is to fulfill that which is lacking.

Eight


27/32

?ne should be prepared to receive ninety/nine percent of an enemy9s attackand stare death right in the face in order to illumine the *ath.

Eight One

In our techni!ues we enter completely into, blend totally with, and control

firmly an attack. Strength resides where one9s kiis concentrated and stable7confusion and maliciousness arise when kistagnates.

Eight Two

There are two type of kiG ordinary kiand true ki. ?rdinary kiis coarse andheavy7 true kiis light and versatile. In order to perform well, you have toliberate yourself from ordinary kiand permeate your organs with true ki. That

is the basis of powerful techni!ue.

Eight Three

In the rt of *eace we never attack. n attack is proof that one is out ofcontrol. Aever run away from any kind of challenge, but do not try to suppresor control an opponent unnaturally. @et attackers come any way they like andthen blend with them. Aever chase after opponents. >edirect each attack an

get firmly behind it.

Eight Four

Seeing me before him,The enemy attacks,3ut by that timeI am already standingSafely behind him.

Eight Five

When attacked, unify the upper, middle, and lower parts of your body. :nter,turn, and blend with your opponent, front and back, right and left.

Eight Six


28/32

8our spirit is the true shield.

Eight Seven

?pponents confront us continually, but actually there is no opponent there.:nter deeply into an attack and neutralize it as you draw that misdirected

force into your own sphere.

Eight Eight

)o not stare into the eyes of your opponentG he may mesmerize you. )o notfi4 your gaze on his swordG he may intimidate you. )o not focus on youropponent at allG he may absorb your energy. The essence of training is tobring your opponent completely into your sphere. Then you can stand where

you like.

Eight Nine

:ven the most powerful human being has a limited sphere of strength. )rawhim outside of that sphere and into your own, and his strength will dissipate.

Ninet

@eft and right,void all&uts and parries.Seize your opponents9 minds

nd scatter them all

Ninet One

The real rt of *eace is not to sacrifice a single one of your warriors to defeaan enemy. Han!uish your foes by always keeping yourself in a safe andunassailable position7 then no one will suffer any losses. The Way of aWarrior, the rt of *olitics, is to stop trouble before it starts. It consists indefeating your adversaries spiritually by making them realize the folly of theiractions. The Way of a Warrior is to establish harmony.


29/32

Ninet Two

Master the divine techni!ues?f the rt of *eace,

nd no enemyWill dare to&hallenge you.

Ninet Three

In your training do not be in a hurry, for it takes a minimum of ten years tomaster the basics and advance to the first rung. Aever think of yourself as anall/knowing, perfected master7 you must continue to train daily with yourfriends and students and progress together in the rt of *eace.

Ninet Four

*rogress comesTo those whoTrain and train7>eliance on secret techni!uesWill get you nowhere.

Ninet Five

%iddling with thisnd that techni!ueIs of no avail.Simply act decisivelyWithout reserve

Ninet Six

If you perceive the true form of heaven and earth, you will be enlightened toyour own true form. If you are enlightened about a certain principle, you canput it into practice. fter each practical application, reflect on your efforts.*rogress continually like this.

Ninet Seven


30/32

The rt of *eace can be summed up like thisG True victory is self-victory; letthat day arrive quickly!1True victory1 means unflinching courage7 1self/victory1 symbolizes unflagging effort7 and 1let that day arrive !uickly1represents the glorious moment of triumph in the here and now.

Ninet Eight

&ast off limiting thoughts and return to true emptiness. Stand in the midst ofthe Freat Hoid. This is the secret of the Way of a Warrior.

Ninet Nine

To truly implement the rt of *eace, you must be able to sport freely in themanifest, hidden, and divine realms.

One !un"re"

If you comprehendThe rt of *eace,This difficult path,#ust as it is,:nvelops the cirle of heaven.

One !un"re" One

The techni!ues of the Way of *eace change constantly7 every encounter isuni!ue, and the appropriate response should emerge naturally. Today9stechni!ues will be different tommorrow. )o not get caught up with the formand appearance of a challenge. The rt of *eace has no form / it is the studyof the spirit.

One !un"re" Two

Dltimately, you must forget about techni!ue. The further you progress, thefewer teachings there are. The Freat *ath is really Ao *ath.

One !un"re" Three


31/32

The rt of *eace that I practice has room for each of the world9s eight milliongods, and I cooperate with them all. The Fod of *eace is very great anden6oins all that is divine and enlightened in every land.

One !un"re" Four

The rt of *eace is a form of prayer that generates light and heat. %orgetabout your little self, detach yourself from ob6ects, and you will radiate lightand warmth. @ight is wisdom7 warmth is compassion.

One !un"re" Five

&onstruction of shrine and temple buildings is not enough. :stablish yourselfas a living buddha image. We all should be transformed into goddesses of

compassion or victorious buddhas.

One !un"re" Six

>ely on *eaceTo activate yourManifold powers7*acify your environment

nd create a beautiful world.

One !un"re" Seven

The )ivine is not something high above us. It is in heaven, it is in earth, it isinside of us.

One !un"re" Eight

Dnite yourself to the cosmos, and the thought of transcendence willdisappear. Transcendence belongs to the profane world. When all trace oftranscendence vanishes, the true person / the )ivein 3eing / is manifest.:mpty yourself and let the )ivine function.

One !un"re" Nine


32/32

8ou cannot see or touch the )ivine with your gross senses. The )ivine iswithin you, not somewhere else. Dnite yourself to the )ivine, and you will beable to perceive gods wherever you are, but do not try to grasp or cling tothem.

One !un"re" Ten

The )ivine does not like to be shut up in a building. The )ivine likes to be ouin the open. It is right here in this very body. :ach one of us is a miniatureuniverse, a living shrine.

One !un"re" Eleven

When you bow deeply to the universe, it bows back7 when you call out the

name of Fod, it echoes inside you.

One !un"re" Twelve

The rt of *eace is the religion that is not a religion7 it perfects and completeall religions.

One !un"re" Thirteen

The *ath is e4ceedingly vast. %rom ancient times to the present day, eventhe greatest sages were unable to perceive and comprehend the entire truththe e4planation and teachings of masters and saints e4press only part of thewhole. It is not possible for anyone to speak of such things in their entirety.#ust head for the light and heat, learn from the gods, and through the virtue odevoted practice of the rt of *eace, become one with the )ivine.

One !un"re" Fourteen

The divine beauty?f heaven and earth

ll creation,Members of?ne family

ainterview with ueshiba

Documents