Happiness Tea

While in Bangalore,  I had the unexpected pleasure of spending time with Arnaud from France as well as Shiva, our gracious and good natured Indian host.  These delightful times instantly reminded me of a painting done by the monk Sengai.  Three gods of happiness are pictured.   Daikoku Ten, whom some may recognize from the statue outside Hatsumi Sensei`s office, is  originally from India.  He is not only a god of protection, war, and prosperity, but, auspiciously, he is an incarnation of the Hindu god Shiva!   Second is Juroku Jin, or the god of Longevity.  Often pictured leaning on his cane, he is usually in a most jovial mood.  Lastly, there is Ebisu, indigenous to Japan, he is a god of prosperity often pictured with a fishing pole enjoying his fresh catch of the day.

 

Above them is Sengai`s inscription;  “Three prosperities, make them one and enjoy a big happiness tea!”  As Takamatsu Sensei says, “Cherish your connections…”.  Thru others we enrich and are enriched.  How wonderful it would be to set aside notions of higher and lower, good and bad, and blend one fantastic happiness tea!  The true treasure of Nin lies therein.

Daruma

Below is a picture of a daruma that I drew recently.  The inscription is the single character “cut” kiru 斬. Many often assume this means to cut your opponent.  But in fact, this daruma is telling us to cut through ourselves.  To cut thru our fixed notions and illusions.

My teacher once during training pointed to his head and said, “No Nou!” ; a play on words meaning “no brain” or no thinking.  Then he playfully pointed to his heart and said, “Yes yes!”. Yes is the Japanese pronunciation for christ.  He was referring to our pure hearts.  For the pure heart of man is that which has communication with the divine.

Many people get trapped intellectualizing and spend much time scurrying around like a mouse in a maze.  Like the Ri or Shu Ha Ri, we must eventually separate from our knowledge.  Forget our intellect and let knowledge be. When we can do this, wisdom will rain down.

This year we have the theme Rokkon Shojou.  Wishing you the best on your martial journey!

Paul

Daruma with a "Sai Nou Kon Ki" vase. Photo by Yabunaka

禄魂笑浄 Rokkon Shojou

Rokkon Shojou Sake Bottle Photo: Yabunaka

The moth is drawn to the flame and dies.  It never knows the vast freedom of the sky.  The crow feasts on dead rats and the garbage by the curb.  It knows not the taste of fresh spring water or the myriad of nature`s abundance.

How many people, a slave to their desires (rokkon, six senses), fly to the flame? In search of positions of honor or prestige they beg at the table for scraps.  Throw away yourself, purify your senses, leave your begging bowl behind and know that you are the king! Verses tomorrow`s fame and fortune, I rise my sake cup to you today!

Paul

幸雲 Cloud of Happiness (Good Fortune)

While on my travels around the world, I have be privileged to witness the vast arrays of trees and life nourished by the great cloud of the Bujinkan. Grand trees, small flowers, medicinal herbs big and small all gaining the needed nourishment from the Bujinkan cloud as needed according to their individual natures.

To this end, my brush moved by the martial wind scrawls the characters, Happy Cloud. (Kou Un – Good fortune). The Bujinkan cloud is a great cloud of happiness pouring water down equally on all the trees, flowers and forests, onto the big and small and into the crevices and cracks where life springs forth. Each according to their nature (sai no, kon, ki – talent, spirit and utsuwa) receives the water and bears fruit. The same water received by each individual bears it`s own fruit. One taste ,one pure water, gives birth to an infinite variety of life.

One hears often of acid rain which destroys the forests and erodes the world. Our water must be pure to foster infinite life. This year the theme for the Bujinkan is Rokkon Shojo – Laughter Purifying for Divine Happiness and Spirit. The Bujinkan (and it`s members) must strive to put ourselves thru a water purification system to remove our impurities. Only that which is pure and translucent can connect to the eternal.  Only that which is pure can nourish the infinite life.

The thunder and the lightning herald the coming of the Bujinkan cloud. The trees and plants and forests of the world rejoice.

Paul

"The Ocean of Prosperity and Longevity is Infinite" Photo by Yabunaka

守破離 Shu Ha Ri

和 "Peace". The Warrior`s Heart holds Peace Righteous. Photo by Yabunaka

Shu Ha Ri.  Protect, Break, and Separate.

These can represent three stages.  The first is to protect that which is transmitted to you from your teacher.  Protect the forms and techniques.  Perfect the forms and techniques of the way and make them yours.

The second is to crush or break thru.  Crush and break thru the forms and techniques.  Blend them with your spirit.

Ri is to separate.  To let go.  To not be taken with ideas of  form and technique or even the self.  Move freely in the space. Thus is true Sutemi or throwing yourself away.  As the inner secret songs reveals, “only be throwing oneself away, will a new flow (tide) appear”.

Separate from yourself and throw yourself away.  People who are stuck on themselves become smaller and smaller.  Like the moth that flies to the flame, it never knows the vastness of the sky. Throw yourself away and become translucent and pure.  Only that which is translucent and pure connects to the eternal, the martial wind.

Paul