Return to the Beginning
There are 100 million people in Japan. There are dozens of martial arts schools classified as budo, and hundreds of religions. Amidst all these, you have chosen Shorinji Kempo and have found something to live for. Perhaps what made you continue doing it down to today was the workings of fate, the people you've met, and something that worked its way into your heart. The most important thing is the heart to heart communication, the coming together of our hearts as one. We have to share the same goals.
We want to make Japan better. For that to happen follow Japanese have to help each other more. Right after the end of the war, when young Japanese had neither confidence nor hopes for themselves, I preached the equality of all human beings as portions of the dharma, encouraging people to realize this and take pride in it. That was my heart's desire when I began Shorinji Kempo. We've had our share of problems till now; Some instructors seem to think, "If I do Shorinji Kempo, I'll get some students. Money will come in. Everyone will make me look good as a teacher. That's why I'll do Shorinji Kempo." This kind of fake leader has begun to come up in Shorinji Kempo too.
That is why last year I raised up my voice and said to you all: return to the beginning!
I am returning us to the form we had when I began Shorinji Kempo.
If you are wondering what that time was like, it was a time when fellow Japanese had lost their self-confidence and they were bullying, stealing from, and disparaging one another. I wanted to break them free of this condition and make it possible for fellow Japanese to get along with each other as friends. If I had taught in the normal Japanese budo pattern, where teacher and fellow students are enemies and one recognizes no one but oneself, it would have done no good. Realizing that something different was required, I decided to teach the physical art which had been handed down as a discipline (gyo) in China's Shaolin Temple.
Despite my having taught consistently in this way, people come up who use their students and feed off of them. As Shorinji Kempo grows, cancerous growths have arisen within it as well. That is why I changed policy last year - so that troublesome branches will be straightened out and branch masters might be cut away. My stance is to treat them like enemies and destroy their positions.
Shorinji Kempo which I began as just myself here in the town of Tadotsu, has spread till now the organization extends from Hokkaido to Kyushu, and to 12 countries overseas. Even if I tried to stop it, it would be impossible. It's growing all on its own. It does not fellow, however, that I should just leave it to itself. I manage it, leadership, and place certain kinds of restrictions on it. The time has come for me to do all these things and even to be prepared to give occasional assistance. That is why I have issued this change of direction.
(1973 All Japan Instructors Seminar)
