The spirit
that resides within practice
The
characteristic condition of Shorinji Kempo practice consistently has
a state of "harmony" as its source. For example, there is
a teaching that mind and body are existences that cannot be separated
from each other, so in applying oneself to practice one must work for
a harmony between the cultivation of the heart and the tempering of
the body. Again, amidst technical practice and during zazen, the breathing
is very important. Method in breathing simultaneously orders the breathing
and disciplines mind and body, and is the most effective method for
putting into practice spiritual strength and physical strength.
Breath or breathing is the wellspring of life for all living creatures,
and the wellspring of strength. From ancient times, it has been taught
that "when the breath calms the mind calms, when the mind is calm
the breath is calm. Even so, the breath is the mind, and the mind is
the breath."
The fact that when the breath is disturbed the mind is disturbed, and
when the mind grows disturbed the breath grows disturbed is something
we experience daily, but it also can happen that disturbance of the
breath affects the spirit, decreases our energy, affects our physique,
and so lies at the root of our illness.
From ancient times, it was thought that breath is one's spirit, an
element of spiritual energy, and the source of one's life force- and
ordering of the breath was considered the first thing in self cultivation.
Shorinji Kempo training is founded on a way of being rooted in the
above kind of Eastern philosophy, so it is probably no exaggeration
to say that it contains within it an Eastern spirit.
