The root
nature of martial arts and Shorinji Kempo
Kaiso
taught the term "bu" (martial) in "budo" (martial
arts or path) in the following way.
"It is something that stops the conflicts between person and person,
that contributes to peace and culture, and that has a moral content
which expresses the path of harmonious cooperation (bringing minds into
harmony and uniting efforts). It never injures an opponent carelessly,
seeks conflicts, or seeks solely the goal of winning against an opponent."
Moreover, "budo conforms to the above meaning of 'bu,' and is a
path to achieving that goal." And, "it is a path that is capable
of contributing to humankind's peace and well being."
In this way, Shorinji Kempo is not simply a technology of self defense,
but a method of cultivating one's character, and moreover a martial
art that considers the happiness of people as individuals, and that
can further contribute to the peace and well-being of humankind. That
is Shorinji Kempo.
