Reiki Tea Mmmmm
The system of Reiki is a Japanese practice and the principles of it align closely with many other Japanese Arts. One special Japanese Art is that of making and drinking tea.
Japanese Precepts
When I found out about the letters exchanged between Saicho and Kukai, I was just blown away. Imagine two young monks, carefully chosen, to travel to China to study Buddhist teachings and to bring back the select texts to Japan. The year was 804! This is the beginning of a journey of friendship, hope, anticipation, collaboration and rivalry. One of the monks was Saicho, later to be the founder of Tendai School of Buddhism, the other was Kukai, the founder of Shingon school of Buddhism. Even though the storm separated their ships and they each went their own separate ways in China, the passion and dedication of these two men, unknowingly, impacted the history of religion in Japan and in some subtle ways our practice as Reiki practitioners.
The Great Bright Light
The traditional Japanese system of Reiki uses several symbols and mantras in its teachings and ongoing practices. These symbols and mantras are tools that help you deepen your understanding of and directly experience your true nature.
Book Review | The Heart of Aikido
The Heart of Aikido - The Philosophy of Takemusu Aiki by Morihei Ueshiba
Compiled and translated by John Stevens
The Heart of Aikido is the long awaited translation of the Japanese classic Takemusu Aiki.
Book Review | Journey in Search of the Way
Journey in Search of the Way is the autobiography of Satomi Myodo (1896-1978) who trained as a miko (shamaness), studied Shinto and finally practiced Zen. She talks about her spiritual experiences, struggles and insights in a very candid and honest way.
Teaching the Shakuhachi
My motivation behind teaching the shakuhachi is more than just trying to earn a living doing what I do best. It is also more than sharing with others what I enjoy doing. Here are the most important reasons why I teach shakuhachi to others - in a long, round about way:
The main or original pieces for the shakuhachi are called honkyoku. I like honkyoku. They are, amongst the pieces I learned from my teachers, what I value the most. They are why I began playing the shakuhachi in the first place. The word, honkyoku literally means “main piece”. These pieces were created, performed and transmitted within the context of Zen Buddhism. They are spiritual practice.
Reiki Poetry - Waka and Haiku
It may not be commonly discussed but poetry was also a part of the system of Reiki’s original Japanese teachings.
This lack of acknowledgement is largely due to the reading of poetry being a culturally specific practice in Japan. Most Westerners have no, or little, understanding of this practice in its Japanese form.
Japanese Arts and Ways - Part II Podcast
Frans and Bronwen Stiene continue their interview with the eloquent author H.E. Davey - founder and Director of the Sennin Foundation, a Center for Japanese Cultural Arts in California.
