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HEALTH CENTRE
We hope You are Well - here is Your copy of the online newsletter 'Harmony of Mind-Body-Spirit' from the Aikido Health Centre. Your Unique Journey continues with our NEW series on 'Discover the Power of Sound', where we focus on a variety of ways to use sound vibrations for meditation, healing and tuning into spiritual power. The feature article is titled 'Kotodama - Chanting the Sound Spirit' Kotodama theory and ways to practice it - see below... Read on... for our Words of Wisdom, World Community News, and Feature Article. The back issues & unsubscribe links are at the end of the Ezine. Next month's feature article is 'Words of Power' Discover some of the most powerful words that can help transform Your Life... stay tuned! Peace and Harmony Tony PS Take Massive Action towards Your goals. A simple plan takes You from where You are, to where You want to be. PPS Coming soon, Very Special Unique Ebooks of the Harmony Ezine articles from series 1, 2 & 3 and 4,5 & 6. See below for more details... SUBSCRIBE
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OF WISDOM Charles Darwin than the hunger for bread." Mother Teresa Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." Aristotle Confucius from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." Thomas Jefferson
that may be of interest to our subscribers...
The white lion cubs, born recently in the West Midlands Safari Park in the heart of England are descended, like all white lions, from the white lions of Timbavati. Bordering the Kruger National Park in South Africa, this sacred region is the only place on Earth where white lions were ever found wild. Linda Tucker, who has dedicated 15 years of her life to the protection of these animals, explains: "To the African elders, who look for spiritual signs in nature, the white lions arrival was the fulfilment of ancient prophecy that identified these creatures as angelic messengers from God." Born to the golden lion prides that roam the immense Timbavati region, the elders explained the white lions’ mysterious colour in spiritual terms. White is sunlight, all the colours of the spectrum in one, beyond colour, creed, race or gender, says Linda. "These white lions are such a magnificent icon for South Africa’s rainbow nation, and a unifying symbol across world culture." Twelve years ago, there were no white lions left in Timbavati. Prized for their rarity, they had been forcibly removed from their natural habitat into captive breeding and hunting programmes in South Africa, or sent to zoos and even circuses around the globe. Then, on Christmas Day 2000, and in Bethlehem, a white lion cub was born in captivity. Having studied the ancient knowledge of the creatures with African elders, Linda Tucker knew that this cub was special. She needed to be rescued from the short life that lay ahead of her, the life of a lion born to face men who pay to hunt animals in captivity. For her own protection the cub, named Marah, was taken to Johannesburg Zoo, where she later gave birth to three cubs of her own. Despite opposition from the vested interests of the hunting lobby, who did everything possible to prevent the lions returning to their homeland, all four have been re-introduced into the wild.
Today, through the courage and determination of Linda Tucker and her colleagues, they roam free in some 600 acres of Timbavati region, acquired by the Global White Lion Protection Trust. Jason Turner, The Protection Trust’s Lion Ecologist and Scientific Advisor, said: "After only five months of being out in the wild, these four white lions are now totally self-sufficient. The re-introduction programme has progressed much more successfully than anyone’s wildest expectations." Meanwhile, two white lion cubs have been born naturally in adjacent private reserves. The Trust is doing everything it can to secure the future of these cubs and all other white lions by getting them listed as a rare and threatened species. In the meantime, the Protection Trust is also seeking assistance to purchase more land for their protection, land the indigenous peoples consider sacred. Contact: Global White Lion - Protection Trust, PO Box 85040, Emmarentia 2029, South Africa. Tel: +27 11 482 2977 Website: www.whitelions.org
THE WAY OF HARMONY Aikido was founded by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), who gained the skill to control many attackers at will. He was unique in his ability to express his understanding of universal principles and laws of nature. He was also a very spiritual person who spent years in study, prayer and contemplation. This is a martial art of Peace that develops in us an acute awareness of our surrounding environment, the ability to be calm, focused, relaxed and centred. Millions of Aikido practitioners around the World experience the positive benefits of... Aikido - The Way of Harmony
CHANTING THE SOUND SPIRIT
Kotodama or kototama are words in the Japanese language once believed to have a magical effect on the world. These effects range from stopping earthquakes to creating fires. Kotodama means the soul or power of language. These sounds are sometimes referred to as "Power Words" and are believed to have great strength in affecting our environment, mind, body, and soul. These words are reached through enlightenment or when a kami (god) grants a person the use of a Kotodama. It has a direct translation of "word spirit", sometimes found in the martial arts, in the form of kiai.
The concept of Kotodama originated in the 'Sphoto-Vada' system of ancient india which was carried to Japan by the Buddhist patriarch Kukai in the 9th century as 'Shingon', true-sounds. Supreme words are the innermost core of our being. Christian theology said "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God"
From that word 50 pure sounds appeared as vibrations of various concentrations that are seen as sound, colour and form. These sounds are surrounded by cosmic energy (ki, chi, prana, magnetism etc.) that is activated to sustain creation.
The tantric concept of the universe, composed of sound energy formed the basis of Hindu and Buddhist mantrayana and Japanese Shinto kotodama theory.
While kotodama is essentially a Shinto-derived practice, Japanese Mikkyo Buddhism has its own equivalent practice known as jumon or shingon. In essence, both kotodama and jumon/shingon are centered around concepts of the Sacred Power of speech and the intentional, ritual use of vocalisation/intonation - both as a means of approaching the divine & of manifesting desired effects on the level of more mundane reality.
Chinkon-Kishin, is an ancient shinto contemplation technique similar to tantric visualizations of the Hindus and Tibetans used as a way to calm the spirit and return to the divine. Chinkon Involves centering of the body and mind through a series of kotodama sounds, performed in a holy place. Kishin is a trance-like state of mystical union with God. Closely related to this practise is 'Misogi' (ritual purification). This is the custom of washing away impurities with cold water, in a fast flowing river or under a waterfall. It purifies all of the accumulated poisons and restores our link to the sacred being. External misogi rinses the body with cold water, and internal misogi cleanses the inner organs with deep breathing techniques. The use of these techniques with the kotodama can transform the mind-body-spirit to enter a state of... 'crystal clarity'.
KOTODAMA AND AIKIDO
In recent years, Morihei Ueshiba, founder of the martial art of Aikido, is believed to have mastered Kotodama to a certain degree, and often seemed to use it in his teachings. Few of his disciples have been eager to learn this part of the art from him with the notable exception of Mutsuro (Masahiro) Nakazono (1918-1994). Ueshiba, in adult life a follower of the Omoto-kyo religious sect, devoted many years to the study and practice of kotodama, over time formulating his own version of the discipline which he incorporated into Aikido. (It should be pointed out that, aged 7, Ueshiba was sent to Jizodera: a Shingon temple in Wakayama prefecture, where he studied Shingon Scriptures (as well as the Confucian classics), and it is likely that this immersion in Shingon Mikkyo doctrine at such a formative period in his life influenced his later understanding and evolution of the kotodama art.)
In Aikido kotodama theory, the universe originated from a mysteriously dense point. A concentration of the vibration 'SU'. This energy extended circularly into the sounds u-u-u-yu-mu and expanded virtically into the sounds a-e-i-o-u. The tension between these sounds gave birth to spirit/matter, fire/water, yin/yang and evolved into the 75 kotodama that maintain existence. This cosmic description is very similar to the big bang theory favoured by physicists and was further detailed by Morihei Ueshiba as... "one source, four spirits, three elements, and eight powers" Part of the kotodama used by Morihei involved Hara (abdomen), indicating that heaven is not up in the sky but in the centre of the Human Being... the pit of the stomach.
Before he began his training in the art of Aikido, he chanted the kotodama to summon up his divine strength. His eyes would flash and he would make a piercing sound to activate the flow of energy and light. Morihei would seem to expand into a different dimension, where he became the pure sound vibration itself. He said...
origin of the seventy five (kotodama), merciful teacher of the path of Aiki."
As a Shinto Shaman, a mystic, and peaceful warrior, Morihei was convinced he was protected by guardian spirits, after he had a mind-shattering experience and vision in his early forties. After he recovered from the shock of this experience he found he had super-human strength. In both mystical shinto and esoteric buddhism, it is believed that masters, after many years of severe training, can see the holy beings of the spiritual dimensions. One of the methods used to unite ourselves with the divine spirit is the chanting of the sound vibrations or kotodama.
Morihei taught his students to purify themselves with the pure techniques of Aikido, rather than copy his devout religious practises.
You can Fast-Track your sound vibration training using tuning forks as a very powerful tool... Sound Vibrations for Health and Spiritual Tuning
THE BASICS AND HOW TO PRACTISE
At the core of the Ueshiba kotodama system lies the intonation and sound of the nuclear syllable... SU. SU is representative of the absolute center of the material realm - the very core of existence - the beginning of all things. It is the essence of that which existed at the precise moment of the creation of the Universe. Other primary syllables include... YU - signifying the affirmative: 'yes', is so', 'something' MU - signifying the negative: 'no', 'is not', 'nothing'. and the vowel-sounds: A-O-U-E-I: A - signifying: 'moving up' - is voiced centered in the throat & mouth. O - signifying: 'moving down' - is voiced centered near the heart. U - signifying: 'returning to self' - is voiced deep in the hara E - signifying: 'branching out' - is voiced in a way so as to be felt radiating throughout the body. I - signifying: ..'the life force' - is voiced so that it vibrates powerfully & eminates/projects outwards from the body.
Sit in the traditional Japanese zazen posture (or on an upright chair, with back straight, feet flat on the ground) - with hands palms down, resting on your thighs, or palms up, thumbs gently together. Focus your attention in your hara, at the area known as seiko tanden Clear and still the mind. Focus on the moment - there is ONLY the moment. Draw the breath smoothly, steadily and easily in through the nose, then vocalise the kotodama as you breathe out through the mouth.
In a low and deeply resonant voice, intone each kotodama slowly, strongly - with total concentration and unity of body, mind and spirit.
Pronounce each 'word-sound' distinctly, separately - do not run or slur them together. Let each 'word-sound' fill your whole body - vibrating throughout every molecule - every atom.
Be aware of the resonance extending out throughout your aura into the very air about you.
TO YOUR SUCCESS What can YOU do to live a healthy, vibrant and happy life ? The following 'Secrets', applied daily, will help you to make powerful, lasting, positive changes to your lifestyle. WEB-LOG
This is my mini-journal - It lets you know when New web pages appear at aikido-health.com, Keeps you up-to-date with other postings or news about Aikido and Health. Points out some of our past subjects that you might otherwise miss. Aikido Health Blog WORK FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME Top marketing guru Dr Ken Evoy gives us the Best Strategies on HOW to achieve our financial goals and the freedom to live life to the full. The Aikido Health Centre website was built and is maintained using Site-Build-It and is in the Top 1% of visited websites on the net. You can learn How to focus like a Laser-Beam and achieve Your Goals, all in one COMPLETE package with... Site-Build-It DISCOVER THE POWER OF SOUND We turn the spotlight on... Words of Power, Chants & Mantras, Sound Vibrations for Healing, Words of Wisdom, and Summary... Stay Tuned !
HARMONY OF MIND-BODY-SPIRIT We are working on a some Very Special Unique Ebooks of the Harmony feature articles from series 1, 2 & 3 and 4,5 & 6. Allowing you to access information You require without having to scan through the back issues. They will NOT be the typical boring PDF ebooks that are available everywhere. They will include Inspiring and Beautiful Music as You read. The pages TURN and SCROLL for You Automatically as you Read (Hands Free). You adjust the speed. The Font SIZE and STYLE can be changed to suit Your needs. There will be numerous and inspiring pictures and artwork, Plus other benefits! There will be a small charge for these but subscribers to our Do YOU have Comments, Ideas, Positive or Negative Feedback ?
Tony Wilden - Aikido Instructor/Healer
Aikido Health Centre Website 'Harmony of Mind-Body-Spirit' Founded Arun Aikido Club 1992 www.aikido-health.com/index Tony Wilden is an Aikido Instructor and qualified in several Healing Arts. He has a deep interest in spiritual matters, optimum health, environmental issues, and the creation of harmony between people and nature. Tony is on a path to wisdom, freedom and power and shares his insights on aikido, health, universal principles, ancient knowledge and master strategies. The information provided in Harmony of Mind-Body-Spirit is for educational purposes and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any dis-ease. It should not replace the advice of your health advisor or GP. Remember, knowledge puts You in control of Your life and slow positive changes are best for maximum benefit to Your health. 98 Linden Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex PO21 2BD United Kingdom |
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