The Wise and the Arrogant

We find in the path, a wise man, who is an old man in knowledge and in front of him, another, younger in his arrogant youth. And the last one said to the first one.

" I invite you to have a dialogue because you don't know everything, for sure."

And the wise man answered: " Thank you for this dialogue, today you have expanded my knowledge and you made me recognize that I still have years of youth because I don't know everything, for sure."

After saying these words, the old man left. While the young man was thinking:
" How arrogant is that being!" And the wise man was saying in his heart:
" How wise is that man that in his early youth has discovered that great truth."

Ki is...

Ki is always fresh, abundant and resplendent.
Ki is always honorable, splendorous, courageous and specially worthy.
Ki is always favorable because it brings abundance.
Ki is always generous because it naturally rests on Peace.

The Center of Every Movement

Firm, bland, are conceptual terms, movements that in truth must be transcended also, for an unique and real movement, that is the center of every movement, which is neither too slow, nor too fast, nor absolutely soft nor rigid. It is only natural, universal and its name is precise.

The Inner Power

The fortitude is valuable, the fierceness also. There cannot be any indecision in a combat, but not always the fortitude nor the fierceness win. Courage, intelligence, and calmness win.

The inner power is based on serenity. To boast about power is only a demonstration of immaturity. The superior understanding of the inner power is beyond being a simple winner of any battle. Serenity and calmness are the crown of a true winner.

Learning. Emptiness.Selfishness

To be able to learn, is necessary to be empty, not of intentions, feelings or actions. It is necessary to be empty of selfishness.

Fortitude. Inner Peace.

Fortitude is acquired by practicing, since only by being steadfast, we manage to overcome the limits. Improvement must never be expected in a hurry.

Difficulties come to be the most important teachings since not everything is as easy as we want; it is possible that the sacrifice of today is the success of tomorrow.

Nevertheless, work and discipline begin in our thought and heart, then as it is natural, the body obeys and the skill is achieved that always should be humble, because if we would spoil it by being arrogant, then, it would become an obstacle that would prevent us from reaching the real goals.

The art consists in flowing in the universe, overcoming the violence, the aggressiveness and reaching inner peace.

Combat Techniques. True Strength

They are prepared for the battle, the swords are ready. It seems that death is approaching. And as lightning, one warrior falls down and the other puts his sword away. What happened since in less than a blinking the combat ended. Both were strong and powerful. How did this happen?

One of them was restless with an agitated mind, the other was as a tree, he seemed not to have any movement, nevertheless, he ended the combat with extraordinary velocity. He moved with agility and knocked the other down. It happened very fast. That warrior seemed like a tree and one of its branches moved by the wind. While the other warrior, poor monkey fell.

The battle was won in the minds. There are restless, aggresive, reckless, strong as steel warriors but without the serenity of the experienced fighter, they will never have any option. The one who is restless and agitated is a total loser, even it may seem unpredictable, the one who only observes will find the weakness and will make out of it his strategy to win.

When two adversaries face each other, nobody can realize who is the strongest but there is a science that allows to know where is the true strength. And in a moment, the combat ends, the life of one continues and the other's is extinguished in a blinking.

Narration

In the town of this narration there were learned students and practitioners of martial arts, who besides practicing and having friendly combats, also had dialogues trying to find explanations that better could define the most important force of the martial arts. The turn came to explain something that seems impossible to define. What is Ki?

A contest was set for that purpose and there were very knowledgeable persons. One of them said: "Ki is the inner force" While another said: " Ki is the universal force" And another was saying " With Ki, everything, without Ki, nothing" Another persons were talking about breathing, concentration, mysteries and equilibrium. While others were saying that it can't be defined, that is as an ocean that flows with infinite waves.

And they all together, concluded that all their explanations could be part of the same fundamental essence. And maybe as a natural reflection, they all looked at the older person. And one of them addressed him directly and with great respect, asked him: " Sir, because of your age, you are probably the one who knows the most since you easily double or triple the age of many of the persons here. Please tell us, what is Ki?"

And it was as the sun awakening in the morning, that old man who seemed to be sleeping, awoke as the bud of the flower, happily receiving the light of the sun. And he said: " Ki is like the child who is born. It is a tree that grows. The bird starting to fly. The sky full of stars. The voice of the plentiful river. And it is even the sleep of the bear. It is the tender hand of the mother. The discipline of the father who honors justice and truth. Ki is man and nature. It is the perfect science of certainty and as there was a yesterday, and today is now, then, Ki will continue tomorrow, as the eternal daybreak."

Then, they all understood that Ki is mother, father, son. That it is human and is not human. Ki is then, the brightness of Divine Breath.

Abundance

Ki is always favorable because it promotes abundance

The Students of Ki and their Mentor

Several learned students asked their mentor: "Sir, can you please explain to us in an easy understandable way, neither too metaphysical nor spiritual because our minds do not have the necessary training but we have the interest and would like to really know what is Ki."
Because there is too much mystery involved and too many definitions that do not clearly define. It is true that this is a profound topic and besides we do not want to understand it one hundred percent but at least some light that can free us of the confusion."
They spoke in that way to their mentor, who replied: "The understanding of Ki comes of two forces that are in contradiction: Calm and Movement. Nevertheless, this contradiction is only apparent. Since a serene mind may have a strong, really powerful, agile and dynamic body. But this does not happen by chance but by having lived with order and the consequence of that order is balance and as such, the opposites have been able to balance. It is a natural fact that many variables exist in the thought of the reason and also in the expression of the body. For a better understanding.

click the link of "older posts" shown below to keep reading

Continuation

When there is discipline and it is worthy and noble, the understanding of Ki appears but what first must be understood is that Ki is an ideal strength in the ideal human being. And this is the one who has respect for life and as a consequence, he has taken an step, he has looked up to heaven. And from that step, clear and clean water has sprang forth which is good to drink. And in that heaven, he has found contemplation, expansion and harmony. And it is there where Ki begins to manifest.Man, then, has understood that between heaven and earth and earth and heaven, there is a primordial principle. And from there, he has begun to understand that there must be balance and equilibrium in life.
The way to this equilibrium is the way of Ki, the way of glory, the path of Aikido, where man is brother of the mountains, companion of the skies and absolutely one with eternity.This may seem too physiological or contemplative but it begins by noticing your breath, calming your thoughts, but also by been vigilant and attentive with your inner calm.Then, Ki is the equilibrium of everything in existence and it will become present in your heart and your life.

click the link of older posts, shown below to keep reading...

Continuation

Then, what is Ki? Is it the result of good intention? No, is more than that. Ki appears when truth is expressed with strength, as action, as harmony. That is the reason that Ki is naturally present in the whole Nature, which has order and movement. Notice, how the wind flows, feel it. How the bird flies in the wind and the space. How the bird comes back to its nest. How the large bird flies. Notice how the foam of the sea comes softly to the shore and although gigantic and explosive, the foam is delicate and abundant. Listen to the wind in the sea. Is it possible to separate them? Notice how the wood burns in the fire, notice how the fire becomes wood and how the wood becomes fire. And by contemplating Nature in that way and by self contemplation, you will see that the universe is not separated but united like a little stone tied to a mountain, like a drop of water in the ocean.Who are you, the drop or the ocean? Where are the limits? Where is the beginning? Where is the end?Now, take this to reflection, go through and cut these words with discernment. Live the moment. Discover yourself. Discover the truth without veil.

Ki flows eternally, eternally flows."

The Concept of Ki

To understand the concept of Ki, is necessary to contemplate Nature and to discover the harmony and equilibrium. Because that is Ki.

Unconditional Love

The whole universe flows toward a perfect balance. The art of this expansion -until the culmination of the perfect harmony- represents in man, the power to express and to liberate all the energy, that as a potential state, culminates his development as the conscious awakening to true love.

Certainly, all that exists is energy and it constantly flows. However, there is only one way that this energy have the correct sense of equilibrium. And we can understand the magnitude of this knowledge when is revealed to our heart, the true intention toward the communion with the integral and absolute good.

The art of flowing which is the art of living and finally the art of been, integrates all in existence in one cosmic consciousness, which exalts the personal vision to an integral and unitary vision, respecting the individuality, but at the same time, integrating everything in the deepest expression of Unconditional Love.

Life's Beauty

Life's beauty is found everywhere. We might not recognize it but the inner attitude, truly opens our eyes and this is because beauty has its origin in our own look and from there, then is expanded to the infinite, beyond the stars.

Violence, at the end, only destroys the violent person.

Control

Control is not rigidity but flexibility.

Visualization

The strength is found in the visualization because in this way we can apply the necessary strength and the right technique. And this is like joining the sky and the earth.

The Strength

The strength is not inner or outer. It simply strengthens.

Thought and Equilibrium

The thought is centered in the equilibrium and the movement expresses constant freedom, only from there.

Understanding

Understanding is to be free, to be free is to overcome the discipline, not to move away from it, but with the purpose of not fighting against it

The Technique

Just as the bird flaps its wings and gets the support in the wind. In the same way the technique supports itself in the movement of the universe, then it flows with the right effort.

The Conflict

Who is the adversary? Nobody will be the adversary.
Who will attack us? Nobody will.
Where is then, the conflict?
The conflict happens only, to the one who allows himself to be upset.

True Power

Be soft and powerful as the wind that agitates the waves of the sea. Since only in that way, the just and true power will be reached.

Hostility

Who is hostile? The one who is fatally injured.

The Warrior

The warrior is courageous and dedicated. He has completed superior stages and has overcome mistakes. This has been done through sacrifice, hardship and even deprivation. Yet, he knows that he will reach his objective.

This warrior is not a mere fighter since he has developed superior arts, has achieved self management, has acquired superior resistance and refined techniques. He carries in his heart, gratitude for the knowledge because he has fought and won the battle with the inner demons.

Fighting off the attacks

How to fight off the attacks?
Let them pass. Be like an open door.

And nobody will be able to hit you because

you have reached the understanding of vacuity.

A Thought is not only a Thought

A thought is not only a thought since is sustained by other thoughts that in return are sustained by the previous thought. One supports the other and they complement among them.

From order, comes the right answer and then, there is no reason for error.

Be as the Wind

Be vast and broad as the wind. And you will bring near the essence of virtue.

The Understanding of Ki

The understanding of Ki is related in a very direct way to the contemplation of nature. Nevertheless, not everything is contemplation since the own nature is dynamic.

Then, what do we have to understand? That there is a part that is meditative and another that is active.

The understanding is found, when we pass from one to the other and from the other to the one.

The Search for Perfection

The search for perfection, is not the search for perfection, but the practice of self improvement, in order to be able to understand, that perfection is the practice of a constant skill, that is reached in the constant search for perfection.

If you think that you have achieved it, you are mistaken. If you work and try to find it, you are right.

The Wind and the Sea

The wind and the sea flow and flow in a constant and perfect romance. Everything in life has its place and nobody has more nor less, since we all have a perfect place there.

The wind flows over the sea lifting the wave. The wind flows over the sea bringing the light that makes out of the sky, a kiss to the surface of sand, in order to start all over again...

The Fundamental Prevails

Maybe there is more art than science, more nature than reason.
But the years will pass and even the greatest progress will disappear.
But the spider will keep on knitting in the same way,
because in truth, life does not change, only the environment
since what is fundamental, prevails.

The Path of Aikido

Several learned students asked their mentor: "Sir, can you please explain to us in an easy understandable way, neither too metaphysical nor spiritual because our minds do not have the necessary training but we have the interest and would like to really know what is Ki."

Because there is too much mystery involved and too many definitions that do not clearly define. It is true that this is a profound topic and besides we do not want to understand it one hundred percent but at least some light that can free us of the confusion."

They spoke in that way to their mentor, who replied: "The understanding of Ki comes of two forces that are in contradiction: Calm and Movement. Nevertheless, this contradiction is only apparent. Since a serene mind may have a strong, really powerful, agile and dynamic body. But this does not happen by chance but by having lived with order and the consequence of that order is balance and as such, the opposites have been able to balance. It is a natural fact that many variables exist in the thought of the reason and also in the expression of the body.

For a better understanding. When there is discipline and it is worthy and noble, the understanding of Ki appears but what first must be understood is that Ki is an ideal strength in the ideal human being. And this is the one who has respect for life and as a consequence, he has taken an step, he has looked up to heaven. And from that step, clear and clean water has sprang forth which is good to drink. And in that heaven, he has found contemplation, expansion and harmony. And it is there where Ki begins to manifest.

Man, then, has understood that between heaven and earth and earth and heaven, there is a primordial principle. And from there, he has begun to understand that there must be balance and equilibrium in life.The way to this equilibrium is the way of Ki, the way of glory, the path of Aikido, where man is brother of the mountains, companion of the skies and absolutely one with eternity.This may seem too physiological or contemplative but it begins by noticing your breath, calming your thoughts, but also by been vigilant and attentive with your inner calm.Ki is the equilibrium of everything in existence and it will become present in your heart and your life.

Then, what is Ki? Is it the result of good intention? No, is more than that. Ki appears when truth is expressed with strength, as action, as harmony. That is the reason that Ki is naturally present in the whole Nature, which has order and movement.

Notice, how the wind flows, feel it. How the bird flies in the wind and the space. How the bird comes back to its nest. How the large bird flies. Notice how the foam of the sea comes softly to the shore and although gigantic and explosive, the foam is delicate and abundant. Listen to the wind in the sea. Is it possible to separate them? Notice how the wood burns in the fire, notice how the fire becomes wood and how the wood becomes fire.

And by contemplating Nature in that way and by self contemplation, you will see that the universe is not separated but united like a little stone tied to a mountain, like a drop of water in the ocean.

Who are you, the drop or the ocean? Where are the limits? Where is the beginning? Where is the end? Now, take this to reflection, go through and cut these words with discernment.
Live the moment. Discover yourself. Discover the truth without veil.
Ki flows eternally, eternally flows."

Wisdom and Mastery

To be able to reach wisdom and mastery, it is necessary to leave behind the speculative philosophy, and also all the self limiting ideas, because the energy that we put and that we are able to reach as life itself, depends on the courage and purity, depends on our own knowledge, and depends on the honesty of our intentions; because the universe is only consequent - giving results- to peace, love and progress, when these are written as commands in our heart and conscience.

Understanding Ki

The understanding of Ki, is only reached with purity of heart, since it is like the one who knows Love. What can he say about the reasons why he loves?

He looks inside and he knows because he is no longer tied by time, space, not even for the moment. He has discovered that he flows in the eternal present and that he has overcome the limits.

The Perfect Balance

The whole universe flows toward a perfect balance. The art of this expansion -until the culmination of the perfect harmony- represents in man, the power to express and to liberate all the energy, that as a potential state, culminates his development as the conscious awakening to true love.

Certainly, all that exists is energy and it constantly flows. However, there is only one way that this energy have the correct sense of equilibrium.

We can understand the magnitude of this knowledge when is revealed to our heart, the true intention toward the communion with the integral and absolute good.

The art of flowing which is the art of living and finally the art of been, integrates all in existence in one cosmic consciousness, which exalts the personal vision to an integral and unitary vision, respecting the individuality, but at the same time, integrating everything in the deepest expression of unconditional love.

The River and the Stones

In this battle, there was a warrior facing one hundred and that warrior seemed to move like the river between the stones and soon the river became blood and the blood runs above the ankle of that warrior who faced one hundred. Nobody else survived but him.

How did he win?

And he answered:
-The stones that are in the river are rigid, but the river flows between them.
And without saying another word, he continued his journey.

The Art of the Wind

Those warriors are fierce in combat, clinging to his arms and pride. But the old man facing them, didn't have any weapon and his calm is his strength.

The warriors attacked with fast, violent, aggressive movements. The old man seemed not to move and everybody thought that he would be defeated. After a few moments, the fierce warriors had been defeated while the old man seemed calm. And the warriors will never fight again.

How did the old man win? How did the warriors lose?
They asked the old man what techniques he had used. And he smiled and said:
-I have not used any technique.

-How can this be? they said
The old man answered:
-The techniques are only at the beginning of the play but then, the forms disappear, the combat disappear, everything becomes silent, the battle has ended.

They asked one more question to the old man.
-Where is your strength?
And he only said:
-In the wind.
And he left.

Where will the warriors be, I asked myself, because nobody survived.
And the answer is:

The art of the wind is related to the art of the water, it is powerful as fire but even more powerful than fire.

The Martial Arts Practitioner

A Martial Arts practitioner decided to seek answers to the mysteries of Ki. He went out looking for experts and teachers and he certainly found very powerful individuals, men and women, who could break large blocks of stone, others could levitate, others could fight to perfection with the eyes closed, others could submerge under the sea and stay for hours and hours.But these people told him that they knew about a person much stronger than them, who lived at the top of a very steep and cold mountain.

He got ready and tried to ascend the mountain but after a short time, he would descend because he did not have strength nor resistence.Nevertheless, he tried one and many times, but he would always had to descend. He was a persistent person and prepared himself for a year, by that time, he had developed a lot of strength, but could not pass half of the distance necessary to climb the mountain.

He insisted and kept preparing himself, ten years passed, in which he could ascend more but still he was very far from the top of the mountain. Twenty years passed and then, he could ascend to the top of the mountain.But oh surprise! The mountain was like an ice floe where nothing was growing. And the curious thing was that in contrast, the climate up there was absolutely spring time with flowers and fruits. It was most unusual, because there were even butterflies. And when he was wondering whether he had died and was in heaven, a very calmed mild voice greeted him. and he -without even noticing- answered. Then, that mild voice started to talk to him about things that were happening in the near towns, he seemed to be very well informed. And the persistent seeker asked: " Who are you?"

The man said: " I am a humble poet who lives here, retired and enamored as I am , of this distant wind that here in the top of the mountain, is much better perceived in its natural flow. And the seeker said: " If it is that way, how do you know what is happening in the surrounding towns?" And the man answered: " Because in the mornings, I always come down and bring flowers and fruits to the townspeople, and by the middle of the day I go up again to listen to the mysterious words of the wind and to write them in the book of my life. And the surprised seeker who had taken more than twenty years to ascend the mountain, found a poet who would go up and down the mountain every day.

He, then, started to understand that a teacher of Ki does not stay in the combat but goes beyond and even further on, and whom, astonished as he was, was not able to completely understand.

The Understanding of Ki

When the discipline is worthy and noble, the understanding of Ki is revealed but what first must be understood is that Ki is an ideal strength in the ideal human being. And this is the one who has respect for life and as a consequence, he has taken an step, he has looked up to heaven. And from that step, clear and clean water has sprang forth which is good to drink. And in that heaven, he has found contemplation, expansion and harmony.

It is there where Ki begins to manifest.This man, then, has understood that between heaven and earth and earth and heaven, there is a primordial principle. And from there, he has begun to understand that there must be balance and equilibrium in life.The way to this equilibrium is the way of Ki, the way of glory, the path of Aikido, where man is brother of the mountains, companion of the skies and absolutely one with eternity.

This may seem too physiological or contemplative but it begins by noticing your breath, calming your thoughts, also by been vigilant and attentive of your inner calm.