The Secret Significance of Aikidopoetic Songs of the Way
Edited by Seiseki Abe  Okui - The Secrets1. Bu, the root of all that is, is the great spirit of the founding of our nation. This bujutsu, as a part of the Imperial Way (kodo), trains us in body and in spirit to achieve the martial spirit (buki) of Yamato-damashii (the Japanese Spirit) by means of AIKI ( a meeting of the Ki) with the multitude of deities (Yorozu no Kami). So we train to unite the truth, happiness and beauty of the sincere sole. Bu builds sincere people who have not the slightest vulnerability or opening since they have completely unified their sole and their mind. Therefor our aim is to mutually cultivate (ourselves) in both the world of appearances and in the world of essences and thus to take charge of this world of the present and bring to project harmony and beauty (our) Yamato-damashii (Japanese spirit). 2. In the narrow sense this means that we must perform austere physical training (Shugyo) with our bodies while our Kokoro (spirit/mind) remains ever mindful of what it means to be a "seeker" (shugyo-sha) 3. In the broadest sense this means unification with the Great Deity. The most important law of Bu is the need for shugyo that fosters the foundation for expressing the Holy Sole of a Surpassing Love of all that is manifested in this world. An Auspicious Day, December, 1936. (by O Sensei)
The parent of Izu and Mizu So precious! Put the active principle (yo) into the right hand Turn the left into the passive (in) And so guide the adversary. By means of the way Call out the misguided enemy Advance and persuade him with words of instruction Through the Sword of Love. Enlightenment or delusion? Who is to say which person has which Like the evening moon they appear and fade Not one knows exactly when. The Way of the Gods! Give in to the life of the Universe of Heaven and Earth Thus draw nearer and nearer To a spirit who serves the Godhead To see the true things Harmonize the voice with shouts "Yah" Never be drawn into the rhythm of the enemy. I stand in the mountain stream So pure! The splashing sound of water against the stone Yet where is the person Who with such purity can speak (of the Way). Watch not his flashing blade Nothing can be seen there His fists will reveal where he intends to cut Causing the perverted enemy to attack I must then stand behind his form And so cut the enemy down. It is sincerity! First cultivate sincerity with all your heart So realize this truth The World of Reality and the World of Appearance are One. Whenever I seem to confront Another dead end on my path That precious way of Izu and Mizu I bring to mind once more Should you lose the Way Without a doubt you will enter an "evil path" Give no reign to the spiritual horse. In a forest of the enemy's spears Surrounded! Then realize that those very spearheads Are your very shield. A person who In any situation Perceives the truth with resignation Would never need to draw his sword in haste Pour your spirit and heart Into daily technical training To approach the many through a single principle This is "The Way of the Fighting Man" The enemy comes running in to strike At the instant of the attack Avoid his strike with one step And counter attack in that instant. To see the true things Harmonize with the voice which shouts, "Yah" Never be drawn into the rhythm of the enemy With "Eiii" cut him down! That enemy that lurks within Instruct him with "Yah" Guide him with "Toh" First master the techniques of Aiki The way of the Gods Then no enemy will ever attack His sword raised to the attack The enemy flies at the man he thinks before him But from the very start I was standing behind him "To command the forest of enemy blades arrayed before you Know that the enemy's spirit/mind is your shield." Rip away from your soul The shabby rags it wears Open the way to Heavens destiny So let it shine! When you assume chudan Move the enemy's spirit into the midst And grasp the rhythm in the same fist. Even through surrounded by a great number of enemy View them as one person And so fight on! The enemy may assume gedan But stay as you are in chudan Move your blade neither up nor down. If you wish to weaken The enemy's sword Move first, fly in and cut! Though the enemy's spears and buts are before you and behind With their very weapons as your shield You must cut in and gain victory. Without the slightest opening Nor the least thought of the enemy And his encircling swords Step in and cut! The rays of the rising sun flow in My mind is clear Going to the window, I run about the Heavens Shining like the dawn. Stand with the "First-moving Sword" held in the heavens Close quickly and release your strike Cutting diagonally. Even the most powerful human being has a limited sphere of strength. Draw him outside of that sphere and into your own, and his strength will dissipate. "You must realize this! Aiki cannot be captured with the brush Nor can it be expressed with the mouth And so it is that one must proceed to realization" In Jodan Your every self must become Jodan Then in that way The attacking spear can be crushed Victory will be yours The rays of the rising sun flow in My mind is clear Going to the window, I run about the Heavens Shining like the dawn. Left and Right Cut or parry Discard all thought of them The human spirit must rush instantly in! Assume gedan and see The spirit of the positive (yo) as in shadow (in) Recognize the cuts and thrusts of the enemy's blade As merely seigan Mobilize all (your) powers through Aiki Build a beautiful world And a secure peace Though you may train In this sword work or in that What will it mean Unless you do your utmost Speeding down from Heaven The God of Light descends Illuminating all the world Even to the bottom of the seas. Reflecting through the Heavens All darkness is made light Descending, the vastness of the great sea Is filled with the voices of Joy. Deep in the glow of Izu Which Shines in the Heavens above There is the reverberating sound Of the King of the Eight Powers Blend with (ki-musubi) the Universe of Heaven and Earth (tenchi) Stand in the center (of all) In your heart take up the stance Of "The Way of the Mountain Echo" The spiritual essence of the Heavens and Earth Congealing becomes the Way of the Cross-Shape + Harmony and Joy make up the Floating Bridge That binds this world together. This world is built up Of living-life (iki-inochi) of the breath of life (iki-inichi) and the saving power of the Universal (iki-inochi) All spinning and flourishing The jewel-like Aiki of the Spirit (tama-no-aiki) Izu! By ritual purify, wash clean the sole. The true form of the All-pervasive Universal Principle cries out (Izu-no-mitama) In the midst of the Light courageously With martial valor does it howl. Shining and echoing is the kotodama An honored form of the Holy Parent That single, spiritual origin (of all that is) Since Ancient days The virtues of training in the Two Ways Both of the Sword and of the Pen Has brought realization in the body and in the sole. The techniques of AIKI Follow the Principles of Kusanaqi Thus they protect the Way of the Buddhas, the (Shinto) gods, And this world of manifestations. The form and beauty that is the world of Heaven and Earth Has become one family. At the beginning of the world There came from the Heavens The Curved Stone, the Mirror and the Sword To build up a nation At the beginning of the time "Bu" came down from the Heavens To serve the defense of the land So says the Emperor's sacred voice. Even when a single enemy has called you out Be on your best guard An entire host of the foe Is on your left, right, in front and behind. Aiki! The root of the power of love A love that must grow ever broader. Aiki cannot be captured with the brush Nor can it be expressed with the mouth And so it is that one must proceed to realization (satori) Aiki! A way so difficult to analyze (But one needs only to) follow The natural rotations of the Heavens. You must realize this! Aiki can not be captured with the brush Nor can it be expressed with the mouth And so it is that one must proceed to realization (satori) from Aiki News March 15, 1982 by Seiseki Abe
Polish it ceaselessly You people of the Way The great and honored God Taught us the way to govern the world By creating the 75 sounds ( of the Kotodama). In these teachings listen most To the rhythm of the strike and thrust To train in the basics (omote) Is to practice the very secrets of the art. Through the 75 movements of compassion The events of this world Evermore do flourish Oh great and honored Deity! With "Eiiii" cut him down! That enemy that lurks within Instruct him with "Yah" Guide him with "Toh". Blend the Ki within the self (ki-musubi) Stand erect in the very center Polish the spirit/mind (Kokoro) "The Way of the Mountain Echo". In the self-mind standing always In the very center of it I do live The stance (kamae) of Love is " The Way of the Mountain Echo" The Way of our Gods! The clear and those red and white The Way of AIKI is one of the divine techniques To which only a narrow gate does lead. The honored techniques if KI May manifest the spirit of the Great Snake Or that of Bees To make such spirits (tama) appear Is the Way of Takemusu The precious techniques of KI! They, the spirits (tama) does subdue and pacify IN these techniques of misogi purification Please direct us, Oh gods of Heaven and Earth! In a landscape abundant with advanced weaponry The Living soles become one in prayer With the virtue of the workings of the God of Creation (samuhara). The Way of the God! (kannagara) The well-practiced sword Must be made transparent and shining Through the grace of the Divine. The Ki of the Great Origin Is Full and abundant The Heavens and the Earth, all Creation itself From here began The multitudinous worlds of this existing universe All at once are opened. Plum Blossoms! The second opening of the Great Stone Door. The structure of the myriad worlds of this universe Is brought to completion by its divine Parent (mi-oya) And so I will leave it be As she left it. Except for blending with the void There is no way to understand The Way of Aiki. The Pine, the Bamboo, and the Plum The make up of Ki that we are training to purify From where do they arise? The Water and Fire of the change in the self. With a mighty roar The encompassing love of the lord Gives birth to the great Universe His holy works thus come into being. The bejeweled spirit-sword of Susanoo Down to the world did come There to shine in the eastern sky. Fully knowing it to be A matter of life and death before us We may chose to withdraw But the enemy will not allow it. The vast Universe! The Way of Aiki to to become The light of all mankind Opening all the world. Takemusu comes to be Through Aiki with fire and Water of the Holy Parent The workings of this union are The superlative beauty of the works of God. Though we may honor it We can never praise enough The godly technique of the Way of Aiki The godly technique of the small gate. The "Cross Of Aiki" (Love-Ki) Of the structure of the Great and Swift God The meritorious deeds (samuhara) of the God of the Eight Powers. With the sakaki and the tuski Purify the spirit The motherly parent of Izu Is here in the workings (samuhara) of god. Always and always Pour yourself into technical training To face the multitude as if it were one Is the Way of the Shugo-sha. To the Technique of Tsurugi Neither brush nor word of mouth can render due service Saying nothing you must go fourth And so must you know (satori) The way of Izu has become The Aiki of Heaven Earth and Man Oh, let us keep this Way You Gods of the Universe (ten-chi) Let us bind together Heaven and Earth, God and Man So we may guard and protect This age of ours. Sharply sparkling The spirit/mind of the person of the Way (do-jin) Penetrates through to reveal The evil devil that lurks inside the self The time is now! Make straight the bonds that link Heaven, Fire, Water and Earth Let me stand as your guide. The sun, the moon and the earth All have become Aiki Standing on this bridge The great expanse of the sea is The Way of the Mountain Echo. Stand on the bridge that was built Through the Aiki of fire and the water In the great expanse of the void There is the Mountain Echo. Training everyday I smile again to see The King of the Eight Powers About to give his battle cry. The purification techniques (misogi-waza) I have learned from GOD and Revelation Aiki is built by the god(s) Masakatsu and Agatsu By Aiki with the spirit of the Godly Parent Save and invigorate You own body and soul. Inviting him in he approaches A wind in made to blow Cut it off, retain it and perfect it Through the Aiki (love-Ki) of God. For the sake of my heart There appeared a perfect void On the floating bridge. A benefaction of the Lord. Pondering (the state of) this world I fall into a lament Only to be reinvigorated again When the light of the tumbling clouds Builds the "vigorous force" inside me. "Build up the world" This command he did grasp Received from the honored mother of the nation Thus stands Katsuhayabi On the Floating Bridge of the Heavens Looking at this world Only a coward complains of what he sees As for me Let me stand courageously In the face of God's rage. Though only one enemy calls you out Be on your nest guard To deal with one adversary in the spirit of facing ten thousands Is the Way if the Warrior. Aikido! With links and ties too numberless to be known Is found in the body and souls of the people They who will enlighten the world. Ah, the precious Izu and Mizu Together, the Cross of Aiki Advance with courage In the voice of Mizu
Masakatsu Agatsu: True victory is victory over Oneself One must first learn to control oneself before attempting to harmonize and control others. Without good balance and control over oneself, one can neither avoid an attack nor apply an effective technique on others. It is through self-control that one can learn to enjoy a harmonious way of life. Izu and Mizu: These two words are taken from the metaphysical works of the Omoto religion and Shinto and are related to the theory of Kotodama, According to the works of Onisaburo Deguchi as presented in the book "The Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba" by Doshu, K. Ueshiba Sensei, Izu is the word that indicates the actual Universal, All encompassing Deity or Principle, while Mizu is a word that is used to name the functioning of that Principle of Deity in this world for the sake of saving it. The two sounds are associated with the theory of Kotodama and with the concepts of Yang (Jap. Yo) and Yin (Jap. In) "The Way of the Mountain Echo" This is a difficult image to define clearly, especially since it is rarely used today by the present teachers of Aikido. A mountain echo repeats back to the caller the same thing that was originally shouted. In O Sensei's "Way of the Mountain Echo" the images seem to be something akin to the concept of AIKI, in the sense of responding to or adapting to whatever it may be that your partner delivers and dealing with each encounter as if it were a completely new and fresh event. Associated with this may be the image of emptiness of the echo before anyone calls out to it, the fact that an echo makes no distinction between different callers and recognizes no difference in languages, or content of the message. It may also involve the idea of purposefulness of the echo's calling back although it never fails to do so whenever called upon and to do so with all it's effort. Another possible interpretation or nuance could be the fact that the echo's answering call always brings pleasure to the caller. The pine, bamboo and plum (sho, chiku, bai) are common images used in popular Japanese culture. They are auspicious symbols: The pine is longevity and endurance, since it is evergreen and stays green even in winter, and it lives a long time and grows gnarly and beautifully weathered with age, like people who age well. The bamboo is flexibility and strength, as it bends in the wind or under a weight of snow, but never breaks. The plum is the Japanese plum, which is the first to blossom before the sakura cherry blossoms, so it signifies strong beauty in the face of winter harshness, albeit a fleeting beauty. The plum blossom also matures into the ume fruit, which is salted and pickled and is reputed to be a cure-all; a sort of Japanese chicken soup. Sho chiku bai. That's the name of a sake (Japanese alcohol) brand, too. The shochikubai is often grouped for New Year's decorations so that the household will be blessed with those attributes for the coming year. In Japan, we decorated our tea ceremony practice hall with shochikubai decorations for New Year's, and the doorways of Japanese homes and companies are decorated with kadomatsu (made of various combinations of bamboo, pine and plum)
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