What is Seishin-Fugen-Do?
The path to enlightenment and
liberation without religion
The highest and ultimate human joy is enlightenment, or liberation, through fundamental freedom.
The practice Seishin-Fugen-Do encompasses many techniques based on mindfulness. If you persist with the mind-body practices and physical techniques of Seishin-Fugen-Do for many years, the effects of mindfulness can be seen in the improvement of mental disorders. Similarly, in terms of brain function, it can improve concentration, memory and the quality of performance in work and study. However, because these effects are so subtle in the short term, and so profound in the long term. If the short term effects themselves are the goal, then these effects may not be achieved (they may be too subtle to be noticed). Therefore it is not advisable to practise with the expectation of such short-term effects.
The practice of Seishin-Fugen-Do is essentially about persistence.Therefore, it is clear that it is better to do this practice, but it is not compulsory. It is up to the individual to decide whether to persist it or not.
Zen means meditation, and the goal of Zen (meditation) is to attainenlightenment. Enlightenment is the realization of the Buddha nature within oneself and the separation of body and mind from all attachments. Therefore, Seishin-Fugen-Do aims to open the eyes of wisdom, which is the mind's ability to think about the truth, and to achieve enlightenment through meditation practices:
• Za-zen (sitting meditation)
• Ritsu-zen (standing meditation)
• Moving-zen (qigong meditation)
• Bu-zen (martial meditation)
When I write like this, some people may say, "Oh, it's just a religion.”
It‘s not religion, or rather, I don't think about "enlightenment" or "liberation" by religion anymore, and I don't want to think about it. In the past, I joined a cultist organization and believed in it for more than 40 years, aiming for "enlightenment" or "liberation". However, when I found out that the religious organization was a tax-exempt public interest corporation, but that it committed very despicable acts against public order and morals, I gave up my quest for "enlightenment" and "liberation" through religion.
When I looked around the world, I found that not only the cult I followed was doing such things, but all religious groups seemed to be doing the same thing to a greater or lesser extent. So, I gave up on religion and thought of other ways to reach enlightenment or liberation.
The Buddha discovered the "truth", or "universal and objective facts". Based on this truth, Buddha said, "If you do this, you will be happy. Please see for yourself”. Buddha did not say, "Believe in me.“
In this sense, Buddhism is not a religion. It is a scientific teaching based on evidence that can be applied to any human being and can be confirmed by oneself. (by Arbomulle Sumanasara, Early Buddhist Elders of Sri Lanka)
I also believe that Buddhism is not a religion, and what the Buddha taught leads to enlightenment. Seishin-Fugen-Do is the practice of meditation based on the Buddha's teachings and include: Za-zen (sitting meditation), Ritsu-zen (standing meditation), moving-zen(qigong meditation), Bu-zen(martial meditation).
Through these meditations, we aim to open the eyes of wisdom, which is the mind's way of thinking about the truth, and to achieve enlightenment. It is said that all is meditation if it meets the condition of "deliberately focusing on the experience of the present moment, without evaluation, and just watching without being bound.” Therefore, I believe that standing-zen, qigong, and martial arts can also be considered meditation if practiced with this in mind.
The name Seishin-Fugen-Do means "to purify the mind and not return“.
• "Seishin" means "to purify the mind," or to cut off vexations
• "Fugen" refers to those who, in Buddhism, no longer return to the human world, but ascend to the Brahma Realm or higher levels to attain enlightenment
In other words, Seishin Fugen means one who has renounced vexations, attained enlightenment, and will not be reborn in this world after death. Seishin-Fugen-Do is a way of cultivating one's mind in order to cut off vexations, attain enlightenment, and a state where one will never be reborn in this world after death.
"Nightstand Buddhist" is the term used for those people who light up their nightstands to meditate or read Buddhist books, but do not self-identify as Buddhists. I suppose you could consider me a nightstand Buddhist.
How to achieve enlightenment or liberation with Za-zen (sitting meditation), Ritsu-zen (standing meditation), Moving-zen (qigong meditation) and Bu-zen (martial meditation)?
The current situation:
In general, za-zen or meditation is a method to achieve enlightenment or liberation, but while sitting, we tend to think, "I am meditating now," "I need to focus my attention," "Will I get the benefits of meditation?”. Many people get caught up in distractions while meditating and their meditation does not go well as a result. The practice of meditation itself becomes a frustration halfway through.
The problem:
As we know from the start that sitting meditation is a meditation, we become overly conscious of the fact that it is a meditation. Since we are taking the time to sit, we can get caught up in the desire to get the various benefits of meditation, obsessing over the rewards.
The cause:
Sitting meditation looks easy on the outside (because you just sit), but it is actually the most difficult meditation method.
The solution:
In contrast, if you perform Ritsu-zen (standing meditation), Moving-zen (qigon meditation), or Bu-zen (martial meditation), you are not always aware of the fact that "I am meditating now.”. The usual practice is to pursue art, keeping your mind focused on the pursuit of the art (which is composed of subtle physical manipulations) is a form of meditation. You can practice without being too conscious of it, while understanding that it has meditative qualities. This is what makes Ritsu-zen (standing meditation), Moving-zen (qigon meditation), and Bu-zen (martial meditation) superior as meditations (Zen). And through them, Za-zen included, one aims for enlightenment or liberation.
People's interests change depending on their stage of development.
For example, the desire to win over others is an impulse that can be a springboard for devotion when one's blood is flowing, but eventually, such a goal begins to seem childish. The object of interest gradually changes, and the question of “what it means to be undefeated?”, changes to “what is the self?”, then “what is the mind?”, and eventually the questions of “what is the universe?”, “what is God?”, “why am I here?”, “what is the meaning of birth?”, “what is life?”, “what is death?”, and so on, come to occupy the mind.
Seishin-Fugen-Do is a path to answers to all of the above questions that are fundamental to human existence.
I believe that the ultimate joy of human beings is to be enlightened or liberated by attaining fundamental freedom.
Introduction to the originator of Seishin-Fugen-Do:
Yukio Aikawa
He started Judo at the age of 14 to combat bullying, domestic violence and moral harassment in primary and secondary school. He has practiced Karate, Aikido, Kendo, Jukendo, Military Martial Arts, Sumo, Koryu Jujutsu, Chinese Martial Arts, Modern Jujutsu, etc.
He is a mindfulness meditator and lives in Kyoto.
References:
"空手と太極拳でマインドフルネス" by Shintaro Yukawa, BAB Japan
"生きる極意" by Hifumi Nonaka, ChoobunshaContact us:
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Meditation of Loving-kindness
Let myself be always happy and kind
Let myself be free from disease and mental worries.
Let myself be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.
Let the wisdom of light shine upon myself.
Let myself be always happy and kind. (3 times)
Let my intimates be always happy and kind.
Let my intimates be free from disease and mental worries.
Let my intimates be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.
Let the wisdom of light shine upon my intimates.
Let my intimates be always happy and kind. (3 times)
Let all living beings be always happy and kind.
Let all living beings be free from disease and mental worries.
Let all living beings be always successful in righteous and reasonable endeavors.
Let the wisdom of light shine upon all living beings.
Let all living beings be always happy and kind. (3 times)
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