jeudi 24 décembre 2015

Clarification about the 'Self'



All forms of Buddhism teach that all dharma or phenomena have 3 universal characteristics :


All phenomena are Impermanent
The teaching of ANICCA
All phenomena are Unsatisfactory
The teaching of DUKKHA
All phenomena are Not-Self
The teaching of ANATTA


The teachings of Anicca and Dukkha are common to all religious or philosopHical traditions, but the teaching of Anatta is unique to Buddhism.

According to Anatta there is nothing that can be identified as 'self', all the things that we take to be ourself, to be I and mine, are really 'not-self'.

Buddhism holds that these notions are deceptive delusions that lead us into conflicts and suffering. To stop this suffering we have to realize the nature of all phenomena. This is achieved by intellectual understanding and through insight.


Because almost all of our thoughts and activities are centred around the idea of "I", "mine" and "myself" Anatta is the deepest and the most difficult of the 3 characteristics to realize. To grasp its exact meaning we have to clarify what it actually does and does not deny. 'Anatta' meaning literally 'not-self', what really is this 'self' denied by it ?


The word "self" can be used in three senses :

  • (a) A reflexive sense, as when when we speak of "myself", "yourself", "oneself". (French “moi-meme”, “toi-meme”, “soi-meme”). Buddhism accepts such use of the word "Self". You have to train yourself, one must purify oneself, you have to make the effort yourself and so on.
  • (b) "Self” as one's own person, the compound of body and mind or psycho-physical personality. Here the word 'self' is used to refer easily and economically to what really is a complex process. Buddhism accepts such use of the word "Self".
  • (c) A substantial and lasting ego entity, core of the compound of body and mind. This idea of a "Self" is categorically rejected by the teaching of Anatta, for it is this assumption that draws us into suffering.













jeudi 10 décembre 2015

Sources for Shindo Muso Ryu


There are little sources for Shindo Muso Ryu Jo Jutsu on the Net

According to Carl Long Hanshi there are 2 reference books, both of them are out of prin...

  • Jodo Kyohan by Kaminoda Tsunemori and Nakashima Asakichi (in Japanese)

 

Jodô la voie du bâton / the way of the stick by Pascal Krieger (in French and English).

The Way of the Stick can be downloaded as a Pdf file by clicking HERE


Here are 3 videos of the 3 first Kihon found on Youtube. 

These videos, as well as other of the next 9 Kihon are available on this channel. Please do not forget to like the videos, This gentleman took the time to record and upload them for the general good.



1st Technique : Honte Uchi (Regular Grip Strike)



2nd Technique : Gyakute Uchi (Reverse Grip Strike)

 

3rd Technique : Hiki Otoshi Uchi (Pull Down Strike)









 

Enjoy...


If you are interested in Jo Jutsu, please contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com or by Phone at (334) 798 1639

 


mardi 8 décembre 2015

The Miura Hanshi mosaic portrait


2 weeks ago we had our KNBK Winter Gasshuku. I drove from Alabama to Pennsylvania, 16 hours, mostly under  heavy rain...





Riding with me in the car was our Miura Hanshi Mosaic, a piece I was able to build thanks to generous contributions of people who backed my Kickstarter campaign. Contributions came from a number of Countries, mainly USA and France, and Martial Artists, mostly KNBK Iaijutsu and Yoshukai Karate students.



This mosaic is an interpretation of a picture of Miura Hanshi practicing Tameshigiri on a rolled sheet of paper. Miura Hanshi was well know for his quasi supernatural ability to cut. This picture was his preferred one of himself and was displayed at the entrance of his dojo in Osaka.

The Miura Hanshi mosaic was presented to Carl Long Hanshi, head instructor of the KNBK, an organization dedicated to the transmission of several traditional Japanese Martial Arts. 



Miura Hanshi, 10th Dan, was the 20th generation grandmaster of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu. The presentation occurred in front of 60 Martial Artists gathered to train together in the Arts he  dedicated his life to transmit to us. 


The Miura Hanshi mosaic was built following the reverse method. It is made of 3 different black granites, ceramic and glass tiles. Its dimensions are 24 x 30" (60 x 75 cm).


Beside my great interest in studying and teaching Zen and Martial Arts,  
I am also a modern mosaic artist with a deep admiration for ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Arts. 

You can see some of my own mosaics on my site mosaicblues.

 







A few times each year, I take on commission work.

If you are interested by a custom mosaic
portrait or an other decorative piec
for your Dojo or Home, 
please contact me

or 
by phone at (334) 798 1639. 

 

   You can also




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of mosaics in general and on my other projects.