Part 3: Aikiology – Morihei Ueshiba Tells All

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This is part 3 of series post, if you haven’t read part 1 and 2, I strongly suggest that you do so before reading this part.

Ueshiba Morihei wrote:

「合気道とは和合の道であり、即ち⼀霊四魂三元⼋⼒

の⽣ける姿、宇宙経綸の姿、即ち⾼天原の姿である」

“Aikido is the way of harmony, that is to say the living form of Ichirei Shikon Sangen Hachiriki, the form of the fabric of the universe, specifically the form of the High Plain of Heaven.”

Chris Li writes:  The first section, “Ichirei Shikon” (“One Spirit, Four Souls”),  is the structure of the spirit world. In Shinto cosmology  humans possess one spirit and four souls – the turbulent  (aramitama), the tranquil (nigimitama), the happy (sakimi-  tama) and the wondrous (kushimitama). The “naohinomi-  tama” is the one spirit that acts as kind of a container for  the four souls.  

Allen writes:  I think it is important to remember that in this case the “Spirit World” and the “Physical World” are both part of a singular whole.  Westerners may be inclined to think of the “Spirit World” as some distant “other” place.  But in this context it is not.  In fact Ueshiba points this out himself.

Ueshiba Morihei wrote:

“タカマガハラも⾃分にあるのであります。天や地をさ  がしてもタカマガハラはありません。それが⾃⼰のう  ちにあることを”

“Takamagahara [the High Plain of Heaven] is within yourself. If you search for Takamagahara you will not find it on Heaven or Earth. That is when you will become enlightened to the fact that it exists within yourself.”

Allen writes: Consequently, it is important to remember that both training of the “spirit” and training of the “body” takes place within one’s self.  

O-Sensei wrote-

「合気というものは、初め円を描く。円を描くこと、つまり対象力。相手に指一本ふれないでも相手は跳んでしまう。この一つのものをつくりあげるにも十年ぐらいはかかる。これからは大飛躍をしよう。」

“In this thing called Aiki, first describe (draw) a circle. Drawing a circle is, in other words, opposing powers. Without touching with even one finger your opponent will be sent flying. Just to be able to do this one thing takes about 10 years. Let’s try to advance quickly.”    

Allen writes:  Below is Shirata Rinjiro’s quote of Ueshiba Morihei. Please note the addition of Ni Ki.  That is In/Yo or the “opposing powers.”

He preached the mysterious influence of ichirei niki sangen shikon hachiriki [一霊二気三元四魂八力 singular spirit, two ki, three origins, four souls, eight powers] that is the living foundation of the activity of Genkō Ōmioya Ōkami [元皇大御親大神 Original Imperial Great Parent High Kami], the mysterious effect of the reverberation of the kotodama of the cosmos, and the original occult mystery of the cosmic creation of heaven and earth [大宇宙天地創造の元玄妙妙].

Allen writes:  So let’s try to follow along, “Aikido is the living form of Ichi Rei” “In this thing called Aiki first describe a circle” This circle is Ichi Rei.  Don’t believe me?  Lets keep going.  “Drawing a circle is, in other words, opposing powers” Opposing powers are Ni Ki.  Still don’t believe me?  Shirata sensei  goes on to explain, “That is the living foundation of the activity of Genko Omioya Okami” [Original Imperial Great Parent High Kami] Ichi Rei which contains, and from which arises, all that comes after it beginning with Ni Ki, the opposing forces.

Compare this with Hirata Atsutane’s description of Ame-no-Minakanushi-no-Okami.  Hirata Atsutane was a Kokugaku scholar.  Konko-kyo beliefs, Ko-Shinto, and Kokugaku theory were combined within the Oomoto religion.

Hirata Atsutane, in contrast to Motoori, described Ame-no-Minakanushi as a supreme deity with no beginning and no end who holds sovereignty over all existence, residing in the pole star at the very center of heaven.^[5]

All things in heaven and earth have an original, great ancestral kami. Its name is Amenominakanushi no kami. It has no beginning and no end. It abides in the heavens above. It is furnished with the quality of producing all things within heaven and earth, but it acts not and is quiescent (it dwells in the so-called Plain of High Heaven from the original beginning), and it is sovereign over all existence. Next are Takamimusubi no kami and Kamimusubi no kami. They are apportioned with the qualities of Amenominakanushi no kami, producing all things in heaven and earth, and exerting sovereignty over all things in heaven and earth. They are equipped with the immeasurably marvelous quality called the spirit of generation (musubi). They are the ultimate natural ancestral kami of human beings. These two ancestral deities then forged heaven and earth, giving birth to Izanagi no mikoto and Izanami no mikoto, and making them firm the land and give birth to the people. These are our great natural parent deities. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ame-no-Minakanushi)

Those that a familiar with the Misogi-no-Gyo practiced and taught by Ueshiba Morihei will recognize the three generative kami names which also have a correlation to triangle, circle, and square theory.

Let us remember, this is what the founder of Aikido is saying Aikido is.  It is within us.  There is one body.  Within this one body, two opposing forces arise. These are not just any old two opposing forces.  These are mutually dependent, co-arising, complementary opposing forces, or in other words IN/YO, Ni Ki, forces. What’s next? 

Allen writes:  As Chris Li points out in his article the dividing line of these two powers (Heaven/Earth) is where we find “Man.”

So now we have San Gen (Ten, Chi, Jin or Heaven/Earth/Man).

Morihei Ueshiba writes:  合気道は天地人和合の道と理なり。
“Aikido is the Way and Principle of harmonizing Heaven, Earth and Man.”

What’s that?  We have a man inside of us?  No, we have the “power” of “man” inside of us.  [To be even more accurate “Jin” is “human” as in humanity, rather than a gender.] What is the power of humans?  The related Chinese cosmology can help us out with that.  “Heart leads Intent, Intent leads Chi [Ki], Chi [Ki] leads Power.”  So, if there are three Ki’s and two Ki’s are In/Yo, the other Ki is “intent” or the power of humans.  

So the founder is saying Aikido is the Way and Principle of harmonizing within one’s body the two forces of In/Yo with the human force of our Intent.  

Cool.  But, how?

Stay tuned for Part 4 of Aikiology – Morihei Ueshiba Tells All

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