TrueAiki Logo

Starting from the outside in here are of few of the symbolic representations in the TrueAiki logo.

Circle:  The circle represents the undifferentiated infinite, the absolute, that without beginning and without end, the one source from which all come and to which all return

Four Black Triangles pointing to the 4 Cardinal Directions:  Each triangle represents the the triune of Heaven/Earth/Man.  They point to the 4 cardinal Directions representing Heaven/Earth & Fire/Water.

Hidden Four Squares:  The black triangles are actually four squares combined as one sharing a common center.  This is a tribute to the Takeda Mon and Takeda Sokaku the foundation of Aiki arts in Japan.

The White Square:  The corners of the White Square when combined with those of the black (White and Black representing In/Yo) complete the four pairs of oppositional forces, making 8 powers as a result of the combination of Yin and Yang.  Also, the combination of the black and white squares symbolically represent the petals of a Lotus blossom, which in turn represents compassion

The Crossed Vajra Swords:  The handle of the sword is a three pronged vajra.  The vajra represents adamantine, indestructible unity.  It has two balanced poles representing the unity and balance of wisdom and compassion.  The double edged sword also represents the unity of opposites.  The swords themselves represent Yin/Yang as one is dark and the other light.

The Unity of the Vajra Swords and the Lotus blossom:  The Lotus represents compassion and the Swords Wisdom.  The Lotus is represented in Shingon by the Taizokai Mandala, and the Vajra (in the form of a sword in this case) is represented by the Kongokai Mandala.  Together they form a balanced unity.

The Siddham character:  This is the character representing Fudo Myoo.  Fudo Myoo is one of the guardian kings that protects the “realm.”  Fudo  means immovable.  And Myo-o is guardian king.  His body is blue, large, and yet soft as a child’s.  His teeth and eyes represent In/Yo.  In one hand he holds a vajra sword to cut through delusion.  The weighted rope in his other hand (another weapon) is to bind passions.  It is made of 5 colors representing the 5 elements.  He is often depicted as sitting or standing upon a great immovable rock.  Fudo is fiercely determined and said to be unstoppable.  But don’t be fooled by his continence, he is fueled by his enormous compassion for the suffering of all beings.  Fudo is said to be found in the heart of fire, and in waterfalls where the active water meets the passive pool.  This makes sense when one considers that fire rises and water falls.

As one can see, the logo is full of interpenetrating elements.  In Shingon one trains one’s thoughts, words and actions.  Symbols are abundant and used.  Symbols can be powerful.  For example, language is constituted of symbols, both auditory, and visual.  Much of our conscious cognition is constituted of these symbols.

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