Meditation

Meditation

What karate does for your body, meditation does for your mind. Just as practicing karate will strengthen and discipline your body, practicing meditation will strengthen and discipline your mind. And just as a strong body without an equally strong mind is limited, karate is incomplete without meditation. When we have a well-developed body and a clear mind working as one, our actions flow honestly, powerfully, and appropriately. Such harmony can be achieved only through karate and meditation. Meditation is not religious. It is not mystical or worshipful or cultist. As practiced in Seido Karate, Meditation is free of religion, nation, or organization. Meditation, in fact, involves only yourself.

The idea behind Seido meditation is simple: in order to get the most out of your life, you must first clear your mind. To clear the mind we practice seated meditation, during which we sit and concentrate only on our breathing, to the exclusion of everything else. All we are doing is sitting and breathing-but we are doing it with our full selves.

Meditation Lecture

Ichi Nichi, Issho:

One Day, One Lifetime

"Ichi nichi" means "one day"; "issho" means "one lifetime." This expression tells us how we should live our daily lives.

Each day and every day, your life unfolds and evolves. Slowly and surely, your life experience builds up. Each day is a "miniature" of the whole canvas of life.

There is also another way to think of "issho." Try to imagine that your whole life would have to be summed up by one day. You would try to have the best day possible, and you would try to concentrate hard. If you live this way on a daily basis, if you gave five hundred percent of your effort everyday, then you will begin feel contented. You will truly feel that each day is valuable and that nothing is a waste of time. This exercise can give you valuable insight into your life.

Everyone wants to be happier and to have a better life. That's the way we are. But, we have to make a constant effort in order to live more fully. Every day, make sure you are giving your best. This is the only way to improve yourself and to feel that you are growing.

"Ichi Nichi, Issho" also applies to your training. Everyone has a different schedule. Some students can only come to class once a week; other people may come twice or three times a week. It's up to each individual to decide how much time to spend on their training. But whenever you do take class, you must concentrate and give one hundred percent of your effort. As soon as you put on your gi and tie your belt, you must focus on your training. Don't bring your personal problems onto the dojo floor. You have to act as if every moment is the most important one, and put everything you have into your actions.

We are all very different and, as individuals, we are subject to many different pressures. Coming to the dojo can help you to relieve stress. When you are training, you can let go of your troubles. Think of nothing: try to make your mind empty, just sweat and work hard. Afterwards, you will feel better, for you will have accomplished one simple goal. Then, you can begin to take care of all your other responsibilities.

Please remember to live each moment to its fullest extent. "Ichi nichi, issho" is a very simple expression, but it is very, very important.

This lecture is copied from One Day - One Lifetime:

An Illustrated Guide to the Spirit, Practice, and Philosophy of Seido Karate Meditation by Kaicho T. Nakamura.

To order a copy, please call the Seido Karate Geelong.