"The Author, it must be remembered, writes from his own standpoint!"
My personal "Interpretive" Lens!

"One thing has always been true: That book ... or ... that person who can give me an idea or a new slant on an old idea is my friend." - Louis L'Amour


"Providing a first step on a path to self-reflection." - C. E. James

"Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider..." - Francis Bacon

"What is true today may be reevaluated as false not long after. Judgements are frequently based upon a set of "temporary" circumstances surrounding them. Conflicting ideologies can exist simultaneously. Antagonistic dualities are complementary aspects of a unified whole: are seen as mutually dependent mirror images of each other." - Nahum Stiskin

Warning, Caveat and Note: The postings on this blog are my interpretation of readings, studies and experiences therefore errors and omissions are mine and mine alone. The content surrounding the extracts of books, see bibliography on this blog site, are also mine and mine alone therefore errors and omissions are also mine and mine alone and therefore why I highly recommended one read, study, research and fact find the material for clarity. My effort here is self-clarity toward a fuller understanding of the subject matter. See the bibliography for information on the books.


Note: I will endevor to provide a bibliography and italicize any direct quotes from the materials I use for this blog. If there are mistakes, errors, and/or omissions, I take full responsibility for them as they are mine and mine alone. If you find any mistakes, errors, and/or omissions please comment and let me know along with the correct information and/or sources.

Kenpo Gokui

The lines of the ken-po goku-i are set from an atomistic aspect simply because it is the manner in which the brain learns. Its nature is completely holistic and like the I Ching must be in a form that promotes learning and understanding so a person can see, hear and grasp the nature of a holistic system. The gokui is a method to teach us how to be holistic. Its terseness is the best that can be done to convey its holistic meaning.

A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth while the blood circulating is similar to the Sun and Moon yet the manner of drinking and spitting is either soft or hard while a person's unbalance is the same as a weight and the body should be able to change direction at any time as the time to strike is when the opportunity presents itself and both the eyes must see all sides as the ears must listen in all directions while the mind must grasp all the tactile, olfactory and gustation data not seen on all sides and not heard in any direction


Master Zeng said, "Am I preaching what I have not practiced myself?"

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Numerology of I-Ching Quotes

"Flexibility is letting go of egotism and fixations so as to become receptive to truth."

[The ego is the true hindrance to achieving enlightenment and blocks the energy flow necessary for appropriate actions. When the mind becomes fixated and the ego rears its head the body and spirit are restricted and energy is wasted.]

Heart/Mind

I have posted many times with discussions as to the body following the mind and when you couple that with the Kenpo Gokui/I Ching teachings one must connect the mind to the heart. In "The Elemental Changes" it states the following:

"Perceptual knowledge derived from the five senses is absolutely crucial to the correct operation of the heart/mind."

The gokui states, "A persons heart is the same as heaven and earth." If we lead a life in accordance with our practice and our understanding of the ancient pomes of the gokui as they unlock the mysteries of the oracle, the I Ching, we come to understand that we must follow this path "wholeheartedly."

What we perceive in our heats reflects in our "actions" and taken one step further the timing of those actions can mean the difference between gain or loss.

Discussion of the five senses is reflected in our pomes called the "Kenpo Gokui." It actually references our senses by openly referencing the eyes and ears to "see" and "hear" everything everywhere with our whole heart. Our sense of equilibrium as perceived through the senses and especially the body are also referenced in the pome when it tells us about balance and unbalance, hard and soft, changing directions, etc. Our senses of touch and how our mind and heart perceive the signals of the senses is crucial for our spirit-mind-body actions.

Where else is this more important than in the fighting arts where your adherence to such things is discovered quickly and sometimes with the pain of errors. It is a great teaching tool that provides the body, mind, and heart those lessons we either listen to or ignore.

This requires a good deal of contemplation.

In addition the following quotes provide additional paths to understanding of how the Universe works and if we are diligent we can seek that knowledge and understanding through the practice of Isshinryu and our studies of the ancient texts.

"In early Chinese tradition, the EAR is particularly associated with moral development."

[How can we learn, grow, and develop as humans if we don't "listen" or "hear" what is being said. If Sensei provides you information as either the spoken word, "hear," or by demonstration, "see," then how do we progress? If we are not open minded how do we determine morality and civility. If we are not diligent in our use of the senses then how can we gain the proficiency in our practice by the observation of others and Sensei? By extension that what we practice in the training hall is reflected in our daily actions in the world.]

"On another level, the EAR represents good advisors."

[Sensei, Sempai or Kohai are our advisors and we should control our ego so that we actively "listen" with our ears, eyes, mind, and body to achieve greatness.]

"The belly [hara] is both the center of the body and its storehouse of energy, the belly or gut is like the ruler."

[Hara, the balance point of the body. Through our practice of the fighting arts we discover rooting our selves to the Earth and then developing our physical actions from our balance point, the midsection or hara (belly). The true center of our strength in the fighting arts. All action comes from the Earth up to our hara and from there is expressed outward by our actions of the thighs, hara, and extremities.]

"The limbs depend on the belly, just as ministers depend on the ruler for guidance; the belly functions as the seat of moral courage while the thighs are vehicles for decisive action."

[Consider that nothing moves with out the center, hara. Our arms and legs have no strength or power with out the hara. Even with chinkuchi the hara plays a pivotal role in its application. Some kata depend on chinkuchi and one in particular depends almost exclusively on the hara, koshi, through "gamaku."]

"The belly and thigh act in concert to insure the survival and security of the 'little guy.'"

[Our ability for self-preservation is dependent on this...our mind and heart program our actions. This is an important distinction to our practice and following the way.]

New Graphic on Trigrams/Gua

Here is another one I created to help remember the eight primary trigrams/gua for the I Ching. It allows you to look at your hand and see the trigrams, etc.

Click on it to see the larger version.

The "One" and the "Myriad"

This is a little something I created from my studies of the I Ching. Click on it to see the largest version.

I arranged the trigrams so that the "father/heave" would be on the left and the "mother/earth" on the right so to depict the others in order of family connections, i.e. sons and daughters.

This is not a sexist thing but in relation to my interpretation of the Chinese thought in those days which we all know is vastly different from today's view.

I wouldn't want someone to feel I was politically incorrect in this rendition :-)

The circle at the top represents the "tao" or the "one" of the Universe. This is presence and the "force" as I laughingly call it. That which is and where all originates.

I added the cloud to represent the big "bang" that caused the great Tai Chi or Yin-Yang which is what begot the four greater/lesser yin-yang and created the eight trigrams which when associated in accordance with the time and situation creates the hexagrams of the I Ching, all 64 of them.

Under each trigram are the basic representations for each. As a person born under the "snake" and being the third born/third son puts me with "mountain." I was the third born in our house of seven putting me in the middle or a balance point in the children, etc.

It is appropriate that "hand/te" are also symbolized by this trigram and my dedication to the art of the hand is evident in my daily life and practice.

The Belt System Hypothesis - Kenpo Gokui | I Ching | The Mysteries

In the beginning, Isshinryu that is on Oki, there was no belt system. Then one day someone presented Tatsuo Sensei a belt and then Sensei provided for White and black belt, circa 1956 to 57. 1958 Tatsuo Sensei then added the green belt so it was white, green then black.

The significance to Marines was similar to the Marine Corps rank system. It provided a means of indicating a level of proficiency and expertise. The same was said of the belt system Tatsuo Sensei used and it just grew from there.

Now we have a rainbow of colors to show proficiency. This caused me to wonder if there were more than just gratification of the ego with colors or to enhance drawing in perspective practitioners into the training hall.

I study the gokui and its connections to the ancient Chinese texts, i.e. I Ching and the Mysteries. One of those texts is "The Elemental Changes: The Ancient Chinese Companion to the I Ching." In the chapter of "Keng, No. 28: Change [ref hexagram 49 of I Ching]" under appraisal/fathoming 3 it says,

"A popular metaphor compares human nature at birth to un-dyed silk, which is then colored by training and experience."

and upon contemplation of these words I find it does connect to training in the fighting arts. Training and thus gained experience resulting in a level of proficiency with time and effort dyes the silk and the colors come from a point in time, a present moment when something important is achieved thus dying of silk and in this case the award of a colored belt.

I am sure the myriad colors we see today not to mention the various materials, etc. are not a result of this chapter and verse nor is it from the study of classics by those who use them but I do believe Tatsuo Sensei did see the connection simply because of his dedication to the ancient classics and the art of karate-do.

The very next verse as I interpreted it is much like the stories you hear of a person who comes full circle in life and in particular the fighting arts where they go from white to black and finally back to white, the verse is,

"Moral improvement should work to turn evil into good, black into white."

This also points to our need and requirement to train/practice for improvement to include the spiritual and moral improvement.

Finally, the last verse of this mystery is one that reflects my feelings in regards to Tatsuo Sensei and what he accomplished in life and in the fighting arts.

"In the world of man, the upward flight occurs through self-cultivation."

We look upon his creation and especially that of the "Me-gami [and as it was created in the Isshinryu symbol by AJA Sensei]" where we see "Tatsuo or dragon" ascending into the heavens toward the stars to become "one" with Tao and thus his "teachers" to become something else.

I feel Tatsuo Sensei was adept at seeing beyond and bringing that into life and his practice. Whether with conscious or unconscious intent he accomplished something special and he has united many into the "one" with his Isshinryu.

Study hard the classics and "see" beyond presence, see what he was able to foresee.

Spam Postings

Hi, All:

My apologies! I had to reset the blog settings to require comments by "Registered Users" because I keep getting spam comments on this blog.

Registered Users includes "OpenID's" so it should not be to difficult to comment. I also set a requirement to enter a word verification.

Thanks,

Charles

Kenpo Gokui - I Ching

As mentioned in previous postings the kenpo gokui was the "tome" provided to select students of Tatsuo Sensei when they transferred from Okinawa to other postings be it the Marines or Civilian. This set of "keys" was meant to guide them into the depth and breadth of true practice.

The Kenpo Gokui were meant to be a method to find the true way of practice and it points to the classics which were influential to the Okinawans with an emphasis on the fighting arts. The I Ching expands the gokui and provides additional "gateways" into even higher levels of practice, enhancement of the mind-spirit-body.

Break down the gokui to specific references, "one" word or group of words, that will connect the gokui to the I Ching. Read the I Ching with diligence and "see" those references and then let the mind "see" the strings that connect both the oracles of the human and the group as it pertains to your practice. This is the connection we make from the microcosm of the fighting arts to the macrocosm of heaven, earth and man.

You will find amazement in your studies for they will, time and time again, open your mind to the possibilities of your practice which will enhance your life in the Universe as associated with others and groups and environment and your neighbors and your fellow citizens and society and continents and the world.

Find your internal balance and let that connect the strings to your fellow practitioners and continue with co-workers, family and friends. You influences can bring balance to others thus to the world with a final balance in our universe.

It all starts with the microcosm of the training hall...

p.s. Words in gokui to connect in the I Ching: heart, heaven, earth, blood, moon, sun, hard, soft, balance, change, time, strike, eye, see, ear, hear...

Numerology of I-Ching Quotes

"Empty the mind and fill the belly is to put aside preconceptions and become open to guidance. Refrain from arbitrary thought and action in order to accumulate energy simply by not dissipating energy."

[Generate energy by emptying the mind and filling the belly which refers to the breathing methods used to clear the mind and relax the body into its optimum form of positive relaxation. It achieves a mind in the present moment and allows the energy to be directed at its maximum in action with no waste on thoughts.]

I Ching Quotes

"Refrain from arbitrary thought and action in order to accumulate energy simply by not dissipating energy. Gaining power by saving power!"

[Proper training with the mind as the initial and sole guide provides the path to achieving a present moment mind with out thought or influences toward action. This allows the energy that would be wasted in thought be directed toward connection to the Ultimate, the Tao.]

I Ching Quotes

"A matter of persistence in the midst of action and stillness. Put aside preconceptions and become open to guidance."

[Be in the now; let action come from the training of the past so it becomes something of the present.]

I-Ching Quotes

"The duality between the conditioned conscious mind and the primal unconscious mind is unfixed, and that the "true" mind can be brought to the fore. The human mind is under the influence of thought and emotion related to objects; the mind of Tao is attuned to true reality."

[Diligent mind training with mental focus of the mind leading the body and spirit can achieve the "one" from the "duality" of the conditioned mind and the Tao mind. Drilling brings the true mind to the center when focus is on training the mind over the body. It ends up being a form of presence, staying in the moment, and allowing natural influences to achieve the goals but only when the drilling/training are such that it creates "one" present moment where instinctual action results.]

Tagged by Blogger

Hi, Friends:

I just wanted to assure you all that this blog is not a spam site nor a site that has anything to do with spam, spammers, spamming, etc.

"Blogger" scans apparently have detected something within this blog site that triggered a "false positive" in their spam scan systems so they have "temporarily" placed this blog site on notice until a full investigation is completed.

I applaud Blogger for this as I would rather have a temp tag on blog sites to make sure no one uses blogger or our blog sites to do "spamming." This is good.

So, please be patient until Blogger has completed its investigation and cleared my blog site as I expect that to occur soon. Nice to see evidence of diligence in this regard!

Respectfully,

Charles

I-Ching Quotes

"Yin and Yang are used to refer to a dichotomy in the human being that can be bridged by practice."

[Heaven-Earth; Sun-Moon; Hard-Soft; Balance-Imbalance; Equilibrium]

I-Ching Quotes

"A warrior pursues justice alone in spite of adversity, willing to give up his life and die for the cause."

[Steely fortitude]

Action (self-protection)

This post is a bit off topic yet if I give it some thought our practice/training can help. Let me go further. If we are truly practicing the fighting arts as a way one of the things we do is to train so as to perceive the threat "before" it occurs and take appropriate action.

In this post I am suggesting that one of the ways we lean this technique is through education. This means lots of practice to include visualization, etc. so when we encounter obstacles in karate, as in life, we perceive the correct way to completely avoid it or at the very least to take appropriate action to mitigate its effects on us and our lives.

In this light as a part of your training you must also educate yourself to "see" issues that are dangerous to your life before they are knocking at your door. In that light I am offering a URL for you to "educate" yourself so that unscrupulous folks of the world don't take you by surprise.

After all to be forewarned (to be forearmed) is important. The URL is in regard to how you get screwed by certain companies and business such as banks, credit card providers, cable companies, and many others. Just click HERE and read on.

Yea, a bit of a stretch but are we not practicing the way to become more and to protect ourselves and our loved ones?

I-Ching Quotes

"If you seek stillness while active, your mind stays on truth, so you can act with out error. When ever you encounter people making a commotion, use it to polish and strengthen yourself."

[Practice presence alone; practice presence when in a crowd; practice presence in turmoil; Have presence when confronted by adversity; all will be present.]

Tiger in the I Ching by Wilhelm/Byrnes

Wind (the breath of Earth) follows the tiger. [page 9, hexagram 1 the creative; heaven]
---------
---------
---- ---- wind, wood trigram

Couple the trigram heaven and wind:

---------
---------
---- ----
---------
---------
--------- Hexagram 9; Hsiao Ch`u

---------
---------
---------
---------
---------
---- ---- Hexagram 44; Kou

(10) Six in the third place:
"He treads on the tail of a tiger."
A man considers himself strong and consequently exposes himself to danger, he is inviting disaster, for his is undertaking something beyond his strength.

(27) Six in the fourth place:
"Like a tiger with insatiable craving."
With the greed fo a hungry tiger he is on the lookout for the right people [if for the good of all, no wrong in his zeal].

(49) Nine in the fifth place:
"The great man changes like a tiger."
A tigerskin, with its highly visible black stripes on a yellow ground, shows its distinct pattern from afar.

...large, clear guiding lines become visible, understandable to everyone.
...he wins the spontaneous support of the people.

Bibliography:
Wilhelm/Byrnes, "The I Ching". Princeton University Press. 1967

Tiger in the I Ching

hexagram (10): This image gave King Wen the inspiration that a cautious person handles a dangerous situation as if treading upon a tiger's tail.

hexagram (10): The image of treading upon a tiger's tail is meant to advise one to take precautions beforehand and guard against the latent difficulty and danger.

hexagram (10): Tiger in this case symbolizes a "tyrant."

hexagram (11): The ancestors of the shang embraced the wasteland as if fighting a tiger...in other words to fight with great courage.

hexagram (27): The Yao text explains that even glaring like a tiger, eyeing prey with insatiable craving, brings no fault.

hexagram (36): A Chinese adage says, "Without entering the tiger's lair, how can one catch tiger cubs?" In other words, having experienced the danger of a situation, one is able to use that information to avoid being a helpless victim.

hexagram (49): The Yao text says the great person changes like a tiger, which means his merit is as brilliant and distinct as a tiger's fur.

Bibliography:
Huang, Alfred. "The Complete I Ching." Inner Traditions Rochester, Vermont. 1998

I-Ching Quotes

"Mind-breath practice: Self-refinement, the elementary practice of overcoming the impulsive self to become "empty" and forget the self."

[Deep diaphragmatic breathing; slow and rhythmic]

Conviction

Book One, The Text, Hexagram 17; sui - following:

"Only when a man is completely free from his ego, and intent, by conviction, upon what is right and essential, does he acquire the clarity that enables him to see through such people, and become free from blame."

In reality one can not be released completely from the ego because the "ego is a part of us" so our real intent here is to remain in the moment and not allow our mind to fixate on anything that the ego might want to influence us into a false sense of bravado, etc.

What I mean is that we must train to be of "no-mind" which is the ability to remain is the present moment, the now, and with no thoughts of any particular which subverts the mind and results in the inability to take quick, decisive and appropriate actions.

Only in the moment can the mind achieve a clarity that connects us with the Tao and allows our instincts, thus trained over time by our practice, to act in accordance with all that is correct and proper according to the book of changes or the oracle of life.