Getting Esoteric:
Favorite O’Sensei Quotes
Inryokyu Volume 6 Issue 10
by Josh Paul, AOSB Head Instructor
““The body should be triangular, the mind circular. The triangle represents the generation of energy and is the most stable physical posture. The circle symbolizes serenity and perfection, the source of unlimited techniques. The square stands for solidity, the basis of applied control.””
Earlier this month, I traveled to the Aikido World Alliance’s annual Fall Camp in Memphis, TN. This year’s camp was taught by Eiji Katsurada Sensei from Hombu Dojo in Toyko, Japan. Katsurada Sensei is ranked nanadan and holds the title of shihan (7-degree black belt and “teacher of teachers”). He is a student of Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba (doshu means leader of the way). Ueshiba Doshu is the grandson of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba. You can’t get much closer to the source of aikido than this.
Katsurada Sensei spent the weekend talking about body alignment and body unification, and the connection between uke and nage. He also delved into the philosophy of the triangle, circle, and square that O’sensei often used to describe aikido (click here to read more about the triangle, circle, and square).
Katsurada Sensei was refreshingly esoteric. As the aikido community works to define the art’s continued relevance and importance, it seems that we have come to emphasize its power for personal development and martial applicability, and that we’ve downplayed the mystical and esoteric traditions. It makes sense, but I miss the esoteric, magical, “woo-woo” aspects of aikido. For example, my first teacher Joseph Jarman Sensei used to conclude class by talking about our auras, which he said he could see. And all things considered, I think we could all use a little magic right now.
So, I was inspired to reread The Art of Peace. My 6 year old was, too! (This photo was not staged.) After revisiting some of my favorite passages, I started asking my students about their favorite O’sensei quotes. It’s the best idea I’ve had in a long time.
It’s revealed if, when, and how they think about their practice off the mat. It’s also been great fun discussing the quotes, and discovering which quotes resonate with different people. We’ll be sharing responses in upcoming newsletters and our social media.
The first responses is below, and it’s wonderful. What’s your favorite O’sensei quote? Let us know and we’ll add it to the collection!
Student: Marianne, 3rd kyu
Favorite Quote: Each person is the universe from a particular perspective.
Why: I like this one because I don’t fully understand it. Obviously we all are part of the universe, made of the same star dust and so on. And by definition every human being has their own point of view on the world—literally and figuratively.
Each person is a universe: our brain has as many neurons as there are galaxies in the observable universe and we are hosts to billions of bacteria and viruses, some of them being part of our DNA. The whole universe, from the microscopic scale to the cosmic scale, is a continuum of unbelievable complexity.
O’Sensei speaks of the unity of all things and beings. What defines a person is consciousness. If each person is the universe, then we are all the same. We share a same consciousness but we reach out to it from different places. At the same time all is one—again, this idea of continuum. But how can you picture it? And that’s where I cease to understand. This is something that you can experience and feel but it’s impossible to intellectually grasp—as the concept of infinity.