Koei Kuwahara Born in Kagoshima, Japan, After graduating from the Tokyo Therapeutic Institute he became an apprentice to Master Kodo Fukushima who was a leading representative of traditional Japanese acupuncture. Five years later he opened his own acupuncture clinic. In 1990 he was introduced to Shinkiko, and attended Dr. Masato Nakagawa's one-week-seminar in Shimoda to deepen his understanding of Shinkiko. In the same year, he was invited by New the England School of Acupuncture in Boston to instruct as a visiting professor. Since then he has been in Boston and has been actively teaching and introducing Japanese acupuncture and Shinkiko. His passion to teach did not stop in the United States, but also carry him to Israel, England, Germany and other parts of the world. His additional passion is Aikido which he has been practicing for the past 26 years and is presently teaching in Boston. Currently he is an assistant professor at the New England School of Acupuncture, Representative for the Ki Science Institute, chairman for The Hari Society and representative for the CULIA Ki Network.
Vol.1 TOGAME
Hello, How is everyone doing? Today, I would like to share with you an incidence I had with one of my patients, who also happened to be a student of mine.When she visited me she complained about having piercing pains at the bottom of her right ribs, and at the same time, having alternating attacks of chills and fever since the morning. She said that she had been experiencing such condition few times a year, and that whenever it happens, she becomes had been bedridden for a week with a high fever.Since I am a practitioner of acupuncture and moxibustion, I administered acupuncture to her to improve her condition. At the same time, I applied the "Law of True Healing," which focuses on correcting the cause instead of merely alleviating the symptoms.Oriental Medicine teaches that a cause of an illness may lie not only within the superficial realm but also with in the undulation of one's inner balance. Imbalance is caused by emotional instability which may have been triggered from an emptiness in one's soul. If there is emotional stability, one will continue to be healthy, despite how negative the environment may be. By studying and practicing Shinkiko I began to realize this very teaching in Oriental Medicine to be the most important part in my practice.Since the patient was also my student, naturally she was interested in locating the cause of her symptoms. She explained to me that whenever she experienced this condition, she made an effort to deepen her awareness and improve her personal behavior. Knowing or not knowing her effort, the same condition recurred to haunt her time after time. Does this mean that her awareness was not deep enough to reach the level where her soul wanted to be? Or does her soul want her to reach a new level of awareness which is even deeper than before?She came closer to me with a very serious look on her face and said, "What is the cause of my illness?" It is not an easy task to know her whole lifestyle or her true inner feelings, however, just giving her an answer of "I don't know" seemed too cruel. So, I decided to use the concepts of Oriental Medicine to examine her. I had a definite idea that her symptoms were related to the gallbladder. Oriental Medicine interprets that gallbladder as being related to "anger, so I began to think that she may have been always full of anger. Just then, she asked me again, "Doc, are you thinking about something?" "Yes and no, I am gathering information," I answered. "Oh, you are..." she said with a very weak voice. Five or so minutes of silence passed. I was accumulating information while I was imaging her in my mind. I was suspecting that "togame" (reproach) is the cause of her problem, however I did not know how to say "togame" into English at the time. Therefore I tried to explain it like this: "I suspect that you are a type of a person who considers fairness and justice as something very important. You notice even a tiny mistake in no time, and once you notice something is wrong, you think it should be corrected right away. In other words, you are a perfectionist with little tolerance in wasting time, or are you not? Anyhow, the life we live in cannot be perfect all the time. And you are not satisfied and cannot forgive this imperfect condition. You attempt to correct the imperfection, but it is not easy for you. This gives you constant stress, brings distress to your mind and stagnates your ki-energy flow. Such stagnation builds up into the cause of your illness called "Jaki" or ill ki-energy. A condition of having "Jaki" constantly in your system is called Illness.”To me, a mind of "togame" is a mind of condemning others. Wanting to correct a wrong is not wrong. On the other hand, this eagerness lacks love of others, such that one cannot allow them to grow at their own pace. I consider this "lack of love state" to be the emptiness of your soul.I tried to explain like this with my imperfect English and wondered if I was successful in relaying my advice to her. After a brief silence, I thought I detected moisture in her eyes, or maybe, I was wrong. After a while she said, "What you told me makes absolute sense to me, and the person who I condemn is not the others, but myself." "All right," I nodded. Suddenly, a piece of information came to my mind and I started telling her as the idea developed.Since you know how to receive good Ki, why not share it with everything else. To the bad people, to a part of yourself which you may not like, to your bad habits which you have been trying to change or to your imperfections, just send warm SHINKIKO energy, an energy of understanding and forgiveness, instead of giving warnings or accusations like a law enforcement officer might do. Showering Ki of love into a empty soul eliminates the cause which may be affecting your internal imbalance. A person who has a strong will to search for the truth may be able to forgive others. On the other hand, many times he or she cannot forgive oneself. As a result, one might fall in a trap set by oneself.What I wished for her to realize was that she should continue pouring the Ki energy of SHINKIKO into herself, and by doing that, a problem becomes a chance to make a big step toward the light. One might worry that by giving energy to a bad person, he or she might come up with bigger trouble, but SHINKIKO does not seem to work that way. I concluded my talk. While I was giving her this advice, I was saying to myself, "It really makes sense." I realized that I, myself, had been carrying a lot of "togame" that was causing heartaches to others and to myself. I realized I should remember that I am a person who transfers SHINKIKO, an unconditional energy. This means that Shinkiko does not separate good from bad but recognizes good in any incidence. I should share that energy to the weak and to the part of person I wish to improve.On the following day, when I was giving a basic lecture on "Illness and its Cause and Treatment," a student stopped my lecture. "Explain it with an example," he said. I asked my students what kind of symptom shall I use as an example. Then another student who was having a gallstone suggested that I use her case to explain her symptom, cause of illness and treatment methods.Her problem was very similar to the student when I introduced earlier. That very student also happened to be there listening to my lecture. She said that the symptoms she was suffering the previous day were yesterday was no longer present and that she was feeling very well. She must have found a very big awareness. The big smile on her face gave me assurance. I decided to present her story to the other students in detail. As a basic lecture in Oriental Medicine, I linked her story to the concepts of "Yin and Yang" and the theory of the "Five Elements" Reflecting on the experience with my student, I believe that Kaicho Nakagawa sent me a chance to realize my need to deepen own personal awareness by learning from patients and students. He also gave me a perfect story to use in my lecture. I am grateful to Kaicho Nakagawa and hope that this experience with my students may bring you happiness.
Vol.2
My laziness
Hello, how is everyone doing? Today, I would like to share with you my thoughts on the Shinkiko class in our school in Boston. Since 1994, when the Shinkiko seminar was held by our founder, Dr. Nakagawa, in Boston, we have been having three hours of Shinkiko classes per week in an 8-week program at our New England School of Acupuncture and The Boston Acupuncture University. This 8-week program has many of its own stories.
It started with the history of Dr. Nakagawa and Shinkiko and ended with the question of "How to release Shinkiko Energy". The uniqueness of this program is that the lecture's contents evolve every time. Also myself, I learn something new in every additional lecture.
Why the contents are evolving is due to a number of reasons: 1) One reason is my laziness, I'm a very laid back lecturer. And I have only few opportunities to prepare for this program. Therefore, most of what I do in this program comes from the experiences I have had, the information stored in my memory and the emotions I feel in my heart when I capture the atmosphere created by the students. In our class, we not only have new students, but also many repeaters who have taken this program several times already, some for as long as four years! Therefore, we include beginner topics for those who are new, and we include materials for the veterans who seek to understand and practice Shinkiko in more depths. After all, we want to develop lectures for anybody, irrespective of level, to ensure that everybody is challenged to gain a more complete comprehension.
So, this is how the contents of the lectures have evolved every week, and why the evolution process takes place before lectures, sometimes even during lectures. It all depends on the students.
2) Another reason is that we may lose the connection between lecturer and students if we prepare the contents too early. We can get caught up in our own material and lose sight of what the student really seeks. Such a gap makes both students and lecturers tired and results in a lack of understanding on both sides. It does not so much matter how "good" the topics are. In case Iﾕm not feeling that “I am learning with them”, then I do not think that I can call it Shinkiko.
3) Furthermore, I think that through Shinkiko we receive opportunities to continually develop ourselves in such a way as to realize the importance of living for the day. Through daily contact with and application of Shinkiko, students can reach out and express to each other the real understanding and new life that starts every day as a result of Shinkiko. In other words, "Practice of Shinkiko" is "transmitting" itself. It is very hard if we do not make any progress. Lectures that don't evolve are not stimulating at all. In that case, even myself, I do not enjoy them.
By doing the lectures in this way, and by feeling good, I really give something unique to the students to enjoy. And as I listen to myself, I sometimes feel "Ah, I see." At such times, of course, the students also concentrate more.
But when I am not feeling well physically or emotionally, it is very embarrassing. Then, no inspiration comes to me, I lose the direction of the story and I finally stop. In such a situation, it might have been helpful to have the materials prepared in advance. However, I definitely prefer to spend more time on improving myself, rather than on preparing materials. During my lecture, I want to make everyone's soul shine brighter, and I wish I could give my lecture more lively (?).
Somehow, I feel having just given excuses for how laid back I am! I am terribly sorry for that. Maybe my students may think my lectures have no logical connection and are irresponsible. Classes like these might be objectionable to students. However, surprisingly, this kind of lecture has continued for many years without any objection from The University.
Today, we have more than 20 people waiting for our 27th Shinkiko program. In my next letter, I am looking forward to sharing the most favorite topics of the students in my Shinkiko class. I wish everybody happiness and good health.
Vol.3
Continuous happiness
Hello, how are you doing? Today, I would like to share with you most favorite topic of the students in my Shinkiko class. They are so happy when I introduce this topic. The topic is "The life of our spirit and it's past and future." Some people find life very enjoyable and fulfilling even in their everyday tasks, other people cannot understand how they find such pleasure from the difficulties of normal everyday life. For example some people say "Life can not be thought of as our hobbies. It is not that simple." Since I have been learning Shinkiko, I became very much unique person more than before. Even I have been keeping busy but still I can enjoy my daily life without any stress. That 's why everybody calls me a monster.
When we say "I am not happy today", it means we are not going proper way which our soul seeks. We are trying to live upon reflection of our past and prepare our future. For example, now we face a difficult situation but we look forward and image a real improvement for the next 10 years. I have had a same experience in my school days. "This study is very much useful for your future so that you work hard." I remembered I had a really hard life for long time. I know these experiences are useful for me now. This may come from the true love of parents for the children. That is why the old sayings "No pain no gain" exists. I do not think I am wrong to say this but this words are nothing interesting at all. It does not have any happiness associated with it. "Why can't we live happily? Why can't we improve our lives with joy? We should have more fun and live more happily. " I like to think in this way and make my life a lot better. Future and past exists in this moment. It means that how we live in this moment makes our future and past. At first, I shall start to explain that our future exists in the present moment. When we enjoy this moment, it means our continuous future will be enjoyable too. If it isn't continued, our soul is not happy at this present moment. If our thought is like this, "We have difficult times now, but it will be better in the future", we may find ourselves holding out. Our past exists in this moment means we find ourselves having happy life in the past. Only we can feel this because we are alive now, it means we are not existed either in our past or future. That is why we feel that our life is so wonderful and meaningful. Without struggling individually, we do whatever we want according to our inner voice. This is the way we feel meeting each other. We will know that how cooperation or harmony is wonderful without saying. If I say like this, you may become desperate, or someone say that "then, we just look at now not for the future." But I do not mean that. If she or he may become desperate, they may think it is the best to have desperate life for their soul. It maybe that is the inner violence due to turn away from the original way of life. Even for those people who may turn away from it. I do hope to give opportunities to let them know how our life is full of happiness and pleasure. Furthermore without asking to others for any confirmation, there are people full of joy and happiness in their lives unlimitedly. Neither expecting this time to our future or live on our wonderful past life, we just keep feeling of this in present moment continuously. I have been learning Aiki-do for long time. I am very much impressed by the teaching of Aiki-do. One of the teachings is the word of the founder of Aiki-do who said:
Aiki is love The path of Martial art must be To successfully complete one's mission With the unlimited spirit of unconditional love and support Therefore the essence of martial art is to take the heart of heaven and earth And to make it one's own And to have no enemy where there is an enemy
Another thing is the life figure of the learning of the martial art. "To be alive in the present life is to die in the present life." Surely nobody can predict tomorrow. We might say we do not know whether we can alive for next moment. We just believe our lives are based on experiences that we are alive and our life can be going on. That is to say we do not have to leave our thoughts or the force for the next moment. The past comes to an end in this moment. Therefore we better concentrate all of our life on the things we are given. This is the focus of the teaching. We usually spend a lot of time for many things which we don't like, and unconsciously use our energy insufficiently. In this moment we can't concentrate on work or pleasures at all. This is why we create stress and frustration. As a result, we start to feel that any thing can go badly. This can be the cause of creating negative energy. We should make the time to release it. Otherwise it may have appeared in the physical body, or negative situations around us or any kinds of emotional complications such as anger, grief and complains and so on. Those are some of the reasons why we are unhappy. As you learn the way thought Shinkiko, you try to do your best no matter how the result is. However, no matter how we do our best, we always we get tired. This is another story completely. Through my experiences, if we open our heart fully, the energy we need is always prepared. It means we do not open our heart fully when we are tired or feel no energy.
I discover, learn and copy these teachings through Shinkiko. The founder, Dr. Nakagawa always had concentrated on his seminars. When I tell this story to my students, I really feel so excited because I can see their life is expanding. I believe this is the origin of strong, high energy for him to work out unlimitedly without getting tired. I will try to live with full of Shinkiko energy for continuous happiness and appreciation moment by moment. I hope this story is useful for you in your daily practice.
Vol.4
Supporting for the diseases How have you been? Today I would like to share with you my awareness of the workplace.
My role as one of the practitioners is searching for the reason why people suffer from diseases, finding the way to alleviate symptoms of the patients and practicing new methods or traditional treatments. Shinkiko is also one of my research subjects. Since I have started researching oriental medicine and Shinkiko, they have shown me a lot of different healing methods in many ways.
What I learn from the oriental medicine is the process that "I" as an individual person simulates the "universe" as the whole which is always balanced. And from Shinkiko, I got lots of continuous opportunities for unlimited awareness and experiences in supreme bliss.
In my point of view from my long career, the conversations with patients and clinical experiences brought about a big change in me. In conclusion, the diseases bring suffering to people but I start to think that it is not simple to heal them easily. This is why I do not treat patients. What I do is to listen what the patients say and give them my support.
Most of the people who visit me come for improvements in their symptoms. As a matter of fact, that is why I am here. But my treatments have changed. It is not only for relieving symptoms, but also counseling about the disease such as "what is the message from the disease to that person" or "the meaning of the existence of the disease" and so on. We make real improvements when we find the roots of the disease. This is why I have a lots of opportunities to examine carefully and deeply in various ways what the patients feel or how they are. Thus it bring me much awareness. I share with them my awareness very naturally just like simple daily conversation. I also try to make them happy and make it easy for both of us to learn.
These ideas came from the words of the founder of Shinkiko and my doctor of acupuncture. This is a conclusion of the philosophy that they became of aware. The founder of Shinkiko, Dr.Nakagawa said, "I do not emit Shinkiko energy for alleviating symptoms without bringing you any awareness." And my doctor of acupuncture said, "If you try to cure the diseases, then it won't be cured. But if you don't, the diseases are cured." In addition to say, "Human beings still wish to develop even if we sacrifice ourselves (our body and life)."
For example, how many of you know that 24,000 people (3/4 of the numbers are children under 5-years old) are dying of starvation everyday? Or have you ever seen the photos of dying children in war? Do you really know what their message is without escaping from reality? These facts are strongly impressed upon us as an assailant because the senders of these messages are purified children who are dying. This is why they urge us gain a strong understanding and reflection upon our society. I feel that their deaths, which is similar to our lost infant spirit, bring us an opportunity for our spiritual growth. Can't we say it is the same for our body? It is an individual manifestation of the problems associated with the children's death. I think that our body sometimes needs to take action in the form of disease with the support of a virus for our spiritual growth. As the children got opportunities to grow with the support of starvation and war, our body strongly expect for us to improve.
Of course, there are many things that make us develop. If we can improve in our enjoyable daily life, which Mr. Nakagawa says in his practice of Shinkiko, we may not have any disease, war or starvation. As a matter of fact, we do try it. But it is not easy to reach into our soul with love and gratitude of that situation. Originally every day life exists for our growth in the best way. But we are elated with little happiness or success easily. And we intend not to change or not to grow as we are satisfied with limited spiritual awakening. This is why we need more opportunities or a subject for the next step for growth.
Especially when we are elated with success, it is not easy to follow strict guidance or ideas without gratitude. Sometime we have a grudge against a person. When we fall into this kind of negative pattern, it is not easy to get out of it. Even other people would like to help, but sometimes it is very difficult. Surely every advice from others is not correct or perfect. It may happen that we do not follow their advice from time to time.
In this situation, diseases are given a lot of awareness. It is easy to understand this because diseases are messages from our own body, not from other people's strict advice. This is the learning process from being very close to our true selves.
I am sure that we may lose a lot of things because of diseases. Your dreams may be gone. Most of things are not welcomed by us. However, this process (disease) of learning brings us many unexpected opportunities in different way. By learning from diseases, we can get most valuable awareness which we need right now. As a matter of fact, the people who think of disease in that way give a good impression to others and have prosperous life and unnecessary symptoms disappear without their knowing.
When we are released from diseases or different restraints, we fee free. However, when we feel free, this can be a most difficult situation. Because we are satisfied with it in this circumstances, it is hard to develop ourselves. When we act energetically, the influence is huge and it is directed not only to ourselves but also to the whole universe. No matter whether this is right or wrong, we emit strong Ki energy to the universe and it can be changed all situations. This pattern may be repeated as energy reflects which can lead to a positive learning experience. This is a cycle of learning. If you emit inharmonious Ki energy, we have to learn these difficult situations again, not only concentration on oneself but also looking at the effect upon the group. We think diseases in this way, diseases are very necessary processes and they are a blessing on us just like a parent's love. Maybe we can describe as the old saying says, a "Look before you leap" experience. Thus I feel our body is just like a jewel box of awareness.
When we get sick, we are displeased. However when it comes, we had better try to understand the disease. Then we can accept its feelings. Incredibly we will then start to feel a lot of energy. The reason for this energy is as a signal that you are ready for the next level of growth.
If you have diseases and receive Shinkiko for it, I suggest that you should not think of healing diseases but please think of gratitude toward it and pray as presenting Shinkiko as a gift to the disease. And then I am sure that wonderful awareness will gush out like a fountain. I hope this helps you in your Shinkiko life. Gassyo
Vol.5
◆Testimonials◆
How have you been? In this September, we had 4-days Shinkiko workshop at the Rocky Mountains in U.S.A. There were 23 participants together with Mr.Masato Nakagawa,Shinkiko Master and Mr. Osamu Tatsumura of Yoga instructor. Just after very hot summer was over,we had very heavy snow like a message from the nature Winter has come.
During this workshop, Mr.Nakagawa was not forcing to teach, nor saying any difficulties but he just smiled, accepted us and gave us calm and comfortable atomosphere. And he lived with us.
In this warmest atomosphere, we were opened up through Shinkiko and we had a chance to find true ourself. We had very much satisfied with accepting ourself.
Heavy snow gave us a chance to have a communication between the force of nature and our lives. There were nothing to be afraid and we had a conversation to the nature in this misterious silence. When our workshop was over, it stopped snowing and very clear blue sky was appeared. We took our jacket off and prayed to the nature. I wish sharing with you this joyful life brought by Shinkiko.
◆Testimonials◆ I have been blessed with such positive energy from Shinkiko and I have met wonderful people with warm caring hearts.
I experienced being able to fly and it was the most free, uplifting experience I have ever felt. My son who was killed nine years ago was smiling and I feel I will be able to let him go and be happy and we can send positive energy to each other.
I feel so much lighter than when I arrived, like a heavy weight has been lifted from me. I am so thankful to my cousin L. and my sister R. for asking me to come because I now know it is what was meant to be.
I pledge to send positive energy to all people I meet even when I am upset with them and I pledge not to forget this wonderful experience and will pass it on to others.
(G.P.)
◆Testimonials◆
I have wanted for some time to help my positive side come outmore and not give in to negative thoughts and attitudes as much. I did not know so clearly until this weekend how readily available the good force was (call it Shinkiko), how all we have to do is to open to it, and it will be there ten-fold. It is of tremendous help to have the Shinkiko come from others, and having two times a day when many will focus to receive Shinkiko is a great blessing, to help us keep our hearts open, so that we can give Shinkiko to others. When an elephant is in trouble, I am told, other elephants come to offer their presence and support, when that may be all they can do. It is a lot.
I pledge to bring my positive side out a little more each day;to give Shinkiko whenever; to make the world a better place.
(J.M.)
◆Testimonials◆ How do you comment on something as ecstatically transformational as Shinkiko? The experiences Iﾕve had over these four days has provided a foundation on which I feel I may now truly begin to build the castle of my life. I came to this place on Thursday still feeling the weight of my worldly responsibilities, but by that evening I was already feeling uplifted. My body went through cycles of pain and ecstasy as I allowed into myself the Love and Light you gave forth. I learned that I have many wonderful qualities, and as I embraced them, my heart expanded to love you and all of my fellow students. Then there was the visitor. When my back started hurting, I was feeling so much love for the people up front that we were treating and I was confused as to why my back hurt, for earlier it had not. When I chose to receive the Shinkiko energy from you and my peers it was with a little trepidation, but in that light I found the strength to speak my innermost feelings. And as I spoke I was no longer afraid. The transformation that took place then was nothing short of miraculous! It was as if I was divided, like a fly on the wall watching as my body adjusted to release the soul of the frightened Indian woman. Afterwards, after she left that is, I felt so very cold, but as I warmed up I realized that the event was very meaningful to my life. I realized that at a deep level, I was afraid to love also. The ﾒArahamﾓ sutra this morning then allowed me to love so many people and things that I had been afraid to: my mother, my father, my girlfriend, and even my cat! It is amazing for me to experience a change in my ability to love when I really thought I was a loving person before coming to Shinkiko.
I hope that these words will touch you in even half the depth that you, my teachers, have touched me. I thank you with my whole being from the depth of my soul for your willingness, openness, dedication, and most of all, your LOVING PRESENCE! May your spirits be ever filled with the loving grace and kindness you have shared with us!
I pledge to take the energy and the learning that I have received and share it with as many people as I can. May I be a light for the world so that all may change and grow to love as I have grown. I also pledge to follow my truth at a much higher level than I have, day by day, until every action I make is in alignment with the Law of Nature as it flows through me.
(W.S.)
◆Testimonials◆
I thank you for all the blessings I have received this weekend. The sincerity, love, joy, sorrow, release, friendship ? all the human emotions that sometimes are difficult to deal with or understand, were all wrapped up in a blanket of gratitude and unconditional love. It is very appropriate that Nature graced us with the loving blanket of white as well. The feeling of warmth to the Earth as it was wrapped in the loving arms of the snow was as beautiful as the sharing and loving arms we all received. I am truly grateful and truly humbled to have been a part of this experience and blind adventure in to the Soul. It is my pledge to carry the Shinkiko memory everywhere I go and to see all that happens, whether good or bad, as an opportunity to grow and heal not only myself but every living thing on this planet and beyond. I pray, by the grace of Nature, that we all meet again! With sincere love and gratitude I thank you all!
(P.B.)
Vol.6
Always practice Shinkiko - Five essences What I would like to share with you today is five important points for practicing Shinkiko everyday. These are what I introduce to my students in my Shinkiko seminar and I do hope this will also help your daily life.
In our daily life, I find that there are plenty of interseting subjects to study. And we are living with Shinkiko. However it is not always going to be that way. Sometimes we behave based on our old customs, ego, desires or passions. When we are in this situation, it's very important to realize the change in our own Ki energy immediately and return it to its original energy level by practicing Shinkio. But it is not that easy. If the gap is not very big, it will be hidden into our busy daily life and our excuses until we are faced with some problems.
There are many things I have learned from Kaicho Nakagawa. I summarize them in 5 points called “Essences for quick realization.” In this issue, I just introduce these essences very simply and introduce more details for daily practice at another time.
Five Essences for Practicing Shinkiko
1) Always laugh 2) Always look for favorable points (things) 3) Always be grateful 4) Always love 5) Always act promptly/follow through
How to use them in a simply way
1) Always laugh This is the first essence which I learned from our founder. He told me that it is very important to laugh even during sleep. Everybody wishes that he/she could always laugh all the time, however we know that is not always possible. Occasionally we might have a situation in which we can not laugh but that is the perfect chance to have realization and spiritual growth. This experience is a great gift to ourselves. That is why I suggest you laugh no matter what kind of situation you are in. Then, people will look at your laugh, smile, and give you energy with light. There are many styles of laughter and I am especially attracted to Buddha's but I also like a big belly laugh. Please try to pay attention to your laugh in front of a mirror every day.
2) Always look for favorable (positive) points (things) We are led to believe that negative phenomenon based on our ego is "a bad thing", "a failure" or "a defect." Even if we do not take them into deep consideration, we still have a pattern to unconsciously believe they are not good. Usually we do examine ourselves and can correct our mistakes. By doing so, we adjust the direction of purifying our soul and we think we appreciate being given those chances in our daily life. However, sometimes we try to manipulate ourselves to benefit our ego and feel very comfortable staying just the way we are. This is just an excuse to take the easy way out. To make excuses is evidence that we do not accept negative phenomenon as being positive. The important thing is to see anything that happens to us as positive whether we like it or not because these phenomena make us grow spiritually. Therefore I suggest thinking positively. Maybe we do not understand or we have questions at the beginning, but soon it will become clear and we will awaken gradually as Shinkiko energy gets into our soul. When we start to accept all experiences as positive, we will understand, which will allow us to feel that "everyday is full of wonderful things to learn and everything that happens is good." Because I am a very logical person, I've made a catchphrase for better understanding. "Let's try to be masters of finding the "good" rather than being good at making excuses."
3) Always be thankful/grateful Our founder told me that it is very important to say "Thank you" 100 times a day. From morning to night, how many things do we have to be thankful for? I think it is more than 100. When we actually do it, I really feel that our daily life is prepared for being grateful. I hear that the concept of gratitude is the most important one to be developed in our present society. When we do practice "finding the good" I said in the 2nd essence, this 3rd essence "to be grateful" is very easy to do. A good start is to say "Thank you" no matter what happens whenever we start anything.
4) Always love We live to express our love. I do hope we are a good example as practitioners of this. Parents give the greatest love to their children in the form of unconditional love. This is an amazingly impressive thing. To practice love, we start by feeling love and great gratitude toward our parents for raising us. Our founder used to explain his behavior by saying "We are supported by a god." We believe several kinds of gods exist. But what kind of gods support us? I do hope it is an energy of love or Shinkiko. Do we feel love or Shinkiko energy whenever we do something?
5) Always act promptly/follow through We use the word "Ki". "Ki" has the same meaning as "opportunity" or "chance". If we miss a chance, we say we have lost Ki energy. The way to use Shinkiko energy practically is to act promptly when the opportunity presents itself. If we miss that opportunity (Ki), an idea may not be accomplished. We may be given a second chance however we may face a difficult time. Also there is no spiritual growth without practice. Then and only then can we say we have learned.
Epilogue I think the most important essence is "the ability to laugh" as I said in the 1st essence. The other 4 essences are for creating a wonderful laugh and if we can do that, these 5 essences will be taken into our consciousness at the same time.
Summary When we receive Shinkiko energy everyday, these 5 essences happen to us naturally. Therefore rather than focusing difficulties I prefer to say "go with the flow". I think these essences may be interesting or useful to you but they are presented as only suggestions. I truly hope they may be of use when you are making excuses to your ego.
Gassyo to everybody's smile
Vol.7
Today I would like to introduce an article which is written in Alternative Medicine magazine by one of my client, Ms. Cathy Bennett. I hope this story bring you happiness. Koei Kuwahara
First Believe I've come to think of healing in terms of art, doubtless because I am an artist. I'm also a person who has walked the winding road from grave illness to joyful wellness. Along that road I got the idea that my health was mine to create, like a painting, and I could make it as beautiful and strong as I could envision. But I knew I had to first overcome the fear I had of not getting better.
A few years ago I fell ill with a debilitating chronic bladder inflammation. I went to several allopathic physicians, all of whom sadly suggested I would have to live with this miserable condition. Their sense of helplessness scared me. At that time I didn't know enough about all the ways in which we can heal ourselves. But somehow I refused to believe the grim prognosis and began my amazing journey through holistic healing step by delicate step. My faith was fragile. Indeed the source of my greatest suffering in the early days of my illness was not the physical discomfort but the terrible fear that I would not get well.
One day as I lay on the couch I remembered the sense of joy I had making art, the way I'd lose myself in a stream of higher consciousness and the most surprising creations would emerge. That doesn't happen when I try to construct something using my mind. Only when I let myself go do I become a conduit for the creative energy of the Universe. I sensed this Energy was waiting for me in terms of my own healing. But before I could open to it I had to get past the fear.
Fear is the most useful of emotions when it motivates us to move forward, when it tells us that this is an unhappy situation and it is time to create a better one. But too often we attach to the fear and envision dire consequences thus burdening ourselves further with sorrow. Slowly but surely we disconnect from our true selves, with Spirit. We disconnect from our power. Moving forward becomes all but impossible. Dissolving fear and moving into the light is, for me, the heart of the healing experience.
Now I am well again and people call me asking advice. I go to see Marion, a woman of forty who has a toddler daughter. She is a friend of a friend and has called nervous and fearful about being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Perhaps the stress of a later-in-life childbirth and fertility treatments have contributed to her collapse. Her physician is sympathetic but has no real idea what to do. So many of our physicians are suffering from the same disconnection from Spirit and healing knowledge that so often we as patients suffer. Allopathic medicine, so incredible for trauma and acute conditions, has less to offer chronic illness. Marion is uncertain how to proceed and despondent at not being able to keep up with all of the activity and energy a young child generates.
Once we settle down with a cup of tea I tell her my story. Story is a powerful form of medicine. As I talk I see a visible change in her energy. Just the fact that I am well, just the fact that I believe all is possible makes her sit straighter. Her voice becomes clearer, she smiles.
"But how do you get well?" she asks plaintively. "First," I say, "you decide on wellness. You believe in it." Marion shrugs and looks away. "I don't know." "You're afraid," I say as gently as I can. "It's okay, just the beginning. I was afraid. Our fear is just here to motivate us to open to the guidance we need to move forward. " "But how can you not be afraid," she asks, "when you wake up exhausted and your body aches and you can't think straight half the time?" "That's the trick, isn't it?" I am astonished now to think how resistant I was to moving through fear, how natural and right's it felt. "We heal when we align ourselves with Spirit, with joy, with confidence. We are bodies of energy and when we are ill or living unhappily our vibrations are too low. Fear is a low vibration. In the most simple sense we get better when we raise our vibration, when we move from fear to faith. When we discover our own negative patterns and change them. What illness can intrude on joy? We have to change our minds first, then we can do all the other things to help ourselves, but we begin with faith."
"But how?" I could see her energy flag now, her body sink into the couch, her shoulders sag. I could see she didn1t think this was possible, or didn't have the strength to be in this place of faith. Ours is not a healing culture. I reached for her hand. "You just go day by day. Every time the fear comes up, and it will for some time, you say I am getting stronger and stronger. I am completely well in myself as I am intended to be. You paint a different picture in your mind. You see yourself vibrantly well. It's not that the fear won't come up, it's a very old friend, but every time it comes up you now take notice and you replace it with your vision of radiant wellness. Then you smile." "Smile?" she winced. "But I'm crying all the time." "It's okay to cry. So much is going on. If sorrow builds up then cry. Let it out. Then when the sad energy dissipates smile. At first the smile will be a little forced, superficial even, but eventually it will become your whole being, and then your whole body. That is when you are well again. Smiling is a very high energy. Just choose it in every moment. It's a discipline, a practice."
Marion smiled again and I left her feeling determined to move forward. I feel confident that as she moves into faith she will see clearly the ways in which she needs to proceed to address her health issues whether it be cleansing, nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, yoga, qigong or other positive healing modalities. But first, she, like all of us, needs to learn to live in the light of faithfulness where the Universe can lend its healing hand.
There are so many ways we can support this change of mind. Here are some I found to strengthen the foundation of my faith. 1. Spend time only with radiantly positive people who are living faith. 2. Love everyone. 3. Go out every day in nature. 4. Read the powerful healing words of those who have walked the path or have helped others overcome challenge. 5. Exercise. Movement opens the gates for the positive energy from the Universe to flow through us and transform us. 6. Write in a journal. Our words on paper help us recognize and release the negative patterns in our lives. Write each day what you are grateful for, what you appreciate, what makes you smile. 7. Surround yourself with the powerful healing energy of beauty. Whether it be art, music, literature, flowers, furniture, clothing it needn't cost much. 8. Use flower essences. 9. Find a healer/health advisor whom you trust and who believes all is possible. 10. Smile. Practice returning always to the smile!
As the creation of art begins in the spirit so does the creation of health . We are healed when our whole selves are aligned with the creative energy of the Universe.
Then we can go out and spread joy as we are meant to. Then our life is art.
Vol.8
At the beginning of a Shinkiko class, I usually ask my students to think what the cause of their diseases could be. And I give them ideas for recovering and improving their health through oriental medicine and Shinkiko that Kaicho Nakagawa talkes about in his lectures.
Normally a practitioner like myself does counseling, listening what the patients have to say (usually expressing negative thoughts) and finding out the real cause of their diseases by their body constitutions, life environments, characters, eating habits and so on. This is why I have spent so much time for researching the causes and applying these experiences into the clinical data.
Based on this, I decide methods for complete treatments. It is quite easy to find out a cause of common disease by having much experience. However, it is not always that easy. Sometimes it is very hard to research for the cause and only temporally treatments are given.
One of the important things for the patients to get well is to understand what the real cause of their diseases are and determine what they want to do to get better. According to their acceptance, we, as doctors, give them treatments for improving their conditions. I have this long time belief that my way of treating patients is following the teachings of Shinkiko and natural healing therapies. Because Shinkiko is energy/light, which brings us awareness, I always followed the idea of Shinkiko therapy, such as finding the cause of diseases by giving a chance to the patient to change and be awaken . However recently I had some difficulties to ask patients about the causes of their diseases. Even though patients still want me to ask their symptoms, I have decided not to do it the same way as I did before. I really feel that there is more important things to ask them. That is not about their symptoms or the causes of diseases. But it is about their state of happiness or good things in their life.
"Finding the cause of disease" and "Treating common diseases" have lots of weak points as follows: 1) To deal with a disease after the problems (or negative patterns) developed. This means there is no improvement without experiencing pain. 2) To predict the future of a disease. As our founder used to say, things we predict come true. We subconsciously agree to negative events or we choose to be sick, as a result of the prediction. 3) It is very hard to figure out the cause of negativity. 4) Hard work is required for improvement. 5) To find a cause of disease brings us easily to a thought of "negativity from outside". The idea behind this is that everything happens because of "negativity from outside" or due to a feeling of a persecution complex. 6) To find a cause of disease could be the same as to create another cause of disease.
"Finding a cause of happiness" have a lot of good points. It encourages us to improve our spirituality with feelings of happiness.
1) To find a cause of happiness and to prepare for joy in the future, brings us happiness. 2) To be detached from the idea of being sick and to strengthen the idea of being healthy. It is easy and fun for us to do something good for our health. 3) To feel that the experiences were necessary and they will improve our spirituality. 4) The time we realize we are happy now, it is the time we practice Shinkiko. Then all the pains are gone, we can relax and smile. 5) To focus on good and happy things brings us positive energy and we can be healthy and happy easily.
There is a necessary precondition for "Finding a cause of Happiness". That is to convince ourselves that we are very happy now. Please do not compare the present to the past or to the future. No matter what happens, no matter what people say, no matter how painful it is, please keep in mind and believe that "I'm happy." It is important to start from all happiness. We may have more ideas for this "Finding a cause of happiness". I do recommend all of us to restart our lives with this most favorite thought in mind.
For example: The reason that I am very happy is.... I do not have any stress. I do what I love. I am improving. I feel I am needed. I have work. I am in love. I am loved. I am fine. Etc.
When we feel happy, Shinkiko comes into us more abundantly and naturally. Shinkiko brigns us awareness, our understanding becomes deeper and we are able to become happier, we can appreciate our reasons for happiness and realize what true love is. This is called a cycle of happiness. However, sometimes we are just unable to feel happy. When this happens, please receive Shinkiko everyday. While we receive Shinkiko, Shinkiko energy gets into our heart deeply. We absolutely feel better. If it doesn't happen, then I do recommend to attend one-week Shinkiko Retreat Seminar in Ikoma in Nara, Japan, which is held every month. I am positive, it will bring good result.
On the other hand, "Finding a cause of disease" creates a root for diseases. This is the way to create a cause of disease and a cause of unhappiness too as well. I think we always feel unhappy when we do find the cause of diseases. If we know it, why shall we do this, then? We'd better not to even start. We live for trying to get vital force. That is why it is important to choose a way to good health and happiness and not to choose a way to only cure a disease. If we try to do this, we will discover ourselves in happiness. A moment of feeling happy is full with good energy. And it is a proof of emitting good energy. Then this good energy will be spread all around us and it will join together for all of our happiness.
Gassyo
Vol.9
Love letter for you
I wish you to be healthy Oh, how beloved you are Because of you, everybody shines brightly I do not know how to express about you You are shining for everything Thank you so much Appreciating for being with you and Wishing you for happiness
Have you ever had an experience to write a love letter to someone? I am sure that your heart is beating and full of energy at that moment. When people know to love someone or to be loved and forcusing to put all energy to the love, we are awakened to our own mission and will be released from our own ego to be free like a phoenix.
The source of Health and its instinct As we, human beings save our life, desires and instincts are absolutely needed. The appetite or the sexual desire is a basic instinct. In addition to these instincts, we have very special instinct which only we, human beings have. We can say this is a desire or an instinct related to the source of essential energy of human beings. In other words, this unique desire, which only human beings have, is to live for someone else. I realized this through my clinical data of my patients, healing processes of them, energy of people who do many kinds of healing activities, my healing practices and the peace movement. To live for someone else is giving us a lot of energy to live. Many people may know this instinctively. As the energy of wishing for someone's happiness drives and spreads, our instinct is satisfied when it is happens. And then our souls improve mutually and feel happy. Human beings know this system instinctively, we want to get more for not only ourselves but also for others to make our life better.
Mind is dying of starvation Many people may think of themselves that "I am a useless person or I am not thought to be grateful by others." Sometimes we really want to have a satisfaction of living our life with its meaning through our real feeling that we are in need for someone. Without this, we lose not only our energy for life but also the meaning of our existence. When this situation becomes serious, we may die. In other words, it is same as starvation. Why does it happen? The reason of this is a bad influence of a competitive society and ranking systems that we have been making. Let me give another example for this. Letﾕs compare an owner of Japanese car and an owner of Mercedes Benz. Who is higher in position? Is it the owner of the Mercedes Benz? Mercedes is a very well known exclusive car company in the world. Actually it seems to be a symbol of the high level of the social position. This is why the owner shows off too. I realized that people wearing nice clothes or having luxury items are very healthy, but it may be only on the outside. Although I observed they enjoy wearing and having those luxury items, but I feel they are arrogant. I wonder if their soul is satisfied or not.
In Boston we have heared that Mr. President Koizumi has a lot of supports from Japanese citizens. I believe Mr. Koizumi, who is supported by many people, feels great not only with regard to politics but also in his own personal life. His name written in Chinese characters said Koizumi is a small spring, but if he can keep the people's support for the next election, his existence is going to be like a great spring. However what is the difference between Mr. Koizumi who is a representative of a hundred million Japanese people and a patient with no house who visits my clinic? I think the only difference is their position or situation. But there is no difference between the value of their souls. Weﾕd better realize that each soul helps the other in its improvement and the importance of each existence is equal.
Find out the abundance of the soul I am sure that your existence itself helps someone else. We can't feel it exactly how important our existence is and we are born in need. There are two important things to realize, One is the reaction from others. We really feel gratitude if our own words or behavior is helpful for someone else. By receiving this appreciation, we can confirm the meaning of our own existence. And we appreciate ourselves. To appreciate is the way not only to pull the energy out but also to give us a realization how wonderful to be alive. Thus, we hope we always appreciate the abundance of the wonderful soul without persisting in our own purpose or ego. When we achieve it, great happiness spreads.
Herein, would you please read once again a love letter written at the beginning? Do you remember your own feelings when you write a love letter or your feelings when you receive one? The feelings we express in a love letter must be same for everybody, it does not belong to just one person. To love someone, the feeling of wishing someone to be with, the feeling we can do anything for someone and you are happy, these feelings are enough. This is the real gratitude which comes up from our heart. I really wish we could live with this love in every daily life.
To find out the abundance of thesoul is to appreciate. No matter how small it is, please be grateful and tell your gratitude honestely. Please act by following your gratitude without your ego, without hopes for profit or fears of loss.This mind of appreciation makes one's soul improve. Your appliciation saves others and gives energy.An appliciation gives a great energy for anything and everybody. It is a force of healing the people that suffered, a driving force for business men and a force of decision for those who are puzzeled. We are going to be beings feeling well with this mutual appliciation. The origins of love will be born from it and will lead people to make a new step.
I am very happy to be with you.... Thank you very much
Gassyo
Copyright 2006 CULIA KI CLINIC INC. All rights reserved
Copyright 2006 CULIA KI CLINIC INC. All rights reserved