Ninja Stuff

if I'm going to benefit from a knowledge greater than my own- some intuition or Grace from the Great Heart, I can't have previously locked it up and called it my own. It seems to 'disapear' when herded selfishly, do you know what I mean? You have to listen. You can't have your ego blarring.
Click to expand...

I don't know much about him (yet) but a mentor/teacher of mine mentioned Frank Fools Crow who was a great native american healer. He said the same thing basically. He performed many "miracles" of healing in his lifetime. Edited to add: I put miracles in quotes because I wasn't sure if that is the language Fools Crow would have used , I did not do it to call anything he did into question.

Interestingly he thought that anyone who witheld teachings/healings based on race or any other reasons really didn't know anything at all--that it was a gift from the creator that saw no divisions for any reason.


(More to come when I get up to speed on him...)
 
Here's a brief quote off one website:



""The ones who complain and talk the most about giving away Medicine Secrets, are always those who know the least." He had little time for anyone who attempted to keep blessings for themselves."

Fools Crow agreed with Black Elk when he said, "I cured with the power that came through me. Of course, it was not I who cured, it was the power from the Outer World, the visions and the ceremonies had only made me like a hole through which the power could come to the two-leggeds. If I thought that I was doing it myself, the hole would close up and no power could come through. Then everything I could do would be foolish."

He believed that the Higher Powers taught that this healing power comes in and through a person first to make us what we should be, and then flows through us and out to others.""
 
Rob, I'm too tired right now to think straight, (got up at 4 am) but the other conversation Howard and Nasty are having has struck a bell: subjective time experience.

What's the big thing "God" is credited with? Exclusion from boundaries of time.
I've had dreams, near death experiences, adrenaline dumps; they have in common the subjective experience of Time being changed. We know children experience Time much more extensively than adults. We know in deep concentration Time is changed. Like focusing the sights on a target. And in all the religious experiences I've had, a commonality is that Time is changed, bridged, lengthened. When artists talk of tapping into a well-spring of information and knowledge, creativity and inspiration, they use analogues like rivers, oceans, etc etc; timeless source. And they say things like; "The Voice that is Great within Us."

I think the Engineer and Nasty are onto something.


munk
 
Yes, Rob, your posts are right on the dot.
Great and timely.


Man.
What a neat thread.


munk
 
My theory is that this "ninja sense" DIJ is calling it, for lack of a better term, is something akin to a fishes lateral line, a series of neuro cells that constitutes a sixth sense in fish.

"What is a lateral line :* The lateral line is a row of scales that most fish have along their sides, stretching from their head to tail. Under these scales are a system of fluid-filled canals and specialized cells which transmit vibrations to the brain. The lateral line helps fish to detect objects including predators and prey."

Fish sense danger, and fear, thru this line.

It is possible that in human/warrior/predator-types, a type of "fear/danger sense" ability evolves, or can be cultivated. This human lateral line is inside your head, not outside it.

If ever you feel this, don't ignore it. Sheep don't have it. Sharks do. Real sharks, not people with too many khukuris.


Ad Astra (tired)
 
Time dilation is a unique experience. And I've never felt pain during it, which has been handy.

I remember, once I was playing baseball in my back yard with a friend. I pitched, he hit (HARD), and it flew at my face. I didn't expect it, and didn't react fast enough. It hit my mouth really hard, and I can still remember falling in slow motion, seeing bloody saliva float in front of my eyes. And there was no pain, just a sort of objective awareness of trauma. Then, after I landed, it hurt like crazy!

I think our bodies and brains are capable of doing and sensing far more than we know about. I like that "lateral line" idea. Except maybe ours is a bit more advanced.

Chris
 
I just got back from day 2 of the daikomyosai and I am dead tired.
But Hatsumi Sensei was just electrifying. What fantastic day of training.


I'd like to say that I know what you are referring to when you say "time dialation," but to my knowledge this is not a part of the teachings.
Sensei does not move quickly nor does he move with power.
He does not need to. Because he can see/feel the future of his attackers' intentions and movements, he can move slowly and minimally into the optimal place of safety.

This might be hard to take, but in ninjutsu, we avoid speed and power whenever possible. There is a saying in our schools "The immovable heart of fudo."
This is a goal we strive to attain, this immovable heart.
It is a heart that never speeds up nor slows down no matter what happens.
No adrenaline...

We strive to develop the danger sense, to develop our intuition of the future, to feel the intentions of our attackers and then move slowly and minimally to be in a safe, controlling position.

I hope all that makes sense. I am pretty tired after all....
 
DannyinJapan said:
I just got back from day 2 of the daikomyosai and I am dead tired.
But Hatsumi Sensei was just electrifying. What fantastic day of training.


I'd like to say that I know what you are referring to when you say "time dialation," but to my knowledge this is not a part of the teachings.
Sensei does not move quickly nor does he move with power.
He does not need to. Because he can see/feel the future of his attackers' intentions and movements, he can move slowly and minimally into the optimal place of safety.

This might be hard to take, but in ninjutsu, we avoid speed and power whenever possible. There is a saying in our schools "The immovable heart of fudo."
This is a goal we strive to attain, this immovable heart.
It is a heart that never speeds up nor slows down no matter what happens.
No adrenaline...

We strive to develop the danger sense, to develop our intuition of the future, to feel the intentions of our attackers and then move slowly and minimally to be in a safe, controlling position.

I hope all that makes sense. I am pretty tired after all....
Click to expand...


Danny,

This makes very good sense to me. My (karate) teacher said that we should avoid confrontations if possible. This was the same guy who gave his wallet to the robber. This was also the same guy who was confronted by three robbers with knives when he as out with his wife. The three robbers all wound up with broken bones. One, who was foolish enough to get up and attack again wound up in the hospital.

He told us that we should always avoid confrontation. That most people fight because they are afraid and trying to prove to themselves that they were NOT afraid.

Fight with passion if you must fight --- but never fight with anger, if you do, you have already lost.

I have always been fascinated by the Ninja, though I am put off by the Hollywood representations.

You seem to be tied into some very good teachers. I like your posts very much.

Do you do anything with Aikido? I have a slight knowledge of this and would very much like to know more.
 
Bill,
I consider myself tied into the best teacher! (Thats why I left my life behind and came to Japan)
It takes a long long time to learn this stuff though, and honestly, 99% of it is psychological. One must change ones' self and that takes time.
Its damned hard to just stand there still and calm when someone launches at you with punches and kicks. To only touch him with the gentlest of touches, to let gravity and the weight of the air be the only power you employ.
It is a scary thing, but not physically demanding.

Hollywood was right in one thing : Ninja history IS interesting. It IS worth looking into.
If you want to see an accurate ninja movie, get Shinobi no mono. Hatsumi Sensei was the consultant for that film.

Aikido - Me, no. I know many Aikido people though, and they seem like decent folks. The main difference between the Bujinkan and Aikido, as far as I know, is the purpose. Ninjutsu is about survival and protection of the self from harm. that's it.
Aikido seems to be more of a non-lethal, disarming, self- enlightenment type endeavor. (Aikido people - If I am totally wrong, please dont jump on me. I am not an Aikido expert)
The founder of Aikido, Ueshiba Sensei, was actually a student of the Bujinkans' previous Soke (Takamatsu Sensei) for a short time, so we do have a sort of connection.

I wanted to be a ninja since I was in grade school and the desire never left me. As the dream has come true, my understanding of what it was I thought I wanted changed, but still the desire remains. It is a worthy and wonderful dream. I have met so many nice and wonderful people in the world of budo, I cant imagine my life without it.

To be totally honest: I have never seen real ninjutsu in any movie. Ever.
Even if they used our scrolls and had stuntmen do the kata, it wouldnt be right. You have to have the feeling and that takes years to attain. The feeling of Budo.
It looks something like this: A ninja might appear to be covered with a sticky substance. When he is attacked, he doesnt block or grab, but he "sticks" to you and you end up tying yourself into a knot on the ground trying to deal with a strange and inconceivable situation.

If that sounds crazy, I guess it should. You ought to be here! Ive pulled out half my hair and developed huge eyebrows from my frowns and frustrations trying to figure out what Sensei was doing.

"Behold , I show you a great mystery."

I dont understand it, but I love it..
 
I think when we speak of time slowing down we are referring to the subjective of course, and that what has changed is the number and kind of decisions you find yourself now able to attain.


munk
 
He believed that the Higher Powers taught that this healing power comes in and through a person first to make us what we should be, and then flows through us and out to others.""
Click to expand...

To me this is an important topic, although somewhat off topic. We must first become who we really are, "change" ourselves if you will--though I don't like to use that--maybe I should say "peel off the artificiality" that allows the true us to emerge, and then, our ability to be a conduit for a higher power can flow outward, allowing others to be raised up and peel off their filters and layers. But we can't tell anyone what to do, only help how we can, get out of the way and let them be.
 
You just said it.
I've noticed it is very hard to speak the truth and make it sound altogether right. It can be funny, wise, poetry, or happy talk, but it is very hard to do simply and well.

The closer to source one gets the better one is and feels.
I don't know about onions. John Lennon sang about looking through a glass onion. I've been inside so long I don't know about layers anymore. Seems to me when I was younger I worried about layers.

Not to Worry!

All these points of view - arriving at a similar place.

I like to think of reality as being round, but not a ball. A ball is too simple.
But balls bounce, and my three year old thinks bouncy balls are the best things on Earth.

babblin balls to wall munk
 
I love to watch animals use their natural sense of caution. It's something we as humans have nearly muted except in the most terrible of circumstances. As we grow ever more fat and sassy with our place in the "natural order" of things as we see it, it will be easier and easier for danger to find us. I have no doubt that a day will come where we as people will waddle in front of on coming traffic. We will freeze as the deer, as the frog, as the possum. Life will not flash before our eyes, but our last thought will be of whether or not to super size our McCrappy Meal.
I watch animals closely. They have a wisdom that I will never possess, but long to. Animals to me are held more dear than people in general. Watching an animal is like watching the infrastructure of God. It's on what the whole of existance of things behaves. I get a real kick out of watching my pets. We have tricked ourselves into believing that they are little people. They are not. They are greater than people.
Late at night, my wife and I will be sleeping. At times when it's cold we'll have the ferret curled up between us. Black, dark, cool, silent. The room is a tomb, and we are all fast asleep. Deep in our heads. Suddenly, the ferret will scramble from his coma and tear across the bed under the sheets. I can feel his heart beating against my leg. A dream. A dark dream conjured up from his small animal brain. A danger reflex that exercises itself when he is not aware of his utterly plush surroundings. Wait, he stands at the foot of the bed poised. Crouched with his tail bushed to a raccoon size. He's looking at something in the corner. What does he see? He can't see. They have terrible eyesight. What does he KNOW is there? He pauses and slowly slinks backward toward his spot. He backs up and lays between my chest and arm so that his backside it protected. His head remains fixed on the corner of the room for some time until my slow scratching behind his ears lulls him off to sleep. Odd things happen if you just pay attention. I dare not dwell on it. Like the story of the Red Man, if I am aware of it might become aware of me. It is best to let my furry protectors sense such things. There are stories of things which only "the scent of a weasle" can ward off.

To live just one day as an animal. To have a man's mind and experience the sensory world with all its glory.

Jake
 
DIJ

Is this the Shinobi you speak about?

http://www.netflix.com/Search?v1=Shinobi&search_submit.x=37&search_submit.y=6


I would guess that there are no real Ninja movies because the Ninja just would not be there. They probably don't have the ego needs to be a movie star and I seriously doubt anyone could capture the core essence of what it would be like to be a Ninja.

Your talk about your studies touches something deep in me also. I can not define the essence and I doubt that you can either. I am a bit envious that you have something in your life that stirs you so deeply. I wish that I could find something that fills me with passion like that.

"These are private words I speak to you in public." ------ TS Elliot

Your talk about Ninja reminds me about a line from Carlos Castenada where he asked Don Juan "What use would your magic be if somone was looking for you with a high powered rifle?"

Don Juan, "I just wouldn't be there when he came arond."
 
You guys, Bill and Steely, DIJ and Howard, Yvsa and Nasty and Rob: keep on talking. I'm learning things here. Things are good.

I think based upon the way Carlos C. treats women, he may very well be alligned in a telescopic sight, and wish he were elsewhere.


munk
 
DannyinJapan said:
I'd like to say that I know what you are referring to when you say "time dialation," but to my knowledge this is not a part of the teachings.
Sensei does not move quickly nor does he move with power.
He does not need to. Because he can see/feel the future of his attackers' intentions and movements, he can move slowly and minimally into the optimal place of safety.

This might be hard to take, but in ninjutsu, we avoid speed and power whenever possible. There is a saying in our schools "The immovable heart of fudo."
This is a goal we strive to attain, this immovable heart.
It is a heart that never speeds up nor slows down no matter what happens.
No adrenaline...
Click to expand...

Danny,

I might have written your words myself 20 years ago. The calm-unperturbed mind was then my ideal. Many times I puzzled my martial arts peers and teachers by telling them that strength and speed, and even technique, were not the things I was working towards.

I remember a couple of incidents during my early aikido studies. In the first, I was walking along a road at night and a carful of young toughs yelled some obsenities at me as they passed. I got an adrenaline dump and my heart started pounding. I viewed that as a failure in myself to maintain calm.

In another incident I had been meditating in a city park at night. I was walking out of the park after midnight, wrapped in my blanket, when three young men approached. One said, "There he is, let's get him" and they all began running towards me. On that occasion I simply opened up my arms, expanding my blanket like Dracula's cape in the night, and waited calmly for them. They stopped dead in their tracks, and then turned and ran away. My heart beat never elevated and I considered that a success.

It may be that I have become delusional with the passage of the years, but I no longer believe that the harmony I have been looking for for so long must always be expressed as calm. It is easy to see the harmony in a placid lake reflecting the moonlight, a little more difficult to see it in the turbulent rapids of water coursing over and swirling around rocks. It is not in the nature of water when traversing the rapids to reflect the moon in the same manner it did in the lake. The reflections are still there, but they are much smaller. Sparkles almost.

I no longer view the adrenaline dump as a failure. In recent years I have found the flow, the stillness inside the motion, in that state. It is a natural part of our bodies that has evolved for a purpose. I am no longer trying to resist or trancend it, but now rather I recognize it as a very valuable gift and a valued and honored part of who I am.

It is important to use the state correctly though. Improperly channeled, it will lead to panic, confusion, or freezing.

Talk to your sensei about it.

He may tell you I'm foolish and full of $#!^, but then I know that already.

;)
 
He may tell you I'm foolish and full of $#!^, but then I know that already.>>>> Howard Wallace


Yes, and we have another thread available for just such an observation.
Poop and God; not just reunited, but never apart.



munk
 
All these points of view - arriving at a similar place
Click to expand...

And that's what I'm finding more and more. Masters, enlightened people, whatever you want to call them (connected directly to the source?) are saying the same thing when you really look at it. Native american stories of creation mesh with parts of the bible. The real teachings of Jesus coincide with those of Buddha, Fools Crow etc..

It's amazing and it has filled me with hope and peace for the first time in my life. :thumbup:
 
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