Once I know what I feel like when I am performing a Ki exercise correctly I can return to that feeling at will. I can apply the feeling to other Ki exercises so that no matter which exercise I am engaged in, I can use the feeling to cut through the form, which will vary from exercise to exercise, and retain my structural integrity. I can increase the intensity of the exercise in order to strengthen the feeling. Extending the utility of the exercise changes it from a measuring tool to a tool for developing correct feeling to a higher degree.
This method of learning is very simple in execution. It requires of me only the ability and wherewithal to remain focused on what is going on inside of me. To be successful, my mind and body must be tightly coordinated so that both get the feeling as close to simultaneously as possible. In this way, my mind/body state will improve and grow as a unified whole.
If necessary I can use visualization and metaphor to augment my understanding of what I am feeling, but visualization and metaphor are not in and of themselves the learning tools. Correctness of feeling is what teaches.
And may all sentient beings be free........What is the root meaning of sentient? To feel.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you're still out there Graham.
DeleteHa, ha. Thanks Ron. My motto? "No sentience....no aikido."
DeleteThank you Ron your this interesting reflection, it reminds me of my yoga classes, the teacher told us to rememeber a happy moment, enjoy this moment again and keep it with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks Carina. I was looking at your blog the other day and... flowers??, in February! So I checked out Gran Canaria; looks mighty good from winter in the Berkshires. If Mary and I ever get over our fear of flying we may check it out someday.
DeleteHi Ron,
DeleteThere are a lot of flowers in the south of the island. We have always sun here and tourists are going to the beach.
But in the mountains the temperature is different, we are walking up there when ever we can, the almonds blossom just passed and now everything is becoming yellow with some violet in the middle because of the little flowers that are coming out now.
Would be very nice if you could come and maybe train in our dojo too.