Photo by Andrew Collins on Unsplash


Zen in Aikido

“Zen” is simply, without religious affiliation, a Japanese term meaning: Contemplation or Meditation.

Aikido is often referenced to as Moving Meditation . . . Moving Zen. Aikido invites us to carry our breathe in concert with our movement, with mindfulness and attention to the ground upon which we both sit and stand.

In the Zendo, Aikido is practiced as a fundamental movement meditation in concert with sitting meditation and contemplative studies.

The Zendo recognizes that Aikido is more than simply a martial system of technical skills oriented toward martial effectiveness or even merely the harmonious resolution of conflict. It is in fact what O Sensei said, “A way to reconcile the world.” It is through this contemplative discipline through sitting, standing, and in the flowing martial rigor of advanced practice that: Aikido returns us to its essence as again O’ Sensei endeared us;

“Aikido is simply fulfilled in the breath (Kokyu)
Breathe in, Pause, Breathe Out, Pause.”

 

The Zendo also collaborates with other contemplative disciplines to offer a venue for people to gather and practice meditation in stillness and movement.

People of all faiths are invited to meditate on the deeper essence of their own particular cosmological understandings, spiritual beliefs, religious commitments, and existential phenomena.

All are welcome.

You Practice mindfulness, on the one hand,
to be calm and peaceful.
On the other hand,
as you practice mindfulness and live a life of peace,
you inspire hope for a future of peace.
                                                           ~Thich Nhat Hanh


Open Sky Sangha

Our vision is to offer support to one another as we nurture our practice of mindfulness, joy and peace. We believe that by practicing together, stilling the mind and body, and by looking deeply at causes of suffering we can begin to cultivate openness, compassion, inclusiveness, and well being within ourselves, our families, our community, our environment, and our world.

Open Sky Sangha is a community of mindful living in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.

They find their home here at Two Rivers.
Thursdays 6:30-8:30
openskysangha@gmail.com