Posted by Max Roach I teach Iaido in Salt Lake City, and frequently encounter students with concerns about whether or not Iaido will prove compatible with their religious beliefs. The concerns usually come in the form of the following questions. 1) I am supposed to train to train to draw and cut the throat, et cetera while trying to clear my mind and achieve a state of compassionate oneness?
That doesnt make any sense at all! How can I morally justify training in an art specifically designed for the taking of life? To study Iaido is to study the technical aspects of sword fighting as well as the historical, cultural and philosophical aspects that pertain to the art. The idea that we train to move our bodies in such a way that we could take a life is a serious misunderstanding of the most important principles of Iaido: Although the sword moves in such ways as to be effective for its former applications as a tool, its modern application is purely metaphoric. Herein lies the most puzzling and beautiful aspect of Iaido. What made Junsuke Minamoto Shigenobus Sword drawing style so powerful was that it incorporated deep spirituality into its practice. So deep, in fact, that he renamed himself Hayashizaki after the shrine in which he claimed to receive divine inspiration. Although the sword techniques bunkai (practical explanations) can be somewhat gruesome, they are only the stepping-stones of an inward journey. After you let go of the ego and the superficial flashiness, the sword can be seen as a window into the soul. We all have power to harm or to heal. Iaido is a system in which we can observe ourselves and better understand the nature of our application of the powers in our command. How we use our powers is the important lesson to learn from Iaido. It takes many years before this crystallizes in the mind. Do not worry if you find yourself focusing on the cut the throat part of Iai practice. This is normal for beginners in the first several years of training. If you continue your practice diligently Iaido will become a profound part of your life. This deeper understanding of Iaido supports rather than contradicts the principles behind most the worlds religions. When we separate ourselves from the conflict and remove ego, we can see Iaidos techniques for what they really are, an expression of compassionate mind. This is reflected in the spirit and self-mastery that Iaido mastery requires. 2) All this Zen-based spirituality makes me uncomfortable. I dont want anything to undermine my Christian beliefs. Is the practice of Zen required to study Iaido? The answer to this one varies depending on who is teaching. I know of schools that require six months of meditation classes before beginning training a new student in Iaido. Sadly, the other end of the spectrum exists also. Many teach Iaido as a series of killing techniques and completely omit the beautiful cultural/spiritual aspects of the art. Iaido does not require any particular religious affiliation but I believe that true Iaido practice requires at least an academic understanding of Buddhist principles. Many people feel threatened by this aspect of Iaido and choose not to study as a result. The curriculum of Iaido should include much more than how to draw and cut. If this is how you are learning Iaido, then Houston, we have a problem. If you can approach sincere Iaido practice with an open mind and not be threatened by the scope of its curriculum then you will find that Iaido supports any religious belief. I hope this helps, good luck. Sincerely, Max Roach Sensei Link: http://yamaoroshi.com
on April 4, 2004, 2:26 pm, in reply to "iaido and religion"
Dear LJ,
Yama Oroshi Dojo
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