The Answer
Recently, I have been looking at the “Way of the Ninja” to better understand the aspects of Ninpo that Soke is speaking of this year. I have found that this source gives some good food for thought regarding this year’s theme as well as the BK in general.
After reading a few sections in the book, I developed several questions that I thought I would pose to Soke to get a better perspective on this year’s theme. I memorized my questions and was off to training at the Hombu Dojo looking for the first chance to ask Soke my questions.
The training that day was great and I was lucky to have the opportunity to translate that day and I was very intrigued by the topic of discussion.
Time came for the break and I sat next to Soke translating for the people that were lined up to have Soke write their requested calligraphy, and I saw the chance to ask my questions.
Before I had a chance to open my mouth, Soke began telling me about training in the past and how Akimoto san, a student of Takamatsu sensei once cut down a starling with a sword that he drew as the bird leaped from the ground into would be flight. Soke continued to tell me that Akimoto san was a very devoted student and would cup his hands for Takamatsu Sensei when he needed to knock the ash from his smoke. Soke said that Akimoto san said that if anyone ever hurt Takamatsu sensei he would grab his sword and take revenge. A very devoted student.
I sat there and realized that my questions were gone and that even if I spent hours preparing them or written them down, they would have still meant nothing.
If I have 5 minutes alone with Soke, or even 5 hours, I find it more rewarding to sit there in silence asking nothing, only listening.
The answers to your questions are all there, and available to you at anytime-if you listen.
Buffu Ikkan
February 13, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Doug,
I regularly read comments, however I’m not one for commenting on web based articles and forum’s. This last thread ‘The Answer’ (outside of Soke books) is probably the best and most inspiring Bujinkan article I have ever read. Many thanks for sharing it with us.
Regards
Andy
PS. Never stop the posts. They are the only ones out there worth reading. Great work..
February 13, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Doug - This happen to be a lesson in itself. A real kuden!
February 13, 2008 at 11:20 pm
As you wrote one below and we all know, ninjutsu is about gathering information.
But you forgot to gather the information you needed.
Now you might wait for years, and the answer is maybe just a few words… 
Unasked questions possibly won’t be answered. Google cannot help you in this topic, Hatsumi Soke and the Japanese Shihan can…
February 14, 2008 at 12:06 am
Hi Doug,
Another great post.
You have hit the nail right on the head with your last comment. Just take the time to sit and listen to what Soke & the translators are saying. Its a pity more people don’t, rather than keep posting on the various forums.
Many thanks for the comments. It’s really great to hear what is going over there when we are back in our country between trips.
Keep going with the posts.
Many thanks for all your efforts at the last DKMS, it is much appreciated.
February 15, 2008 at 12:11 pm
A few weeks ago, after I asked a question to Nagato Sensei during break time, he told us that some questions should not be asked, and many questions are useless. Some questions might even offend the teacher or the martial art. As westerners, we have a tendency to ask too many things and not really listen enough.
Nagato sensei then said that in his days, If he had asked something like that to Sensei, his answer would have been: “shut up and train”.
And so from that day, I learned to do so.
Great post, Doug!
February 15, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Buyu, Please read my mission statement.
Many thanks.
Doug
February 15, 2008 at 11:28 pm
This gives me a great deal to think about. Very good post.
-Luis Acosta
Yondan
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu
February 18, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Hi guys,
Obviously those willing straight answers are not going too often to Japan or don’t spend time with Soke. Over the last 20 years, during Taikais and in Japan, I have always come with many questions to ask Soke. And each time, something made me unable to ask them. Strangely though, I always got the answers somehow.
The Westerners often ask WHY? where the Japanese are more concerned about the HOW? As Soke said once: “I don’t teach students, I teach the students toteach themselves”. Think about it. As in the Chinese book “I Ching”, my feeling is that the answers will come naturally when you become able to formulate them. Ask yourself the good question and you will soon find or be given the answer.
During all these years of training with Soke, I often went to him to do the movement on me, telling that I didn’t understand. And many times, Soke would stop the class and tell me to teach it! The first times I was totally taken aback and frightened, but through the years I learnt and I understand now that this was the best way to improve. Soke did that to many high ranks students you know, ask them. and I bet he will do that again and again; and I will continue to ask.
As doug said: “The answers to your questions are all there, and available to you at anytime-if you listen”.
“Shut up and train”, and you will be able the hear the answers to your own questions.
Sincerely
Arnaud Cousergue
February 18, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Buyu`s
You get the answers you desire,you see what you desire,you hear what you desire,in other words you are who you choose to be.
When you are zero,you are not and then you will change.
This is my 20th anniversary, 20 years since my first trip to Japan.
Nothing has changed, Hatsumi sensei is still zero, so he has changed and he still teaches us zero.
If you desire it, dont.
Thank you Doug for sharing yourself.
My first ever comment on the net.
Sincerely
Morten B. Oestenstad
It`s in the past you make the foundation for the future.
February 19, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Most questions are asked of a man like Hatsumi Soke for one of two reasons:
1. To get validation for something we think we already know
2. To be close to, for a moment at least, and recieve some sort of acknowledgement from someone we feel is a great human being
Those are my reasons, anyways, if I look at the questions I have asked, or even thought of asking, honestly.
The important questions are those we hold in our hearts. They may never reach our mouths, because there may be no words with which to form them. Those are the ones that get answered, I think, in the moments like Doug describes.
In that moment, Hatsumi Sensei answered very clearly some of the most heated topics discussed in the Bujinkan.
February 21, 2008 at 3:23 am
Wow man, that’s amazing. A great story about devotion and love in itself, a real ninja quality. He was truly blessed to have such a student, just as we are blessed to be part of the Bujinkan and learn so much from such an incredible person as Soke and the Shihan who bring his art to the world.
February 22, 2008 at 6:27 am
Ello Mr Doug… Who named me Hentai and I have since adopted it…
I think the position to think you have to be spoon-fed from Hatsumi Sensei is shortchanging yourself. If you have questions and you are speaking to your teacher, then you are asking the wrong way… Not the wrong question…
If you cannot ask him a question he will answer, then you cannot state you are a direct student of him.
I have told a story of when, after a serious technique of how to use Shuko’, someone asked how you would take a speck of dust from your eye while wearing shuko… Making the obvious joke of slapping your eye while wearing shuko… While the question was asked, the most notable students in the room all reacted to what a waste of time it was making faces… Sensei then answered the question with such an in depth description of how the eye works that I still use it to this day… Everyone that made a face during the question immediately turned to take note of what Sensei was saying…
“Sensei wo Erabe” - “Choose your teacher well,” also means to know when your teacher will teach…
I spent a small amount of private time with Sensei in my life… Enough to know what his back looked like… Enough to see the face of appeasement when he obviously had to continue an answer after a stupefied look, and I have thankfully seen him intent on pinching my arm and saying, “This is very important.”
If you have his ear… Timing and Feeling and the Kukan also exist in this… “Asking your Teacher…”
I always take comfort from a quote from Nagato Sensei in the 80’s when asked about his opinion of Hatsumi Sensei teachings and his response was, “When it is time, I will write a book.”
You have his ear every other month… Don’t waste it.
March 4, 2008 at 1:22 pm
I was once asked by someone here in Japan the following: ” Duncan, I have never seen you ask Soke or Nagato a question. Why?”
I replied, ” I have, but not in words, and they have all been answered !”
I agree with Don. The most important questions cannot be put into words.
The first code of the Bujinkan Dojo - Know that patience comes first.
Is this not the answer to all our questions?
The virtue of patience has much to offer us.
“Shut up and Train ” is this not preaching the 1st dojo code of practising the art of patience?