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?

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.

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.

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.

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

-Luis Acosta
Yondan
Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu

Many thanks.

Doug

Great post, 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.