Ku-No-Kyouchi
By Clan Rep
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This year, we have a Zoom NinYori in our Order of Shinobi Samurai once a month. The members attending are very dedicated ninshi. Each time very insightful topics come up and I learn a lot. In the NinYori of Aug 23rd, there was a question about the difference between Heijohshin (even or ordinary mind) and the state of Ku. Can or do the shinobi fight in the state of Ku? Tohmoku’s answer was “Yes, but you don’t know it when you were in the state close to Ku. Only after fighting when you look back over the things happened you may realize that you were in that Kyohchi (the mental and spiritual state). Ku is no-self, no ego, so you are not here as a person, you are part of the nature or balance. You know what happens. The happenings are subconsciously understood.A veteran warrior may have very clear and calm preparedness, he can sometimes foretell what his enemy will do. This does not come from Ku-no-Kyohchi, or his closeness to Ku. We define this mental state, Heijohshin (even or orninary mind). In this case the warrior is conscious of everything, and he judges and chooses to do correct and proper things.In most of the Japanese martial arts schools, they advocate one of them as the ultimate purpose of training, heijohshin or Ku-no-kyohchi, Our ancestors chose Ku. Even though one can get close to Ku, one does not become a saint or demi-god. We know we will never reach there, but we make efforts to go closer by giving compassionate services to our communities, As shinobi we prefer our work remains unnoticed.