Misogi and kannagara

03.11.2024

Misogi

For O Sensei, misogi is purification. Purification of the body, mind, and soul. It is the act of dispelling negative spirits, getting rid of all bad energies. This includes letting go of one’s ego, the source of all suffering. Among them, we find fear, discouragement, frustration, chronic dissatisfaction, despair, and self-devaluation. Getting rid of one’s ego creates inner emptiness and allows the true essence of life to spread its gentle fragrance of serenity, tranquility, inner peace, confidence, freedom, joy, and love. It is accessing a state of grace, “a state of pure delight and overflowing gratitude” (O Sensei).

Getting rid of one’s ego is a challenging endeavor, a long internal battle. This battle can only be waged with the guidance of a clear-eyed and sharp sensei, along with the succession of practices performed with fellow practitioners in the dojo. Moving on the tatami is exposing oneself, showing vulnerabilities and becoming aware of one’s ego. It is confronting oneself, all facets, even the darkest ones. It is allowing all conditioning and traumas buried in the unconscious to come to the light of consciousness. This journey is a dô, a long path that requires courage, perseverance, patience, and unwavering commitment. Few are those who manage to follow this path. Those who do are warriors of peace.

Aikido is not a combat sport or a self-defense discipline, but a relentless battle that aikidokas engage in to rid themselves of all impurities to access a realized state of human being, to access their true human nature. This is takemusu aikidô.

On this path, when the aikidoka finds himself at the foot of the towering inner mountain, fear arises, and many become discouraged. Yet, nature provides each with just enough resources to reach the summit, to access a new horizon, a new state of being. It is necessary to put one foot in front of the other and move at the slow pace of the mountain guide. Advance sometimes on a steep, rocky path in the fog, sometimes on a wider path through vast fertile plains, always moving forward. Ganbatte o kudasasaï!

Kannagara

When the ego withdraws, emptiness is realized, silence ensues, allowing the source of all life to spread its gentle fragrance of serenity, clarity, harmony, joy, and love. A pure, delicate, invisible yet clearly perceptible force radiates, enlightening the perceptions, thoughts, and actions of the aikidoka.

During practices and while performing misogi, the aikidoka trains to unify his energy with that of the “great nature,” that of the universe, at the source of life and all creation. His training aims to empty his kokoro, heart-mind, to make his body flexible and untied, without tension, so that the flow of vital energy from nature, of which he is a part, can flow through him as smoothly, freely, and strongly as possible. Then he becomes the bowl and the mirror. Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei, 10th dan, said, “Aikido is incessantly cleaning one’s inner pot so that it shines. Then the light reflects in it.” He added, “But this light does not belong to us.”

This light is the breath of life, the energy of kamisama, kannagara, divine flow of ki, energy. The traditional form of aikido practice still maintains the sacred and mystical practices taught by O Sensei, allowing one to connect with kamisama. These practices date back to times before the appearance of Shinto in Japan.

Each person has a small flame of life within them. However, it is covered with many layers of conditioning and ego that prevent it from growing and shining. Practicing aikido is gradually shedding each of these layers, like peeling an onion. Then, gradually, the light intensifies and radiates more. The important thing, O Sensei said, is not to reach the goal but to be on the path. The path, dô, is light. The more the aikidoka progresses, the more he shines. He becomes like a lighthouse, illuminating the world and clearing it of impurities. This is takemusu aikidô.

The aikidoka, this warrior of peace, with his unchanging heart-mind, fudo shin, solid grounding, strong center, clear mind, and open heart, will avoid fanaticism and navigate the trials of life with sincerity, serenity, dignity, and kindness. He is the expression of shin zen bi, truth, goodness, beauty.

Jean-Pierre Kunzi
Aikido Geneva Takemusu Dojo