Energy Working

Kido is the way of vital energy... the way of the life force in all things... related to breath & breathing... related to life. Kiko is living this life well, the way of working with this energy... the way of working with the breath... movement, poses... in working with relationships, within ourselves and without. kido is life, and kiko is living it. kiko is using the natural, complete, breath... mindfully.

One of the first inzo most of us are shown is the two hands clasped flat together in front of our heart as gassho. Another popular seal is the jo(u)-inzo. Often refered to as the universal or meditation seal. Often used while doing sitting meditation, we form a circle with the hands and place it in front of the tanden. This circle takes many shapes, and rests in a variety of ways; some schools prefer one way, and some schools prefer another; each way has it's own meaning and creates a different result. But all have great meaning and power & can be wonderful tools to use in this world... in this moment... in this body. Kido is learning how these seals create flow, and how the flow creates the seals, along with the realization of the transformation that takes place as we move, pause, and continue throughout our lives. Realization of the connection between visualization, sound, & movement and the flow/seal they create is kido. All kiko begins sitting in seiza (correct sitting [posture]). Correct means this is the way it is done, and that it is upright. Then from the tanden stretch up and bow down... breath in as we go down... exhale... and rise on the following in breath. Then wait for the next breath and follow it... flow with it to the next seal. One of the strongest seals is Gotsu-za, or sitting immovable like a bold mountain. Sit & don't move; neither the mind nor body moves, no sound is made. The heart beats, blood and breath flow... so again we move, but we don't move. The world moves around us as we flow with it. Both in the inzo (seals) & in the dosa (way of movement), kokaku (skeletal alignment) must be welcomed.

The foundation assumption of Kido (the way of energy) and Kiko (energy working) is that everything, absolutely everything, we think say and do actually creates the world we live in. In fact everything we have ever thought, said, & done counts too. Thoughts include anything from our minds. Prayers, silent affirmations, thoughts, ideas, etc. Saying actually includes every sound we make, but strong is that which we say. Doing includes anything the body does. We can see that these can interact, and indeed we can combine, mix and match them as doing can include words and thoughts, and sounds can include the body too. Also how often we repeat any of these. How much passion or intensity we give them. How long we continue in a particular pattern. All of these three influence each other. Louder tends to have immediate impact and fade. Softer tends to have lighter initial strength but can grow with time. Notice I say tends to... Then we begin to interact with all the other sentient beings, and seemingly stationary items too. We interact with our environment, the people in it, the air, the water. Everything is changing; we flow with it, or feel the dissonance of our separate paths. We can compliment, match, or even cooperate with the movement of the world; we can even compete with it, of course, but be prepared for quite a bit of pain with this path. Everything counts; so our mindfulness of this moment, in this body, becomes our best tool. Mindfulness of the detail and the 'big picture' too. Flowing with the moments as they change. Softly but firmly, enjoying every moment. From the center of our being to the furthest point, and back again. Every moment of everyday. This is Kido... the way of energy. the way of vital energy... the way of our life force... of the life force of the universe... This is the way.

Meiso = Meditation

Kiko always begins and ends with Meiso. We translate Meiso as Meditation.
We use seiza or correct sitting in kiko for meditation.
Seiza is sitting in a kneeling position with our knees bent and our heels tucked under our buttocks.
Our nose must be vertical, and our eyes horizontal.
Our breathing is natural, full, and complete.
Our whole-self sits quiet and still.

Ningenkeisei = To Become Human

Ningenkeisei = To Become Human
Ningenkeisei means to become a human being. Does this imply that we may not already be human? More likely that we do not completely realize or true humanness, or what it is to be truly human, and therefore appear to be more just animal than complete humans.

In kiko the process of Ningenkeisei is called Sho(u)Do(u). In kiko we translate Shodo as the upright path. Of course we begin with the buddhist HaShoDo or the 8 Upright Paths.
1. Sho(u)Ken = Upright View
2. Sho(u)ShiYui = Upright Thought/Thinking/Reflection/Resolve
3. Sho(u)Go = Upright Speech/Sound
4. Sho(u)Go(u) = Upright Action/Activity
5. Sho(u)Myo = Upright Livelihood/Way of living
6. Sho(u)ShoJin = Upright Effort/Striving/Exertion/Diligence
7. Sho(u)Nen = Upright Understanding
8. Sho(u)Jyo = Upright Contemplation

When we call this, 'Sho(u) Shin no Do(u)': The Upright and True Way, we add more practices.
Sho(u)Gaku, for instance, is Upright Study.
Sho(u)Setsu is Upright Exposition.
Sho(u)Kan is Upright Meditation.
Sho(u)Chi is Upright Wisdom/Knowing Reality.

When we call this Ho(u)Do(u), the Way of the Law/Teaching/ the methods increase to 10,000 (or infinity if you like).
Chu(u) Do(u) for instance is the all important middle path from which we often begin and then stretch this path from the middle to include everything; just as we find the middle of ourselves (Tanden) that connects us to our birth, the cosmos and everything else; then as we stretch ourselves from this center to find the depths and heights of our practice to include all that is.

When we naturally follow all 10,000 paths with one step, we call this NinGenKanSei.

Nagaiki = Longevity

Nagaiki = Longevity:
The exoteric portion of kiko often is done for Nagaiki, or longevity; to increase the length of our lives. Of course, our practice must both increase the length and the quality of our lives to be worthwhile. In the Buddhist aspect this is done only so that we can either realize our true selves and/or to help others do the same.

In Kiko we teach 5 life style practices for Nagaiki.
1. Mokuteki = Purpose
To have a purpose in our lives; to live for others, not just ourselves; to have a reason to live).
2. Tekido = Moderation
(to live moderately, modestly, and appropriately).
3. Hohoemi & Warai = Smile & Laugh
(take time to have a good time, and not take ourselves too seriously).
4. Osore wo Kaiho suru = Release Fear
(To have courage in all circumstances, in kiko we have no room for fear).
5. Ochitsuita & Odayakana = Be Calm & Serene
(To remain Calm in all situations, helps us see clearly and live clearly).

Have a Purpose;
Live Moderately;
Smile & Laugh;
Release Fear;
Be Calm & Serene;

We teach that these 5 things will lead to a long and healthy life.

Inzo - positions / postures / seals

Kiko deals with GoDai the 5 Elements of Shingon: Chi = Earth; Mizu = Water; Hi = Fire; Kaze = Wind; and Ku = Emptiness. We use the GoDai when we create Inzo. Inzo are postures and movements that seal the spells and invest our intent with energy. When we create the Inzo (seals/postions) with our hands, each digit represents one of the elements. In the esoteric teaching: The thumb is Ku; The index/pointing finger is wind; The middle finger is Fire; The ring finger is Water; and the little finger is earth. In the exoteric tradition they are reversed, how confusing is that? When we continue the Inzo with our bodies... Ku is the centered in crown of the head; from the third eye up to infinity and throughout the cosmos. Kaze includes the nose mouth and throat. Hi is from the bottom of the neck to the solar plexus and centered in the Heart. Mizu is the stomach including the solar plexus and the tanden Chi is the whole lower half of the body also including the tanden and tail/root/sacred bone. Each of these Inzo can be combined to represent different energies. Each energy has it's own sets of sounds and meanings that correspond with eachother and interact. In our tradition there are currently 1664 + 2 = 1666 different combinations being used; But it is said there are 18,400 of them. Or sometimes we just say 10,000 which can mean infinite; since ultimately everything we think, say, and do is Kiko.