Santa Fe, New Mexico
In the past month I went to Santa Fe to conduct an aikido seminar. The environment in New Mexico was magnificent, evolving 50 million years, yet still continuously changing. For example, the sharp lines in the rock, the peculiar shapes of the mountains. I saw all sorts of different colors, red mountains, tall pine trees, and many animals such as mountain lions and coyote. Even though I was only there for a few days compared to the millions of years it took to evolve to this point, I felt as though I was able to observe all of these effects in a split second. On a smaller scale, I was able to visit a Native American reservation, where they made and sold pottery. I’d seen one type of this pottery before, with a very narrow opening at the top, and wondered for years what they were for, and finally learned that they were to store seeds. There were also some clay sculptures of animals representing the spirits of nature. I was so moved, so struck with such awe at this breathtaking land that I could start to understand how Native Americans have viewed nature as an expression of divinity.
Driving back from the reservation, I noticed someone throw a cigarette butt from the car in front of us. Exactly the same kind of human as the Native Americans, yet they were willing to destroy nature like this. How inconsiderate – thinking only of themselves and nothing of anyone else. This made me feel quite angry. There is an old Japanese story that has to do with heaven and hell. It is said that in hell individuals are presented with a wonderful feast, but everyone has enormously long chopsticks so that they can’t reach their own mouths to enjoy the food. What I saw in the callous disregard for nature on the part of that person in the car in New Mexico was hell.
However, in heaven it is said that, even though everyone has the same feast and the same long chopsticks, what people do is help each other to eat, so that everyone is happy. The moral of the story is that it has nothing to do with the environment, but rather the mindset of the people who are in that particular environment. What matters is what is within you not what is around you.
In aikido, there has to be shite and uke. Without both we cannot establish technique. Even if I am a strong person, I cannot accomplish techniques as shite without uke. Shite and uke becoming stronger by helping each other is the way of aikido. This is the harmonious spirit of budo. I want this to be the spirit of aikido that my students learn.
Especially on such hot summer days like we’ve been having, it is difficult to train in the dojo. But even when the body and mind go through severe training, we can somehow reach the spirit of aikido together. It doesn’t matter where I am, or what my surroundings are – I always like to feel as though I am making history in this particular place. Therefore I want to cherish this precious time of my life. Today is the most important day!
Yukio Utada
July 30, 2008