I was recently interviewed by Dena Agryropoulou of the One Fierce Heart Podcast. This interview covers Mindfulness meditation as a path to the core of ourselves, surrendering and acceptance, and the cultivation of emotional agility.
THE CONSPIRITUALITY VIRUS
Conspiracy Theories In New Age Spirituality
In February I got my second jab of the Pfizer vaccine. A week before getting it a dear friend and spiritual brother of mine wrote to me to “break off” our friendship. At first, I was confused as to why because I was sure that nothing had happened between us. But as I read on I came to understand that he felt the need to break our friendship for the sole reason that I publicly posted a pic of me getting my first vaccine. As I was getting inoculated from the Coronavirus, apparently my friend had been infected by the “conspirituality” virus.
All Sensei Panel Discussion
The Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues
The “Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues” series started on a lark when I reached out to Ellis Amdur Sensei for his thoughts on the way I was using these 3 stages as a teaching model in my dojo. That short interaction between Ellis and I morphed into some 360 participants, in 6 sessions, with over 10 hours of dialogues between myself and 4 other Koryu and Aikido teachers. On Sunday, Feb. 28th the “Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues” series culminated with an all sensei panel discussion.
The Blueprint Of Development
Miles Kessler Sensei - "Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues"
Growth and development often follow the trajectory of your personal life stories. Stories that are life lessons which profoundly shaped who you are. My own path of “Shu-Ha-Ri” (3 Stages Of Mastery In Traditional Martial Arts) mirrors my personal story as a dual practice lineage holder in Aikido and Buddhist meditation. A life trajectory that shaped how I see “Shu-Ha-Ri” as a universal map of development. In fact, it is the blueprint of development.
If You Don’t Have Power, You Don’t Have Choice
Toby Threadgill Sensei - "Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues"
In this 4th session of the “Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues” series, I speak with my old friend Toby Threadgill Sensei. Toby is the Shihan (headmaster) of the Takamura ha Shindo Yoshin Ryu school of traditional martial arts. As the first non- Japanese to become the official headmaster of a Koryu jujutsu school, Toby is in a unique position to share his rich and in-depth understanding of “Shu-Ha-Ri” the 3 stages of mastery in traditional Japanese martial arts.
It’s Too Hard
Paul Manogue Sensei - "Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues"
In this 3rd session of the “Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues” series, I speak with Paul Manogue Sensei who is one of the few non-Japanese headmasters of a traditional Japanese Koyru, the Edo Yagyu Shinkage-Ryu school of kenjitsu (swordsmanship).
Aikido Has No Forms
George Ledyard Sensei - "Shu-Ha-Ri" Dialogues
In this 2nd session of the “Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues” series George Ledyard Sensei – Aikido (7th dan) shares his understanding of “Shu-Ha-Ri” in his Aikido experience with his primary teacher Mitsugi Saotome Sensei.
Spitting Out The Bones
Ellis Amdur Sensei - The "Shu-Ha-Ri" Dialogues
On January 24th, 2021 I launched the first in our “Shu-Ha-Ri Dialogues” series with Ellis Amdur Sensei. Amdur Sensei is a Koryu lineage holder ( Araki Ryu, Toda-Ha Buko-Ryu), a psychotherapist, and a prolific author. We kicked off this dialogue series with a wide-ranging discussion of the 3 stages of “Shu-Ha-Ri” – namely “Shu” – the conformity stage, “Ha” – the application stage, & “Ri” – the transcendent stage.
Aikido: Martial Art Or Spiritual Path?
Community Call w/ Miles Kessler
Is Aikido a martial art, or a spiritual path? From a martial perspective, if push came to shove, could you kill another to protect a greater good? On the other hand, from a spiritual perspective, in a moment of truth, could you sacrifice your own life for a greater good? Now the big question; how can you hold both of these perspectives in the same place at the same time? This KOAN is at the core of Aikido, and this is what we explored in this community call on Aikido: Martial Art Or Spiritual Path?
Aikido And Meditation: Is Your Practice Balanced?
With Malory Graham On The "All Things Aikido" Podcast
A few days ago I was happy to join Malory Graham Sensei once again for another deep and meaningful online discussion. This time I joined her on the All Things Aikido podcast for an exploration about “Aikido and Meditation: Is Your Practice Balanced?”
