Detachment

On some of the early Ninja texts they mention detachment. Most people when reading this would assume that the detachment they are talking about is the ability to be heartless and do whatever is needed to make a mission succeed. This theory can be supported by the fact that Ninja authorities list sympathy as one of the five weaknesses a Ninja needs to overcome. However my recent experiences have lead me to believe that there is far more to the quality of detachment than meets the eye. 

Recently I have discovered that true detachment is not about the ability to detach oneself from the world but the ability to let go of negative things or things that are not productive. The Buddhists focus on overcoming their desire for things, people or experiences. I believe the first  learn to discern the positive from the negative. Then the real challenge is to learn to let go of the negative. Don't regret its loss, don't celebrate it. Just jet go completely. It a skill that needs practice. 

Evolved from Tengu?

In every country legends of supernatural creatures appear; fairies, goblins and imps. It seems mankind holds a common belief in a race of mischievous little people to punish the foolish and trick the unwary.

 

In Japan this is also true. They have a belief in a race of bird people known as Tengu (天狗) which live in the forests and mountains.

 Tengu translates as "Heaven Dog" and probably has an origin in the Chinese Tien Kou(T 天狗) or "celestial hound." The name is very misleading as nowadays the big-nosed crow-like Tengu looks nothing like a dog at all. Many people believe the name came from the appearance of a meteor with a tail, for it is said one hit China sometime in the 6th century BC and was never forgotten.

 

Tengu are popular with both followers of Shinto and Buddhism. Stories of their supernatural powers are abundant; these include their ability to shape-shift into human or animal forms and a kind of telepathic ability to speak to humans without moving their mouth. They can teleport instantly from place to place without using their wings. Masters of magic and sorcery, they often appear uninvited in people’s dreams.

The patron of martial arts, the bird-like Tengu is a skilled warrior and mischief maker, especially prone to playing tricks on arrogant and vainglorious Buddhist priests and punishing those who willfully misuse knowledge and authority to gain fame or position. In bygone days, they also inflicted their punishments on vain and arrogant Samurai warriors. They dislike braggarts and those who corrupt the Dharma (law).

Why the Long Nose?

Tengu are a paradox; they have a mischievous sense of humor and great cunning. They love playing tricks to punish the pretentious and arrogant. There favorite targets being Buddhist priests who misuse the teaching of Buddha and samurai who use there power for self aggrandizement. Indeed in much of the literature the Tengu take great revenge on nascent Buddhist sects.

However the Tengu’s long nose relates to their own pride and arrogance. It is said that those who are controlled by their pride can be cursed to become Tengu. Spiritual teachers or priests with no true knowledge, prideful egotistical individuals, those fascinated and attached to fame, all these people attract Tengu who play tricks on them and bring them to their fold. It is almost as if the Tengu are attracted to those like themselves.

 The Ninja Connection

Japanese mythology has always held that the Ninja evolved from Tengu, for they have the same love of the dark and supernatural powers. It is an interesting story but fully understandable for scared peasants in awe of the Ninja skills. I always thought this was a fun story with little meaning, merely demonstrating the Ninja’s skills to cultivate a scary image to put fear into their enemies.

A Deeper Meaning

The true meaning of this story came to me last week. I was reading the book Japanese Sword Fighting by Masaaki Hatsumi. He talked about Tengu waza, Techniques of the Tenguin sword fighting. He mentioned that they represented a focus on a specific set of techniques to the exclusion of others and how by training like this allowed you to do amazingly impressive things but made you an unbalanced and egotistical martial artist.

Then the truth hit me. Tengu are symbols. They represent what happens to people if they don’t control their passions and pride. The whole myth about Tengu evolving into Ninja is symbolic and meaningful. People who come to the ninja art are attracted by the power it offers; they want to be strong and powerful. They are normally ‘Tengu’ - prideful individuals who want to show off and build themselves up; who boast and do anything to seem important. Their focus of the art is on developing skills they can show off and feel special about. A true martial artist covers all skills to develop his personality and balance his character, whilst gaining enlightenment.

I have met a lot of ‘Tengu’ in martial arts. In fact I, as Hatsumi describes, have always focused on specific areas; trying to build superhuman abilities, not balance - Tengu Waza. To develop into a true Ninja you need to follow the art for other reasons, move your skills into other areas and bring about balance.

The Art of Contentment

I have been meditating on the quality of 'contentment' of late; contentment as a power and ability. I was born with a restless spirit, I have a burning ambition that explodes in all directions. For this reason I am forever in search of ways to improve my mental control and develop my abilities. Nowadays I can pretty much stick to any discipline or regime I decide on without fail. However I have started to become convinced that the next step in my development is paradoxically learning to be content. If I could learn to be content then I could focus my energy more on what really matters and not use up energy on counter-productive emotions or goals.

But I am not the only person to ever think of contentment as a power:

The Taoist tradition holds that contentment can be the key to learning how to "own the world"

"Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you."
~Lao Tzu

Contentment comes from the French 'contenter' meaning to contain. So being content is when you learn to limit your wants to what you already have.

As soon as I read this I had a lightning bolt of Buddhist realisation. The true contentment, the greater contentment, was about accepting the true nature of the universe. The fact that noticing lasts forever. Everything changes and that we all have to be aware that sometimes it takes time for our will to manifest. Once we accept the true nature of the universe we are free to take action within its nature and to work with its direction. This is true power. But there's more -

The Ninja Truth

The word 'Ninja' means 'One Who Endures'.

Could being content be something that allows us to endure? Perhaps it's not the the ability to stop the pain that allows the true ninja to stand under the waterfall, it's being content to experience the pain.

 Ninja Grand Master Toshitsugu Takamatsu said -

"The way to experience ultimate happiness is to let go of all worries and regrets, and to know that being happy is the most satisfying of life's feelings. Reflect back on all the progress in your life and allow the positive, creative and joyous thoughts to outshine and overwhelm any sorrow or grief that may linger in the recesses of your mind. Knowing that disease and disaster are natural parts of life is the key to overcoming adversity with a calm and happy spirit. Happiness is waiting there in front of you. Only you can decide whether or not you choose to experience it. Take this to heart."

 

So perhaps acceptance of the hard things in life is the true root to Ninjutsu.

Filming The Butterfly Tai Chi DVD

I have just got back from filming the new Butterfly Tai chi Dvd With Peter Georgi from Halo films. I the book has been such a spectacular success that I was approached to create a DVD version of the set.

Inspired by observing butterflies Tai Chi Master Martin Faulks developed a system of Tai Chi that could be performed in a limited space and within a relatively short time. He designed Tai Chi movements that naturally enhance the Qi flow in the order directed by Chinese medicine and whilst it can be used to treat a wide variety of illnesses, its real power is in preventing illness. Succinct and effective the reader can learn this form of Tai Chi within a day and can be performed anywhere -no matter how little space available.

DVD Contents

Tai Chi Warm up (Yin Yang Toner) 

Basic Butterfly Tai Chi Set

Movements

Lifting Water
High Pat on Horse
Needle at the Bottom of Sea
Golden Cockerel Stands on one leg
Opening the chest
Turn to look at the moon
Closing the Door

Advanced Butterfly Tai Chi Set

Lifting Water
Alternate Punching
Dreading the sea and reaching for the Sky
Push Kick
Opening the Rainbow
Double Dragons spiral round the Pillar
Closing the Door

DVD Extras

What is Tai Chi?
An explanation of it's names True meaning.
About the nature of Tai Chi exercises.
Where did it come from?
About the tai chi legend
About taoism
What is this mysterious force called Chi?
About Yin and Yang
The clinically proven health benefits of Tai Chi

You can pre order it by clicking here!








A Screen Test For My New Butterfly Tai Chi DVD 

Becoming the Ninja

 

I have just signed a contract with Ian Allan Publishing to produce a title about Ninjitsu. I don’t mean Tai Jitsu or self defence. I mean Ninjitsu the whole art including the philosophy, stealth art, weapons and the mystical spiritual techniques of the Ninja.  To do this I will have to travel across the globe to find the best masters. Its going to be a great challenge and a great adventure. Check my blog for regular progress reports.

The Art of Self Motivation

As time goes on I am learning more and more about the the art of self motivation. Nowadays I find that no matter what people do around me I

find myself encouraged. I find the compliments and encouragements of
others really empowering and I draw inspiration from the successes of
others too; in fact I find myself celebrating the successes of my friends as if they are my own.

I have also learned to use the insults, criticism and mockery of others as

a source of motivation. I have found a part of myself that really
thrives on showing others that my words match my words.

However recently I have had a new challenge - inner doubt and criticism. That's harder to deal with than that of others and it took me a day or two  to work out how to deal with it.

Now I realise that internal forces really need to be dealt with the
same way as those from outside. You need to learn to accept your inner compliments and to be moved by them. You also have to listen to inner doubts and criticism, then you have to do what you do with all critics - prove them wrong! Yes, I truly believe the answer to inner criticism and pessimism is not therapy, affirmations or medication; it's time to silence those inner voices with actions and achievement!

THE GOLDEN COMPASS WORLD PREMIERE

I  have just returned from the world premiere of the Golden Compass London. It was quite an amazing walking the red carpet in style followed by the lenses of photographers and news crews from around the globe. Many fans of the stars of the movie had been queing since 8am to catch a glimpse of the celebrities as they made their way to the very first viewing of the highly anticipated adaptation of Philip Pullman's novel Northern Lights. It's a strange feeling to walk down that red carpet with crowds of film-fans watching. Just above the entrance to the cinema three large gas flares had been mounted. They cast intermittent flickering flashes of light across the darkness of the square, and every minute or so each of the flames exploded in sequence with a loud crack. It sounded like the deep throated boom of an enormous drum. Their thumping background track made the whole experience quite amazing.. Ahead of me on the red carpet was Daniel Craig and his elegant girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell who we caught a glimpse of before we were ushered into the cinema...

Then after on screen interviews with each of the actors which was to be aired on t4 later that week. Before the film started Chris Weitz stood up in front of the screen and introduced some of the team who make the film work. And among them we got our only chance to see Pantalaimon's voice (Lyra's daemon), wearing a smart yellow jumper. We the audience clapped each one in turn as they walked in front of the towering Odeon screen to join the line-up. And you know what? It's surprising how small actors really are when they stand in front of that big, big screen, instead of being projected on it. But despite not being projectorially enlarged Eve Green and Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig Stan Elliot was over-poweringly super-hairy and Dakota Blue Richards smiled so sweetly she melted the heart of every father who is lucky enough to have a daughter. It made for an electric atmosphere in the theatre as the film-makers trooped off, the microphone was whipped away, the lights dimmed and the curtains slowly opened.

Then followed a real treat, two hours of a magical world of Daemons, Gyptians and the Kingdom of the Ice Bears. Children and adults alike thrilled to the charms of the Daemons - (pronounced DEE-mon) which is the individual's soul that inhabits that of their animal companion. Children's Daemons change shape and species until they formalise into one when the child reaches adulthood. The main character Lyra (played by Dakota Blue Richards) has an adorable Daemon called Pantaleimon or Pan for short, whose voice is provided by Freddie Highmore. We all fell in love with Pan and the character of Lyra is every little girls dream - feisty, independent and eternally brave. Dakota Blue was superb and really was the essence of the film encapsulated - magical, strong and moral. This is the kind of films children should be shown to insire them to be good people.

In a world dominated by the eerie power of the Magisterium, Lyra finds herself drawn into the adult world of danger and mystery. After her Uncle Asrail (Daniel Craig) sets off on a seemingly doomed expedition to the North, Lyra is recruited by the beautiful but sinister Mrs Coulter (Nicole Kidman) as her assistant. After fleeing from Mrs Coulter (and her horrible Daemon!) Lyra embarks on a dangerous and terrifyingly exciting mission to rescue her friends from the clutches of the Magisterium's experimental faction aided by the nomadical Gyptians, a Texan cowboy aeronaut and the most beautiful and fearsome armoured ice bear called Iorek Byrnison. We are continually thrilled and dismayed as the story pulls us from delight to danger and back again. The special effects are superb and the sets magnificent. During an exhilarating fight between Iorek and the King of the Ice Bears, we were on the edge of our seats willing Iorek to win - a resounding cheer went up at the end!

All in all a masterpiece and one that children and adults alike will thoroughly enjoy this at Xmas.

After the film came the Premiere party at Tobacco Dock where a warehouse had been transformed into a wonderland for our entertainment. We alighted our coach to the magnificent setting of drifting snow and an aerobatic display by a young lady dangling elegantly from a large balloon! Surrounded by "guards" from the film, we were welcomed by "Iorek" - a kinetic replica of the Ice Bear. Inside the building was as enchanting as outside - a snowy tree-lined avenue guided us to the main area where there were differently themed rooms to reflect the concepts of the film, complete with Daemons. Everywhere glittered and was magnificently adorned with chandeliers, props from the film and a variety of different "climates" were reproduced from mysterious fogginess to the delicately drifting snow of the North! Everybody mingled happily and we were often whisked past by Dakota Blue (and friends) who was utterly charming and delightfully down-to-earth. Finally in the early hours we were driven back to our hotel and left to revel in what was one of the most magical evenings I have had the pleasure to experience!

The Unknown Elementalist

The Unknown Elementalist

He is one of the most important but least known magicians and spiritual teachers of the Twentieth Century. He published a complete path of spiritual and magical development that is completely based of the four elements and stands beyond any tradition. Known only through the four books he wrote which were published in the 1950's and through the writing of his students. Many have borrowed his techniques and terminology without giving him proper credit, indeed no matter what tradition you follow the chances are you are practicing at least one exercise from Franz Bardons first book "Initiation Into Hermetics".

But who was Franz Bardon?

Unlike most "Magus" of the time Bardon seemed far more interested in producing something of value than he did in trying to create a legend about himself. Indeed unlike a few other authors that could be mentioned he hardly ever mentions himself in any of his works. To find more about Franz Bardon we need to read the accounts of his life left by others. Our two main sources are Frabato the Magican an occult novel/biography or Franz Bardon written by his secretary Otti Votavova and Memories of Franz Bardon by his son Lumir and his student Dr M.K. Though the two accounts do have some contradictions they all agree on the following.

Franz Bardon was the oldest of 13 children, and the only son of a very devout Christian mystic, Viktor Bardon. Viktor felt that he was unable to obtain his spiritual goals and prayed that he receive this blessing. The story is that a sudden change came over his son. His parents and teachers become amazed by the sudden change as the boy developed a calm and wise temperament over night. An advanced soul entered the body of his son Franz to become Viktor's spiritual teacher.

We are told nothing more about Bardon until he is an adult when he makes a living as stage magician with a twist! Under the stage name Frabato (Franz Bardon- Troppau-Opava) we are given accounts of his performance in which he demonstrated genuine magical abilities where most stage magicians use tricks. The reading of minds, healing, astral projection,Mind control, levitation and much more. A little research assured me that Bardon did indeed gain some fame in Germany in the 1920's and 1930's under the stage name "Frabato"

A life of Persecution

As Adolf Hitler and his Nazi party gained power in the 1930's occultists and spiritual groups were banned. Gipsy and Freemasons were taken to the concentration camps along with the Jews. In occupied country followers of the old ways were hunted down.

Otti Votavova states that Hitler belonged to the legendary "FOCG" or "99 Lodge" of black magicians, described in Frabato The Magician. In both accounts we hear of the attempts of this organisation to bring Franz Bardon into their fold and the eventual magical battle that ensures. Bardon however is eventually arrested by the Nazis and imprisoned in late 1941 along with one of his students. While the prisoners were being whipped, the disciple lost his control and uttered a kabbalistic formula to immobilize the torturers. However, the effects of the formula eventually wore off and the disciple was shot in revenge. When he refused to help them, the Nazis cruelly tortured Bardon. Among other things, they performed operations without anesthesia, and forged iron rings around his ankles and fixed heavy iron balls to them.

After regaining his freedom, Bardon recommenced his occult work and healing. This type of thing was strongly discouraged in the very repressive political climate of post war Czechoslovakia and indeed it turns out that the new Russian Communist ideologies persecuted free-thinkers, Gypsies, Jews, and anyone interested in the occult or esoteric subjects as efficiently as the former Nazi Rulers. In 1958 Bardon was arrested by the communist government for his occult practices and died the same year under mysterious circumstances.

Franz Bardon's Teachings

Bardon's works are most notable for their simplicity, their relatively small theoretical sections, and heavy emphasis on practice. Franz Bardon is of the old school of occult thought. To him we are dealing with real spiritual forces that you can learn with practice to draw into yourself and control, direct and condense. In his books you will find instruction on all magical exercises Talismans,astral projection, mediation, control of the elements, concentration, mind reading, self hypnosis,spirit summoning, magical words and gestures, healing, Clairvoyance meditation/mental control, refining and balancing of the spirit, control of the elemental powers, conversation with unseen beings, astral projection, scrying, invocation of higher forces, invisibility, construction of talismans, fluid condensers, creation of elemental beings, magical pictures, loading and protecting a room/space and much much more.The whole course is completely based on the Four elements and directed towards physically tangible results. One thing that makes an enduring impression is Bardon's evident sincerity. He insists frequently that he is doing as much as possible to transmit a system of occult development to the serious student who is either unable to find a teacher or work in a group. .His stated purpose was to give the serious student of magic the most complete and best possible magickal instruction obtainable outside of an occult lodge and without the benefit of a personal teacher. Did he succeed? The only way to judge is by trying his curriculum yourself.

Books by or about Franz Bardon

Initiation into Hermetics By Franz Bardon Published by Merkur Publishing

The Practice of Magical Evocation By Franz Bardon Published by Merkur Publishing

The Key to the True Kabbalah By Franz Bardon Published by Merkur Publishing

Questions to the Master By Franz Bardon Published by Merkur Publishing

Memories of Franz Bardon By Lumir Bardon and Dr M.K Published by Merkur Publishing

Frabato the Magician By Otti Votavova Published by Merkur Publishing

A Bardon Companion By Rawn Clark Published by O2

The Strange Case of the Fox in the Gym!

The British Press is so jumpy about Foxes at the moment. A couple of
them got into a flat and bit a baby. Since then the Fox has had a
really bad press. The truth is in my opinion that this is a bit of
prepublicity for a reintroduction of Fox hunting by the New govenment.

For this reason a experience that was really lovely involving a fox
may come across differently to others .

I was working out on a hotel on Cobham. I find in most hotel gyms I am
the only one working out . Today was no exception although the gum
door had been left open by a member of staff due to the heat. I was lifting weights and gazing out of the window across the meadow at the back of the hotel. I noticed a small face looking back and me. Between sets I went to investigate. Each time the fox backed off. He was a beautiful creature with the most amazingly solid bushy tail. He looked hot and his tongue was hanging out. So I suspected he wanted something to drink. The gym had a drink dispenser so I filled a cup with water for him and placed it between him and me. As he came to drink I feel a great kinship between us. I sat and made sure he had as many refills and he liked.

The Fox is an interesting figure in English culture known in children's tales for his cunning. To the Japanese ninja in the 16th century it was a figure to be looked up to for its stealth not cunning. In fact they even names a secret stealth technique after the Fox called "kitsune bashiri" or fox running

To the Ninja A Toad not a fox was a figure of cunning.

It reminds me of a conversation I had with Stephen K Hayes in his Dojo in Dayton Ohio.

I once asked “What does the Toad signify in Ninja Tradition ?”

Here is Stephens response

“Well, Martin, it has many layers of meaning. Just like we have the saying ‘as cunning as a fox’, the Japanese have a saying that the toad is cunning and resourceful. However, here you see that the man is riding the toad. So it could mean that he has taken on the power of Nature or dominated the power of Nature. For the Ninja, uniting with Nature and using the knowledge of the nature of things held the greatest might, for if you are at one with Nature and part of all things, who can defeat you?

There is also a story in Japan about how to keep a toad in a basket. If you have a hole in your basket and you want to carry the toad home without it escaping, you should make two other small holes; then the toad will keep trying to escape through a different route. He will try one hole and then if that’s not easy, he will try the next and keep moving on. If there is only one hole, he will simply work at it until he is free. So in many ways the toad could represent our enemy, whom we defeat by our use of cunning; we overcome his nature by working with his nature."

Today I wonder Could this also represent the controlling of the animal in ourselves?