Lecture 3:

Testing, Heart & Spirit in Tao Shiatsu

dated Nov.08, 2000

Keywords: test, heart form, student state, ki method, tsubo method, rice tip, shintaido

I usually send a card to Tokyo to inform the students about the location of the next class. But this is boring so I usually add a little message. My message last time was about the test.

The test is not just simply like the word "test". It is an examination of the truth of Tao in your heart, the truth of the Tao in your heart every moment. Face Tao and actually do it. The test is to confirm that you can do an examination of your heart, to confirm that you can listen to your heart. And not be blind to that.

If you think that you can do Tao Shiatsu just because you've passed the test or you think that since you passed, you're over and finished with this level, the Ki method won’t work anymore. This is a reality. Do you understand? This is a reality. And therefore, if the Ki method is not working, what is the certificate for? What worth is there in passing the test?

The test is about being in your heart every moment. This is the Heart Form. And if you cannot do it by yourself, you lose the spirit and there's no Ki method and therefore no Tao Shiatsu. So we all, including I myself, have to seriously confront ourselves.

I know how I can do it. I know how I can lose it, too. But I also know how I can continue. What is the difference?

In class maybe it happens that you're able to do the Ki method. That means that you RECEIVED the ki. But if you're blind, you will interpret: "This is the method, if I just repeat the words in my head, then I can do it." If you start interpreting this way, what happens is, consciously or subconsciously, realizing or not realizing, you are not under the Tao stream. You can receive the spirit only when you are under the stream. Once you start thinking that the method worksbecause of YOUR ability, you will lose it. You need to open you eyes to how you are RECEIVING in the class.

You have to really clear this question in your heart: What is the form, the state, the direction of my heart to be able to RECEIVE the spirit and work with it? You really, really need to clear this! And to keep doing this. You need to check your heart every moment, from moment to moment!

How much are you in the Student State? You need to realize that how much you are really doing Tao Shiatsu is how much you are in the Student State - this is the core issue!

Checking yourself every moment is how much you are in the Student State! This is not just a decoration or an addition to Tao Shiatsu! Effectivity really depends on how much you are a student. It is not technical. Only your heart can decide it! So face yourself. Look at your heart. Please don't be blind to yourself!

In the Japanese martial art called "shintaido," which is a kind of karate but on a more spiritual level, students have to pass a test every 3 years. And if they don't pass they have to give their certificate back....

Tsubo Method Practice

  1. Find the rice tip
    What is the rice tip? I didn't know and just recently realized what it actually is. The tsubo is always on the Kyo meridian and it is the crossing point of the Kyo meridian and the Supervessel. So this is the reason why, if you don't feel the rice tip, you give damage in treatment. It means if you don't feel the rice tip, the Supervessel is not reacting. Only your heart will let the Supervessel respond. Therefore, there is no Supervessel if you don't give inen and empathic imagination to it.
    This applies to the Tsubo method as well as to the Ki method. If you don't feel the tsubo (or the Supervessel) it doesn't react.
  2. Place your thumb on the tsubo and find the best angle of your elbow (best body position).
    There are two aspects to this: Imagine how the receiver feels and also keep seeing what you imagine. It's like clapping hands, you need both hands to make a sound! You need to open your heart to make this clear. But remember: You cannot build up or create this Heart, you can only receive it by receiving ki, the spirit of Tao.
    So to find the best angle, place your thumb on the tsubo, bend over, imagine how the receiver feels and look at what you are imagining. Then slowly move your body with the Heart Form. You will naturally stop at the best angle, because ki will stop you as soon as the two ki-bodies have become one.
  3. Now come off, clear the Sha point and press the tsubo anew [Not clear--but think he means anew, i.e. again?]. This way you will take the edge of the tsubo of the tsubo of the tsubo.... trying to get to the deepest place in your heart. Remember: One tsubo includes the whole body and 3000 years of tsubo of tsubo of tsubo of....
  4. Synchronize your whole body movement (straightening your elbow), keeping the tsubo-feeling and empathic imagination to reach the bottom.
  5. Finally, adapt to the tingling sensation that starts right after you've reached bottom and come up, when the receiver's ki takes up the slack of your thumb. Try this without thinking but just being completely flexible and responding to receiver!

The quality of your ki depends on your being in the Student State: If there is one grain of ego, it will dull your ki, like a mirror that isn't clear. ki is a reflection! It is not your own ki. Therefore you need to be completely clear. If you are not clear you cannot reflect all.

Ki Method Practice

  1. Find the tsubo and slide to Supervessel (not physically sliding!)
    Remember the two aspects:
    imagine what the receiver feels
    look at what you are imagining
  2. Angle of elbow
  3. Come off and take a deeper tsubo of the Supervessel (tsubo of tsubo of tsubo of...)
    completely empty your head and ask again where the receiver wants to be pressed most.
  4. Straighten elbow and keep feeling the tsubo with empathic imagination to the bottom.
  5. After Supervessel starts melting, adapt and come out.

(In the Tsubo method the bottom comes up but in the Ki method you will feel that the Supervessel starts melting if you keep the empathic imagination).

The purpose of this practice is to reach the state where you are Every Moment able to imagine what the receiver is feeling and to see what you are imagining. This switches back and forth with the Student State. If you cannot do one, you cannot do the other. This is really the core!