Fall Back Friday - The Teacher is a Compass

Aiki Dojo Message: Fall Back Friday - The Teacher is a Compass

Furuya Sensei posted this to his Daily Message on March 11, 2002. 

If I were to think about the main objective of being an Aikido teacher for myself, I would say that, most importantly, it would be to set the student's life on a good, constructive and fulfilling course. I think this is an old idea. In olden days, teachers were known as "compasses" who kept their students' lives on course.

In the dojo, the first objective is to give the student a basic knowledge of Aikido and perhaps the initial phase of training may be pretty much physical. However, as students advance, especially at the black belt level, it seems that the proper attitude and mental focus is very important because this is what will be most valuable to the student's life in the long run.

From the standpoint of the teacher, on the mats, it is easy to correct the technique because we can see what is wrong immediately with the students' technique or posture or balance, etc. However, it is the students' mental focus and posture which is much more difficult because it can't be readily seen and it is often hidden deep inside the student's heart.

At the same time, the student must learn to be open to the teacher and express the proper attitude in training. This is why we follow the proper etiquette and rules for training because it is through these forms that one can learn how to behave and act properly. One may not understand these rules at first so they are difficult, but as time goes on and one gains more experience and knowledge in the art, they become very clear and one sees how necessary they are.

Sometimes, I have to watch myself because I am always harping on the same subject day after day so you must be tired of hearing me talk about the same thing over and over again. I only do this because it is always on my mind and because it is so important. 

When I talk with my students and everyone, most people are so interested in the so-called "mental" or "spiritual" aspects of the art, but few - very few - ever approach it. I think, nowadays, we are much too absorbed with our own selves. The "Self" as we know it, is not "mind" and is not "spirit." This Self is something like a big clump of something which is hiding our true mind and spirit. Training is to clear away this clump. This is what we must understand in practice.