The Truth of the Universe and O Sensei Aikido

Morihei Uyeshiba, O Sensei of Aikido fame, is theThat all said, the truth of the universe, as
person who experienced enlightenment. It is herepresented by the yin yang symbol, and stated
who organized and arranged his martial art, thus,Neutronically, is: for something to be true the
the aikido Ueshiba created is the true Aikido. Well,opposite must also be true. We can take this
sort of.statement and dissect it endlessly in the
This question, concerning the nature of the Realphilosophical context. The art being one of action,
Aikido, is the question that confuses students ofand action ultimately revealing the true truth, we
Japanese Aikido, budo aikido, and all the variousmust consider the truth of the universe as it
offshoots. There are so many different schools,applies to techniques, from the aikido basics up.
you see, and they can't all be the truth, right?When an attacker attacks, the defender must
And this question, of there being many variationsperceive the attack. To perceive the attack not
and interpretations, does itself question the validityas just an incoming line, though that is necessary,
of the Aikido of schools everywhere, for if thebut as a completed technique in his own mind.
founder was right, then how could there beThus, the defender must see the entire picture of
interpretation?the attack, must have the entire sequence of
The concern can be resolved if one considers thepictures in his mind.
truth of the universe. Morihei Uyeshiba, you see,Once the mental picture is complete, and at the
perceived the truth of the universe from hissame time as execution, the defender must
particular viewpoint, and he did an incredible job ofmirror the move. Right to left or right to right,
representing that truth with his art. But if onethe mirror of action will fit the attack much the
considers the truth of the universe as a singlesame as a tailored glove will fit a hand, and the
datum one can approach the art from andefensive attack will envelope the actuality of the
individually enlightened viewpoint, and not justattack in the real universe. If this is accomplished,
from one man's viewpoint of enlightenment.then you are practicing the Morihei Uyeshiba
Just so you know, I mean no disrespect to theAikido as he saw it in his moment of
founder of Aikido, indeed, I have the highestenlightenment.
regard, and I believe he would want me toThere is perfection in this visualization and
question, and not just robot the techniques as therealization, you see. Perfection of action, and of
end all. He was not one to do aikido robotically,mind, and of art. The good news is that this
after all, he was an innovator of genius magnitude.procure can be applied to the art of Saito Aikido,
I think he would want real students to duplicateAikido Aikikai, or any other interpretation of the
him on that level, as well as the level of endlessfounder's vision in existence, the founder's
and intense practice.viewpoint was that close to perfection.