By Peter Vermeeren
In this article we are going to take a close look at another ofthe virtues of Bushido. Something everybody wants and strives toobtain mostly by wrong means resulting in just the opposite.
I am talking about Rei (respect). Being respected oneself is ahighly appraised virtue that not so many people nowadaysachieve. 99% of the worlds population want to be respected andtry to obtain this respect by different means like: buying it,enforcing it, begging for it but all of these means lead to thecontrary. When we buy respect we will only have respect untilthe money is gone. When enforcing it the respect will have theface of fear and when begging we will be considered pitiful andloose all the respect we might have had.
A person is respected for his actions. This was true for thebushi of old and is equally true for the modern day bugeipractitioner. There is an old Japanese saying that goes: “ Oneshould always genteel in his speaking. A man shows his inmostself by only a single word”.
This is very true. How many times we encountered a person on thestreet, in a park, in a corporate meeting, etc…dressed in a 3piece suit, who when opening his mouth resembled a garbage can?Insults, criticism and the like are telling more about yourselfthan it says about the person you insult. Your insults andcriticism are based on your perception of this person andtherefore subjective but they are a true reflection of yourinner kamae, your posture inside.
Therefore we should reflect upon ourselves and evaluate the waywe apply Rei in our life’s towards others. The Japanese bushishowed respect even towards their greatest of enemies andallowed them to commit seppuku and die with honour. If theycould respect in such a way we too should make an effort inrespecting others even though we don’t agree with them. Respectdoesn’t mean we must agree with everything they tell us. On thecontrary, it means standing for what we believe in with an openmind, ready to accept other peoples opinion if they prove right.
Only be being firm and acting correctly and in a coherent way wewill receive respect from others. This has nothing to do withbeing powerful or highly skilled.
How does this translate to the Koryu Dojo?
The same way it does to normal life. By training and teaching ina coherent way. Accepting as instructors we don’t knoweverything and admitting it when a student asks for something wedon’t know.
Helping our kohai in an efficient way without ridiculing them.Accepting the advice of Sempai without discussion. And offcourse following the rules of conduct to the letter. But this isnot enough. I have seen students doing all of this andnevertheless they were respected but only to a limited amount. Ithink the most important thing to do to acquire respect is bydoing whatever you do with a flower heart. Giving al you have towhoever wants to accept it and never be content with your ownefforts. Strive to be more and along the way help others findingthe same inspiration. I think this is the true way to respect.
The ultimate sign of respect is obtaining the honourableposition of shihan. Shihan means example. A person who hasreached such a high level of technical, mental and spiritualdevelopment that he is considered an example and inspiration forall others. In the Genbukan and KJJR dojos this level isobtained after completing the appropriate test when havingreached the level of 7th dan. This test is conducted by TanemuraSensei only and in private.
The examinee enters in a private room or dojo and will sit inseiza in the centre of the dojo. Soke will enter silentlyholding a true life blade (shinken) With no ki or kiai he willattack vertically and then horizontally to the head of thepupil. If he escapes without injury this person will be awardedthe title of shihan. This is the level of the true master orshinan yaku.
To get to this level many years of hard work are required andmany hardships to be suffered. But at the end you will be ahighly respected master. Through the virtues of Kajo Waraku, andKajo Chikusei every true deshi can acquire this level
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