AIKIDO. LEARN FROM THE MOUNTAINS

“Contemplate the workings of this world, listen to the words of the wise, take all that is good as your own. With this as your base, open your own door to truth. Do not overlook the truth that is right before you. Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything—even mountains, rivers, plants, and trees—should be your teacher”. The Art of Peace Morihei Ueshiba The word Aikido is formed by three ideograms, Ai (harmony), Ki (energy), Do (path). It is a martial art that is oriented to the integral development of the human being and shows us the way to resolve conflicts looking for a non-aggressive solution. Thus, his goal is not to defeat an opponent in a fight but to redirect the conflict by harnessing the energy of the other's attack to a neutral point where no one is injured. That is why it has been called the Art of Peace. A peace that also refers to the state in which the Aikido practitioner should be. Only from calm can you find the positive solution to a conflict, be it of any kind: physical, psychological or emotional. Thus, in the Art of Peace, you learn to work the conflict. Conflict is part of life and we will meet it on many levels. The natural or instinctive tendency in these situations is the fight or flight. Aikido makes us a new proposal: harmony. Flow with the opponent, flow with the energy of the attack and balance this energy. In order to achieve this the most difficult thing is not all that must be learned: technique, repetition, internalization ... but what must be abandoned: the ego, the power, the intention to win. To get to this point you have to do a very powerful internal work, seeking your own inner peace. Filling in what is empty and emptying what is full. In Aikido, conflict is not confrontation, it is only the other side of calm. Join and build. Creates. In the Art of Peace, conflict serves to know oneself and, from here, to learn to respect and protect others and everything around us.

2023-02-07T18:34:31+00:00October 8th, 2019|

AIKIDO AND HOLISTIC PEDAGOGY, PRINCIPLES FOR LIFE

“The Art of Peace is a celebration of the bonding between heaven, earth and humankind. It is all that is true, good and beautiful.” Morihei Ueshiba 1. Integral Education: the purpose of Aikido, as martial art, is the integral education of the human being. The development of a healthy, focused, relaxed and connected body; that houses a heart full of fertile seeds, waiting to germinate. A clear and serene mind that favours the refining of the spirit and the connection with the whole. 2. Freedom, trust and respect: freedom can be experienced by flowing with a circular and continuous movement like the orbits of the stars; confidence in having a heart that can house enemies, since a free being cannot be damaged. Respect takes different forms in the virtues of the ancient samurai. Self respect, honorability; respect for others, courtesy and benevolence; and respect for the environment, justice and honesty. 3. Connection with life: in the words of O'Sensei,"those who practice the Art of Peace must protect the domain of Mother Nature, the divine reflection of creation, and keep it lovely and fresh. Warriorship gives birth to natural beauty. The subtle techniques of a warrior arise as naturally as the appearance of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Warriorship is none other than the vitality that sustains all life”. 4. Community and service to others: Aikido works from cooperation, non-resistance; it is not a fighting technique, but a way to find peace in your own life, reconcile the world and make humanity a great family.

2019-10-10T10:49:50+00:00October 8th, 2019|

LIBRARY: FREEDOM

We present a selection of texts that inspire the team of Sa Llavor and share in the weekly meetings as part of their pedagogical path. “Two souls reside, alas! in my chest, the one wants to separate from the other; the one, through stubborn organs, he clings to the world in a rude love delight; the other rises vigorously from darkness towards the fields of excellent ancestors ” (Faust I, 1112-1117) Goethe "What is education?", J. Krishnamurti, from the book "What are you doing with your life?" The right kind of education refers to individual freedom, which is the only one that can provide true cooperation with the whole, with everyone. But this freedom is not achieved through the search for our own aggrandizement and success. Freedom comes with self-knowledge, when the mind goes beyond the obstacles it has created itself by craving its own security. It is the function of education to help each individual discover all these psychological obstacles, and not simply impose new patterns of behavior, new ways of thinking. Such impositions will never arouse intelligence, creative understanding, but will only condition the individual even more. Surely, this is what is happening in the world, and that is why our problems continue and multiply. It is only when we begin to understand the deep meaning of human life that there can be a true education; but to understand, the mind must cleverly free itself from the desire for reward that generates fear and conformity. If we consider children as personal property, if for us they are the continuation of our meanness and the realization of our ambitions, then we will build an environment, a social structure in which there is no love, but only the search for egocentric advantages.   “You don’t have to understand Life’s nature”. Rainer Maria Rilke. You don’t have to understand Life’s nature, then it becomes a grand affair. Let every day just of itself occur like a child walks away from every hurt and happens upon the gift of many flowers. To collect and the blossoms spare, that never enters the child’s mind. She gently unties them from her hair, where they were kept captive with such delight, and the hands of the loving, youthful years reach out to embrace the new.   Principles of "Alliance for Children". Joan Almon. Childhood is a time to learn about essential things; about the celestial and earthly world; about Good, Beauty and Truth. Childhood is a time to be loved and to love; to express fear and to learn to trust; to be serious and to be calm; and to celebrate with laughter and joy. Children have the right to dream and grow at their own pace; They have the right to make mistakes and the right to be forgiven. Children have the right to avoid violence and hunger; of having a home and protection; and support to grow healthily, with good habits and safe nutrition. Children need people to respect, adults whose example and

2019-10-14T09:13:09+00:00October 8th, 2019|
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