Shoheijuku Newsletter September 2020

Late summer greetings! 

It was expected to cool down a little after Obon (the Buddhist holiday in mid-August), but the extreme heat never ends, as if it is competing with the COVID-19. It has been over 35 degrees every day. I hope all is well with you.

This year, we held Shochu Geiko (mid-summer practice period) for one week before Obon, which was 3 days shorter than usual. Regardless of the concerns about COVID-19 as well as the extreme heat, as many as forty-five people at the seven main dojos in the city and Chikushino Dojo completed Shochu Geiko this time.    

On the commemorating towel for the Shochu Geiko completion this year, I wrote “Rikuchukan (Views in six situations)”. This is a word Yasuoka Masahiro Sensei kept in mind as the guiding principle for his own life.  

1. Shichu Katsu Ari – Life in Death.

In a desperate situation, that is when we can find a way out to survive. If you do your best as if it is your last, there is no way you cannot open.  

”Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”  

2. Kuchu Raku Ari – Pleasure in Hardship

Hardship and pleasure are relative to each other. Pleasure resides in hardship and vice versa. If you are struggling to achieve something, that is the situation where you can find true pleasure.

“Turn hardship into pleasure. Observe the world freely.” — Yamaoka Tesshu

3. Bochu Kan Ari – Leisure in Business

“I am too busy to do something.” That is just an excuse. You should be able to find spare time, even a little. You can try what you wanted to do making use of that little spare time. 

“You have no time? You must be kidding. You are just not motivated.”