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Ninja Skills for Empowering Universal Awareness
- Anthony Cummins
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In this episode of “Healing From Within” your host Sheryl Glick author of The Living Spirit Answers for Healing and Infinite Love which shares stories of spiritual awakening and communication healing energies miracles and developing intuition and universal awareness is delighted to welcome Anthony Cummins author of Ninja Skills a leading expert in the discovery of the military arts of medieval Japan.
Listeners of “Healing From Within” have come to expect over the years that Sheryl and her guests share intimate experiences and insights into human nature starting from our early beginnings history and an exploration of the world of energy and physical existence. In doing so we come to know ourselves and how we may better relate to the challenges of our individual and collective life experience and find a pathway to peace health and happiness through consistent seeking of higher consciousness and self-awareness.
In today’s episode of Healing From Within Anthony Cummins will share the long valued martial arts techniques and how the discipline respect and love of culture family nation and Spirit were and are the basis of finding truth and a greater love of life. There is indeed much to learn from the ninja, Japan’s devious and courageous spy-commanders who followed a highly skilled and dangerous path. We will discover key ninja concepts and apply ninja strategy to understand surroundings and survive all challenges.
Anthony shares with us that his interest in the way of the ninja began very early for him. One day asked by his grandfather what toy he would select he chose the ninja over the toy soldiers and his interest in the ancient way of the Japanese Samauri and Shinobi/ninja and the tools of war and peace remained important to him.
He goes on to tell us that it is known that the ninja is thought of as a warrior and practices martial arts but there is a profound spiritual foundation and implications of that ancient way of life. Kyojitsu is a concept at the basis of the shinobi mindset and sets us a spiritual state of mind. Kyojitsu’s meaning is that which is insubstantial (kyo) carries connotations of falseness emptiness untruth deception weakness and unpreparedness. On the other hand, jitsu means that which is substantial and represents truth, fullness, correctness, honesty strength and preparedness. The art of the shinobi lies in telling the difference between the two qualities. In the image of a fan the fan is substantial and true, while the shadow of the fan is insubstantial and untrue. We can apply this concept to warfare. If a military force places a thousand men in the battlefield is that the whole force (Jitsu)? or is there a hidden force in the shadows (Kyo) waiting to ambush. Similarly shinobi working undercover to gather intelligence from the enemy must always question whether the information they have received is true or in fact false and planted by the enemy in order to misguide.
Sheryl says, “It sounds like what is going on now in Congress in the United States and between the political parties and the media. There is so much information and personal objects at play and so much reality TV and fake media. We would hope all citizens would use their intuition and watch and wait for results, not insinuations judgments or accusations before talking about or making any judgments on what is being presented. The truth will find its way in what is actually seen to work for the good of the many not the best for the few.”
Ninjas used astrology and other ancient tools to assist them in making decisions for the time and place of many of their actions and for success.
Andrew goes on to tell us about the concept of “The Way” and how we can tap into it today. “Spanning a millennium from the 9th to the 19th century the age of the samurai was a glorious chapter in the chronicle of Japan. The samurai observed a refined and precise etiquette in all their activities from the taking of tea to the taking of enemy heads. This emphasis on the right way of doing things continues to exert a powerful influence in modern Japanese culture.
Nestled within a samurai force, yet standing apart from, it lurked the shadowy shinobi, the infamous ninja agent. He was the commando, the spy, the betrayer. While standard samurai found lying and cheating repugnant, the shinobi were not bound by such scruples. They too followed an ethical code but they considered duplicity to be acceptable as long as it was used in the service of their lord. The shinobi soldier would often integrate himself within the enemy sharing in the rhythms of everyday life and steadily gaining their trust but all the while hiding a malign intent. He was a foul demon obeying the bidding of his gods, enabling plans of his lord to bear fruit
Sheryl says…”I cannot read what Andrew wrote without thinking of the recent IG Report of the failures within the FBI agency and thinking that perhaps there are two kinds of law enforcers: those like the samurai and the ninja. We also recently found out that there may have been spies or informants put into the 2016 Presidential Election by the FBI who was run by the executive office or last president. They may have been loyal to the last administration and thought their allegiance was with that leader but in a democracy there are no Lords to obey only the citizens of the country who elect their leaders for a limited term of involvement and when that is over the new leadership must be respected protected and helped to achieve what is necessary for the good of all. Beyond partisanship there is only following the laws of the nation.”
Andrew says the shinobi were spy commandos with multiple specialisms all of which involved clandestine activity. These included espionage counter intelligence surveillance scouting infiltration propaganda incendiary warfare and physical projection as well as capturing any person targeted for arrest by the lord. An essential part of any Japanese military force, the shinobi were considered by many as the “eyes and ears” of an army.
Sheryl says , “Perhaps the American people should not be as surprised by unfolding news of similar type factions like the Samauri and ninja whose attitudes and behaviors might be quite different and might be observed now in the FBI CIA and DOJ of the United States as they are the ears and eyes to protect Americans. Only as evolving people we would love to do away with the drama intrigue and underhanded techniques of less than honorable members of any of our enforcement agencies or protective services. Is it even possible to have ethical practices honored and honed by protectors or must they do whatever is necessary according to their leadership who might be compromised by wrong values. I would say we must have truth transparency and decency in learning about criminal activity, apprehending offending people, and allowing justice to decide what is true or not. However, if the media and political parties spin lies and propaganda and fight dirty, it is hard for law abiding people to protect their freedoms.
Unlike the samurai which was a specific higher social class, the shinobi/ninja was a paid military role that could be filled by a soldier of any background. Many shinobi were from the samurai class but others were simple ashigaru foot soldiers. Others still were itinerant monks actors or tradesmen who might take on a temporary assignment. True shinobi owed their allegiance to a single lord whether for a short term contract or across generations
The ninja idea of having a Correct Mind and the psychology involved is quite interesting. This is not a path for the weak. To venture into the dominion of the shinobi requires enormous self-control and a level of commitment and endurance that most people cannot attain. What makes the path so difficult is that shinobe must be simultaneously loyal to their own clan and treacherous toward the enemy. They live within the samurai society but remain in its shadow forever close to the centre but always cast to the outside, as any betrayal could mean the downfall of a clan. Unlike the average soldier they do not benefit from the army’s protection. The shinobi venture out before all others alone and put themselves in danger deep inside the adversary’s stronghold. (SPY)
The Taoist creation myth heavily influences samurai and shinobi thoughts. According to the myths before the universe evolved there was a formless expanse called Wu-chi (Pre-Universe) which evolved into T ai-chi (The Great Ultimate) The Great Universe then differentiated into negative and positive elements called yin and yang.
The Yin and Yang concept used by the ninja can teach us about balance in life today.
Yin and Yang divide into heaven earth and man which exists in the four seasons of spring summer autumn and winter. This is the foundation for the five elements of Earth Do (Fire) Ka (Metal) Gon (Water) Sui and Wood (Moku). The five elements give rise to the eight trigrams: Heaven Lake Fire Thunder Wind Water Mountain and Earth.
Yin and Yang are also heaven and earth. When the body dies Yin and Yang separate and the soul returns to heaven. Therefore, death is not an end but the beginning of another phase of life. This understanding is what enables the shinobi to face death without fear.
Sheryl relates that the thinking is much the same for a Japanese Reiki Master Teacher which she is. We have symbols similar to those in Ninja Skills which represent and embody the philosophy way of life and dedication of a Reiki initiate to the healing art work and to the connection to Spirit through acceptance of that truth. Physical life survives the death of the body.
The three diseases for the Shinobi are Fear Overthinking and Underestimation.
Left to run amok fear particularly fear of death can paralyze your thoughts…To have no fear is reckless: to have too much fear is cowardice. Shinobi need to identify the fear in their mind and take control of it.
Underestimation means thinking the enemy is stupid or beneath them. An adversary is a human and all humans have different types of intelligence. But still their intelligence while different from your own may find a way to see through your tactic. Therefore, always view the enemy as a skilled and accomplished nemesis and make plans accordingly.
Overthinking When your thoughts push beyond the here and now and foresseable eventualities this creates a chain of change and can move beyond the actual truth. In fact the situation is still the same, it has changed only in your mind. A good shinobi will know the difference between a reasonable level of contingency and over-speculation.
The samaurai and shinobi/ninja have drawn from different religions over time.The samurai class has existed for approximately one millennium from the 9th to the 19th century and during this time a variety of belief systems became prominent in Japan.
Buddhism
Founded in India in the fifth century BC by Siddhartha Gautama Buddhism teaches us “The Four Noble Truths.”
- Life contains suffering
- Desire of thirst for certain impermanent states of things
- If we identify and overcome our desire, we will reduce suffering and karma
- Inner peace is found by cultivating a correct mind.
By cultivating a correct mind we can liberate ourselves from the cycle of death and rebirth.
We can do this by following “The Noble Eightfold Path”
- Correct view—understanding the nature of reality
- Correct Intention acting from compassion
- Correct speech communicating in a non-harmful way
- Correct conduct—not exploiting anyone
- Correct livelihood—pursuing a non-harmful occupation
- Correct effort—conducting accurate self-analysis and adjusting accordingly
- Correct mindfulness—continuing to perfect awareness of all things
- Correct Meditation—developing the ability to live in the moment.
A particular school of Buddhism is known as Zen which focuses above all on meditation. Zen came to Japan in the 12th century and became popular among the samujrai as the mental discipline they developed through intense Zen meditation which enhanced their martial arts skills and helped them face the enemy without the fear of death.
Confucianism
Confucianism is the study of the ways and teachings of the revered Chinese philosopher Confucius (551-479 BC). It centers on developing a harmonious relationship between the individual (microcosm) and society (macrocosm). Confucius teaches us to cultivate certain virtues such as benevolence righteousness loyalty and respect for ritual family and tradition. All members of a society have a collective responsibility to develop these virtues within themselves in order to serve the common good. Confucianism became particularly influential in Japan towards the end of the 17th century. It is not hard to see how its ethic of unswerving loyalty and selflessness regulated by an ever vigilant mind can be applied to the shinobi path.
Shinto
The path of the gods collects together various Japanese folk religions. Central to Shinto are Japan’s native gods, or “kami” who reside in the natural world. Adherents worship at a shrine where areas of purity are marked off by ropes and the iconic torii gates.
In Japanese culture it is acceptable to draw different insights from different beliefs rather than fully subscribing exclusively to one…. Sheryl suggests our Political system and religious structures might benefit from this cooperative open minded use of the best in many different thought process.
We discover how one is able to follow “The Way” which is the central concept of Taoism. It is considered the power behind the construction and governing of the Universe: it is outside time and space yet permeates all existence. Like the Western concept of God, the Way is unknowable. However, God is commonly personified as a man whereas The Way has no identity, gender number. Any answer how to follow The Way will be found in the teachings of The Tao Te Ching: the defining work of Taoist philosophy. The ancient traditions..the way of the tea ceremony, the way of calligraphy, the way of flower arrangements, the way of fragrance…These ancient traditions help you to concentrate the mind and lead a life of harmony. Sheryl says it seems then that enjoying life in all aspects with respect and honor for traditions family ancestors and daily exercises in living consciously are “The Way.”
Andrew also shows us how we can be Like Water and how that helps us know ourselves and understand life with a correct mind.
There is an old Chinese teacher who tells us, “Water adjusts itself to the vessel it is in. When water is into a teapot it takes the shape of the teapot, when in a cup it takes the shape of the cup and so on. Similarly, we change our behavior and personality to suit the environment around us. However those who take the path of the shinobi may find themselves in extreme situations involving bribery extortion lying thieving killing etc. Their entire lifestyle will become one of manipulation and malfeasance. Therefore they need to take control and understand how to protect their character from external experiences. In some respects, you will need to be like water. In adapting yourself to your environment so that you do not attract attention—but you must also ensure that the demands of your role do not twist your true nature.
Considering the qualities of the Perfect Shinobi or Ninja is quite admirable and illuminating. A “jonin” is considered the perfect ninja. As a shinobi/ninja student you should aspire to this status although achieving it is another matter. The qualities to be a jonin: You must demonstrate a loyalty to your lord, the courage of a hero, strategic acumen and a record of achievement. Strong of body, you must nonetheless be gentle when not in action. You must have a keen sense of righteousness and an absence of desire and never forget what you owe to others. Your mental qualities should include fluency in speech and writing, an ability to think deeply, and a fondness for learning principles and right action and you must be difficult to deceive. Jonin are always dignified honest and good and not argumentative. Spiritually you must know heaven’s will and understand Confucianism and Buddhism and always be aware that life and death have their determined appointment and rise above your own self-interest while hearing the words of ancient sages in mind.
Sheryl says that as a Japanese Reiki Master Teacher the healing art and way of life for a member of the samauri shinobi and jonin seem much the same. They seek the best in self-development and self-actualization according to the Universal Source or divine within us. In Sheryl’s book The Living Spirit she wrote, “I am always overjoyed to hear members of the medical community embracing energy work as a way to heal pain, clear negative thoughts, and align ourselves with Sprit and our unique soul attributes. I have the opportunity to interview many of the leaders in the medical community on my show “Healing From Within.” In fact I have noticed over the last few years that an increasing number of my guests are doctors surgeons psychiatrists psychologists healers spiritualists and people who study the ancient ways for self-investigation and who combine their traditional training with intuitive and or energetic healing abilities. The goal is to achieve greater awareness higher conscious and compassion for all life.”
Andrew would hope readers take away with them after reading Ninja Skills a clearer view of the value of ancient traditions and skills that have survived a millennium and still hold answers for improving our understanding of how to live honorably and survive challenging times never forgetting to do so with dignity and goodness.
Anthony wrote, “I guess Respect for Heaven even though often shinobi live in a world of lies and deception as most humans do but that does not mean they should be dishonest. While they may be called upon in their duty to serve and protect their clan or group, even perform evil deeds, they must maintain the strictest of moral codes in their inner life, believe in the gods, practice sincerity, cultivate their mind and follow The Way. For if they do not do this they will fall into despair and lose the support of the gods.”
In summarizing today’s episode of “Healing From Within” we have taken an inside look at the world of ninja skills talents responsibilities goals and ultimately the Way or path they follow to know life and themselves in a disciplined and honorable way with respect for life heaven and earth and to truly live with a code of honor. We learned how like fire and water shinobi or ninjas must look upon all friends or foe as either a treasure or a hazard, bringing either bounty or destruction. Anthony Cummins book Ninja Skills f is a beautifully executed book of photos, history, techniques of warfare through the story of the Samurai the Shinobi or Ninja and the religious philosophies ancient views that coincide with the art of living responsibly with values spirit and a sense of tradition as they like all disciplined warriors and Reiki Master Teachers maneuver through a world of danger protecting their inner values and the lords they represented. To find out more of this training which can help you understand life in all aspects you will learn how to survive well make better choices that honor our innate soul wisdom and our families, workplaces and children and adapt to or flow in life without fear and limitation. For if one knows the value of nature man and god, they will always proceed to walk the way of the ninja and find life to be filled with mysteries and delight beyond their challenges. Anthony Cummins link to www.natari.co.uk Ninja Skills link to www.amazon.com Sheryl Glick link to www.sherylglick.com The Living Spirit link to www.amazon.com
