Shinichi Tohei's Ki Weblog

Ki and Education(9) Noticing

What does it mean, “to notice”? I would like to explain the various ways of improving your recognizing and noticing skills.

But first, let’s think about this together before we move on:

In a narrow sense, “noticing” means “knowing the presence of a matter”.
In a broader sense, it means “understanding the bottom of the matter.”.

First, I would like to explain “knowing the presence of a matter”.

Noticing is one of the most essential things you need to live as a human being. This is because “not noticing a matter” is synonymous with “the matter does not exist”.

Even if you owe something to a person, if you do not recognize this debt, then this would be the same as not having received the kindness. You would probably not be thankful for it either. We can only be thankful to people when we notice what they have done for us.

Now, I need your participation.

Can you remember each of the people that have been kind to you, or that you owe something to? How many were there? You must feel gratitude to all of those people.

On the other hand, is it possible that there were some people that should have been recognized but weren’t remembered at the time? Can you recall them?

It certainly is a strange thought to remember people that cannot be remembered. Even so, how many were you able to come up with?

This is one of the things I recognized; some time ago, there was a great blackout in Tokyo. Simply because the electric power was cut, all urban functions ceased.

There are people who stabilize and provide power to the city; to us. Because I had not thought of this, I was not aware, and therefore I was lacking in gratitude to these people. Normally, it is natural that the light goes on with a click that enlightens the whole city. It was a good chance for me to realize once again the thankfulness to those who work in the power plants.

At the time, my recognition was ‘not there,’ even though I should have been thankful. I think it is unfair to accuse when there was an accident, while forgetting about having a bit of daily gratefulness when things are going well.

Once again, I remember to be thankful to those people.

Now, let’s go back to the former question.

There are many great problems all over the world nowadays. If you do not recognize this, it is the same to you as if nothing is happening. You probably would never take any action on those problems. You can start solving the problems in your daily lives only when you notice.

Another important recognition is your self. This is not necessarily to find fault, but only to look carefully into your self. If you do not notice your problems, then you will never resolve them. You can only develop your character when you recognize the things that can be improved.
It is because of this noticing that there can be action. Without the input, there can be no output.

We are able to enrich our lives by improving our skills of recognizing and noticing.

Notes: “to notice” or “to recognize” is explained in Japanese as “Kizuku” using the very “Ki” as in Ki-Aikido. Tsuku is a word that means “to put,” or to “fix.” This means you extend your Ki toward the object in order to notice. Ki-tsuku became the word Kizuku.

The Instructor’s Responsibility

I’m going to talk you as an instructor.

Recently, I saw a TV program about the training of a soccer club for kids.
In the game, a boy fell down on the ground and injured his ankle. At that time, the coach of the soccer club spoke to him anxiously:

“Injuries come with playing soccer.”

Of course the coach wanted to encourage the boy, but there is some problem in what he said.
What do you think of it?
Please think before you go on.

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The first thing is, it is not natural to be injured.
Even though other players may be careless, if you extend Ki while playing soccer, you can foresee the danger, and react in time to avoid injury. In this way, if Ki is extending, you will never be injured by accident.

And if you should be injured, then your important task is to think if you used your mind and body correctly, and what you could have done to avoid injury.

From the beginning, instructors are responsible not to allow a student to be injured.
There is a problem here that comes from the subconscious mind.
If the coach says to the boy, “Injuries come with playing soccer”, he will imagine himself injured unconsciously, and he will really have a serious injury someday.

That’s very terrible, isn’t it?

Koichi Tohei sensei teaches us hints, strictly for leaders:

”Instructors are responsible if anyone is injured in their class.”
If the instructor extends Ki, he can take care of everything.
He will be able to notice if there is a problem, because Ki is extending.
For example, he may notice a person moving unnaturally.
This person who moves unnaturally may hurt themselves or others if they keep training in this way. This is not always because of the person’s physical problem, but the movement was simply a bad habit.
The most important point here is to notice each student’s movement and understand their condition.
In order for this to happen, the instructor must be extending Ki.

If Ki is extended, then the instructor will see when there is danger. For instance, someone may lose concentration because of bad health, or be training at a short ma-ai (proper distance) each other.

The first time I was taught by Koichi Tohei Sensei about how to teach, he repeated only two things for two hours again and again; 1) How to chant KI SAYINGS, and 2) How to count while doing calisthenics.

Koichi Tohei Sensei feels that the beginning of the training session is the most important.

To approach the training session while extending Ki is the one of the most important points of teaching, don’t you think?

For all of instructors and other members, please practice while extending Ki.