Shinichi Tohei's Ki Weblog

Conclusion

Hello. This is Shinichi Tohei, Chief Instructor and President of Ki Society H.Q.
Koichi Tohei sensei is my master and also my father. In conclusion, I would like to introduce to you how my father uses Ki principles in daily life from my point of view as a son.

I realized Ki principles while growing up. However, until now, I did not realize that my father's education was based on Ki principles.

My father gave much attention to the way that people use words. He not only corrected my language usage, but if I said, “I cannot.” “I do not like it.”, or “It is difficult”, my father told me to revise my comment such to “I can” “I like it” “It is easy”. I could not understand the meaning of this at the time. However, this was training to change my subconscious mind to plus.
As a result, I developed the habit to think of everything in a plus way. This is very important for me. I do not ever think I am unable to do things, rather I think “I can” when I do anything. When you do anything, thinking “I can” or “I cannot” makes a big difference. My father never told me to think in a plus way. It became my habit without realizing it by daily training from my father.

My father corrected me many times, and it never bothered me. After I grew up I realized that he was checking if his state of mind was plus before he scolded me. This is because no matter how hard he scolded, I would accept his words in a plus way. He did not scold emotionally because he understood my mind also.
When my father scolded me, he never used the words which denied my integrity as a human being. He ended scolding with plus words such as “You can do it.” or “You are good if you keep this promise.” There is a big difference between finish scolding with minus words and plus words. It seems when my father scolded me, he checked if his mind was calm first.

There are two ways to educate people. One is “develop one's merits”, another is “correct one's defects”. Both are important. My father developed my merits mainly. I had many weak points, but he developed my merits first. Weak points are easy to see if we compare them to strong points. Therefore, we tend to correct one's defects first. To tell the truth, developing the strong points is a redeeming feature.
Human beings correct their own defects when they want to change. That is, when we extend Ki, we can grow. It is impossible to correct our own defects by someone else pointing out only our weak points. First, you need to recognize and promote the strong points of the child. By doing this, the child has a successful experience and develops self-confidence “I can do it”. If you start to correct weak points, the child will think “I cannot do it” and the child will lose his confidence.
I realize now but If I evaluate my father's education as based on Ki principles, I can say all of his education was application of Ki.

Ki does exist. Plus Ki brings plus result. Minus Ki brings minus Ki. If you wish growth of a child, first, parents need to be plus mind and fill their home with plus Ki. Minus Ki never brings plus Ki.
If you want your own growth and development, first, change to plus mind and fill your surroundings with plus Ki. This is important.
If an executive wishes growth of the company, first, the executive himself needs to be plus mind and fill his company with plus Ki. This is important.

If we wish growth of our society, it is important that each of us extends plus Ki. Ki breathing is the way to learn how to extend plus Ki always.
Anyone can do Ki breathing. It does not matter if you are old or young, men or women. If you start ki breathing, you can do it now without doing special training.
I hope many of you practice Ki breathing and society will be filled with plus Ki.

August 2007

Shinichi Tohei
Chief Instructor and President of Ki Society H.Q.

Thank you very much for reading translation of "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". This is the end of translation.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Enjoy good health

Our living power brings us health. When we unify our mind and body and become one with the Universe, our living power will be activated. I showed you what is oneness of mind and body, and how to become one with mind and body in this book.
I have also explained Ki breathing and its benefits to your health and living with a healthy mind and body. Start Ki breathing from today.
I will ask you “to be healthy” at the end of the book.
There are many things that happen in our long life. A person who was weak in his childhood can became strong in his adulthood. Another man who was healthy until middle age can contract a disease.
Health of mind and body is affected by changes in our circumstances and living environment. Our mind and body is sometimes well, sometimes unhealthy.
Above all, you can live a healthy life for many years. Let us appreciate it and have confidence to live with oneness of mind and body.
It is impossible to measure health. You can find health through your life. You do not need to suffer comparing your health with others', or to the result of a medical diagnosis. No matter how things change, it is important to live in an age-appropriate way as the occasion may demand. This attitude will contribute to your health.
Your life has been changing through your life. Your life will continue to change continuously in the future. Your health will be changing also. If you have some worry about your health in the future, the worry might be because you cannot foresee your health. To eliminate your worry, practice Ki breathing.
Your breath reflects your changes. If you feel unhealthy, do Ki breathing and self-Kiatsu.
Continue Ki breathing with oneness of the Universe and calm. If you just do it, it will bring you healthy life.
I sincerely hope from my heart that you will use Ki for your health of mind and body through this book.

(calligraphy of "Five Principles for Ki Breathing" by Koichi Tohei sensei)

Five Principles for Ki Breathing
1. Breathe out with the sound of HA, don't let your breath just leak out
2. Breathe out as calmly and quietly as possible
3. Breathe out the Ki of your head to the Ki of your toes
4. Breathe in from the tip of your nose until your body is full of air
5. Calm your mind infinitely smaller at the one point after inhaling

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Kiatsu of the shoulder (To ease stiff shoulders, to facilitate plus mind)

Frozen shoulder was common among people in their 40s and 50s. There are many people who suffer from stiff shoulder at any age. If we maintain a correct posture, we can be free from stiff shoulders and pain. An unnatural posture can become the cause of stiff shoulders. Stiff shoulders make blood circulation poor, and can have an adverse effect on our head and eyes immediately.
If you feel stiffness during your work, try self Kiatsu. It will also help you to maintain a positive disposition.
To do Kiatsu on the shoulder, start at the base of your collar bone and shoulderblade to the back of your neck. When you press right shoulder, bend your head to left. Then, send Ki to your right shoulder using your longer fingers. Send Ki 15 to 20 seconds at each spot. Change the position toward back of the neck. (photo 4)

photo 4

If you finish the right shoulder, do the same thing to your left shoulder.
If you suffer from severely stiff shoulders, do Kiatsu several times. You will feel the difference after practicing Kiatsu several times. You will be able to bend your neck more easily than before. In addition, because your blood circulation improves, you will feel much healthier.

Kiatsu on the stomach (counteract the constipation and bad digestion, alleviate menstrual cramps)

When you do Kiatsu in the stomach area, press counterclockwise. Send Ki in the direction that food takes when passing through the intestines.
If you have digestive problem or pain with your abdomen, it is good for you to do Kiatsu to your stomach area daily. Kiatsu on the stomach helps to get over constipation, prevents many female diseases, such as uterine fibroid and endometriosis.
Good health of the stomach is the base of beauty. If you do not have constipation, do Kiatu on your stomach so that you can get fitness back to your mind and body.
To do kiatsu on the stomach area, lay on back first. Arrange the middle three fingers and put them very calmly on the top of your stomach.
Internal organs are very sensitive, therefore, you DO NOT push the stomach area forcefully. Also, you do not touch the navel.
The stomach moves up and down as you breathe. Match the movement and send Ki so that it naturally penetrates deeper.
Press each spot about one minute. Start from the top of the stomach, and continue to the bottom of the navel, lower abdomen, right side of the stomach (around appendix and upper appendix), upper stomach (around liver), left side of own stomach (upper belly), left side of lower abdomen always sending Ki with the movement of the stomach as you breathe.
If you have bad constipation, it is good to do this Kiatsu several times before going to bed or after waking up in the morning daily. If you do this, you can get over your constipation, and start the day feeling refreshed.

Kiatsu of the legs (to improve excessive sensitivity to cold, insomnia and poor blood circulation)

“Keep the head cool, keep the feet warm”
This is often said referring to your basic health. Cold feet are not good for our health.
If you have cold feet caused by excessive sensitivity to cold, try this Kiatsu.
First, lay down on your back. Arrange the three middle fingers together and put them lightly on the inguinal area. Find the place where you can feel your pulse and send Ki there.
Put your fingers calmly and count to 100. After counting to 100, release your fingers from the inguinal area and rest your fingers. Next try the same thing once more counting to 100. After this, do this one more time.
This Kiatsu takes about five minutes. The more you send Ki, the more your feet will become warm.

People who suffer from insomnia or have swollen feet need to do Kiatsu before going to bed. If you do Kiatsu on the legs and stomach both, it will help your circulation alot. If you do this Kiatsu everyday, you will never have cold feet.

Kiatsu of the hip (to remove pain in the lower back, also practice good positioning of the hip)

If you keep a correct posture, you will not get pain in the lower back unless you have other illnesses that cause you pain. Pain and feeling heavy in the lower back comes from a wrong posture or unnatural usage of your body.
If you feel something wrong with your lower back, you can ease the problem by doing Kiatsu. If you feel something wrong, try self Kiatsu soon.
To do Kiatsu on your hip, you do not have to lay down, but practice this sitting in a chair. By using both thumbs, put thumbs calmly where you feel pain or an uncomfortable feeling. (photo 5)

photo 5

After you do Kiatsu where you feel pain and around it, move your body slowly forward and backward without moving your thumbs. If you finish one place, move to another place and do the same thing.
Once you remove pain and the uncomfortable feeling in your hip, commit yourself to practicing a correct posture with oneness of mind and body. Posture with oneness of mind and body keeps you in good shape.
I explained to you how to do self Kiatsu briefly. Listen carefully to your body. If you find pain or something else wrong with your body, try self Kiatsu.
Also, maintain a correct posture. You can prevent many diseases by doing self-Kiatsu when you feel something is wrong.
It is not a bad thing to consult a doctor. However, before relying on medical care or medicine, it is important to do what you can do by yourself now and in the future. This is good for your health.
If self-kiatsu does not work well for you, your posture is unnatural so you are using unnecessary tension. This state is called, “Ki is not extending.”
The basic of self Kiatsu is oneness of mind and body. Therefore, before you start self Kiatsu, it is good to check your posture if it is natural and stable.

We have life power. As medicine is ineffective for a dead person, we should not forget that medicine itself does not cure diseases but life power does. Self-Kiatsu activates the life power.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Chapter 6
To strengthen the Life power

Self-Kiatsu

I would like to describe “Kiatsu therapy (Kiatsu ryoho)” which I teach.
Kiatsu therapy is to send Ki into the body from the outside to strengthen a person's living power. If Ki is supplied from the outside, the person's life power strengthens which facilitates recovery from illnesses or injury.
When you do self-Kiatsu (You do Kiatsu therapy to yourself), it is important to practice oneness of mind and body, which is the natural posture. If you become tense as you press yourself, you cannot extend Ki. Anyone can do self-Kiatsu by putting their own fingers on their body while extending Ki and relaxing.

We have a word “teate” in Japanese. (literally means put hand on injury). When we feel ill, we put our hands on the part of the body that hurts naturally. At that time, we never push too hard on the painful place. You just send your mind (Ki) to the place where you experience pain. To put it plainly, this is Kiatsu therapy.
When the human body becomes sick, that part of the body becomes hard or painful. By putting your fingers while extending Ki on this place, it will become soft and the pain will gradually diminish.
If you do self-Kiatsu, the affected area will become warm. This is because the Ki of the affected areas will become activated and encourage blood to start to flow strongly.
There are several points which are important to do self-Kiatsu.

- Do self-Kiatsu with oneness of mind and body (Do self-Kiatsu with a stable and natural posture)
- Do not push too hard
- Do not knead (It is okay to move your own body without moving your fingers on the affected area)
- Think of lines instead of points. (Not only think about affected area but think about the flow of whole body)

Let me describe how to do self-Kiatsu which will assist you to maintain the health of mind and body. The first one is self-Kiatsu of the eyes. The self-Kiatsu, which is described in this book is a very limited application of Kiatsu therapy. Although only a limited application, I believe that it will still be of assistance to you in maintaining good health.

Kiatsu of the eyes.
(resolution of eye fatigue, visual recovery and have natural eyes)

As personal computer and cell phone become widely used, people often experience eye fatigue. Eye fatigue, bleary eyes, painful eyes etc. would appear especially for those who use personal computer extensively.
At this rate, it may result in cataracts and/or glaucoma while still at a young age.
First, please wash your hands before beginning any Kiatsu to your eyes.
Close your eyes lightly. Then, touch softly in the area between the eyeball and the tip of the bone in the upper part of the eye. Do Kiatsu to the bone. (photo 1)

photo 1

You can do Kiatsu right and left at the same time.
Never push the eyeball. Divide the area above your eyes from the inner corner of your eye to outer corner of your eye into five parts. Then, do Kiatsu 20 seconds to 30 seconds to each part, beginning from the inner corner of your eye moving to the outer corner of your eye.
Next, line up your fingertips with your index, middle and annular finger. Then, do Kiatsu to this area for 30 or 40 seconds. (photo 2)

photo 2

If you do this Kiatsu, Kiatsu will take about five minutes. You will feel that your eyes are refreshed compared to how it felt prior to Kiatsu.

I do Kiatsu on my eyes everyday. Thanks to this, I can see things very clearly at my age. My eyes at one time were not very good. The doctor diagnosed my eyes as having cataracts. However, I did Kiatsu everyday and got well in three months.
If you start Kiatsu of your eyes everyday from now, you can keep your eyes healthy. Not only will it keep your eyes healthy but Kiatsu makes your eyes and expression more attractive.

Kiatsu to the head
(resolution of migraine headache, improve the concentration level)

There are many people who are suffering from migraine headaches and feel heavy in the head, feel disoriented, etc.
Any disorder of the head area may be caused by a variety of serious diseases. Any disorder of head area affects our health very much. Therefore, we need to take care of any problems.
If you feel the disorder in the head area, you will find that the area around the base of your neck becomes hardened. This hard area compresses blood vessels inside of the cervical spine. This constricts the blood flow to the head, and it causes a decline in your ability to think, may cause headaches, or other problems.
People that have bad posture, especially those who's head is positioned unnaturally, always compress blood vessels inside of the cervical spine. The area that is hard will disappear by Kiatsu. Posture affects our health in significant ways.
When you do Kiatsu to your head, press the edge of the bone at the lower occipital region upward toward the center of the brain, from the bone behind the right ear to the one behind the left ear. (photo 3)

photo 3

When you press the right side, use your right thumb. When you press the left side, use your left thumb. Send Ki upward toward the head.
Press the right side of the head moving your thumb 5 times on that side, and the left side of the head in the same way, about 15 to 20 seconds in each spot.
If you have a lot of tension, repeat this Kiatsu several times. After finishing Kiatsu, you will feel that your head is lighter and you will feel more relaxed,
Women who suffer menopausal symptoms sometimes have a large hard spot around the seventh cervical vertebra. This is often one of the features of menopausal problems. Sometimes, we can see their hard spot in this area. In this case, use the long fingers (index finger, middle finger and ring finger) and press side of the neck. Press the right side of the neck with the right hand, the left side of the neck with the left hand at the same time. While you are sending Ki to your neck, slowly move your neck forward and backward, left and right.
The blood circulation of your neck will improve and the hard spot will become soft. This will ease menopausal problems.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Often after a quarrel between friends, both say to themselves, “He was wrong, so he has to apologize first. I won’t.” We say that there is justice even among thieves, and in this type of conflict, both are right and both are wrong. If both people are right, there is no reason to fight.
Primarily, people who practice Ki principles always keep one point in the lower abdomen. Therefore, they should not lose their temper. We must consider losing our temper and having a quarrel, regardless of the reason, shameful.
But once it has happened, there is nothing to do about it, but immediately regain the one point in the lower abdomen, and calm your mind. If you do this, your mind become calm, removing the limits of your generosity, and become aware of your own bad points.
It is easy to see the faults of others, but not so easy to see your own, particularly when the blood has rushed to your heads. At time like this, we do not even attempt to see our won failings, but quarrel in a way to mutually point out each other’s failings. If we were to examine where we have personally gone wrong, there would be no fight.
For this reason, when a fight seems imminent, keep one point little earlier than your opponent, realize your own faults ahead of time, and apologize to your opponent.
At least be prepared beforehand to forgive your friend, and you will advance one level higher than he. Fights occur because both parties are on the same level.
In the case of a mother and baby, the mother always forgives the baby. If you are on a higher level, no quarrels occur between you and others. First, accept your friend to your heart and forgive him and apologize beforehand.
Your friend will become confused and realize his own bad points.
Once you understand the value of apology, do not let yourself be carried to the ridiculous extreme of getting into quarrels over the right to say you are wrong.
The short cut to a solution to the problem is to be open minded and tolerant of your friends before any fight ever starts.
Since it takes two to fight, if you will not be a part of it, no quarrel can take place.

An old warrior code said that three ways to win include:
1. To fight and win
2. Win without fighting
3. Do nothing and win
First way “To fight and win” is the most common and is the lowest level of the three.
The second method “Win without fighting”, which involves complete preparation of all the conditions needed to win beforehand, is safe and is on an intermediate level between the other two.
The finest of the three, “Do nothing and win” is the safest of the three since insofar as no fight takes place no possibility of losing exists.
In this method, we potent the opponent and make him follow where we lead without fight. If we are going to win, we should win the best possible way. It is exactly because we have no cause to choose the most inferior winning method.

There was a young couple who constantly fought and who were on the verge of separation.
Since the husband was studying Ki, his friends came to me and asked me to do something.
Listening to what both sides had to say, they both had something to say about each other. I discovered that neither the wife nor the husband mentioned thier own faults but complained only about the other party.
The wife was by no means ready to give in; she gave her husband back three words for his every one.
Nothing is difficult as mediating between a quarrelling couple. Nothing one says will convince the other one.
If the mediator says the wrong thing, when the couple patch up their differences, they will direct their ill comments at him. Nevertheless, I made my decision and told the husband that he was wrong, much to his dissatisfaction and his wife’s elation. This is a very fundamental idea.
I said to the husband, “Since your wife was not practicing Ki, she knew nothing about the one point in the lower abdomen and could not help getting angry. You, on the other hand, were learning Ki and are wrong not to put to actual practice what you have learned. Therefore, I say that you are wrong. If you realize that, whatever happens, whatever your wife says to you, this is the time to practice keeping the one point. Not only will you keep your temper, you will also make a great deal of progress. If you practice the one point only at the training hall and lose it when you get home, you have wasted your effort. No matter what caused the fight. Would you try it from today?” He agreed to try it from that day.
Then I explained some things to wife and taught her some basic exercises, and got her to master the one point in the lower abdomen. I said, “I realize that you are dissatisfied with your husband on a number of counts. But as you can see, he is willing to make every effort to change his ways. He lacks experience and he may forget, but won’t you help him to correct his bad habits?” The wife consented. In less than a month the pair were leading a perfectly happy married life.
When a young couple gets together because they are in love everything should go along nicely. But a single dissatisfaction on the basis of the theory that minus calls forth minus, breeds further ill until the situation is irreparable.
The young husband went home, stopped at the door to make sure of the one point in the lower abdomen, and went in calling out happily, “I’m home”.
In the past, the husband had gone home with minus Ki and minus thoughts at the a day at work. He thoughts, “I’ve got to go home now and listen to her complain”.
This time, the wife realizing that this was the time to cooperate rushed to the door smiling and said, “I’m glad you are back.” and made tea for him.
When she had something to say, she would try to be patient and wait, but if she just could not wait, she expressed herself as pleasantly as possible.
The husband felt better, and always spoke gently to his wife, and willing helped her with her work. Their love flowed forth.
Once they mutually changed their Ki to plus, they were once again as close as when they were newlyweds.
Later, the wife also started Ki training, and go to practice together with husband.
Winning and losing are not important a marriage where the partners mutually understand and help each other to keep things happy between them.

Though this example is one from ordinary life, it points out to the need to always remember that there is a way to avoid fighting.
There is always a way of coexistence and co-prosperity. If we have fighting in our hearts, we make enemies of allies.
If fighting is not in our mind, we have neither foes nor allies, because all of us are brothers born of the Ki of the Universe.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

The principle of non-dissension

It is important to keep healthy human relationships to maintain a healthy mind and body.

The Universe is absolute, with which we have no cause to fight. Battles arise first when the idea of duality appears.
By focusing on the relative world, we have lapsed into the attitude that fighting is a natural thing. We have forgotten the true nature of the Universe.
People today find this a very difficult concept to understand.

There are too many people today who feel it is impossible to live without conflict. There are also many who, though it means oppressing others, will stop at nothing to gain ascendancy and to win by any means.
Naturally, this situation even more difficult if these are the people who get together to discuss world peace.
If we truly desire world peace, each individual must return to the basic spirit of the Universe and understand the meaning of the principle of “non-dissension”.
The general belief is that the principle of non-dissension means that we must agree with whatever anyone might say, that we are not to resist if someone should strike us, and it is a very weak way to live.
This is really not the case. The principle of non-dissension demands the strongest spirit.
It demands a complete supply of plus ki in mind and body to help us avoid receiving even a little of our opponent’s minus Ki.
The situation is similar in nature to a clear spring bubbling from the bottom of a pond. On its way to the surface, not one drop of the pond’s mud water enters the clean stream.
When you are filled with plus Ki and emitting it, none of the minus Ki around you can enter your body. Just as the mud waters of the pond would rush in and dirty the clear water if the spring stop flowing for even a moment, so to if you draw in you own Ki even a little, you will receive all the minus Ki around you.
Therefore, the principle of non-dissension demands a strong mind constantly filled with Ki and constantly sending our Ki to the Universe. A mind whose Ki is in perfect conflux with that of the Universe.
The way of non-dissension enables you to overcome any disappointments without grief, to laugh off any slander, and to lead any attacker without receiving the blow.
Those who cry themselves to sleep resisting nothing and replying to no ill remarks made by others, are not what we mean by the principle of non-dissension.
Locking up the speech and actions of your opponent in your heart is not real non-dissension; it is endurance. Though you say nothing with your lips, your feelings may be seething within you. Conflicts and contradiction in your mind is a sort of battle, too.
The non-dissention we are speaking of arises when we do not harbor ill feelings against our opponent’s minus mind, but with the magnanimity of the sea that accepts all tributary streams, maintain a calm in our own heart.

An employee of a certain company began studying oneness of mind and body.
He came to me one day with a problem. He said,
“I am frequently having conflicts of opinion with my boss at the office and that the differences would usually end in a quarrel. My boss is stubborn and I am short tempered. Though I knew fighting is not good, I could not stop. Whenever my boss said something bad to me, I always got angry. I wanted to know what I can do to solve this problem. “
“Have you leaned oneness of mind and body and mastered it?” I asked.
“Yes, I understand it well.”
“It’s really quite easy, then. When someone says something unpleasant about you, maintain the one point in the lower abdomen, send forth powerful Ki, and do not take personally what he says. If you do this, all of the bad things the other man says will revert back to him. For instance, if your boss calls you a fool and you refuse to take in what he says, it returns to the sender, who is in effect saying that he himself is a fool. You would laugh and agree if your boss was to say to you, ‘I am a fool’, wouldn’t you? Just try thinking this way, and watch the other man’s face. The face of a man who is angry, all by himself, becomes immediately rather amusing.”
He apparently immediately put my advice to practice. However angry his boss would get, he would simply smile and say, “Yes, yes.” Finally his boss announced, as he stormed out, that talking to my student only made him angrier. Then he walked away.
One realizes when he sees his partner’s smiling face how foolish and worthless being angry alone is.
The same is true with a threat. If the person threatened keeps one point and a calm their mind, the one to become frightened will be the man who made the threat.
A few days later, the boss asked my student, “Something’s funny here. You seem to have learned something different lately.”
He explained the entire thing it his boss, who said that having quarrels was so much nonsense and resolved to stop.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

A New day begins before going to bed

Sometimes it is difficult to sleep when we have an important event or worry. As everyone will agree, if we do not take a little time for sleep, the body may be unable to go on. Sometimes people try to sleep, and find it difficult to do so.
When this happens, take thirty minutes or so and practice Ki breathing. If you cannot spare that much time, it is okay to lie down and practice Ki breathing.
If you do Ki breathing before you sleep, you can change your subconscious mind to plus. Therefore, your fortune will change in favorable ways. Your subconscious mind goes through changes when you are sleeping.
When we are awake, conscious mind is mainly active. When we sleep, subconscious mind is mainly active. Therefore, the deep part of the mind will be changed during your sleep.
If we clean up our body before going to bed, we would like to also clean up our inner body. Clean up inner body, is to clean up our organs and bowels. The way we can clean up organs and bowel is Ki breathing. When we clean up our inner body, we also clean up mind.
If we do Ki breathing before going to bed, we can digest foods completely during sleep. A lively exchange between ourselves and Ki of the Universe will enable us to wake up full of energy the next morning. If you do not rest well, your body will not have an opportunity to cleanse itself.
In addition to that, the reason I recommend you to do Ki breathing before going to bed is because the day does not start when you awaken, rather it has already begun before you go to bed. Therefore, Ki breathing before going to bed is preparation of the next day.
If you practice Ki breathing every night, you will be able to sleep anytime when you want to. You will think much more clearly than when you try to use a tired brain. Take five or ten minutes out to sleep for a while.
Anyone who cannot sleep well will envy the man who says, “Excuse me a while,” and can drop off for a brief nap.
To be able to sleep whenever you like requires a special technique and is an important element in good health.

Take a meal in gratitude for the Universe

We must eat to keep our health. Similar to sleeping, modern people tend to place a low value on eating.
Good cooking ingredients, balanced nutrition, and cooking methods are important elements. More important is to receive Ki through eating things in the Universe.
Life exists, not only in animals, but in every tree, each blade of grassm and all living things. We can maintain our life by eating those living things. If we understand this, we should naturally have gratitude to the Universe before eating foods. However, most of the people forget about this truth and they think only of eating food. There are some people who take a lot of foods at a buffet, and do not eat all of it. If they think that by paying money they can waste foods, it would not be an exaggeration to say that their attitude towards food ignores the Universal Principles.
The most important thing when we have a meal is send Ki to the meal. If you send Ki to the foods, you are in appreciation of the Universe and the cook. By using your mind clearly, you digest food well. We appreciate and enjoy the meal more. This is because we extend Ki and are able to taste the food well.
Sometimes I see people who are eating a meal and reading a newspaper or magazine. Their mind goes to the newspaper or magazine, therefore, they do not send Ki to the meal. In this case, people cannot taste well and do not feel if they have eaten foods or not. In this state, there is no gratitude for the Universe or the cook. In this instance, Ki is disconnected and interaction of Ki of the Universe is prevented and you lose mind and body coordination.
There are many kinds of supplements nowadays. I think one of the reasons people look to supplements too much is due to their lack of trust in foods. It comes not only from lack of trust and safety in foods, but from a lack of understanding of the nature of the food they eat.
It is essential to eat foods to keep mind and body healthy. Eating foods with gratitude to the Universe allows you to receive the Ki of the Universe into your body.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article every Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Replenish Ki when sleeping

Sleeping is important to replenish Ki.
Human beings consume Ki constantly while awake. Everyone sees things, listens, smells, tastes and touches things by using their five senses.
All those actions are actions of Ki. Therefore, we need to replenish Ki which we have consumed. Sleeping and Ki breathing are the best way to replenish Ki efficiently. Sleeping is the action to replenish the Ki of the Universe.
At night, when we are asleep, the mind is calm. At that time, the Ki of the Universe fills our bodies. When we awaken after sleeping soundly, Ki is charged fully and our strength is renewed and we feel great.
However, if our brains are in turmoil rather than at rest, this will block an adequate flow of Ki. When we awaken in the morning, because our supply of Ki is not high, we cannot get up immediately and recover mentally and physically, even with10 hours of sleep.
Sleeping medicine reduces the sensitivity of the brain and makes people sleep. When the brain is calm and you sleep soundly, we can replenish the Ki of the universe. However, if you sleep with your brain in a state of dead calmness, you cannot replenish enough of your Ki.
If you regularly use a sleeping medicine because you can't sleep, you will become Ki deficient soon. You will feel listless and lose motivation for everything. Furthermore, you will lose your vitality and physical strength and become susceptible to diseases.
Because you extend Ki, Ki will go into your mind and body.

An extremely high number of people disregard the need for sleep as a necessity to replenish the Ki of the Universe. They disregard the importance of their sleep time to work longer hours. They get an insufficient supply of Ki and get sick. They then have to use sleeping medicine or they cannot sleep at night. They are carelessly shortening their own lives.
Because people who learn correct Ki development always maintain the one point in the lower abdomen and keep a calm mind, they have no problems with falling asleep quickly. If you have ten or fifteen free minutes during the day and want to sleep, you should be able to sleep calmly.

Pour some water in a tub and stir it up. Now try to calm the water with your hands. You will succeed only in agitating it further. Let the water stand undisturbed a while, and it will calm down by itself.
The human brain works much the same way. When you think, you create waves in your mind. Trying to calm the waves by thinking is only a waste. People who cannot sleep and lie awake thinking, “Go to sleep, go sleep,” are creating more turbulence in their mind.
It is difficult for them to sleep because, as they try to, they are constantly thinking and upsetting their minds. They trouble themselves with thoughts like, “If I don't get some sleep, I won't be able to work tomorrow,” and then move on to even more useless reflections about things that are bothering them, until sleep becomes totally impossible. When your mind is upset, lie completely still, and it will calm down by itself. When your mind has calmed down sleep will come.
The old habit of counting to ten until you fall asleep works on the same principle.
You do not have to think about counting to ten, and while you repeat the series mechanically over and over, your mind calms down and you fall asleep. This could help sometimes.
On the other hand, many people find that this kind of simple trick does not work for them.
People of a nervous temperament cannot even count to ten simply, because they cannot stop thinking about the fact that no matter what they do, they can't fall asleep.

We have to maintain a firm conviction that if we cannot sleep, we might as well be awake. Humans cannot live without sleep, and sooner or later, it will come naturally.
If you are really sleepy, you cannot stay awake. Suffering to put yourself to sleep is foolish. When you are awake, exercise sufficiently; and when you go to bed, you will be able to sleep. If you cannot sleep, do not feel that you absolutely must.
Often the body's blood rushes to the head and makes it feel hot, leaving the feet cold resulting in making sleep difficult. From olden times, people have correctly held that the healthy way is to have a cool head and warm feet. If you follow this advice, you will find that you can sleep soundly.

In cases like these, practice shifting your concentration by calming your Ki into the one point in the lower abdomen. By doing this, you will be able to sleep soundly anytime, and replenish your Ki.
First, lie on your back with your hands and feet comfortably outstretched. Then, think with all your mind that the blood is continuously flowing down to the tips of your toes. “Mind moves body”, therefore, it will do so. Your blood circulation will improve and your feet will become warm.
When you feel your feet become warm, you will fall asleep. Even before you feel your feet become warm, you many times will fall asleep.
Some people eat and/or drink just before going to bed. However, the purpose of sleeping is to rest both your mind and body fully. Ki is used to digest foods, therefore, Ki is not replenished fully.
The quality of sleep is decided by how well we can exchange Ki of the Universe. It is important to sleep with oneness of mind and body.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article every Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Chapter 5 Keep your health though a natural life

Wake up with plus mind in the morning

Just as a year has only one New Year's day, a day has only one moment when you wake up in the morning.
If you awaken with an unpleasant feeling, without your being conscious of it, that feeling will stick with you and call forth minus Ki. It tends to make the entire day unpleasant. You will think to yourself, “I woke up this morning feeling heavy, and nothing has gone well all day.
Ki development is a training to develop a constant outpouring of plus Ki. You must call forth plus Ki when you get up in the morning. You should get into the habit of waking quickly, kicking back the covers, and jumping up the minute you awaken.
Some people awaken and lie around refusing to get up. This is a habit that will cause you to become weak-willed.
First of all, at times like that, nothing distinct enters your mind. Your consciousness is vague and you are in a state of subservience to your instincts.
Sleep is the time when the Ki of the Universe flows into your body, therefore, you should sleep soundly. But lying in bed after you have once awakened will not rest your body. You must jump straight out of the bed resolutely, then you can call forth the plus Ki that gets your day off to a positive start.
Doing this alone can do a great deal to strengthen your conscious power.
Young people who intend to develop themselves, should be particularly careful to cultivate this habit.

When I was young, I was frail both in mind and in body.
Because I slept poorly at night, I was drowsy and tired in the morning and found it extremely difficult to get up.
Whatever I started, my perseverance would give out, and I would give up halfway. I thought it was all the fault of my physical weakness.
At sixteen, I got pleurisy and I spent a year in treatment but the illness got steadily worse. Now, when I think back on it, I realize that I gave in to the disease and with completely minus Ki retarded my own recovery.
I spent all my time worrying that maybe even if the sickness passed I would not recover completely. This caused me to not get any stronger.
In that one year of treatment, I had an opportunity to reflect on myself and see that I could not continue the way I had been going. I read a number of self-improvement books that that came my way. They made me realize that I had to do something to temper my own body. This was of tremendous benefit.
While I was reading one of the these books, I came to the full realization that my own will power was weak and that I had to discipline and strengthen it. “All right,” I said, “Let's work on the will power”. I resolved to work on it.
This at least is something that I could do. The doctor told me that I still could not exercise, so after a lot of thought, I decided on taking cold baths everyday.
It was summer then, and the cold water was pleasant. Every morning I would leap up as soon as I awakened, run to the bathroom, and dash twenty or thirty buckets of cold water over my head and body. Then I would dry off and rub my body thoroughly with a dry towel. After a while, I would come conscious in the morning with the immediate idea of cold water. My head would clear up immediately.
I would say to myself, “Lolling around in this warm bed will do you no good.” My bad habits completely changed, and I slept like a log at night.
Gradually, of course, autumn came. The temperatures dropped, the water got colder, but I never even thought of stopping my training. With no sign of suffering, I continued my cold baths all through the cold weather, and my body grew so much stronger that I could continue with my training.
Later, I trained and practiced Zen, misogi breathing and meditation while seated under a waterfall. I trained them and others diligently until I had mastered them.
The cold baths were the first opportunity. My Ki became positive, and plus called forth more plus. I was blessed with fine teachers, and I reached the level where I could explain plus Ki to other people all over the world.
The important thing for young people who plan to start now developing for the future is to awaken in the morning, face the day with a positive attitude that, “I'm going to do my best.”
The first step at departure leads to a thousand miles of progress.
Put this discipline into practice, starting right now.

This article is translation of Koichi Tohei sensei's book, "Ki breathing (Ki no Kokyuho)". We will upload new article every Monday.

Shinichi Tohei

Relieve your fatigue of the day

If you practice Ki breathing for 10 minutes, you will have 10 minutes of benefit. If you practice Ki breathing for one hour, you will have one hour of benefit.
You can practice Ki breathing anywhere or anytime. Therefore, I would like to ask you to use time wisely, and practice Ki breathing frequently.
When practicing Ki breathing while walking, do not move your upper body or lean forward and backward because if you do this, you will not be able to walk. Calm your mind by concentrating on the one point in the lower abdomen, and keep a correct posture, and exhale as calmly as possible.
After exhaling, count off 4 steps, then inhale. After inhaling completely, count off 4 steps, then exhale again.
If you inhale immediately after exhaling and vice versa, your body will become stiff and tense. It is important to pause a short time between exhalation and inhalation.
I was ordered to report to the army in February 1944, and was then dispatched to the war front in China. When I departed from Japan, I decided that I would do 200 breaths of the breathing method each and everyday. Up till then I had been training Ki breathing method one hour every night.
I had time to do Ki breathing 200 times in sitting while traveling by boat. However, when I had to march, I did not have any time to do Ki breathing. It takes 3 hours and 20 minutes to accomplish Ki breathing 200 times. (one breath takes one minute)
Therefore, I decided to do Ki breathing while marching.
After the war began, I did Ki breathing everyday without fail even when our enemy was close. I did it until I returned to Japan after the war was over.
We sustained assaults many times while marching. However, I was full of Ki in my body and I could extend Ki all around. I brought back to Japan all 80 soldiers in my platoon without any injury. I think this happened because I practiced doing Ki breathing daily.
When we do Ki breathing for short periods while sitting seiza in the room, even if we do wrong Ki breathing, we might be able to cover it up. However, while marching, if I did wrong Ki breathing, I could not continue Ki breathing. I had to do Ki breathing by calming my mind at the one point in a state of oneness of mind and body.
In later years, I developed Ki breathing from Misogi breathing. I could do this because it was the result of Ki breathing while marching.

The most effective time to do Ki breathing in our daily life is before going to bed. It is okay to do it just fifteen or twenty minutes.
Everyone takes a bath or shower to clean up ones body before going to bed.
If you clean up the surface of the body, you should also clean up ones organs and bowels. Those organs and bowels are also tired and get dirty. By doing Ki breathing, you can clean up your organs and bowels.
You should relieve your fatigue of the day.
If you take good care of a car, it will have a much longer life. If we take good care of our own mind and body, we can have a much longer life.
Ki breathing is an elixir of life.
Plenty of people can see a lofty tree, but few notice the roots. A tree can grow to be lofty only if its roots are firmly planted. Such things as breathing methods are disciplines that form the roots of progress. If you do Ki breathing, you can grow to have a towering stature.

To grow strong in health

As I stated before, most of modern diseases are due to nervous problems. Most people disturb their own mind with small things, and capillary vessels contract, causing the body to tense.
This is like a traffic snarl-up on the highway. It causes problems with the flow of the blood and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Internal breathing cannot function well in this state. This may be the cause of many diseases.
Through your 20's, your living power is very active. However, after the age 50, your living power starts to decrease. If your living power decreases, you cannot maintain your health. There are many health problems that can arise as a result of decreased living power. This could result in having problems with high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and liver diseases.
To maintain your health, it is important to do correct breathing and be able to have all your body working well.

When we eat food, we can remember eating and swallowing.
However, we can not perceive the stomach digesting foods, the hepatic degradation and the kidney ridding our body of impurities.
While we are sleeping, those activities are constantly in process. We do not consciously do it by ourselves. Who does this?
Neither science or medicine have a complete answer. We call it living power.
It is more important to prevent fire than extinguish it.
Therefore, it is very important to activate your living power which is fundamental to your health.
When you do Ki breathing, all the capillary vessels open and the oxygen is sent to every part of your body. and Carbon dioxide is sent back to your lungs.
This is just like a stove that burns cleanly. Oxygen will burn completely.
The nourishment is completely metabolized and the life power is manifested. You will be able to grow strong and healthy.

I have been doing “Kan-Shugo (practice in winter)” at Ki Society Tokyo main office for a long time. We do Ki breathing from 7:00pm to 8:00pm, 5 days in late January, the coldest season in Japan.
We open all the windows in the room, men have their tops off and women wear T shirts and do Ki breathing sitting Seiza. The temperature is below zero. Usually, if we just sit in seiza for an hour in such an environment, our body will be freezing and would get sick.
However, if we do Ki breathing, blood circulation becomes very strong, and our whole body burns oxygen completely. Therefore, we barely feel the cold. We do not even get goose bumps. Many people even perspire.
There is an instance of a student suffering from nasal inflammation who became cured through this 5 days Ki breathing training in the winter. We can see the greatness of living power through this practice.