03/28/2024
~ The Art of Peace ~
Morihei Ueshiba was the founder of Aikido, which can be translated as "The Art of Peace." The following quotations come from his collected talks, poems, and calligraphy. There are 114 quotes, here are the first four.
ONE: The Art of Peace begins with you. Work on yourself and your appointed task in the Art of Peace. Everyone has a spirit that can be refined, a body that can be trained in some manner, a suitable path to follow. You are here for no other purpose than to realize your inner divinity and manifest your innate enlightenment. Foster peace in your own life and then apply the Art to all that you encounter.
TWO: One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train.
THREE: All things, material and spiritual, originate from one source and are related as if they were one family. The past, present, and future are all contained in the life force. The universe emerged and developed from one source, and we evolved through the optimal process of unification and harmonization.
FOUR: The Art of Peace is medicine for a sick world. There is evil and disorder in the world because people have forgotten that all things emanate from one source. Return to that source and leave behind all self-centered thoughts, petty desires, and anger. Those who are possessed by nothing possess everything.
Additional quotes can be found here:
http://omlc.ogi.edu/aikido/talk/osensei/artofpeace/
