This January sees an ever-growing energetic out-reach from our Foundation to try to help as many people as possible during 2016, whether their need is for perspective on their lives, to find inner peace, or even both of these things in pursuit of self-empowerment.

For example, on March 5th, we’re holding a charity fund-raising wrestling contest at the Victoria Hall, Hanley, to raise funds for our work with our partner veterans’ organizations, the Lee Rigby Foundation and the North Staffs Veterans Organization.

Putting it all together has been – and continues to be – most enlightening for us all here, discovering how each small action towards the greater goal has had positive consequences – it’s been as if every action initiated in pursuit of helping others has been surrounded by a positive force which responds by adding its own positive energy.

This should come as no surprise to those whove followed Kendo’s teachings – as he tells us during his Affirmation Stick Burning Ceremony, it is a powerfully positive and healing affirmation to remember that we are all inextricably linked to the entirety of nature around us, and the more considerate we are towards that great organic whole, the better it responds to us; symbolised by the Shinto ‘kami’ deities of nature, as our aspirations and affirmations reach them, the more they support us.

There is a perspective available here – even though Kendo has done so much to welcome people who need help and support into his home, he would like to do more, but every thing that he has done that’s been within his power has been rewarding, and has empowered more of the same work. Kendo points out that this applies to us all – even the smallest gesture towards supporting those who need help is motivated by the kind of energy that the natural world around us will respond positively to – we will all emphatically satisfy that fantastic Buddhist aspiration to be the best we can be for our families and the societies around us.

From January and for the whole of 2016, Kendo recommends that we all nurture that positive aspiration towards the best possible world for all, and such a vision will stoke the fires of positive momentum towards that outcome, in every action we take to help others.

It is well-known that the man behind Kendo Nagasaki’s mask, Yogensha, was born in the United Kingdom, so he is no stranger to Christmas, although from his teenage years, he was profoundly and extensively influenced by his Japanese judo teacher and spiritual sensei, Kenshiro Abbe.

Sensei Abbe taught young Yogensha about the simple elegance of Zen, and the powerful perspective of Kyu Shin Do, as well as how to be mindful, filtering-out everything superfluous to a single activity, so that it may be practised with absolute focus and all of one’s ability.

The experience of performing a task mindfully is remarkable – one becomes aware of subtleties which are unseen if the mind is preoccupied elsewhere, and there is a sense of the task “giving-back” to you, rewarding you for performing it so diligently. In this way, practising mindfulness can be as rewarding as meditation, and the fruits of all such actions cannot help but be excellent.

In this vein, Kendo would urge everyone to have a mindful Christmas. Kendo’s primary aim is to empower people so that they can live the best possible lives, and be of the greatest possible service to their families and communities. Christmas is a time of giving and good-will, and the underlying intent is for everyone in the society around us to feel included in our benevolence, and appreciated.

There are a great many ceremonies and celebrations in Japan throughout the year, which all seek to strengthen community bonds and engender good fortune for all, and, just like entire Japanese towns which throw themselves into such celebrations, we should do no less with Christmas. But, this year, Kendo suggests that we do so mindfully.

Kendo tells us that the mindful approach to Christmas goes far beyond its materialism – if you meditate and practice mindfulness, you know how centred and empowered they make you feel, and sharing your confidence, peace, and strength with everyone in the society around you may be the most empowering gift you could give, not only to an individual person, but consequently, to the whole of your society.

When you’ve thought and thought and thought until you can’t think any more, and your problem is still there – what then?

When you’re beating yourself up because you somehow KNOW you can sort this thing out, but it’s still there – when then?

When you’ve accepted that you might have to leave things for a while because you can’t sort them now, but every time the issue enters your mind, you feel ever-more panicked – what then?

When you wish you could get back to normal but your problems and your panic about their persistence keep creeping-up on you – what then?

When you can’t relax or forget your problem for even a moment, and you no longer enjoy or even engage with attempts at distracting yourself like watching television or listening to music – what then?

When you grind to a halt and begin to suspect that you might actually be beaten by this problem – what then?

When your problem keeps you awake at night and is the awful first thing you think of when you reluctantly wake up – what then?

When you start to feel like an island of pain and loneliness that just can’t be reached – what then?

Then – Zen, through Kyu Shin Do.

Last weekend saw the release of an important CD in Kendo’s series of meditations, his “Zen Kyu Shin Do Meditation”. Kyu Shin Do is the philosophy which was created by the master Japanese judoka and mystic, sensei Kenshiro Abbe, and to commemorate the positive influence that this brilliant visionary has had on the life of the man behind Kendo Nagasaki’s mask, the meditation was released on the anniversary of Yogensha receiving his black belt first dan judo certificate from sensei Abbe.

Those who know Kendo’s history will recall that the man behind Kendo’s mask, Yogensha, was taught judo, kendo, and Zen meditation by sensei Abbe, as well as essential elements of the Kyu Shin Do philosophy, and they were all instrumental in helping young Yogensha excel in judo and become the channel for the spirit guide known as Kendo Nagasaki.

What is not so well-known is that in addition to Kyu Shin Do having led young Yogensha to the foregoing successes, it was also responsible for nothing less than radically transforming his whole life. At the time when he first met sensei Abbe, Yogensha had little direction in life and no understanding of his potential, and it was sensei Abbe’s mentoring in general and Kyu Shin Do in particular which enabled Yogensha to find discipline, focus, and direction, and thus make the very most of his life.

In making this meditation, Kendo is seeking to share the perspectives and practises which helped a young Yogensha find peace, focus, and strength, making such empowerment available to everyone who needs it. More than this, though – he is also fulfilling that most fundamental of Buddhist practises, of being a force for positivity in the society around him.

A further tenet of Buddhism is that, in helping others, you help yourself, and the empowerment which flows from experiencing Kendo’s Zen Kyu Shin Do Meditation should make it progressively easier to be a beacon of peace and strength yourself – an inspiration to others, and so positivity, benevolence, and empowerment will continue to spread further and wider.

This is what is meant when mention is made of The Peace at the Heart of the Warrior – the peace is that which you experience at the centre of the Zen circle, it is accessed through Kyu Shin Do, and you become a warrior in the cause of ever-expanding positivity and empowerment of everyone whom you touch in your life. Zen through Kyu Shin Do empowers you, and others too, through the ways in which they see how you absorb it, feel it, and live by it.

The changeable days of September’s weather can be compared to the ups and downs of life, and how despite sometimes feeling favoured by a warm day and at other times oppressed by chill or rain, these seemingly random contrasts are a necessary part of appreciating the best of times.

Just as Kendo reminds us that every pebble on the pathways around The Retreat can be regarded as representing a challenge in our lives, walking the pathways reminds us that we have successfully overcome all those which lie behind us, and this is an encouraging thought for all that may lie ahead.

The foregoing examples are two among many other helpful ‘perspectives’ on life that Kendo gives us, which help us to remain positive in ourselves and as we affect others – basically, in the realm of the everyday world, which is so dependent upon how we use our conscious minds. Using such perspectives to help steer our minds in the most positive, productive, and pro-social ways means that we will serve our communities well – a fundamental aim of Buddhism.

But Kendo would also remind us that whilst it is wise to have such attitudes readily available to the mind, the most positive thing we can possibly do with our minds is to set time aside to completely still them. Sometimes life’s challenges can be so great that there is no ‘perspective’ which can accommodate their effects on us, and such a challenge is really calling for us to seek the deeper wisdom of Zen.

Whilst the literal translation of Zen is ‘meditation’, in Japanese Buddhism, it is an entire way of life characterised by stillness, including stilling all else other than the task one is immediately engaged in; this centuries-old form of practising stillness is known these days as ‘mindfulness’, and appreciation of its worth continues to grow.

So, Kendo would tell us to certainly be ready to apply the most pertinent positive perspective moment-by-moment to our immediate lives, but also to remember that there are more resources available to us to help deal with the larger and deeper issues than a perspective can accommodate.

This is the fundamental message of Kendo’s ‘Zen through Kyu Shin Do’ – combining the perspective of seeing yourself at the still centre of the circle of your life, and practising stillness yourself, together the perspective and the practice are immensely empowering.

…and ‘empowerment’ is the perspective which Kendo Nagasaki brings to us all.

On Sunday, 9th August, Kendo Nagasaki accepted an invitation to attend the British Wrestlers’ Reunion in Dartford, near London. It was a celebration of British Professional Wrestling, attended by a great many wrestling fans and famous names from wrestling’s historic “glory days”, and Kendo was honoured by being inducted into their Hall of Fame.

As such an important and pivotal figure in British Professional Wrestling, Kendo’s presence was much appreciated by his colleagues and fans, and he spent a great deal of time signing autographs and posing for photographs with the many who wanted them.

It is only now that he has retired from wrestling that the nature of Kendo’s mystique is becoming clearer to his fans and those whom he inspires, and while one should always expect the unexpected of Kendo, his actions at the Wrestlers’ Reunion clearly illustrated the depth of his spirituality – without taking anything from the wrestling celebrations, he effortlessly opened avenues of spiritual appreciation among those present.

The 9th August is, of course, the anniversary date of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city of Nagasaki, and Kendo both acknowleged this, and prefaced a ceremonial donation to the Wrestlers’ Reunion with a moment of silence for Nagasaki and all those lost and injured in war, and a prayer for peace.

Kendo also presented a member of the audience with one of his Empowerment Affirmation sticks. In addition to bearing the image of Yakushi Nyorai, the Medicine Buddha, who brings healing and reassurance to all who need them, the stick had been with Kendo in his meditations on healing and empowerment, and was therefore a powerful symbol of positive and healing energies.

Something that was not immediately clear was that with each signature and photo, Kendo was giving out a summary of the brilliant philosophy of his sensei, Kenshiro Abbe, as explained by Kendo himself. Such esoteric wisdom is entirely in keeping with Kendo’s mystical image, but the philosophy, Kyu Shin Do, is genuinely powerful, and what may at first seem to be a stylish ‘freebie’ could be a genuine gateway to a better life for the recipient.

Kendo’s mystique has remained an un-tapped resource for decades, constantly being the subject of speculation and wild guesswork, and he never made any effort to explain himself. He has told us that the time was not right then, but it is now, and this is why he ever-more clearly exhibits the characteristics of the samurai-turned-philosopher, the warrior-priest of his past lives.

In his actions on Sunday, Kendo is fulfilling the most fundamental tenet of Buddhism, of being a force for all things positive in the world around him. This is Bushido, the way of the most honourable of warriors, the path chosen by those who strive for the awareness, the strength, and the dedication to be a force only for good.

Examples like Kendo Nagasaki are indeed rare these days, but if we follow only a fraction of his wisdom, we, too, will be a force for good in the world around us, and consequently, for ourselves.

Kendo’s explanation of Kenshiro Abbe’s “Kyu Shin Do” philosophy can be found HERE.

This July’s healing message has been delayed by forces outside our control, and it has therefore essentially acquired an additional meaning, and that must be to optimistically prevail.

The original Healing Message for July was centred around the gifts of the summer, when the sun’s energy is at its strongest in the Northern hemisphere. Both growth and expression can be seen in nature during the summertime, and Kendo tells us to observe this lesson of the deities of nature, and be ready and willing to accept all gifts of positive energy, and also be ready to turn them around and re-express those energies in any and all ways that support and improve the environment around us.

The Nagasaki 50th Anniversary Cherry Tree Orchard is a fine example of these processes; the young trees are becoming fuller and greener in the warmth of the sun, taking-in nature’s goodness and using it to become a greater part of nature’s beauty, and all the time, we can reflect that next spring, the cherry blossoms will appear on even bigger and more lush trees than we can even imagine now – it’s a joyous prospect.

When we found that we couldn’t upload the Healing Message for July, Kendo pointed out that the delay has something to tell us. Just as the final blossoming of the cherry trees represents a reward at the end of anticipation, a wait, in-and-of-itself, should not carry negative connotations, which risk adversely colouring that which we’ve been awaiting. The beauty of cherry blossom is not diminished if it arrives some days later in any given year, as it sometimes does, because of forces beyond our control; this is a perspective which is worth carrying into all aspects of our lives.

Kendo is not saying that adherance to a schedule is unimportant, but that if something is delayed, we must not allow our reactions to the delay to undermine the worth of that which has been awaited, or distract us from whatever else requires our full attention.

There is a lovely little phrase in Japan: “Shou ga nai”, which basically means, “it can’t be helped”, but it’s actually a valuable component of a less-stressed and more joyous existence. The Japanese Bullet Train really is punctual to the minute, and everyone works their hardest to maintain that quality of service, but being stressed-out over adversities only becomes a distraction which mitigates against peak performance, of individuals, and the organisations which are the sum of their efforts.

Therefore, Kendo says, “Shou ga nai” – let it go. Nothing is diminished if you have always done your best regardless of what has befallen you, especially if you have been able to cast off frustrations which would only impede you. Kendo is, in fact, grateful for being able to add this extra dimension to July’s Healing Message – emulate nature in always being a force for good, and, like nature, remember to act in accordance with the greater current of positive movement even if you find your expectations haven’t been met.

After all, the cherry trees will still blossom even if the rain is a little late.

On this Distance Healing day, those joining us at The Retreat for the Healing Ceremony will also be partaking of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, as conducted by Kendo himself. While not necessarily apparent at first, Kendo points out that visualising wellness and strength for others in the Distance Healing Ceremony and participating in the Tea Ceremony actually have some important things in common.

It’s a Buddhist obligation to seek to be of the greatest possible worth to the society in which you live, and this requires placing other things above your own ego. This is, of course, done in Kendo’s Distance Healing Ceremony, but the Tea Ceremony is also very effective in making a person examine their relationships with their environment. Such enhanced awareness of how even the smallest action can have a great impact upon everything around you amounts to enhanced humility – arguably, a person cannot care too much about whether their influence is as positive as it can be.

Kendo has written a great deal about invisible energies which are nonetheless very real and powerful, and science is only just beginning to be able to reveal them. That the appearance of such evidence is gradual actually parallels the development of enlightenment in people on the spiritual path – you are unlikely to notice something subtle unless your willingness to look for it – and believe in it – increases.

All the foregoing are examples of the kind of subtle yet intensive work that Kendo asks us to continually do upon ourselves. Stilling the mind is the first goal, closely followed by ever-more sensitive appreciation of how we affect the people and nature around us. It is so easy to forget that we are natural organisms, and even easier to forget that we are spiritual beings, and remembering this and appreciating the extent, complexity, and subtlety of our links with nature will bring about a coalescing of our own invisible energies and those around us in the natural world, and inevitably lead to the best possible health.

Kendo is highly skilled at using symbols and metaphors which reveal both the presence and importance of nature’s invisible forces to the wayward conscious mind, and the simple yet subtle disciplines of the Tea Ceremony are a fine example of this; there’s more to it than meets the eye, and understanding that we should always seek to refine even the most subtle things will bring about surprisingly positive consequences, on perhaps even unexpected levels.

Those who attended the Kendo Nagasaki Event day of 17th May will recall that a member of our inner family, Yvonne, received some worrying news, which was that her son, Dexley, had been taken ill during a charity cycle ride. At the time, there was no news on how serious the situation was, but we did know that Dexley had been taken to hospital by ambulance with concerns about his heart and following some worrying symptoms.

Kendo spontaneously called for a group Distance Healing, and he is most grateful to all the guests on the day for immediately participating.

Dexley was kept in hospital while various tests were run, and it has taken some time for a clearer picture to emerge, but he seems to be very well. The tests are not quite finished, and he’s not yet been cleared to resume his competition-level cycling, but the doctors have not been able to find any problem with his health, which is excellent news. The positive energies which were sent by everyone at The Retreat on 17th can only have contributed to this excellent outcome, which bodes very well for the future.

As with everyone on Kendo’s Distance Healing List, we continue to visualise good health for Dexley and peace of mind for his family. Kendo points out that projecting the two principal aspects of the Medicine Buddha, Yakushi Nyorai, which are healing and the reassurance to not be afraid, is an action of great benevolence and enlightenment, which not only spreads positive energy throughout the world, but also draws it to those who act with such selfless compassion. Kendo reminds us that visualising ourselves as an integral part of such an inter-connected and positively-energised natural world is deeply and universally empowering.

It’s part of Kendo’s philosophy that everyone should strive for two principal things: to be of service and support to one’s family, and to be of value to the society in which one lives. This approach to functioning successfully has more facets than are first apparent – in order to do these things, you must succeed in other ways first, beginning with your self.

Society is a very complex thing, dependent upon countless subtleties in the great many relationships which give it life, and we are all responsible for the quality of those relationships. Kendo has remarked many times before about the role that certain people play as “instruments of destiny” – it is their function to bring the challenges which test our patience, our self-control, our philanthropy, and our wisdom. Indeed, life can be regarded as a never-ending series of tests, which is why it is so important to be in touch with our intuitive selves for wise guidance, and it is Kendo’s aspiration to help everyone he can towards that enlightened and empowered goal.

The Buddhism which Kendo practises and advocates is disarmingly simple, which is perhaps why it is so effective: meditation for peace and strength, mindfulness as the expression of diligence, self-improvement, and excellence, and reflection and contemplation to keep steering the wayward conscious mind towards working as part of an enlightened team, as opposed to leading us astray. When reflected-upon, the sheer wisdom of these practises is reassuring in itself, which is also an excellent starting point if we have other preoccupations, such as a need for healing.

This perspective gives rise to a really helpful perspective for those with health issues – don’t become preoccupied with something you can’t change by willing it: remind yourself of the things where you can still make a difference, and apply yourself conscientiously to yourself. One of the lessons of the Medicine Buddha is to “Fear Not”, and in many ways this is another test, one of discrimination. Kendo has remarked that worry in itself is counter-productive, but so is allowing your attention to be diverted from your principal responsibility as a human being – being of the greatest possible value to your family and your society. Fear not, and without even realising it, you’ll make more of a positive difference than you can imagine.

As an adjunct to this month’s Healing Message, with the constant improvement in communications, the society around us encompasses more and more of the whole world, and it is evident that the earthquake in Nepal is a tragedy of huge proportions, particularly following Tuesday’s second quake, which brought even more destruction, deaths, and injuries. The Kendo Nagasaki Foundation has already contributed towards disaster relief in Nepal, and Kendo encourages everyone to help to whatever extent they can – even small donations all add up, and can really make a difference in the lives of people who have lost what little they had. We continue to support them, and wish them well.