The philosophy of Ichi San, San Ichi is central to Tendai Buddhism and reflects the total integration of all things.
Tendai lays great emphasis on study and practise. Meaning that actual putting into practise that which has been learned or studied in practical ways. A 'hands on' practical or experiential way or ways.
A general perception of Buddhism may be that it is somewhat passive, a theoretical approach to the spiritual path. But Buddhism is in fact, very much active despite appearances because it needs to be ACTUALISED as well as REALISED and the methods of achieving this are very much varied.
As a martial artist as well as being a Tendai Priest, I have found my martial arts teaching, practise and training as great opportunities to both experience and actualise Buddhist teachings and principles. Partner practises are of course ideal for this, but it is weapons work that brings out the valuable challenges.
Almost instantly a weapon is picked up, so the ego is not far behind. This is no more true than those practises which involve bladed weapons as these seem to tap into our images of life and death. We only have ideas of what being on a battlefield may have been like through glorified images in movies and, for the most part, training is approached with these images in mind and naturally, we would be the victors in these imagined encounters. In this alone, there is a great lesson.
However, weapons can teach us a lot about ourselves once the images are put aside. One of the most effective weapons highlighting lessons of self and other is the simple Jo (staff). It has no pointed end or razor sharp blade, but has the nature of presenting the most wonderful challenges as both a weapon in its own right and as a means of hands on experience of Ichi San, San Ichi.
The Jo gives instant feedback especially when practising with a partner. As a practise of experiencing a principle, a partner takes hold of the Jo. The practise is to manipulate the Jo through movement in order to control the partner. Because the Jo has little flexibility, if approached in the wrong way, the outcome will most likely be a stalemate.
In order to control the partner, the philosophy/principle of Ichi San, San Ichi is the key. In this practise, the key to Ichi San, San Ichi is Ki Musubu or 'knotting Ki'. We view the partner, as indeed we do ourselves, not as a separate entity, but as a collection of atoms. A mass of Ki if you will. The Jo is the bridge connecting both collections of Ki. Viewed in this way, there is no three and ultimately there is no one.
Getting closer to Buddhist teaching, we remind ourselves that nothing has its own being or substance. All is dependent on other things. Practise with the Jo and a partner highlights this Truth further reflected as Ichi San, San Ichi.
Gassho
(Reverend Jiryo Moxon)
| 
One in Three, Three in One (一三、三一）
