Myoken: The Shinjinkai Newsletter

2020 End-of-Year Note

"Standing in the mountain stream I wonder why it is no one can speak as purely as the water sounds against the stone." - Poems of Budo

A Sense of Place

“Learning is to a man as the leaves and branches are to a tree, and it can be said that he should simply not be without it." - From the Iwamizudera Monogatari, Takeda Shingen's (1521-1573 A.D.) discussions on human nature.

Fall Into Winter

“The ground becomes firm after the rain.” - Japanese Proverb

Have You Overcome Your Training Obstacles?

“Learning is something that should be studied broadly. It is, for example, like the beggar's bag in which everything from leftover meat to cold soup is stored."- Hosokawa Yusai

Knowledge Without Misunderstanding

“To study and not to think is darkness. To think without study is dangerous.” - Takeda Nobushige (1525-1561 A.D.) 'Opinions in Ninety-Nine Articles'.

Time to Refocus

"Ikyoku shuchu; Takyoku bunsan." [Concentrate on a single point; Spread out to many points]. - Toyoda Sensei's personal motto.

What Is Martial Clarity?

"Consider that which exists to exist and that which does not exist to not exist, and recognize things just as they are." - Hojo Nagaujii (1432-1519 A.D) 

Year of The Tiger

“In this uncertain world, ours should be the path of discipline.” - Shiba Yoshimasa (1350-1410 A.D.) 'Opinions in Ninety-Nine Articles'.