Meditation (Seiku)
I am my own refuge and source of strength. On whom may I rely if not myself? With a wisely disciplined self, I find a truly rare and precious fountain of strength. By doing evil, I contaminate myself. By not doing evil, I purify myself. Purity and impurity come from within, and others cannot purify my heart.
Oath (Seigan)
We pledge to follow the principles of Shorinji Kempo in practice and in daily life:
To affirm the founder.
To be honest with our teachers.
To respect those ahead of us.
To not disdain those behind us.
To give as well as receive help.
To cooperate, and to give ourselves to contributing to the Way.
We pledge to set aside our preoccupations in learning this art as if we were newborn children.
We pledge to use this art only to help people, never for our reputation or profit.
Creed (Shinjo)
Mindful that our spirit came from Dharma and our bodies from our parents, we acknowledge debts and express out gratitude by applying ourselves to the fullest.
We resolve ourselves to making the country worthy of love by improving the lives of its people.
We resolve to become men and women of true courage who love justice, foster peace, respect humanity, and act with decorum.
We strive to improve the world by practicing the principles of Kongo Zen, strengthening ourselves mentally and physically and sharing this purpose with others in mutual friendship, respect, and support.
The ultimate reality cannot be comprehended by human thought and Kongo-Zen does not recognize an invented reality that projects human's fears and needs. There is no need for humans to claim to be gods or profit from being intermediaries for gods. Praying to gods will not solve problems. Kongo-Zen states that problems are to be solved by man by acquiring more knowledge and becoming one with the spirit of Dharma.
There is the important Kongo-Zen concept of the Middle Path of Harmony. It states that extremes must be avoided. For an individual to recognize and attempt to solve the problems of the world it is necessary to have both a strong mind and a strong body. Ignoring one aspect would not make a completed human. Both the mental and the physical aspects of the world must be acknowledged and be in balance.
There also is a middle path relationship between the individual and society. There must be a middle path between selfishness and selflessness. Humans must realize their dependence on others, but preserve their individuality.
There are four essential teachings of Shorinji Kempo, which will be briefly explained:
The Answer Lies in Man
The individual is responsible for his own welfare and happiness, and should not blame others and society for what befalls him. Training aims to produce responsible individuals who can relate to society in a meaningful and fruitful way.
The Unity of Ken and Zen
Ken refers to the body or action. Zen refers to the mind or composure. The mind and the body are inseparable. A troubled mind can lead to poor health, and, conversely, poor health can bring about a troubled mind. Both mind and body need to be cultivated for a complete individual.
The Unity of Strength and Love
The reality of life is that justice must be enforced by strength. Passive submission is not beneficial to anyone. Forgiveness, coming from love, must be supported by the power to punish. Shorinji Kempo uses strength for preservation of life, not for killing. Force is to be used as a final measure and only for the purpose of self -preservation.
Living Half for Oneself and Half for Others
Humans must think of the welfare of others as well as their own. One must not deprive others at the cost of the individual. While pursuing the benefits for oneself, one should also benefit others.
Reply
