On New Year's Eve, many Japanese people visit temples and shrines to celebrate and welcome the New Year. Jyoya no Kane is the gong you often hear in Japan during this time. It is struck 108 times to remind us that humans accumulate 108 obstacles or sins during life. Each time you hit the gong at year-end, one of them disappears. I visited a small Zen temple near my apartment in Tokyo to hit the Jyoya no Kane. You can see me in the picture, looking oh-so-serious getting rid of my sins!

Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Gods of Fortune, are Japanese mythical gods who bring different types of good fortune to us. For example, Daikoku is the god of wealth, Hotei is the god of health, Benzaiten is the goddess of knowledge and beauty. Particular temples enshrine particular lucky gods. It is believed that if you visit all the seven gods at the beginning of the year, you will be healthy and wealthy. I took advantage of my being in Japan at the first year and made all 7 visits. It is such a fun thing to do. At each temple, you can buy one of the Fukujin figures and ask the monks to seal the figure’s name. At the end of visiting seven temples, you will have a full set of seven figures and seals. I’ve included a photo of the figures I collected. The last time I spent the New Year in Tokyo was about 25 years ago!!

And you cannot forget the special food! It is another tradition to eat Soba noodles on New Year's Eve to foster a long life. Then on New Year's Day, you eat very special food called Osechi. This is a picture of Osechi.

May this New Year be a happy and prosperous year for everybody.

Masahiro

Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Gods of Fortune, are Japanese mythical gods who bring different types of good fortune to us. For example, Daikoku is the god of wealth, Hotei is the god of health, Benzaiten is the goddess of knowledge and beauty. Certain temples enshrine particular lucky gods. It is believed that if you visit all the seven gods at the beginning of the year, you will be healthy and wealthy. I took advantage of my being in Japan at the first year and made all 7 visits. It is such a fun thing to do. At each temple, you can buy one of the Fukujin figures and ask the monks to seal the figure’s name. At the end of visiting seven temples, you will have a full set of seven figures and seals. I’ve included a photo of the figures I collected. The last time I spent the New Year in Tokyo was about 25 years ago!!

Some Thoughts and Memories of Taichi

Newsletter No. 1 -October 28th 2006


It is believed that Taichi was developed by the legendary Taoist sage Zheng Sanfeng in the 12th century. There are many legends and stories about how Taichi Chuan was formed. But what we know for certain is that it is an extremely yin martial art -- if you consider it a martial art. It is also thought of as a moving meditation benefiting both health and mind.

My Early Practice Experiences
I would like to share some of my thoughts and experiences with Taichi.

I came across Taichi when I was in my late teens. At that time I was involved in many things. I was practicing Shaolin Temple Kung Fu with a very dedicated teacher. He lived nearby and we practiced every day. I had been practicing meditation for several years and was also very interested in American psychology, particularly Gestalt and Transcendental Analysis. I was involved in the theater as an actor and director, practicing the primary scream and body awareness exercises such as Noguchi Taiso. I did not think of these various things as related. It was only much later that I realized that all of these practices are pretty much the same thing. …After 30 years or so.

The more I practiced Kung Fu, the more aggressive my immediate body reactions became. I also found that some of the Kung Fu experts lacked maturity, even though they were pretty skillful and strong. I was also not so happy about my situation in college and did not know what I should be doing (I still do not know but now I am proud of not knowing!). I was looking for some meaning for my life. I started trying many different things: I tried marathon running when Dr. Cooper introduced Aerobics to Japan. I started Hatha Yoga. I became vegetarian. I began Kundalini meditation and much more.

My First Taichi Teacher - Yang Ming Shi
One day I read about Taichi--a most Yin martial art--and I found a wonderful teacher, Yang Ming Shi. I fell in love with his slow and graceful movements. Taichi was little known and Yoga was even less known in Japan at that time, but I continued both practices.

Yang Ming Shi’s teaching was very informal, he just did the Taichi form and we followed him. We also practiced the Eight Steps of Silk Brocade before our Taichi practice. He did not explain much about Taichi or its philosophy, but I learned so much from him and the movements. The form was some kind of 24 Yang style. But his movements were a little different every time he practiced (at least I remember it that way). Yang Ming Shi was so likable, I was sure that when I got married I would ask Teacher Yang to perform the ceremony. That did not happen!

Little things he said I still remember: “move like water,” ”today is today,” “this may be the last step of your life.” I heard he passed away last year. I did not have an opportunity to express my true appreciation of what he gave to me, since I have not seen him for long time.　A few years ago, I found his Taichi video, I cannot say his form was one of the best Taichi forms I’ve encountered, but it was very pleasing and flow and openness were there.

I now realize that what I learned from him was not a Taichi form; it was the essence of Taichi. I cannot express what it is exactly in words yet. But I hope I have cultivated that essence over the years and that I continue to live with it and enjoy my transformation even a little bit.

My Travels on the Taichi Path
I became more deeply involved with Yoga. I spent a year in India and committed to Kundalini mediation for many years. But I always kept my Taichi practice. I practiced Taichi at every Yoga Ashram I visited. It helped me to stay sane and happy. When I was living at the Esalen Institute in the late seventies, one morning I practiced Taichi by the ocean and many whales came to the shore. Over the years many wild animals and butterflies have done Taichi with me. Once when I was very heartbroken by romantic love and I was talking about it with one of my best friends. The friend asked, “Do you apply your Taichi in your life now?” It made so much sense! It did not cure my
heartbreak right away, but it has really changed how I digest life’s pains.

I have cried, laughed, contemplated and smiled with Taichi. And I am still doing it and I will do it for a long time to come.

Teaching Taichi
For me, in its essence Taichi is not movements, it is teaching and it is being. Over the years, my Taichi form has changed quite a bit. In some ways it has developed because I have learned many movement methods: Feldenkreis, Miyake Taiso, Hatha Yoga, different Qigong, DaoYin, other Taichi Forms. But my essential attitude toward Taichi is the same.

When I teach Taichi I do not focus on showing how to move correctly. It is more important to me to convey how your body and subtle energy flow with that particular time and space. It should be a little different with each person and each time. Life is pretty similar but it is always unique.

Thanks to Master Chia, who taught me almost privately in the early days, I learned a lot about the power of Taichi. Thanks to Master Li, I learned a lot about subtle movement adjustments.

Yes, it is good for your health. It encourages better breathing, better hormone balance, better circulation, better physical balance, and a better immune system. But more than that it encourages getting in touch with our real self and our real power: the power to open and flow and the power within each of us.

The longer I practice Taichi, the more I see it is unique: It is very calm and gentle but at the same time so very powerful. No wonder it is considered an internal martial art. We sometimes have to be the quiet and gentle warrior for ourselves and against ourselves to see our true selves.

Upcoming Workshop – November 11th and 18th (Two Saturdays)
I am excited to teach Taichi this month: November 11th and 18t, from 1pm to 6pm. I do not have any set goals in terms of learning the movements. I decided not to rush and teach many movements. Instead, I want to take time and try to touch the essence of Taichi. Let’s learn gradually together with these incredible slow movements that have such deep power.


Our TaoZen Taichi has its roots in several styles, but remember it is beyond the form. Even though I am going to pay attention to the details of movement, awareness and breathing, it is beyond the movements. I am sure you will experience this. Everyone loves to feel that warm realization, and once you experience it, no one can take it away from you. Details and registration information about the Workshops can be found at our website: www.taozenlife.com.

I am hoping to send you my thoughts on things regularly. If you have any comments or any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email.

Love and lots of light.

Masahiro Ouchi
October 28th. 2006