Post by wudanmonk on Nov 12, 2011 3:19:20 GMT
Satori is a Japanese term and refers to a sudden change of awareness, or an enlightened state.
There are many ways of attaining Satori, depending upon the religious practices of the tradition you follow. In the west, after the 'Hippy movement' of the 1960's, the concept was generally taken to mean something which was inherently 'good', or the experiencer was somehow 'enlightened'.
In most cases, satori was a goal one should aspire to achieve, but generally presented as something a particularly devoutly religious person might achieve (and by logical extension therefore, 'Holy people' such as priests, monks or religious scholars were more likely to achieve it)... so 'be good' if you want to achieve.
This westernised interpretation is not the whole story. Satori may be realised through a number of practices. It is true to say that it generally requries training and practice to achieve, but the length of time requiered varies from person to person, in the same way that learning to play the violin (well) does - some people will never be able to... and it is this last facet that has tended to glorify the satori moment (or state) I suspect.
I was shown a particular method of self-realisation and meditation which was taught to me by a well-known Japanese practitioner of the martial arts (7th Dan Black Belt in one of the original karate styles). For a long time I did not realise the technique was designed to force satori upon one. When the technique worked however, I finally understood what I had been doing. The way satori is achieved through the teaching of that karate style is a 'hard' method, very direct, and quite brutal (in reality).
The same satori is achieved through certain Chinese (martial) training techniques that I am aware of in an entirely different way (which is equally as effective, incidentally).
The experience is not exactly the same, as the mechanism by which one arrives at satori is very different, but the end result is identical.
Why might this be relevant to Reiki? Well, Reiki is linked to the satori state, in a round-about way. The person you heal may, if the energy you direct to them is succesfully applied, take them to the satori state. They will not ahve learned how to achieve it (you were the conduit) but you have certainly enabled them to so achieve.
Food for thought eh? If anybody is interested in knowing the techniques I have been shown for achieving satori, let me know.
There are many ways of attaining Satori, depending upon the religious practices of the tradition you follow. In the west, after the 'Hippy movement' of the 1960's, the concept was generally taken to mean something which was inherently 'good', or the experiencer was somehow 'enlightened'.
In most cases, satori was a goal one should aspire to achieve, but generally presented as something a particularly devoutly religious person might achieve (and by logical extension therefore, 'Holy people' such as priests, monks or religious scholars were more likely to achieve it)... so 'be good' if you want to achieve.
This westernised interpretation is not the whole story. Satori may be realised through a number of practices. It is true to say that it generally requries training and practice to achieve, but the length of time requiered varies from person to person, in the same way that learning to play the violin (well) does - some people will never be able to... and it is this last facet that has tended to glorify the satori moment (or state) I suspect.
I was shown a particular method of self-realisation and meditation which was taught to me by a well-known Japanese practitioner of the martial arts (7th Dan Black Belt in one of the original karate styles). For a long time I did not realise the technique was designed to force satori upon one. When the technique worked however, I finally understood what I had been doing. The way satori is achieved through the teaching of that karate style is a 'hard' method, very direct, and quite brutal (in reality).
The same satori is achieved through certain Chinese (martial) training techniques that I am aware of in an entirely different way (which is equally as effective, incidentally).
The experience is not exactly the same, as the mechanism by which one arrives at satori is very different, but the end result is identical.
Why might this be relevant to Reiki? Well, Reiki is linked to the satori state, in a round-about way. The person you heal may, if the energy you direct to them is succesfully applied, take them to the satori state. They will not ahve learned how to achieve it (you were the conduit) but you have certainly enabled them to so achieve.
Food for thought eh? If anybody is interested in knowing the techniques I have been shown for achieving satori, let me know.