Morihei Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) was the founder of Aikido. At age eighteen, Ueshiba joined the Japanese military, during which time he also developed his skills in the martial arts. He eventually left the military, deeply discouraged by the death and destruction that results from combat. Ueshiba continued to experiment with a variety of martial arts, finding particular joy in the spiritual aspects of martial arts. He came to believe that a real warrior was one who was rooted in love, and it was in this spirit that he began to develop Aikido, a martial art that emphasizes harmony and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

Morihei Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) was the founder of Aikido. At age eighteen, Ueshiba joined the Japanese military, during which time he also developed his skills in the martial arts. He eventually left the military, deeply discouraged by the death and destruction that results from combat. Ueshiba continued to experiment with a variety of martial arts, finding particular joy in the spiritual aspects of martial arts. He came to believe that a real warrior was one who was rooted in love, and it was in this spirit that he began to develop Aikido, a martial art that emphasizes harmony and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

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GUIDES

Techniques of Harmony | A Selection of Excerpts from the Art of Peace

The Art of Peace is Required, Not the Art of War

The divine beauty
Of heaven and earth!
All creation,
Members of
One family.

Ai

Eight forces sustain creation:
Movement and stillness,
Solidification and fluidity,
Extension and contraction,
Unification and division.

Hikari

Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Sit comfortably and first contemplate the manifest realm of existence. This realm is concerned with externals, the physical form of things. Then fill your body with ki and sense the manner in which the universe functions—its shape, its color, and its vibrations. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all the fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with that of your own body, becoming the breath of life itself. As you calm down, naturally let yourself settle in the heart of things. Find your center, and fill yourself with light and heat.

Su

The Art of Peace originates with the flow of things—its heart is like the movement of the wind and waves. The Way is like the veins that circulate blood through our bodies, following the natural flow of the life force. If you are separated in the slightest from that divine essence, you are far off the path.

art of peace

Crystal clear,
Sharp and bright,
The sacred sword
Allows no opening
For evil to roost.

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Morihei UeshibaMorihei Ueshiba (1883–1969) was the founder of Aikido. He came to believe that a real warrior was one who was rooted in love, and it was in this spirit that he began to develop Aikido, a martial art that emphasizes harmony and the peaceful resolution of conflict. See more about him here.

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Readers’ Picks

In thinking about year-end gifts, we want to share what YOU have to say.

Below are some lovely quotations from readers on their favorite Shambhala books.

Do you have one to add? Please comment at the bottom!

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“This book showed me a different way, a way to devote discipline of both my body and mind.”

—Clint

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“As a therapist, I recommend this to anyone seeking permanent life change realistically.”

—Paul

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“If there is one book in my collection that I could give away to everyone, it would be this book.”

—Michael

Writing Down the Bones

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“This book changed my life as a writer, a teacher of writing, and as an individual!”

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—Shane

When Things Fall Apart

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Walden

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“This is, plain and simply, an astonishing book.”

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Siddhartha

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“Pure, melodic, poetic, this book should be one of the first ones on the list for every serious reader.”

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“Every time I read Tao Te Ching, the book feels new again, fresh, as if only just discovered.”

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The Religion of Tomorrow

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The Fountain Tarot

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—Kirsten

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