Among the modern martial arts most often mentioned in relation to "spirituality" is the Japanese martial art aikido, created by Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969) in the 1940s. He described aikido as an art of peace and viewed its practice as a spiritual endeavour. Academic observers, however, have cast doubt on the authenticity of spiritual content in the martial art while others consider that spirituality is not possible outside the confines of established religion. This book refutes these arguments by exploring in detail aikido's relationship to Japan's spiritual traditions. Drawing extensively on Ueshiba's discourses and wiritings, it compares the aikido world view and practice methods with those of four belief systems influential in Japan-Daoism, Zen Buddhism, Shingon Mikkyo and Shinto. The book shows how Ueshiba pierced the meaning of these traditions and was able thereby to synthesise their spiritual practices creatively. It also sheds light on various sources of confusion surrounding spiritual aspects of the martial arts and should interest martial arts' practitioners and anyone concerned more widely with new forms of spirituality. Margaret Greenhalgh has practised aikido since 1978 and has broad interests in East Asian culture, philosophy and religion. She has a BA in French and Spanish from the University of London and an MA in East Asian Studies from Durham University, England.

Contents Introduction Chapter One Spirituality in the martial arts Part One Charting the territory Sports and the sacred/secular dichotomy Martial arts and 'spiritual education' Issues of terminology: budo and bushido Aikido's world view Function as a means of evaluating spirituality Part Two Main themes of Japanese spirituality The syncretic tradition Interconnectedness of being Non-duality, cosmic vision and the "path" to enlightenment Knowledge by direct experience The body as instrument Transformaition through affirmation The divine in the phenmenal The concept of ki Chapter Two Ueshiba Morihei's life and thought Ueshiba Morihei-some impressions Ueshiba's life: a brief sketch Ueshiba and the spiritual legacy of the martial arts Ueshiba's personal asceticism, spiritual practice and experiences Ueshiba and the state Ueshiba's thought: sources and transmission Chapter Three: Aikido and Daoism-The transmutation of ki Daiost infuence on Japanese culterue Daoism and the Japanaese martial arts Daoism and the nature of reality Daoism and aikido: common concepts Daoism and aikido: principles of spiritual practice Chapter Four: Zen Buddhism and aikido-"Emptiness" and Buddha-nature Ueshiba and Zen Buddhism Zen in the martial arts: fact or fantasy "Suzuki Zen" and Takuan Soho Zen and aikido: common approaches to reality Zen and aikido practice: no-mind and development of the heart Chapter Five: Aikido and Shingon Mikkyo-body, sound and mind History of Shingon Mikkyo in Japan Identification with the cosmic Buddha Aikido and Tantric perspectives on the body The three "secrets" as inspiration for aikido Chapte Six: Aikido and Shintoist beliefs-Musubi, misogi and kotodama Shinto in the Meiji era Aikido and Omotokyo Aikido and kami Aikido and the spiritual practices of Shinto Aikido and kotodama Conclusion Bibliography