If you do not establish the connection with the true emptiness, you will never perceive the Art of Peace.

Brief Comment

Emptiness precedes the filling. The emptiness of a bowl makes it functional. Functionality is manifested in the ability of the corresponding filling. Question precedes the answer. It is impossible to receive the true answer without asking the true question. The quality of the commonly perceived needs by people can be described with the intention to fill their gut desires of different types, which will be correspondingly satisfied.

The emptiness is the capacity prepared by a person to be occupied with the corresponding filling. There is also importance of the question perceived by a person. The need will be satisfied sooner or later. It is defined by the preparation and patience – together they form the volume of emptiness which will be filled with the answer – corresponding filling. The importance of the question define the measure of efforts the person is capable to undertake to receive the answer. The issue is not in the absence of information, knowledge, etc. (filling) – the issue is in the perception absence of the importance of these or other questions.

In the end, people find what they were looking for. The issue is in the ultimate importance of the questions they were asking. But what kind of questions can a person ask suffering from the flaw of their nature with the twisted perception of the reality? Can they ask the ultimate questions, or feel a certain necessity in the answer about the ultimate value of life – “establish the connection with the true emptiness”?

Initially, suffering from the flaw of their nature, a person cannot ask the true question and therefore cannot even seek things possessing ultimate values – to receive the true answer. They do not have sensor for the Truth. This sensor has to be developed. The True Emptiness is the right question which has to be revealed by the person in the search. Only then do they become capable to see that Aikido (the Art of Peace) is waiting with the answer, ready to provide with the true filling possessing ultimate values.

The question is how to ask the right question? Whom to listen? If there is no one to listen to, there is no decision. The answer is only the faith (which is the characteristic of the Way) can pick you up from the dead end. Only by aspiration to establish new kind of connection with the world around do people have an opportunity to progress on the Way. The True Way is the Way of Faith in its essence. The Way of Faith is an extra effort over your self, the actions above your calculations and understanding. The Way of Faith provides us with the only thread to achieve progress in purification.

It is necessary to reveal the true question (emptiness) which will drive you to the right target – to perfection. The right aspiration provides the satisfaction with the Good/Truth without doubt in its verity. You need to reveal the right question and progress in realization of its importance. Regarding the fact that the value of the question is not stimulated by the external forces of our world, the Man has to make additional efforts to keep and develop interest (need) in the questions of spiritual category – “establish the connection with the true emptiness.” In this regard, Aikido practice uncovers space for the actions and also becomes the specialized solution – the instrument for filling of the true need (emptiness) of the Man.