The Way, Aikido offers, is the process of learning the recipe of the Spiritual Man creation inside yourself through the masterly played game of mind and perception. It is a blessing to understand in what unique way the mind and perception can supplement each other to open, through mutual cooperation, the constant need of creative power of Love (Aiki) so utterly required perceiving oneself as a part of a perfect balanced state in which the whole universe rests.

1. The Mind Part

There are Ways of learning, which start from the mind. There is a danger, however, that everything will halt at discourse and unreliable assumptions level, not supported by practical experiments. There is no point to argue about concepts, goals and properties that do not lie in certain practical area. It cannot be perceived what it means to be hard or soft, fast or slow, and even honest or deceitful without a chance to manifest these qualities in human being. Nobody needs ‘philosophy’ – abstract and empty.

The things a common man usually perceives as Aikido «philosophy» is actually the attempt of Aikido Founder to bring the true meaning and mission of Aikido and to awake the human beings, who stay ignorant and makes futile attempts to primitively indulge themself. The «philosophy» of Aikido – isn’t just another opinion about life or formal philosophy based on some abstraction – it is an instruction for the use of the remedy for the individual, who has realized the problem of thier nature and find the inner necessity to be cured.

The correct approach of discovering the Aikido as an instrument of perception expansion and human nature amendment excludes speculative inferences and conclusions. Aikido practice gives an opportunity to feel the difference between ‘seen’ and ‘felt’. The one who understands this difference can hope to open the previously unperceivable part of the reality, which is an integral part of our existence, and a ubiquitous solution of all conflicts which prevent us from feeling the harmony of the true reality.

2. The Place of Perception

There are «physical» practices of self-development based on sensations and certain pleasures derived from these sensations. And there is danger – that they will be an instrument for egoistic needs of the self rather than Human development practices.

A lot of people, who have chosen the path of budo, are in pursuit for certain «practicality» and «applicability» in order to obtain the proper skills and abilities, saying: «Martial art should be martial». Thereby, the intent and purpose of such people could be acquiring of certain power (authority) in order to make judgment on other people under certain conditions. Naturally, motives or justifications in such efforts could be named self-defense, but it is clear that it is too little for a common man. People have egoistic tendency to seek superiority privilege.

Venturing into skill acquiring practices of different martial arts, people often come to the desire to make themselves automatons of reflexes, capable of reflective answering any enemy attack. People master algorithms of actions based on matrix of reflexes – i.e. techniques are honed to achieve automaticity based on interpretation of recognized indicators. This is seen as the pinnacle of excellence. And for this reason, there is no need in any kind of «philosophy» – you just let your reflexes work.

But why become an automaton of reflexes? Why not to seek being the Man? We don`t know, what it is to be the Man. To be a «robot» is much comprehensible and lucrative, because we know what pleasure of power we can experience if we have certain skills. This is what a common man seeks making another futile attempt to satisfy his egocentric needs, which are, by the way, never to be fulfilled. And so far there is no understanding, that the ‘Man’ category is much higher (more valuable) than pleasure of power and is far beyond egocentric perception.

The man should discover the true Budo in the result of his desire to learn the purpose of his life by himself. Why he was created, and why the life was given to him? Aikido, the Art of Peace, as the true Budo, gives an opportunity to cultivate the forces (which a common man lacks) in order to gain integrity and life joy prepared for the Man.

Wars and competitions are the products of flawed egocentric perception of human reality that emerged from the pursuit of self-satisfaction. It is a blessing to realize that the «enemy» – is an artificially generated conception, created by common people in the result of ignorance and flaws of their nature. The true Budo is intended to correct the flawed state of a human being by adding the missing element to the essence. But the true Budo becomes genuine only with the realization of the inner choice by each person.

Pursuing the goal to become a «martial machine» or «automaton of reflexes» is eventually a delusion. The aim is delusional, and, by no means, is getting such a person closer to the purpose of his existence, rather is fueling up destructive flame of his self, which perceives the Unity of all things distorted. (Read «One Source»).

Such is the nature of our world where the same action could lead to absolutely different results. The blade in hands of a man could serve good as well as evil. It all depends on the motive, intention, and goals of human actions. The same applies to Aikido practice. With a naked eye, it is impossible to say, judging by external actions of a man, what kind of powers do they cultivate in their practice – Aiki (the creative forces) or the self – egocentric (the destructive forces). Often, because of ignorance, the necessity to cultivate Aiki is not taken into account in action realization. The ignorant common man doesn’t feel the need in Aiki at all.

3. The Importance of the True Purpose

The motive, intent and purpose are known only to the man who performs the action. We can amuse ourselves by self-deception and seek some delusional aim, enjoying the anticipation of power and glory, which are actually incapable of bringing any good to people. But we can seek the true purpose by cultivating Aiki in contrast to destructive all-consuming egocentric powers of our Self; and those efforts are «against our selves, uncomfortable and empty». Everything depends on the choice of human beings, how they are using the instrument in their hands. And it is incredibly difficult to make this choice for a man, because there is no perception of the importance of the True Purpose…