Sanmai-ittai is a Japanese word, basically it means being together in harmony three elements. It is used in the Art of Kyudo, Sometimes called Japanese Zen Archery. Bringing together the Mind, Body/spirit and Bow as one unit to preform a perfect shot. In the world of Shaolin Kung Fu and other martial arts we also speak of bring the three elements , the three states of being together to make one harmonious move, form, or performance. In Chan we see our existence, the universe on three planes or as three elements, The Mind, the Physical, the Spirit. One of the things different from our practice and other “Zen” forms is we do our practice to unite the three elements, the three faces of life. As I said before Chan is not just about sitting.
I had written several post on Sanmai-ittai on my blog concerning my Kyudo practice. One dealing with using sitting Chan (spirit), Tai Chi ( body) and Kyudo ( mind) as three element practice. Chan as a foundation, to build the Chi and focus the mind to support the other levels. Coming from a Shaolin Martial Art background I tend to look our Chan practice as a support for the physical to develop the spiritual and mental.
At our weekly Thursday Chan practice there were just three of us, two sisters and myself. We were discussing the next session for our group, changes , additions. What can we do different to bring in and keep the attention of the new seekers. Sister Y.C. has been with Shifu for a while and is very well versed in his teaching. She agreed to handle the lecture part of the next session. She is very good and comfortable with that. Sister P.C. is very good at research and finding facts, information, books, etc. She agreed to handle that side of things for the development of the class. I still consider myself a youngster with the group , even though I have been at this for a while. I feel I lack the depth of knowledge my supportive sisters do. I am there with the class but I feel my role has been more as moral support than and real help. Once in a while I can add my two cent worth of experience and knowledge from another view or support of one shared. I really feel more like I learn more than I give and am not much help.
Sister Y.C. says we are going advertise this group from now as Shaolin Chan here in Berkeley as that is our foundation background. Can you lead/teach Tai Chi and perhaps some motion Chan. Oh, I thought something I can do, here is my role for the group now. As I listened to this all unfold. it came to me Sanmai-ittai . This is a manifestation of the three elements of Chan. Physical, Mental, and Spiritual. We are it right here. I shared this with the sisters and P.C. pointed it out right away who was what. We got a good laugh at the workings of the Tao.






Chan (Zen) from another perspective:






We were gather together on November 14, 2009, Â not because someone wanted to meet someone else, not because we were empty or lonely inside, not because someone asked us to show up, not because we were searching outside of our hearts. Â We came because we were all Bodhisattva in our previous lives and now.







BlogoSquare