I had the opportunity to enjoy Indian curry at a restaurant with someone from India. He ate using his hand, without using a spoon or fork.
In Indian food culture, it is common to eat [directly] using your hand. You get to feel the texture and temperature of the ingredients directly when using your hand, and I believe that enjoying the food with all five senses turns a meal into a richer experience.
On a whim, I decided to imitate them and tried to eat curry and rice with my hand at home. I was a little hesitant at first, but I did see that the sensation I experienced was surprisingly different.
Apparently, eating with one’s hand has the effect of sharpening the senses. It does not lead to eating too fast, and chewing well produces sufficient saliva.
It is probably a natural behavior for living creatures to touch with their hands first and feel what they are about to put into their mouth. In our modern world, we no longer need to do what is natural to living creatures, and perhaps our senses may have become dulled as a result.
When I teach Shinshin Toitsu Aikido in college classes, an interesting phenomenon happens.
Students practice techniques in pairs, but at first, they feel distant from each other and are reluctant to form pairs. However, once they physically come into contact with their partner and start practicing, they quickly open up and become comfortable with each other.
Touching (or holding) is an element that deepens communication and bonding. Touching (and holding) allows ki to flow freely [between partners]. That is probably why we shake hands and hug. Touching/Holding also allows us to instantly understand what kind of person the other person is.
This, too, is probably a natural behavior of living creatures.
Midori Kawashima Sensei, a 93-year-old nurse known as Japan’s “Mother of Nursing”, says that the most important thing in nursing is to “touch”.
By touching someone, we can understand the condition of that person, and so we can heal his or her Kokoro [mindheart]. That is why the way we touch is so important; touching someone in a rough or rude manner is no good, nor is touching them in a collapsed manner with no ki.
In other words, we need to touch or hold in a way that allows our ki to flow through our partner, and according to Kawashima Sensei, Shinshin Toitsu Aikido training is good for mastering how to touch/hold someone.
In fact, I feel an indescribable feeling of comfort when I was touched by Kawashima sensei. Interestingly, it is much like the way Koichi Tohei sensei touched/held with ki.
When we try to move our opponents to do what we want them to do, this intention is conveyed by the way we touch/hold them, causing them to unconsciously resist. This is the phenomenon of “colliding” with an opponent in technique practice.
When we try to help our opponents so that they can move easily, this too will be conveyed by our touch/hold, and they will not unconsciously resist. You can then become one with your opponent, and guide them without bumping into them. This is probably the same in nursing and in the practice of techniques.
In Shinshin Toitsu Aikido training, we hone our senses by touching/holding our opponents. Touching/holding a person. Touching/holding an object. Let’s turn and direct our mind to [the simple act of] touching/holding with ki.
We will probably experience a different feeling than usual.
Translated by Mayumi Case
Edited by David Shaner
Eastern Ki Federation
https://easternkifederation.org/
Original article in Japanese: 触れる(Fureru)
July 1, 2024
https://shinichitohei.com/japanese/04-%e3%83%a1%e3%83%bc%e3%83%ab%e3%83%9e%e3%82%ac%e3%82%b8%e3%83%b3/35024/