PRESENCE IS THE GIFT

PEACE ON EARTH: HOW TO RECEIVE THE GIFT

It was dark. I stood at the door of the American Vishwa Dharma Zen Temple (Soul Sword Zendo) and my attention was immediately attracted by a single bright star shining close to the earth. The star was so bright above the house across the street that I knew that it could be no ordinary occurence. I walked out to the street so that I could get a clear view through the trees. There it was, unnaturally brillant, radiating through the night. It was an electric star mounted on the chimney of  the neighbor's house.

Many of the neighbors had elaborate decorations. Their houses were illuminated by hundreds of lights. This man, a person I knew to be a Christian, chose to raise a single shining star into the heavens above an otherwise darkened house...  In that one glance I was transported 2000 years to the star that shone above a Bethlehem stable. I have always felt a spirit of peace come upon me when I gazed upon the starry  sky. A single, star, however evoked a different feeling, something deeply personal...a feeling that connected me to the vastness.

The Baby Jesus was born under such a star, and that star cast light around  the world and through the centuries but mankind, most of mankind, still fail to understand the significance of Jesus or the signle star. We are still too victimized by our worship of the intellect and by the curse of a divided mind. We are too busy trying to figure everything out with the ego-centric consciouness which makes us the prime operative of the universe. We don't know how to yield and receive , like a baby, like the Baby Jesus, and so we miss it.

On Christmas, the name we give that  awe-inspiring day when The Christ-Child was born, mankind was also born anew. It is not something we can get with our mind. It takes faith to leap beyond knowing to the unknown. It takes faith to believe that we are one despite our obvious differences. It takes faith to believe that one living being can send soul freeing power all the way down the line to the present day, just as it takes faith to believe in One Mind

This season, as always, we will celebrate with things. We will shop until the stores close to bring home stuff, not  necessarily to give out of love but out of a sense of obligation. We believe in stuff. We believe in what we can see, touch and prove with out senses. So Christmas becomes about stuff using the flimsy reason that the Wisemen gave gifts to the Christ Child. It is true, they gave gifts of precious things of the world but what they received in return was not tangible. They travelled by camel from another country to give...they got NO-THING back.

It is this what we cannot see, what we cannot measure in terms of our five-senses that is the mysterious gift The Christ Child brings.  "Peace on earth."  You can have that...no not the whole world, you can have peace on earth when you reach out to receive the intangible gift.  Each of us were born receving instruments but we had no power to discriminate what we were receiving. We took in delusion upon delusion. How can we know The Way when our receiving instrument is tainted. Help is needed. Help is needed in so many ways. The Christ Child would grow up to say "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life, no man comes unto The Father (The Supreme) except by me."

If you think, how can a man born 2000 years ago help me now? My answer is electricity. The Bible poses the question, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the Son of  Man that thou visiteth him? The quest of Zen is to discover what you really are directly, not in ideas or concepts but by direct perception. So we say Man is one. In essense  you are that one. If you are disconnected from your true self, a little jumpstart, living current shot from the empowered to you clears up what ails you in a flash of light. Your response could be anything from ahhh sooky sooky to thank you Jesus.

This Christmas give yourself the gift of humility. Recognize that you do now know the answer to the essential question. It is highly likely you have no clue as to what you really are. Become a seeker of  The Star in your heart and help will manifest some place in time and space. The person you meet will not be the new born Christ Child in a Bethlehem stable but under that ever-shining star you will discover that The Mind and Spirit of Master continues and can speak through any vessel God chooses. It is not what you see in the miror that is crying out for guidance. It is not who you see with your eyes who will reach out to help.

Christmas, The Very Spiritual path, itself, is never about stuff. After all, we are not the bodies we use temporarily. Without using a word...what are you then?

Only the source of the Star of Bethlehem can reveal that. Be humble. Be still. The greatest gift of all is already present. The star is only a reminder of  The Light within you.

One Person Makes a Difference.

The election of Senator Barrack Obama to the presidency of The United States of America is far more than a political feat.  Sometimes  we repeat a universal truth so often that it becomes no more than an oft-repeated slogan. We are accustomed to the saying that Mankind is one. The evidence gathered by our eyes and ears and  by the daily news would suggest otherwise. However, the divine emissaries of all ages saw from a different perspective. They knew and taught that the fundamental nature of our kind is indeed one when it comes to the essence of our being, when it comes to that part which operates far beyond the reach of our intellects and egoes. The wise men observed that the actions of one, The One, had an effect upon the many. Such is the case with the election of Senator Barrack Obama to the office of President of the United States of America. The honor and the effect of the people's decision to choose him as their leader resounds far beyond the halls of political power but also reverberates in souls around the globe.

One Person always makes a difference. Everythings begins with one. From the first all else arises. The Biblical account of The Creation reveals that Mankind began with one perfectly conceived being, the man we call Adam. That spiritual account of our origin tell us that failare of the one...Adam, was accrued to all mankind. The same holy book details the advent of Jesus Chirist, The Second Adam. The life and sacrifice of Christ, also known as The Anointed One, in divine servitude to God is offered as an "one for all" cure for the broken condition of fallen man. Thus as the first Adam is representative of the family of man and affects us all, so also does the second.

Scripture teaches that Man cannot live by bread alone but by every word which comes from the mouth of God. Through the ages living beings have recorded the wisdom which comes from the traceless depths and shared visions of  what is to come. That work has never ceased. Over twenty years ago after spending a weekend in prayer and meditation a story came to me so I wrote it down. In my novel, called "Visionary Fiction," by Hampton Roads Publishing, I told of an African featured young man who broke through the wall which separated his people from the larger nation and lead a battle to unify all people against the tyranny of deception that bound them all. His name was Zafir. Ironically, just weeks before the story became true the company decided to remove the book from further circulation. You have the option now to own one of the last copies of the final printing. Only those who purchase it here on the Soul Sword site will receive signed copies. The Secret of Freedom takes you through the inner-path from powerlessness to power full.

The Secret of Freedom

Zafir faces the "new dawn."

The Enlightened One, Sidhartha Gotama, also known as The Buddha, experienced salvation from the deluded state of mind which affects all humankind. Speaking from the wisdom which resulted from his awakening, he realized that all human beings are also buddhas. All human beings share the same exquisite nature of the enlightened ones.  They simply lack the awareness. The wises among us recognize that despite the diversity of our cultures and appearances, human beings are connected at the root beyond intellect and the control of ego. This truth, though spoken about in loftly places fails to reach the common everyday world. In fact, we have been living in contradiction to that truth in the Religious community and the secular for countless centuries.  No place in the world has been a greater example of the contradiction between rhetoric and practice than the United States of America, that is, until now. Something extraodinary has happened with the election of Barrack Obama. A new dimension has opened for Americans and for our extended famiy around the globe. It is like a Zen koan. We can only speak around it, demonstrate it, but we cannot capture the full affect in words. There are so many levels to the experience that masquerades as politics. This article will grow at a natural pace. For now, I offer you an interview conducted by recording artist, Maya Meerana of Australia, just before the historic election took place. I was asked to speak on the then impending election.

(More to come)

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Patterns of Nature (80 photos)

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From an Amazon Customer's reviews:

This is an incredible book by a profound author. At first I picked it up because I enjoyed reading about his awakening into martial artistry with no formal training, defending potential victims from violent gangs, meeting with a Zen Master and learning meditation training-- and then, much like the founder of aikido, culminating his combined training into the instantaneous realization of what martial arts are really about. . . and then giving many demonstrations in which he defeats martial arts masters WITH ONE FINGER, earning a Ronin (masterless warrior) award from the BUDO council and a 4th degree black belt in Aiki-jutsu. And doing it all while remaining as humble, benevolent, and loving a person as you will ever meet.

Then I got past the amusing anecdotes and listened to what he had to say about how he got to them, and what he learned in the process. I read the entire book in a single sitting; it blew me away, and immediately assisted me in making some tough decisions with courage. I look forward to finding out what will happen when I try the exercises (Dancing to No-Music, Wingspan Theory, counting breaths, etc.) he suggests.

While this book does dive deeply into Zen, that should not frighten away Christians-- Zen is not a religion (Buddhism is), and Turner comes from a very strong Baptist background. This book is also not a self-help book, and you will not put it down and be able to defeat skilled martial artists with one finger-- you'll have to put forth the effort. But _Soul Sword_ does illustrate what true martial artists are still trying to get across to the public-- it's not about arrogance and violence; it's about humility and love.

You can be one of a growing number of seekers and practitioners around the world who have benefited from one on one sessions with Kitabu Roshi.   Discuss the subject you want, ask questions freely without fear. While the session price is roughly based on what you would pay for an equal amount of time with a therapist, those who have taken advantage of the opportunity, not only receive guidance but have multi-level experiences which energize and transform their lives and performances. What happens to you will depend on the faith you bring to the session. The Original Mind is "transmitted" from one Dharma-heir to another. Though the personalities and styles of masters differer according to culture or the era they live in The Light is unchanged, its illuminating power is not dimmed by the ages. Kitabu Roshi, speaking in terms of electricity said, "I am not the electricity, just a wire through which it flows." A guru, by definition, is one who dispels darkness (from the mind). When darkness scatters...behold The Light. While Kitabu Roshi employs Zen methods as a tool of teaching, he is linked to the Himalayan lineage. Upon seeing  him the very first time, Sadguru Sant Keshavadas said, "I see a light shining around you. God has chosen you to be a Spiritual Teacher."  Moments later, the master announced to the assembly..."this is my spiritual son." From that day forward for twenty years thereafter, Kitabu Roshi had full access to the guru anywhere he was in the world. What this means to you is that you will not only be consulting with one who has direct experience of The Way but one who served a long apprenticeship to learn how to best serve.

A contemplative Disciple of Christ since age nine, Kitabu Roshi was formerly initiated in Zen by Zen master Nomura Roshi of Japan in 1967. Sant Keshavadas did not influence him to alter his faith or meditative practices.  The wisdom of the Awakened Mind applies to all the areas of life. Zen reveals our original nature as it is expressed here on earth..."What is man that though art minful of him?" 

It is as if someone cut the wire and The Light went out of our consciousness. Consider the Zen master as a linesman who searches for the break in you.

If your consciousness is troubled you may find the help you need comes in an unexpected way.

.

Part 2: Nikita reflects on his visit with Zen Master Kitabu

This is my newest audio recording:

That's it!

This is great Video of Kitabu Roshi !

The mission passed to me by God through my own spiritual teacher, Satguru Sant Keshavadas was to bridge the gap between East and West by teaching the Mind Dharma in a way that people of the Western Hemisphere could receive it.  He also charged me to devote energy to teaching that mind-harnessing power to African-Americans to heal the wounded spirit of a people long divided from the full expression of their souls by social suppression and hatred. For many years I have given myself exclusively to the  tasks given me. Tthe Martial arts aspect of my practice is only a means of demonstrating certain universal truths.  As this is the 21st Century, I also use 21st Century means, which is proper. Over the years I have been accessible to nearly everyone who sought me, I  answered every email in person, and criss-crossed the country and the world without regard for the bottomline...but the demands of the world are the same for each of us. There is a bottomline., and there were times when  resources were so strained, my own personal life suffered great losses, but still the mission continued.

Audio Message:  Christmas Zen Message "Give Yourself"

 Millions of dollars are raised to support politicians, yet, some people gasp at the thought of sending even one dollar to promote spiritual teachings. Spiritual teachers, preachers, etcetera, must pay for everything also. The secular world has its own laws and enforces its own path on all who dwell in bodily form.

My teacher radiated The Light around the clock, his focus was unwavering. This was possible because those of us who benefited from his teachings supported it through service and monetary donations. It was an honor to give.  I have always been reluctant to think about money. I have come to see, however, that it is just a means to an end...currency. It keeps things flowing.   Zen speaks of Dana prajna paramita i or the wisdom of giving.  Speaking through The Holy Bible, God makes it clear that those involved in His service, providing spiritual solace and teaching to the people, must be supported by them. In other words, such offerings are like taxes, a requirement.  The missions of Jesus Christ and of most of the Apostles were  supported in this way.

If you want to be a genuine student of The Way you must approach it with a sense of gratitude.  Support your teachers, your church, temple or any place of worship which nourishes you.  If you feel the flow here and sense the greater purpose behind this site and mission, if you are blessed, demonstrate it with a donation. Every dollar will help us do more.  The Supreme Teacher, who is God, Himself, works through ordinary beings.  The Transmission of The Word is perfect, we are not.

. No one can make you give. You, alone must decide. Everything in the secular world costs, no one is exempted from these costs. The Soul Sword Zen Community, the popular name for The American Vishwa Dharma Zen Mission, was created to help  individuals struggling to free their minds from delusion, to help set them free but to truly benefit there must be  sharing. Place your gift in the bowl from your heart. Give it as an offering to The Supreme Teacher, then He will receive it, and return it.  The human teacher is only an instrument of The Unseen. The Soul Sword Zen Community has no nationality or place but your inner-being but outside the world continues. Help me stay focused on the mission. I thank you. Donate atleast $10 and I will happily send you an audio from a live session to say thanks.

You are part of the equation.

Your donation is not deductible for tax purposes.

The promise of  God is that He will multiply tithes and offering given to promote His work. He rewards the giver in kind. When you donate that very act is an act of faith. This can only be  your temple/church  when you participate, otherwise you remain just a visitor . To receive  something of value we must give something of value.    Test this teachings for yourself. Teachings should be tested. What is true always proves itself.  Thanks to everyone who reaches out to help. I, that  is, "The Great I AM" in me reaches back.

The Zen Punch of Kitabu Roshi (Vernon KitabuTurner)

To achieve No-Mind is to free The Spirit to act without impediment.
Jesus also spoke of this phenomenon. Zen is not a Religion. When you experience
the truth of your nature directly and act upon it without hesitation your action
is focused, spontaneous and effortless. Jesus taught his diciples to "take no
thought" so that The Father, The Supreme, might act through them. I see the
means of Zen as tools for breaking down the greatest wall blocking The Path.
The ego-mind is the most persistent demon of them all.

I am grateful to the spiritual warriors of Asia for pointing to what
lies within us . It is with gratitude that I wholeheartedly embrace the
Tathagatha within my own skin, looking neither to the left nor to the right, I
summon him at will. The punch you see is just so. Where does it come from and
how? The sun hung in the universe before there was anyone on earth to see
it. The vast waters swelled into waves and crashed on the shores without
intention. Like lightening flashing where it wills when it wills so is this
punch. It just comes. I am a student of The Way. I yield to the Author of All
Things to experience my true being. I do not need words for this. I sit
and stand, I walk, I lie down. I find these acts to be fascinating. Many people
try to trace my Martial roots to a land or a style. What is the origin of God or
the source of Tao? Discover that and your Zen punch will come without a
trace.

We are all included in this. Zen is just a word for awakening
something fundamental to our true being. We have lost connection with living
soul. The passive path is comforting but I prefer to mount the sky and
wrestle with dragons. This is not the easy path of your mother and father but it
is the path of those who prefer to be "sons" of God rather than mere peitioners
of God. "He leadeth me besides still waters, he restoreth my soul..." The Lord
meets us half way. Restoring the mind...that is what we refer to as Zen
practice. The Zen warror applies his discipline to his own mind and body. One
day he will hurdle the wall of ego and be free.

Kitabu Roshi

Dancing:The Way of Warriors

I never imagined that I would teach a Martial path or Zen for that matter but I grew up in a Christian church under the guidance of Christian parents, so the possibility of being a preacher was not so difficult a stretch. The spiritual path is foremost a personal path. It is not based on what others think of your approach or what you might say about it that is most important. A spiritual path is the distance between the delusion of carnal (flesh-centered) mind and the transformation to a mind that is inseparable from our spiritual nature. Words divide us from the experience and so people sacrifice their own enlightenment to control or define the activity of others.

There is no different between what some call the Martial arts and dance or worship for me. I celebrate the Creator of my life in many ways. The Warrior Way or Zen Mushin Ryu, as I call it is a dance of celebration and devotion. After several days of teaching at Aikido Maastricht in Holland, I shared this spirit with those who attended my Sword of The Spirit Seminar. Sensei Rob Vincken sponsored the event.

OCEAN OF THE SPIRIT

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