Nyingbulam (jujutsu)/JasonCarterBuddhism
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From User:Jason Carter <sokecarter A T gmail.com> on Mon, May 8, 9:04 AM
To Pat Palmer
Hello Pat,
Sorry for the delay in response. Last week was very busy and Friday was Vesak. As for what Buddhism I adhere to I lean heavily towards Tibetan but I have also some study in Pure Land. My main teacher Karma Yeshe Wangpo (1941 - 2021) was a direct student of VV Thrangu Rinpoche (Kagyu Tibetan School of Buddhism) As for certain texts that I teach. It is more of the view of Universal Dharma based on Mindfulness & Compassion. This is done through many exercises, such as meditation sitting and walking and applying the practice of bodhicitta.
Below is a section of the Syllabus that will help explain...
Syllabus Section 6: Nyingbulam Jujitsu – “The Way”
Nyingbulam Jujitsu Creed
This creed is to be used to open and close all formal classes and events.
The essence of the art is neither victory nor defeat. We seek perfection of ourselves, Through the perfection of the art.
The Nyingbulam Precept
“Self defense is the action of protecting something you feel compassion towards. But what we protect must not bring harm to others and the act of protecting it must not cause undue harm as well”.
The Nyingbulam training system is rooted in the Japanese martial arts traditions but also incorporates the Buddhist practice of bodhicitta. What this means to a student is that their training is still very regimental and demanding physical & mentally but they will also be taught the understanding of how to be a compassionate warrior.
Students are taught how to meditate and clear, focus their minds. One technique that is practiced during training and meditation is the cultivation of Bodhicitta. This is the practice of cultivating and treating all beings with compassion; this is also called striving to be a Bodhisattva. This compassion is not just for your fellow students, teachers, friends & family. But for all, even our adversaries. They too are human beings and are only acting on the delusions set forth by their untrained minds.
The Vehicle of Nyingbulam
The Vessel – The Student The Vehicle – Nyingbulam The Destination – Self Perfection
Nyingbulam is an art of self exploration, self mastery and protection. It is a form of Jujitsu but it is truly much more and beyond that. It is best described as a ‘Mindfulness Vehicle of Protection” or a “Protectors Art”. It utilizes skills and techniques so that the practitioner may reach a level of concentration and understanding of his or her true nature and the true nature of the universe. This is done through the constant repetition of mindfulness and defensive techniques. Repetition is the keystone to mastering Nyingbulam and well as the physical self. Through repetition you become more stable in your practice and move beyond the point of knowledge to the point of wisdom and concentration. In this way it's becomes as natural as breathing and will become the very fabric of your being.
The Vehicle (The 5 Elements)
The vehicle or system of Nyingbulam is based on 5 elements. Personal Space, Directional Body Movement, 360 Degree Defense Area, Mindfulness and Compassion. They are all as equal to each other just as a tree has roots, bark and leaves, without one of these it would not exist so it is equal to the sum of all its parts.
The first element of the Nyingbulam vehicle is “Personal Space”. We are not describing the space where if one intrudes we become uncomfortable; because this space can vary from culture to culture and person to person. We are describing the personal space needed for personal safety. This space if measured would be a 6’ or a 72” radius around you. This amount of space is critical so that you are not within the distance of a strike punch or kick. You are also at a distance that you will not be able to be grabbed easily. At this distance you will also have more time to react to an aggressors attack or movement. To maintain this defensive distance it will require one of two areas of movement, either a backwards direction [Defensive] or a forward direction [Offensive].
This movement now leads us into the second element, which is “Directional Body Movement”. This movement references to the angle of direction one moves during an aggressive confrontation. During an aggressive confrontation one should move, if at all possible on a 45 degree angle to the aggressor. This is done for several reasons. The first one being that it results in more options within the situation in the areas of defensive and offensive techniques. The second is that when you defend or attack at a 45 degree angle to your adversary it utilizes your secure balanced base against their unsecured and unbalanced base. It is always ideal to defend yourself at an angle that takes advantage of your aggressor’s stance or position in the relation to their point of balance. The third very important reason for this 45 degree movement is we are also going to take advantage of another area of our aggressor and that is his anger. When a person becomes enraged, it is natural for the aggressor to have a un-concentrated form of tunnel vision. This results in the aggressor only being able to hold limited concentration on a limited area directly in front of them. So when we move in a directional movement, this will result in us disappearing from the aggressors’ view for a moment of time which we will then monopolize on.
The third element of the vehicle is the understanding of the “360 Degree Defense Area”. This is to say that an aggressive attack can come from any angle or position and that we must learn to protect ourselves from these attacks from all angles, directions and areas. In Nyingbulam, techniques are taught and utilized from the standing, kneeling and ground positions as well as the areas in between. The techniques are taught is such a way that they can be used throughout these positions so to give the student many techniques that can be used for a multitude of positions. Many defense situations are lost due to the defender becoming overwhelmed by fear. This fear in many cases is caused by the defender being placed into a situation that they are unfamiliar with and have never trained to overcome. This unfamiliarity then causes the defender to panic and become fearful of the situation and in results become vulnerable to the attack.
The fourth and most in depth element is “Mindfulness”. The view of mindfulness in Nyingbulam is a larger encompassing view and is one of the hardest things to master.
The art on Nyingbulam is a modern budo with its keystone being compassion and understanding. To have true compassion and understanding one has to have concentrated mindfulness. In Nyingbulam mindfulness is the constant awareness of your surroundings. This is to constantly know where the dangers are around you and to know how to avoid them. As well as knowing what is around you that can be utilized by you or your adversary in a defensive situation. Mindfulness in a self defense situation is to also know what your options are as the situation changes as well as knowing what your adversaries options are as the situation changes. This is basic mindfulness, we also take a deeper look into mindfulness as we become mindful and aware of our true nature, which is to say the nature of all things; we, our adversary and the entire universe. How does this apply to self defense, you might ask? Consider this. You are out with friends at a social event where a person outside of your group consumes too much alcohol. He quickly becomes agitated due to a situation within the group. He then becomes aggressive towards you. His aggression suddenly explodes and you are forced to defend yourself from this unwanted attack. Instead of using heavy strikes you counter him by using controlled joint locks and pressure points that quickly bring the situation under control. You have in turn just exercised mindfulness of the motivations of your attacker. You were aware of his drunkenness (Mindfulness of your surroundings), you were also aware that his unwanted assault was caused by his drunkenness (Mindfulness of the motivations of the attacker). Then you used Mindfulness and Compassion to stop the aggressive behavior in the use of joint locks and pressure points instead of causing excessive long term pain by using heavy devastating strikes.
The fifth and ever striving element is complete “Compassion” for all. This compassion is not just for friends and loved ones, but must also encompass strangers as well as your adversaries. Proper mindfulness will open your understanding of this complete and open compassion to all. To understand compassion in a defense situation, you must understand the motivation to your actions in a defensive situation. Your motivation must be based on compassion of protecting what you feel compassion towards. This is to say if your actions are not based on compassion, then your action is simply a violent response to the situation. As you practice mindfulness, you will quickly see how this compassionate view now does not only encompass your friends and loved ones, but your adversaries as well.
The Vehicle
1st. Element - Personal Space (6’ radius) Moving backwards – Defensive movement Moving forward – Offensive movement Moving side to side – Neutral movement 2nd. Element - Directional Body Movement Defensive / Offensive 45 degree body movement The Eight Directions of Movement 3rd. Element - 360 Degree Defense Area Defensive and Offensive techniques for all positions; stand, kneeling, ground and the transition in between 4th. Element - Mindfulness Awareness of surroundings Awareness of the capabilities of yourself Awareness of the motivations of yourself Awareness of one’s Buddha nature Awareness of the capabilities of the attacker Awareness of the motivations of the attacker Awareness of the attackers Buddha nature 5th. Element - Compassion The understanding of difference between compassionate action and a violent reaction
The Immeasurable of Nyingbulam
To master just the physical techniques of Nyingbulam is like a child at play. It strengthens the body while amuses the playful mind. The physical techniques are to strengthen the body, so it is then able to sustain the training of the mind. It is like how a strong foundation of a house, in turn, holds up the roof. But none of this will bring one to the full realization and understanding of Nyingbulam.
To master Nyingbulam, one must also master Compassion and Mindfulness. But only students, who train in Bodhicitta, by perfecting the Paramitas, to extinguish ones Kleshas, only then will one come to full realization of what Nyingbulam has to offer.
Now to help properly awaken this heart-mind of compassion, a Nyingbulam student must practice the five key practices. These practices do not in any way follow one another like train cars, but should be practiced in parallel with each other. The eightfold path is an aid to achieve liberation from suffering and attain full awakening. These eight factors of spiritual practice leading to the extinction of suffering.
Eightfold Path:
Right Understanding Right Speech Right Livelihood Right Mindfulness Right Thought Right Action Right Effort Right Concentration
It is important to realize that no matter how profound one’s conceptual knowledge of this Path may be, this will not be sufficient for true accomplishment. It is essential that one follows, cultivate, and practice this Noble Path with diligence, sincerity, and full confidence. The second key practice is the practice of metta. Metta is a universal loving-kindness, friendliness, and goodwill, an all-embracing, unconditional love for all. Unbiased in any way.
The third key practice is the practice of the paramitas’. Paramita, is known as: Perfection. The perfection of the character; perfect realization; to cross over to the other shore and to reaching beyond limitation. The parameters are the framework of the Bodhisattva's practice. These enlightened qualities or perfections are developed over many lifetimes by a Bodhisattva. The Six Paramitas are:
Generosity / Charity Virtue / Ethics Patience / Forbearance Effort / Perseverance Concentration / Meditation Wisdom
While training to be a compassionate warrior in the art of Nyingbulam Jujitsu we should practice what are called the six perfections of: Generosity, ethics, patience, joyous effort, concentration and wisdom.
The first five are methods; the last one is wisdom which is necessary for any of them to function. It is said that mainly the first three are practices for lay people; joyous effort and concentration mainly refer to meditation practice. In Nying Bulam joyous effort & concentration is very important. By coming to class a student’s shows ‘joyous effort” by being there. Once there he will be working with a partner, by doing so he is helping his partner learn the technique as he is too being taught by his partner (Collecting merit and helping others). Concentration is extremely important in Nying Bulam for many reasons. The ability to fully focus on one object while still being aware of the space around you or other objects is essential in life. Example; would be in a self-defense situation where you are confronted by more than one assailant.
Generosity: Giving one's possessions, virtues. Giving of fearlessness, or protection to others. 'Others are my main concern. When I notice something of mine, I steal it and give it to others.' Teaching and sharing the knowledge and techniques of Nyingbulam with others.
Ethics: Working for sentient beings. Restraining from negative actions. Collecting merit (with the motivation of helping others). Treating all fellow students and peers with courtesy and respect.
Patience: Being undisturbed by anguish from suffering. Practice patience before getting angry. Having patience in accepting problems. Being undisturbed by inflicting harm. Taking great care in the study and practices of Nyingbulam.
Joyous effort / Perseverance: Collecting merit and helping others Delighting in virtue and every beneficial action. Avoiding putting off; craving worldly pleasures and discouragement. Remember the greatest joy comes from teaching and sharing the unmistakable Arts.
Concentration: Developing quiescence; single pointedness, stability & firmness (meditation) This brings great progress in any meditation practice and supernatural powers. Maintain a focused mind when one practices the Nyingbulam.
Wisdom: Generating ultimate wisdom (emptiness) to achieve liberation. Generating relative wisdom in practicing the first five perfections and understanding karma. Practice the arts with an open mind and spirit so that one gains wisdom and not just knowledge.
These aid in our work towards healthy mental states and must be practiced diligently and wholeheartedly by Nyingbulam students. The fourth key practice is the removal of our kleshas’. Klesha is also known as our defilements. These defilements are; passion, aversion, and delusion in their various forms.
These kleshas’ including such things as: Greed, Malevolence, Anger, Resentment, Hypocrisy, Arrogance, Envy, Miserliness, Dishonesty, Boastfulness, Obstinacy, Violence, Pride, Conceit, Intoxication, Complacency.
These hinder our work towards healthy mental states and must be avoided by Nyingbulam students.
The fifth key practice is constant awareness or what we call mindfulness. Unlike concentrative meditation, which focuses awareness on a specific object, mindfulness is the practice of open, non-interfering alertness or pure, fully present attention. One can practice mindfulness at all times, giving alert attention to all experiences without conceptualizing, judging, or controlling, allowing sensations, feelings, and thoughts arise and disappear without being followed or resisted in any way. Such non interfering attention allows one to be fully present in the experience of the moment. Mindfulness is also a state of awareness before the mind is disturbed by thought.
These five key practices are practiced, magnified and through time mastered by various forms of meditation. It is through meditating and the practice of concentrating one’s mind on these five practices that the student becomes deeply acquainted with one's own True Nature.
I hope this helps Pat. I have also attached some info from the martial side and how it fits together.
Many Blessings... N;)