This morning is a gloomy summer morning. However, it's an incredibly quiet morning.
There is no sound of birds chirping, children's voices, or dogs barking.
On such a morning, I'm listening to Ludovico Einaudi.
The quiet piano melody gently envelops me.
What a gentle piece of music!
In the past, I overindulged in horse riding beyond my age, disrupting the balance of my body and mind, and went through a time of pain and agony. But it wasn't all bad.
I learned a lot from that experience, and met many teachers and mentors.
On the day I returned to horse riding, my friend had prepared a gift for me.
I received a valuable item, a bamboo flute known as a "shinobue."
"This is a shinobue made by Mr. △△, a disciple of the Living National Treasure Mr. ○○. Use it to balance your body and mind," he said.
I practiced several times, but it was surprisingly difficult...(sigh)
I received such a valuable item, and I feel bad for not using it more.
I now realize the importance of maintaining the balance between "motion" and "stillness."
My friend probably thought of "motion" through horse riding and "stillness" through the shinobue.
When the body becomes stiff, the mind also becomes stiff.
When the mind becomes soft, the body also becomes soft. I started to learn this truth.
As for "stillness," I have had an incredibly long relationship with flower arranging and tea ceremony.
The "stillness" I'm thinking about now lies in loosening my body and mastering abdominal breathing.
It's only been a year since I started, so there's no need to rush.
I plan to take my time and deepen my understanding of its essence.