Nanso - Hakuyu and Hakuin's healing method

April 30, 2014

Initial Steps in Aikido

Eighth Keiko

軟酥鴨卵法
nanso

One of my most cherished memories from the dojo in Kyoto, is the special feeling I had just before the end of each aikido class, when we used to sit for a few minutes, and practice an ancient meditation method called nanso.

Nanso helps us to relax our body and mind. It is said, that it can relieve us from pain and that it helps to overcome physical or emotional difficulties. As well as I know, nanso meditation is not part of aikido classes in most dojos in the world. Perhaps it is something unique to my old sensei's dojo in Kyoto where I began my aikido training in the year 1992 and practiced there until my return to Israel in 1999. As I found nanso significantly helpful and pleasant, it was just natural for me to continue practicing it at the end of each class also here at Masatake Dojo in Rehovot.

About 300 years ago, lived in Japan a zen-buddhist monk called Hakuin. He is one of the most important and influential zen teachers. Hakuin revived the Rinzai Zen Buddhist sect which is one of the three major zen sects in Japan. When he was young, his rigorous zen training lead him to mental and physical exhaustion. He fell into deep despair and depression. He lost his appetite and will, until his condition became so bad, that people around him worried that he might die. Hakuin was advised to travel to the Shirakawa mountains near Kyoto, and to try to find an old hermit called Hakuyu who may cure him.

When Hakuyu who lived in an isolated cave deep in the mountains saw him, he immediately recognized Hakuin's condition as "zen sickness". He advised him to rest for a while from his rigorous zen training, and to relax and just practice a simple and ancient healing exercise called nanso.

After Hakuin regained his health, he wrote about his experience and he described in details this helpful curing practice that he learned from Hakuyu. The following text was given to me by my first aikido teacher in Kyoto when I began learning there. It is based on Hakuin's writings.

“The original name of this exercise is nanso uran ho (lit. the soft and melting duck egg method). Imagine, there is a wizard who lives in the mountains. He created a mixture of medicines and he formed it into a shape and colors of a dusk's egg. It has mystical fragrance, and if you imagine it is placed a little bit above your head, your body's natural temperature will slowly melt it like butter, covering slowly slowly your whole body, and being absorbed through your skin and skull into your head, down your neck, shoulders and spine and bones, into each and every internal organ and all your body parts. You have to imagine patiently and slowly as clearly as possible how this graduate process of the absorbance of this heavenly medicine down through all your body, melts pain and stiffness, problems, worries, suffering, materialistic intentions, and negative thoughts and weaknesses. The melting nanso cures you and creates an internal positive process and feeling.

Practicing nanso at the end of an Aikido class

Once this curing mixture fills your whole body, the melted liquid will begin flowing away through your fingertips and toes. It will slowly flood your surroundings, until it looks like a lake which reaches the height of your navel. Once it reaches that level, it keeps circulating through your body and mind.

Nanso is a method in which we use our spiritual eyes. Hakuin said, that by practicing nanso, our body and mind achieve harmony. Our body is filled with energy and vitality, sorrow and suffering melt and disappear, our skin shines, and our internal organs will function in harmony.

By dedicating a few minutes a day to nanso meditation, we can cure ourselves from illnesses, and gain positive spirit and virtues.”