今、世界中の人々がそれぞれの立場で新型コロナウィルスという目に見えない恐ろしい敵と闘っています。
現時点では私や指導員はじめ、稽古生とご家族も含め、成道会に直接的に関わる方がウィルスにより健康を害したという報告は受けておりません。しかし、このまま感染が拡大し続けた場合、指導員・稽古生とご家族のみならず、皆様の友人やお世話になった方など、様々な形で何らかのご縁がある方に被害が及ぶ危険性は高まる一方です。
成道会を創立してから、創師と指導員は稽古生の皆様に様々なことを伝えてきましたが、武道としての空手道は「厳しい稽古を通じ自らの心を律し、鍛錬を重ね、その心身をもって自身を護る」ことが本質です。今まさに、日々の稽古で培ってきた「空手道の精神」が試されています。
春の温かい陽ざしの中、家を出て人に会いたい気持ちにもなります。しかし、現在の状況を冷静に判断し、外に行きたいという自らの気持ちを律し、家で家族と過ごすように気持ちを切り替えましょう。
現代は、仕事や用事、学校生活や習い事など、大人も子どもも日々を忙しく過ごし、家族とゆっくり話す時間も機会も減っているように感じます。このような時こそ、普段なかなか持つことができない家族との時間を大切にして過ごしましょう。
成道会は、「素直な心」「感謝の心」「助け合う心」を稽古生の心得としています。
目に見えない存在である未知のウィルスと危険を承知で向き合っている医療従事者の方々、私たちの日常生活を保つための品物を用意してくださる方々に「感謝の心」を持ち、そして何かあった時に助けてくれる家族や親しい方々と「助け合う心」を持って過ごしましょう。
そして、心得の第一に掲げている「素直な心」で現在起こっている危機を捉えれば、自らが護るべきものは生命や健康や家族というところに心は行きつくはずです。自身の生命・健康を護る心がけが家族も護り、一人ひとりが感染の拡大を防ぐことで、社会全体を護ることにもつながります。一日も早くこの災禍が収束する日を迎えるためにも、「見えない敵」を意識しましょう。
また皆様と笑顔でお会いし、一緒に稽古できる日を楽しみにしております。
国際空手道連盟 玄制流 成道会 会長・総師範 成川昭子
12th April,2020Dearest Seidokai Members,
Not only people here in this country but in the whole world are in the midst of such a rather appalling battle against coronavirus which can’t be seen with the unaided eye.
We haven’t received reports of getting ill related to the coronavirus directly from our instructors, our Seidokai members and their families as yet. And indeed that sets our heart at ease. But, the more this terrible virus continues to spread, the more it jeopardises the lives of many people including our instructors, Seidokai members, their families and loved ones.
We have handed down so many teachings of the founder of Seidokai Tetsuo Narikawa to you all so far.And amongst many of his blessings, we’ve got to say what the very nature and importance of Karatedo as Budo (martial arts) are;- you discipline of mind and body via rigorous karatedo training and with this, you can protect yourself. It is time you all had to demonstrate the spirit of Karatedo to the fullest which took a long while to cultivate.
We do understand fully how much you’ve got your mingled emotions under control at this time. And I know there are lots of people who’d like to plan a family get together outside of your place or get out in the spring sunshine with friends and loved ones. But, let’s have the presence of mind to understand what is really happening, practice a stringent form of social distancing, stay at home as much time as you are able to and change your focus on listening to your inner self. Both adults and children today have a hectic life juggling work and lots on the plate, school life and private tuition and , for that, I take it that shrinking family time is noticeable, please do rediscover time with your family is a gift during this very challenging period. In pursuit of the “Do” or “Michi” (the way), we, the Seidokai,advocate the three mental attitudes;- “Sunaonakokoro”(have an untrapped or open mind), “Kanshanokokoro” (foster a feeling of gratitude) and “Tasukeaukokoro” (nurture a spirit of mutual aid).
A massive thank you to the doctors, nurses and health workers on the front line who’ve been treating the sick and saving many lives. And I also want to say a big thank you to the workers who keep the country running, the supermarket workers, the delivery drivers, the technicians, the cleaners, the public servants who just kept going, determined to keep providing the daily services we all rely on. So we’d like to express our “Kanshanokokoro” to all of them and to display “Tasukeaukokoro” to families and loved ones in this time of need.
And the most important thing right now is that with “Sunaonakokoro”, we must judge what is right and what is wrong. So that means please do stay at home, to protect not only our country but also the world and to save lives. After all the efforts that everyone’s made, after all the sacrifices so many people have made, let’s not ruin it now. We fervently pray that we shall defeat this virus for good at the earliest possible time and look forwards to meeting each other with a big smile at Seidokai Dojo in the-not-too-distant future.
As always, our thoughts are with you all.
Shoko Narikawa of Seidokai International.
