The following essay, authored by Kazuo Chiba Shihan, was introduced to me by Mark Larson Shihan, the last American uchideshi of Morihiro Saito Shihan. This hangs on the bulletin board at our dojo. I personally find this essay, especially during the events of the last two years, to be a good reminder of why we opened a Dojo.
The Dojo as a Sacred Place
T.K. Chiba
As long as there is a roof that prevents the rain from coming in, a wall that separates us from the outside world, a floor to protect us in our falling, and a center that reminds us of the Founder’s profound concern for the well-being of humanity (his vow and prayer that give us gratitude for his achievements, which have been given to us in such an accomplished form as the Way), the Dojo exists.
However, from many points of view, and especially a business one, the Dojo represents an impractical existence. It is not a social club, recreational center or business enterprise, nor even a training hall or school, as it has been treated largely in the West, but it is a sacred place. Not the kind of place that appears instantly when the mats are put down, but one that exists somewhere out there physically, whether or not it is used all the time. It is such a waste, in a business sense, when one considers the size of the space, and such impracticality can be fatal to a Dojo in its struggle to survive. I consider that the life of a Dojo is an impractical existence relative to our normal gaining-losing consciousness, and, as such, is of vital importance to it. Normal or abnormal as we are, and we struggle to survive in this competitive and materialistic society, there needs to be a space somewhere that exists for something beyond our sense of practicality.
Our great need for the Dojo, which waits out there empty and unused, for us to return each day, is what gives it its purpose as a sacred place.
– Kazuo Chiba Shihan (Source Unknown)
