The Perfection of Giving
by Patty Kelly

The falling leaves of autumn remind us of the rituals of harvest and Thanksgiving that mark this time of year. The time of harvest is reminiscent of celebration, community, cohesion, sharing, and the most intense time of group work. Hands join together in hard work and togetherness to produce that which allows all of us to subsist on a daily basis.

The summer crops have been harvested and we prepare for the coming winter, grateful for the abundance of food that is so plentiful in our country. But for many of us, the only part of the harvest that we see is the finished product in the supermarket—we are so removed from the process of production that we forget what it takes to bring food to our plate. To truly celebrate harvest, we must connect with the larger world, just as food connects us to the essences that make food—the soil, the air and the water that are of the world.

The Vietnamese peace activist, Thich Nhat Hanh tells us “when we sit down to dinner and look at our plate filled with fragrant and appetizing food, we can nourish our awareness of the bitter pain of people who suffer from hunger. Looking deeply at our plate, we can see mother Earth, the farm workers, and the tragedy of famine and starvation. Simple awareness of the fact of the hunger of others can help us overcome many of our own pains and help us to see how to assist those who need our help so much.” (Peace is Every Step, Thich Nhat Hanh) Looking directly and carefully, we are instructed to include even the simplest thing such as food in an effort to open our hearts to the world.

Here at Nippon Kan we learn intimately about these things. Homma Sensei teaches us by example and demonstration how to accomplish our goal. Our volunteer projects give us the opportunity to experience the connection of world and others first hand in a way that many of us otherwise would never have. He tells us about circulating that which is given to us, for this is the practice of giving, the practice that we try to perfect just as we perfect our movements and breathing on the mat. And as with any practice, we try and we fail and we try again. We look about us very closely and see how much is given to us by those whom we may never know. For it is the work of others that supports, sustains and nourishes us and that is so easy to take for granted. The practice of giving requires a conscious effort on our part to include the knowledge of those others in all our actions. The Aikido Humanitarian Active Network gives us the opportunity to practice in this manner.

But there is so much to be done. At times it seems easier to turn away than to confront the magnitude of the problem. It is very hard to keep our eyes and ears open in light of such tremendous need, but our responsibility is apparent. And so we do something…anything…to help. And we can carry the work further still, out of the dojo into the world. We can wake up to the global reality of hunger and poverty, and we can speak out, write, and act for peace. We can practice service as a journey. We can practice economics consciously by purchasing products that support worldwide equity. We can act from the heart: volunteer, donate time or money. Make a positive response to negative ideas or just listen closely to a friend…Help not because it is “me” helping “you”… But because it is “us”.

Here at Nippon Kan we are so fortunate, because the opportunity for service is part of the practice. Our teachers open the way and give us the chance to step out of our cocoon of indifference and help where help is needed. During the fall and winter training periods let us all ask how we can keep our eyes open and listen for the sounds of those less fortunate than ourselves. Where are they? Who are they? Can we hear? Can we see?

Reversing the spread of hunger and poverty is one of humanity’s greatest challenges. It will mean overcoming the belief that these problems are inevitable. It will mean reversing the trend toward the ever-greater concentration of wealth in ever fewer hands. And it will mean living our lives based upon the certainty that all humanity is connected. Our collective will and aspiration can make a difference. This is our place of practice.