Morihei Ueshiba
A Collection of Quotations

Aikido is based on the ideals of non-aggression and non-dissension and the creation of a path of personal spiritual enlightenment.  Aiki-jujitsu (jitsu referring to battlefield techniques) with it's principle of unifying with the spirit of the enemy in order to bring him under your control quite naturally transformed into Aiki-do (do referring to a way of life) with it's principle of unifying with the spirit of the enemy in order to bring about individual transformation and ultimately a utopian world.

Practitioner's of Aikido often use the term "O-Sensei" when referring to Morihei Ueshiba.  The "O" is an honorific denoting eminence.  So "O-Sensei" means "eminent teacher."

The influence of Oomoto is heard through many of his quotes:

• All things, material and spiritual, originate from one source and are related as if they were one family. The past, present, and future are all contained in the life force. The universe emerged and developed from one source, and we evolved through the optimal process of unification and harmonization.

• As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you.

• Each and every master, regardless of the era or the place, heard the call and attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit - love.

• Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and the material, and the best commodities to trade in are sincerity and love.

• The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit.

• There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within.

• When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way.

• True victory is self-victory; let that day arrive quickly!

• When life is victorious, there is birth; when it is thwarted, there is death. A warrior is always engaged in a life-and-death struggle for Peace.

• To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury in the Art of Peace.

In the hands of Morihei Ueshiba the martial tradition of the Aizu and Takeda samurai with its brutal and lethal techniques were transformed into a path of personal cultivation and spiritual harmony that Morihei ultimately called Aikido - the way of spiritual harmony.  Morihei moved from the notion of harmony with ones enemy to achieve tactical advantage to being in harmony with other people, nature and the entire universe.