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Reiki Podcast Interview “Improving your Personal Practise from a Japanese Perspective with Professor John Stevens”
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Professor John Stevens is a Professor of Buddhist Studies, a trained Soto Zen priest and a world renowned Aikido Instructor who has lived most of his life in Japan developing his practise. Now that many of his elderly Japanese teachers have passed on – he has become ‘the teacher’.
He is globally respected as an authority on Japanese culture, Aikido, Buddhism, and Zen and is a prolific author on all of these subjects.
It was Frans and Bronwen’s great fortune to be able to catch up with him for an interview for The Reiki Show while he was recently visiting Australia as guest of the Art Gallery of NSW lecturing on Zen Art.
This was a wonderful opportunity to quiz Professor Stevens on subjects such as:
- Cosmology in Japan
- Creating harmony using the concept of fire and water (heaven and earth)
- What it means to have a personal practise from a Japanese perspective
- The purpose of kotodama – sacred syllable chanting
- The importance of transcending the techniques you learn
- Working with the hara (understanding from the belly)
- Japanese purification called misogi
- The true meaning of the words ‘oral tradition’ – kuden in Japanese
- Yamabushi, the mountain ascetics or wizards
Bronwen and Frans Stiene are the co-founders of the International House of Reiki and co-authors of The Reiki Sourcebook, The Japanese Art of Reiki, Your Reiki Treatment, The A-Z of Reiki Pocketbook and the Reiki Techniques Card Deck. Bronwen and Frans teach in the USA, Europe and Australia. Visit the Courses page to find a course near you.
Comments 7
Thank you so much for this wonderful interview. I have a couple of his books on Aikido and find this very useful in my own Reiki path. Bright Blessings!! THN
Hi Tamu,
He is a wonderful teacher, met him a few years ago in person when he was giving a lecture in San Francisco.
I think we can see many elements within Aikido which correlates to the system of Reiki.
Love
Frans
His voice sounds SO VERY YOUTHFUL!!! Very vibrant. I really enjoyed so much his translation of the little book the heart of aikido….so inspiring.
Again thank you so much Frans and Bronwen for all the sharing and inspirations along the path.
Bright blessings!
T
Hi Tamu,
He was very vibrant in SF as well.
Love the Heart of Aikido book too. 🙂
Love
Frans
Very informative interview – thank you for sharing.
I will need to look deeper into some of the areas discussed now!
Hi Sean,
He is such a knowledgable teacher and author. I know so much to explore from it.
Enjoy.
Thank you Bronwen for “we learn as we go along” I really enjoyed this interview between the three of you. Every time there is this contact with the ‘experts’ I feel maybe I know something too. I am still learning every moment of every day about my place in the Universe and sometimes have glimpses of ‘knowingness’.