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Tao the Way

NEW BOTTLES, OLD MEDICINE

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Copyright (c) Gordon Bell 1983, 1998


ARTICLE FIRST PUBLISHED IN SHIATSU SOCIETY NEWS No 4 SUMMER 1983

      Like  Shiatsu, there are a number of other acupressure styles that have been re-structured within the last century.  These styles are becoming more popular amongst therapists, lay people, and seekers of the truth.

      The roots of acupressure are very ancient and there is every reason to believe that acupressure was a forerunner of acupuncture, developed and discovered by mystics and spiritually aware people, for use not primarily for physical problems, but as part of spiritual development.  In more recent years some the original styles of healing by hand have again become widely available, mainly due to one man, Jiro Murai.  He researched them in Japan in the early 1900's through meditation, study of Buddhist iconography and ancient texts.  After a miraculous "self-cure" of a terminal illness whilst discovering these arts of living, he dedicated the remainder of his life to the practice and study of JIN  SHIN JYUTSU  (Art of the Creator through man of knowing and compassion).  His work is recorded at Ise Jingu (Imperial Shrine at Ise).

      One  of  his pupils, Mary Ino-Burmeister), brought this art to the West, teaching throughout America and Europe.  Two of her pupils developed the art further:  Iona Teeguarden made modifications to correspond with traditional acupuncture theory and renamed it JIN SHIN DO (The Way of the Compassionate Person/Spirit).  Bonnie Pendleton  on the other hand, has done much to de-orientalise the art to suit the Westerner,  developing treatments to specific ailments and now calls it THERAP/EASE.  Another development also took place in America, more in the spirit of Jiro Murai's original uses of acupressure.  This was researched by Roshi Daizui MacPhillamy and Roshi Jiyu Kennet with other Soto  Zen monks at Shasta Abbey, California.  They refined JIN SHIN DO and JIN  SHIN  JYUTSU with acupuncture theory, and intuitive meditative experience, so that the art would better suit and aid the deepening of religious/spiritual development.  Enhancing the qualities of physical, emotional, spiritual and karmic investigation and transformation.  The new form took the name  THE MUDRAS OF HARMONISATION OF BODY AND MIND.    The latest development of these arts in the U.K. is the study courses to practitioner level.  Using a blend of JIN SHIN DO and acupuncture philosophy, the style is renamed SHEN TAO,  to adopt and reflect the original Taoist name (Way of the Spirit/Mind).

      So  we  have an ever evolving art, meeting the needs at many levels; physical, emotional, spiritual, karmic etc.  Its outward appearance is the same, characterised by the use of mudras (hand and body positions), the holding of one or more areas or acu-points simultaneously in sequences (without pressure or manipulation), and an inner meditation on the flows of chi or ki (life energy) nourishing the body and mind.



FURTHER READING / STUDY


Spritual Defense & Rejuvination: Acupressure for Balance & Harmony Shiatsu Society 1985 (PDF)

                                                                                                                       
The author, Gordon Bell has studied with teachers and practitioners of Jin Shin Do, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Therap/ease, and with monks of Shasta Abbey, he is a practitioner of Jin Shin style Acupressure, and Reiki Master Teacher based in Newcastle upon Tyne.  He is  a member of the Shiatsu Society and a former Register Shiatsu Practitioner & Teacher and a founder member of Reiki Kyokai.

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