Shugyo: The Way of the Ascetic

 

Hard Training for the Modern Budoka

Mas Oyama seen practicing misogi as a form of shugyo, or ascetic training.

Real training is difficult.  It takes constant effort.  It requires self-reflection and a selfless approach to training.  One must train with no thought whatsoever of pain and suffering.  Students have to push themselves to rise above such distractors.  This is shugyo. ~Walther G. Von Krenner 1

In budo, one of the most important terms is “shugyo.”  It’s often translated as “ascetic training” or even just “discipline.”  But these words don’t bely its depth.

In “religious” Zen it’s not a word that is often used (if ever).  However, in Budo Zen—the term I prefer for Zen as it was practiced by samurai, bugeisha, and budoka down through the centuries—it is used, as budoka who are also zennists understand its power and significance for budo.

Before we get into shugyo proper, I would like to briefly discuss this difference between the Zen of the warrior and “regular” Zen.  Here is how Roshi Richard Collins in his book No Fear Zen explains the difference between these two “modes” of Zen: 

“There has been much soul-searching and hand-wringing about the appropriate role of samurai or Budo Zen, focused on discipline and self-sacrifice, and what might be called pacifist Zen, focused on non-violence and compassion.  This supposed dichotomy is only a matter of emphasis, however.  Budo Zen may focus on the determination of the martial artist Bodhidharma while pacifist Zen focuses on the serenity of the enlightened Buddha.  One arrives at compassion through concentration, the other at concentration through compassion.

“The particulars of practice as described here are in the tradition of Budo Zen, the Zen of ‘no fear.’  In this tradition the importance of emptiness (ku) of all phenomena (shiki) puts our own lives in perspective with all other phenomena, which are also empty of substance.  We learn this through the practice of zazen, from which we emerge not as nihilists intent on shortening our alloted time, but as humanists dedicated to enriching the brief existence we share with all other beings.  We can do this only if we are unafraid of life and death, if we are able to, as Hakuin said, ‘die now!’” 2

I begin with this at the outset so that you can see how shugyo, used correctly, can be a great aid to the Zen of the budoka, or whatever “spiritual path” you walk on the Way of Budo.

If we break down the word shugyo, we end up with shu, which means “ascetic discipline,” “ascetic practices, or just “discipline.”  and gyo, which translates as “to journey” or just “to go.”  Shu is also derived from the Sanskrit word “sadhana,” often translated as “spiritual practice.”

The technical term for a budoka who practices shugyo is “musha shugyo.”  Loosely translated, it means “training in warriorship.”  Originally, it also connoted a samurai’s quest or pilgrimage that he would make in order to test his skills or to further his spiritual/physical training.  For instance, the wandering samurai—this is where the term ronin would be of proper use—would often find other schools to train in, duel swordsmen from competing martial schools, work as a bodyguard in order to expose himself intentionally to possible dangers, find a daimyo to serve, and/or engage in the typical “asceticism” of the warriors of his day.  (These ascetic feats could be something such as Shinto misogi “waterfall” training, where the samurai would expose himself to sub-freezing waterfalls while performing various breathwork and meditation techniques to harness his mind/body connection.)

To give you an understanding of the kind of training that these shugyo bugeisha engaged in, there is a centuries-old samurai text called Bukyo Shigen Goden Ryu that offers this advice to the ronin: 3

1. Experience cold, heat, and rain by scaling high mountains and crossing deep valleys.

2. Rest in open fields, and sleep in the mountains.

3. Never store money or food, and never wear warm clothes.

4. Travel everywhere to engage in contests.

5. Reside in graveyards, haunted houses, and among wild beasts.

6. Associate with dangerous criminals.

7. Live off the land among peasants.

Of course, I’m not recommending that the modern budoka engages in such severe training, even if was possible for you or even practical—which it isn’t—but it does help to understand the mindset the budoka must have if he is to have “success” and benefit fom shugyo training.  And mindset is important because shugyo training is still important.  Because, unfortunately, there are budoka who feel as if shugyo training isn’t important.  But it is, especially when you consider that shugyo, in many ways, is just hard, concentrated training.  And there are definitely times in your budo training where you need to exert more effort, work harder, or just engage in serious, hard training.

So shugyo is important.  Here are some ways you could apply modern shugyo to your training and to your life:

• An intense meditation session

• Cold therapy (such as ice baths)

• Hot therapy (such as sauna)

• Day-long training sessions—whether martial arts or with weights, or even just “bodyweight training”

• A “belt/rank” test

• Attend a weekend sesshin (meditation retreat)

• A “10-man kumite” (or something similar)

I want to leave you with these words of the celebrated budoka Dave Lowry: “Shugyo is thought of as austere training or training for the anchorite.  More positively, it is the path taken by the bugeisha to overcome barriers.  It is arduous.  Shugyo is trying and exacting and will not let him rest.  And once he has passed the crossroads, it is the only means by which to succeed on the Way.” 4

The way that Lowry writes of shugyo helps you to realize that it’s as much a mindset and a psychological part of the Way as much as it is anything else.  But however it is approached, make no doubt about it.  Shugyo is important.

1 From the book “Following the Martial Path: Lessons and Stories from a Lifetime of Training in Budo and Zen.

2 From the book “No Fear Zen: Discovering Balance in an Unbalanced World” by Roshi Richard Collins of the New Orleans Zen Center.

3 “Seven Hardships for Mental Training” as translated in John Stevens’s book “Budo Secrets: Teachings of the Martial Arts Masters”

4 From “Sword and Brush: The Spirit of the Martial Arts” by Dave Lowry