四つの感謝 The 4 Gratitudes

Aikido philosophy includes the idea of Gratitude, which is split into 4 categories for ease of visualization.

Usually, there is so much going on in our lives that we can easily become overwhelmed and stressed by everything. However, if we take a few minutes to be grateful for something around us in the morning when you wake up, when you are on your lunch break, or before going to sleep at night, it will help focus your mind and heart and bring some meaning back into our life, which is certainly needed in this hectic modern life.

合気道では感謝の気持ちは中心的な考え方。我々の人生は忙しくてストレスややることが多すぎて精神的に崩れることが多い。でも朝に目覚めたら・お昼休み・それか寝る前に数分をかけて、自分の生活にあるものについて感謝をしてみてください。出来たら、自分の気分は落ち着いて、人生の意味が固定します。現在の生活は忙しくて、自分の必要性を忘れてしまうことがあるかもしれない。数分かけて、感謝の心で自分の魂を癒されてみて。

感謝は以下の四つに別れています。

1. Gratitude for the Universe　宇宙に対する感謝

We live in an amazing, terrifying, awe-inspiring world. Earth provides all of our needs, the sun provides the energy for life, the sky provides the weather and beautiful vistas. I am grateful for the air. It give us the oxygen we breathe, the refreshing breeze during training, and the clouds that bring life giving rain.

It also forms devastating storms that can provide us with hardships to challenge us. Being grateful for the hardships is difficult. I know, I find it hard to do so, but these hardships are there to challenge us and help us grow and come together.

　我々は素晴らしくて、恐ろしくて、畏敬の念を起こされる世の中に生きている。地球は我々のニーズ、太陽は生命のエネルギー、空は気候やきれいな景色を提供します。私は空気に感謝します。空気は我々の酸素を送ります。空気は稽古中の涼しい風を送ります。空気は生命に必要な雨を送ります。

　それに空気は嵐も送ります。嵐に感謝を持つことが大変ですが、そのチャレンジを向き合って、成長して強くなれ！

2. Gratitude for our Ancestors　先祖に対する感謝

Everything about you is because of your ancestors. They had something about them that let them win the battle of the "survival of the fittest". There is something in you that is meant to survive. Find that and be grateful for it and help it grow.

Also be grateful for the people who came before us. Our technology, knowledge and lifestyle is because of their hard work and their mistakes. Learn from them and find your way to clarity in your feelings knowing that all the mistakes and hardships you may be going through have been experienced before and have been overcome.

　あなたの命はあなたは先祖がいるからです。あなたは適者生存の勝負に勝っている遺伝は持っています。その生存本能を見つけて活かせよう。

　自分の前に生きた人にも感謝してみよう。現在の技術・生活・知識は我々の先祖の苦労に基づいた。今、自分の失敗や苦労は昔の人も経験したが彼らが乗り越えたからあなたも乗り越えるでしょう。先祖様を感謝して、自信を持ちましょう。　　

3. Gratitude for our fellow Humans　周りの人間に対する感謝

This is who I am grateful for. Think of your own and remember to acknowledge them for the part they play your life:

I am grateful for my wife, who has given me 3 beautiful children and has stayed with me through thick and thin. She has praised my accomplishments and made me aware of my faults. She is a shining beacon of hope in my world.

I am grateful for my parents for providing support and affection and believing in me through my good and bad times.

I am grateful for my students and teachers in the Dojo and in other areas for challenging me and helping find my way through the confusion to understanding.

I am grateful for my friends for their support and advice.

I am grateful for my enemies who let me reflect on my faults and find a way to improve and mend the rift that has come between us.

　私は以下の人に対して感謝を持っています。あなたは感謝する人を見つけて「ありがとう」を言いましょう。

　私の妻は感謝します。初めに素晴らしい子供を三人も生んでくれました。人生の波も一緒に耐えて、私の成功をほめて、失敗を叱ってくれました。彼女は私の希望の光となっています。

　私の親に感謝を持っています。私は上手くいっても、失敗してもいつも応援し、信じてくれる。

　道場や生活上の生徒や先生に感謝します。私の長所を伸ばして、困った時期に導いてくれます。

　友達からの支援やアドバイスに感謝します。

　私の敵にも感謝します。自分の短所の鏡になって私が直すべき名所を知れせてくれます。

4. Gratitude for the Plants and Animals that give up their live for our Sustenance　

　我々の栄養になる動物や植物に対する感謝

In order to sustain our bodies, we need to take in matter from the world around us. The plants and animals are the source of this matter. I love cooking even though I'm terrible at it. However, every time I handle food, especially meat, I consider the best way I can honor the flesh by making the best and tastiest meal I can. So I look up recipes online and try to improve. The results are certainly worth it because my family are always excited when it comes to meal-time.

　我々の体を成長するするために世の中から栄養を取らにといけない。　その栄養は植物と動物にあります。　私はまだまだ下手ですが、料理は大好きです。　調理するたびに用意した素材（特に肉）を出来るだけ最高にウマイ食事に仕上げたい。オンライン・レシピを一生懸命調べて実施しようとしています。私の家族は私が作ったものを喜んで食べるのでちゃんと成果があります。

Being able to feel gratitude is sometimes taken for granted, but really try to take some time to fully appreciate the things in your life. I hope the ideas above that we use in aikido meditation help you find an new part of yourself and reduce the stress in this hectic life.

感謝の気持ちを当たり前になりやすい。でも本当に毎日の数分でも作って、自分の人生にあるものを心から感謝してみてください。この忙しい人生に上記の合気道の瞑想で使う考え方を利用することが出来たらきっと気分が楽になる。