Sennin Foundation Center for Japanese Cultural Arts

03/29/2026

Classical Japanese calligraphy by Kobara Ranseki Sensei. It reads:

千年まで契りし松も今日よりは
君にひかれて百代や経む

Sennen made chigirishi matsu mo kyō yori wa
kimi ni hikarete momoyo ya emu

The pine we pledged would last a thousand years—
but now, as I find myself drawn irresistibly toward you,
might it go on through generations beyond counting?

Learn more about Kobara Sensei and his exceptional artwork in Secrets of the Brush: Life Lessons from the Art of Japanese Calligraphy. Available everywhere!

03/27/2026

An affirmation of strength by Nakamura Tempu Sensei, brushed in his unique Japanese calligraphy.

Learn about Nakamura Tempu, Asian art, and more at www.MichiPublishing.com.

03/24/2026

“Don’t Overcomplicate Life”

It’s best not to make life more complicated than it is. The more you overthink it, the harder it becomes to understand. Truth is close at hand—it’s not hidden in lofty theories or abstract ideas.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should think carelessly. But people who’ve studied a lot sometimes fall into the trap of believing that truth lies far away—somewhere deep in the ocean or hidden in remote mountains. If you keep your focus on the simple fact of being human, you’re less likely to go off track.

In the end, the state of your mind is what shapes and guides your life.—Nakamura Tempu

Read more at www.TempuYoga.com.





Photo by Ann Kameoka

03/24/2026

The Mind of Great Serenity

Daijoshin, “the mind of great serenity,” refers to a mind that is not shaken in the slightest, no matter the time or circumstance. In other words, it is a mind that—regardless of the situation—does not shrink, does not fear, does not rush, and does not panic; it is a mind that is always detached, clear, and profoundly composed.

To describe this in a more apt way: it is "the same state of mind as when nothing is happening." There is a famous old poem that says, "I wish for that post-hot bath feeling in my everyday life." This describes the true essence of this mental state most faithfully.

In short: the peaceful mind of "nothing happening" is the very essence of daijoshin.—Nakamura Tempu

Nakamura Tempu taught that daijoshin, or the mind of great serenity, was a state of being completely unshakeable regardless of the circumstances. He did not define this as a specialized or aggressive form of mental strength; instead, he described it as a mind that didn't shrink, fear, or rush. To Tempu Sensei, the highest level of mastery was maintaining the same composed state one had when nothing was happening at all.

He taught that true power lay in being detached and profoundly calm, even when faced with significant pressure or chaos. He famously used the imagery of a post-bath feeling to illustrate this concept, suggesting that the goal of a practitioner should be to carry that specific sense of refreshed relaxation into everyday life. By comparing daijoshin to the peacefulness of "nothing happening," he highlighted that a mind of great serenity wasn't something built up through tension, but rather something maintained by not letting our mental attachments to external events disturb our natural equilibrium.

This philosophy was rooted in his core principle of shinshin ichinyo, “the oneness of mind and body.” Tempu Sensei believed that when the mind remained in this serene, post-bath state, it allowed the body’s natural vitality to flow without obstruction.

To help his students achieve this, he developed anjo daza ho, a unique method of meditation where a practitioner sat in silence and listened to the sound of a bell or a buzzer. The goal was to train the mind to enter a state of absolute stillness—daijoshin—the moment the sound vanished.

He taught that by keeping the mind positive and centered through anjo daza ho, a person could maintain their health and overcome any obstacle. For Tempu Sensei, the most effective mind was one that remained as tranquil during a crisis as it was during a moment of quiet repose, ensuring that a person’s inner power was never drained by unnecessary agitation or panic.—H. E. Davey, author of The Teachings of Tempu: Practical Meditation for Daily Life

Want to learn authentic anjo daza ho meditation and discover “the mind of great serenity?” Visit www.TempuYoga.com for information about H. E. Davey’s affordable online classes.

03/23/2026

Available everywhere! Learn more at www.MichiPublishing.com.

03/23/2026

Big shout out to my newest top fans! 💎

William Bennett, David Wilbourne

Drop a comment to welcome them to our community,

03/22/2026

Unlock the ancient secrets of Japanese calligraphy, ink painting, flower arrangement and more with The Japanese Way of the Artist. Look inside the book: https://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Way-Artist-Living-Meditation/dp/0990421449/ref=sw_img_d_ci_mcx_mr_huc_d_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0990421449&pd_rd_w=nuwYW&content-id=amzn1.sym.ad188340-30fa-41e6-82fe-9e8bd142097e%3Aamzn1.symc.9c494d80-7890-4570-94b2-3d3df584ecc3&pf_rd_p=ad188340-30fa-41e6-82fe-9e8bd142097e&pf_rd_r=QHVX74X0KRWXV0YJJ7Y4&pd_rd_wg=f6kew&pd_rd_r=85451cf1-aa78-4a50-8e8b-0dcc0ccf7724

The Japanese Way of the Artist: Living the Japanese Arts & Ways, Brush Meditation, The Japanese Way of the Flower

03/20/2026

Special offer! You can receive one month of online classes in Nakamura Tempu’s original Japanese yoga, meditation, and philosophy for just $40 (USD)! That’s 12 one-hour classes for just $40.

Officially known as Shin-shin-toitsu-ho, this unique path to better health and spiritual awakening has been practiced by over one million people in Japan since it was founded in 1919. But it’s rarely taught in an authentic form outside of Japan, and instruction in any language other than Japanese is difficult to find.

That’s why H. E. Davey started offering nonprofit online classes in English to folks worldwide. He’s the author of The Teachings of Tempu as well as the popular book Japanese Yoga, and he has the highest level of teaching certification from the Kokusai Nihon Yoga Renmei in Kyoto.

When you join his online dojo, you’ll also join students in over a dozen nations on a time-honored path to wellness and enlightenment. And part of your membership fee will be donated to reputable charities worldwide.

Visit www.TempuYoga.com today to sign up for 12 classes for just $3.33 a class. This is your chance to discover the power of mind and body unification and how it can unlock your full potential.

03/18/2026

03/18/2026

Japanese calligraphic art by H. E. Davey, author of The Japanese Way of the Artist. Available everywhere!

03/18/2026

"When you're truly having fun, you don't feel 'happy'; you just are happy." — Nakamura Tempu

Read more about Tempu Philosophy at www.TempuYoga.com.

03/15/2026

“Love means respecting one another.”

True love begins with recognizing a simple yet profound fact: each of us exists in this world as a precious life. When we truly accept that, we come to respect each other from the bottom of our hearts. If that sense of reverence is present, there’s simply no room for selfishness or personal interests to creep into love.

When we quietly reflect on another person’s life and deeply feel the mystery of life itself, a feeling of respect naturally arises.

So if we want to create a truly brighter world, the first step is learning to truly love one another.—Nakamura Tempu

Read more in the internationally acclaimed book The Teachings of Tempu: Practical Meditation for Daily Life. Available everywhere!