Experiencing “Kyudo: The Way of the Bow”

Photos by Brad Warren

On July 20th and 21st, students gathered to learn one of the oldest arts of the Japanese tradition of contemplative warriorship, Kyudo. Brad Warren shares his experience of the weekend through photos.

 

One is not polishing one’s shooting style or technique, but the mind. The dignity of shooting is the important point. This is how KYUDO differs from the common approach to archery. In KYUDO there is no hope. Hope is not the point. The point is that through long and genuine practice your natural dignity as a human being comes out. This natural dignity is already in you, but it is covered up by a lot of obstacles. When they are cleared away, your natural dignity is allowed to shine forth.

– Kanjuro Shibata Sendai XX

Through Kyudo one can learn to live beyond hope and fear, how to be. 

– Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche