The evening was coming to an end, and the sky's colors grew ever darker with each passing moment. Having made sure that all his chores were completed, mainly due to his mother's watchful eye, Tensai had begun preparing to visit his Granduncle. With what seemed to be a severe lack of available teachers at the academy, the words of a seasoned veteran in the way of life could be useful. Furthermore, he'd be learning about spirituality and energy in ways unknown to most that walked the path of the Shinobi, something treasured by the Musai for ages. He could barely contain his excitement.
Instead of the recommended notebook, Tensai would gather a few scrolls made of a more durable type of paper. With the scrolls tucked into a bag, slung over his shoulder, the boy managed to slip something passed his mother's eye. At the request of his old uncle, he had managed to obtain a bottle of rum earlier. With his mother tired and preparing for an early rest, Tensai would tie the highly alcoholic beverage around his waist in a leather pouch, then leap out into the coming night.
The trip up to his uncle's old place seemed shorter as he got used to the small journey, and before he knew it he was already sitting across from the old man. Between them both were numerous diagrams, old scrolls, and odd trinkets. Tensai had his own scroll spread horizontally before him as he prepared to take down notes. To the right of either person was a small meal, toasted bread and a cup of tea. Both had already greeted one another, in their own basic manner, and both were now prepared for dealing with knowledge more than pleasantries.
"In today's teachings about Chakra, I feel there is a lot of short-hand, and skipping over old details." The grizzled old voice crackled through the silence, somehow matching the ton of the crackling flames at the fireplace a few feet away. "According to the ancient information coveted by the Musai, there are 72,000 energy channels within the human body. These can be called Nadis, Chi, Ki, Tenketsu, and the list goes on I'm sure." As he spoke, the old man pointed to a diagram of the human body with lines and markings all over to accentuate his point.
"The energy channels cross or Nadis are what make up our subtle body, or spiritual self...You can also imagine this as the etheric double of man. At various points throughout the body, there are seven main points along the spine where the Nadis intersect, creating vortexes of energy within. This is where the word Chakra comes from, as it is an ancient term meaning Wheels, Wheels of Light, or Wheels of Energy. It is thought that all personal magic, health, and energy emanates from these energy centers...I'm sure you can see the reflection of such theory in the use of Jutsu, Seals, and things of that nature." His wrinkled lips smiled as he took a pause, watching the boy try his best to jot down all the information. "Chakras are the centers of vital energy in the
body that are responsible for balancing all levels of being including physical, psychological, and spiritual."
"In present times, Chakra is considered in its entirety and the parts which comprise it have been forgotten. The focus is mainly focused on using Chakra as nothing more than an energy source with which to bend the world to one's will. You will not fall into the category of such men under my tutelage." Tensai's uncle pushed aside a few scrolls and charts to fully expose one diagram in particular, the form of a man standing upright with seven orbs along the center of his body. "I won't get into every detail right now, but I will make sure you leave here knowing the seven names." The ashen-haired boy simply nodded, eyes giving the impression of a man with only one focus. His focus was absorbing knowledge and processing it all at the same time.
"The Muladhara, at the base of the spine. The Svadhishthana, at the lower abdomen. The Manipura, at the solar plexus. The Anahata, at the heart. The Vishuddah, at the throat. The Ajna, at the brow. The Sahasrara, at the crown or cerebral cortex. Those are the seven primary Chakra centers in the body from bottom to top. Before you learn how to control and manipulate Chakra as an energy form, you'll be taught in depth about each center." The old man coughed a little, but cleared his throat and rubbed the side of his face. Apparently it had been a while, as it seemed to take him a moment or two to recall certain information. Sure enough though...
"The Muladhara, the first, is known as the Root Chakra. It is the foundation, strongly linked to life force, energy, vigor, confidence, overall health and well-being. Its basic orientation is that of self-preservation, and its symbolized by the color red. Of our five senses, its tied most closely to smell, and of the basic elements it is grounded in earth. To find solidity in this first Chakra, we've got to have an instinctual sense of our right to be here. If one doesn't see themselves as having a right to exist, then there are few other rights they could ever make claim to. Do we have the right to take up space? Do we have the right to establish individual identity? Do we have the right to take care of ourselves? To be here is our right to exist, that right our foundation of survival and security."
The lesson would continue, and while every detail about the first Chakra wasn't laid bare, some of the key elements had been shared. Over the next couple of hours Tensai would continue to refine his notes and add to them, his own curiosity and imagination toying around with the wisdom that had been shared. It was unbelievable to him, that he had found such an amazing teacher. Even more unbelievable was the fact that said teacher took the form of a disgruntled old hermit.
Instead of the recommended notebook, Tensai would gather a few scrolls made of a more durable type of paper. With the scrolls tucked into a bag, slung over his shoulder, the boy managed to slip something passed his mother's eye. At the request of his old uncle, he had managed to obtain a bottle of rum earlier. With his mother tired and preparing for an early rest, Tensai would tie the highly alcoholic beverage around his waist in a leather pouch, then leap out into the coming night.
The trip up to his uncle's old place seemed shorter as he got used to the small journey, and before he knew it he was already sitting across from the old man. Between them both were numerous diagrams, old scrolls, and odd trinkets. Tensai had his own scroll spread horizontally before him as he prepared to take down notes. To the right of either person was a small meal, toasted bread and a cup of tea. Both had already greeted one another, in their own basic manner, and both were now prepared for dealing with knowledge more than pleasantries.
"In today's teachings about Chakra, I feel there is a lot of short-hand, and skipping over old details." The grizzled old voice crackled through the silence, somehow matching the ton of the crackling flames at the fireplace a few feet away. "According to the ancient information coveted by the Musai, there are 72,000 energy channels within the human body. These can be called Nadis, Chi, Ki, Tenketsu, and the list goes on I'm sure." As he spoke, the old man pointed to a diagram of the human body with lines and markings all over to accentuate his point.
"The energy channels cross or Nadis are what make up our subtle body, or spiritual self...You can also imagine this as the etheric double of man. At various points throughout the body, there are seven main points along the spine where the Nadis intersect, creating vortexes of energy within. This is where the word Chakra comes from, as it is an ancient term meaning Wheels, Wheels of Light, or Wheels of Energy. It is thought that all personal magic, health, and energy emanates from these energy centers...I'm sure you can see the reflection of such theory in the use of Jutsu, Seals, and things of that nature." His wrinkled lips smiled as he took a pause, watching the boy try his best to jot down all the information. "Chakras are the centers of vital energy in the
body that are responsible for balancing all levels of being including physical, psychological, and spiritual."
"In present times, Chakra is considered in its entirety and the parts which comprise it have been forgotten. The focus is mainly focused on using Chakra as nothing more than an energy source with which to bend the world to one's will. You will not fall into the category of such men under my tutelage." Tensai's uncle pushed aside a few scrolls and charts to fully expose one diagram in particular, the form of a man standing upright with seven orbs along the center of his body. "I won't get into every detail right now, but I will make sure you leave here knowing the seven names." The ashen-haired boy simply nodded, eyes giving the impression of a man with only one focus. His focus was absorbing knowledge and processing it all at the same time.
"The Muladhara, at the base of the spine. The Svadhishthana, at the lower abdomen. The Manipura, at the solar plexus. The Anahata, at the heart. The Vishuddah, at the throat. The Ajna, at the brow. The Sahasrara, at the crown or cerebral cortex. Those are the seven primary Chakra centers in the body from bottom to top. Before you learn how to control and manipulate Chakra as an energy form, you'll be taught in depth about each center." The old man coughed a little, but cleared his throat and rubbed the side of his face. Apparently it had been a while, as it seemed to take him a moment or two to recall certain information. Sure enough though...
"The Muladhara, the first, is known as the Root Chakra. It is the foundation, strongly linked to life force, energy, vigor, confidence, overall health and well-being. Its basic orientation is that of self-preservation, and its symbolized by the color red. Of our five senses, its tied most closely to smell, and of the basic elements it is grounded in earth. To find solidity in this first Chakra, we've got to have an instinctual sense of our right to be here. If one doesn't see themselves as having a right to exist, then there are few other rights they could ever make claim to. Do we have the right to take up space? Do we have the right to establish individual identity? Do we have the right to take care of ourselves? To be here is our right to exist, that right our foundation of survival and security."
The lesson would continue, and while every detail about the first Chakra wasn't laid bare, some of the key elements had been shared. Over the next couple of hours Tensai would continue to refine his notes and add to them, his own curiosity and imagination toying around with the wisdom that had been shared. It was unbelievable to him, that he had found such an amazing teacher. Even more unbelievable was the fact that said teacher took the form of a disgruntled old hermit.
[WC: 1017]