I've been practising Kuji-in on & off for the last couple of years. As some of you know, personal circumstances meant my family & I moved back to England, only a few weeks ago. Once i came back, i happened to find out that the very person's technqiues i've been using to study, was to come to the UK! Invited by Sensei Ian Thomas, of Full Circle Martial arts, Chester.
To be honest, with my whole family moving country only weeks before, and so near Christmas, i really didn't have the available money to go. I'm certain Maha (Francois Lepine) sensed this, for he invited me as his guest nonetheless. to stay with him and one of his advanced students, Raphael, waive my course fee, and even brought me to restaurants at every meal. A very, very kind & generous man. i'll be sure to send him a donation very soon!
Francois Lepine, or Maha, as we call him, is most definitely not the stereotypical spiritual master. I've been on a spiritual path all my life, i'm now 36. I've been fortunate to meet some very exceptional people. Through this, and my studies, i've came to a conclusion about Maha. I realise this might seem back to front, but i want to let others know my own, personal opinion of things. So bear with me, haha! I can say, with some degree of certainty, that Maha has little or no hang ups. In fact, he is so comfortable with expressing the open, true, Maha, that it in fact can make people uncomfortable. He made me feel uncomfortable many times. This though, is his teaching style. He will create a situation in another, that will make one feel they have no option but to confront that within them that needs confronting. Maha told me, that the seminar will challenge me, and my ego. Which was true. What is also true, is that at times, it initially seemed to me that he was arrogant, prideful, egotistical, etc. However, what i actually experienced was more to do with ME, than with any way i perceived him to be. It is me that has the hang-ups. This is why i expereinced these reactions. It's why Maha teaches this way. It's also, although not common, is isn't unheard of, for spiritually enlightened people to seem this way. After all, the benchmark between enlightened people, and the rest of us, is us, society. As Krishnamurti once said: It is amazing how sane we are judged, by how well we are adapted to an insane society. So of course, as a member of this crazy society, and not enlightened, it's perhaps not surprising i thought at times this guy was full of it! Haha!
Okay. Kuji-in. Personally, Kuji-in has for me, and CPP, our main interest. I write that singular, as all our interests are one. Spirituality, and Personal Protection, as is taught within CPP, is about enjoying our practice. It could be suggested that enlightenment can come from such things, though we at CPP make no claim to foster that within another. Kuji-in came from the Indian sub-continent, to China, and Japan. Made somewhat famous by folks within Ninjitsu. with diligent practice, it will produce supernatural experiences. However, these really are side-issues for the practice.
I was deeply honoured, to suddenely be asked to sit in front of Maha. There i recieved initiation as a Teacher/Priest of his Buddhist order. As an added bonus, i also recieved initiation with the nine Kuji-in. Things have really not been the same again. Feeling the urge to speak to someone more in-depth about this, i ordered a takeaway late last night, woke the missus (to get in her good books), and spoke with her about my feelings, well into the early hours of the morning. I'd spoke with Maha, about being a teacher/priest. I'd not felt ready to become a part of an organised group again. I was familiar with buddhism, New Kadampa, Tibetan. Maha reassured me that there is no real rules or requirements placed on me. What this did mean for me though, was that i was now permitted to teach Kuji-in, or any of his other practices. I plan to make this a part of CPP, taught in a non-religious way of course.
Some amazinly simple, yet profoundly intense technqiues were taught. I'm still processing a lot if it. And this was only the introduction! Maha has an ability to respond to the energy of any seminar group he with. Things were turned up a little for us. There were expereinced healers, and first class martial artists there. Even so, it was still challenging, yet incredibly worthwhile. To para-phrase from Maha, try the course if you want. If you go away never to use the techniques again, that's cool. My own opinion, i that i personally only ever evolved when i had to challenge myself. Maha gives one the opportunity to do that.
Although Maha gave me this course as a gift, his personal investment in me, don't assume i'm saying these things because of that. My opinion can't be bought. It is true, to me, Maha did seem an asshole at times, and i was uncomfortable also. He was like this for a reason though. It's enabled me to look at my reactions, and address things within myself that needed much sorting out. i'm very, very, thankful fo that. And deeply honoured to have his love. It's reciprocated.
And yes Maha, i feel appeniss! Haha!
Stay Safe
Wayne
Footnote: This was my first chance to finally meet a solid freind, confidant, and advisor, our very own Colin! It was really great to finally meet one another. Haha, we'd a little chuckle yesterday. Maha asked the Reiki folks to do Reiki on teh martial artists. So, i was doing Reiki, and Maha said to me, 'Winn, (as he calls me) concentrate on your base chakra'. Well i nearly had had a heart attack! anyone who knows me here, will know my view on chakras being included in Reiki. didn't i say in this topic at the start, it would challenge my ego! Well it sure did! Me & Colin had a good chuckle bout it anyhow! Haha