At the beginning and the end of our training sessions, we follow the tradition of Mokuso (黙想, mokusō), the japanese term for mediation. Mokuso (pronounced “moh-kso”) is performed before beginning or at the end of a training session in order to “clear one’s mind”, very similar to the zen concept of mushin. This term is more formally known to mean, “Warming up the mind for training hard.”
The purpose of performing the Mokuso before class is to clear one's mind of whatever own did before the class, and prepare oneself to fully commit to the training ahead, akin to leaving your baggage at the door. Likewise, the Mokuso done at the end of the class is done so that one can digest the day's (or night's) training and... pick up the worldly baggage at the door and continue with our daily lives, hopefully more fulfilled by the training we did.
As Muslims believe it is not right to totaly empty the mind of all thoughts (a Muslim should alway keep the Almighty in his mind), we at the Budōkai has modified the ritual slightly. As we see our training sessions as educational & learning sessions it is then appropriate that we begin and end these sessions as we open each class by reciting Surah Al Fathihah and end it with Tasbih Kaffarah and Surah Al Asr. All recitations are to be read silently.
Tasbih Kaffarah:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاََإِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ َأسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ
SUBHANALLAHI WABIHAMDIHI SUBHANAKALLAHUMMA WABIHAMDIKA ASYHADU ALLAA ILAHA ILLA ANTA ASTAGHFIRUKA WA ATUUBU ILAIK
Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise is to You. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but You. I seek Your forgiveness and repent to You.
Our non-muslims members may follow the Japanese method, or one of their own, as long as it is not intrusive.
