Evolution and a Sense of Happiness

合氣道光氣会 Aikido Kokikai Japan News 

2020-11-14 

Shudō Maruyama, Founder and President 

Evolution and a sense of happiness (進化と幸福感 shinka to kōfukukan) 

We evolved from something like an amoeba, over 100s of millions of years, to become modern human beings. 

We are said to have evolved from amoebae to fish, from fish that emerged onto land to animals, to apes, and further to humans. Who pushed this evolution forward? Wouldn’t it perhaps have been good to stop around the stage of fish? 

Even from the time we reached human form, we have evolved greatly. In evolution, the intentions of nature are at work. It is likely through evolution and growth that humans are endowed with feelings of happiness, fulfillment, and deep emotion. 

When we become able to do something, do it well, and even beat a rival while doing it, we have a very good feeling. Working with this human nature, Kokikai Aikido is designed to enable us, as human beings, to keep growing over our whole lives. So that, over a lifetime, you can hold onto your hopes and dreams and go on living with a feeling of happiness, I hope you will all continue to practice, research, and grasp how to grow throughout your whole lives.

(translated by Barbara Litt, with assistance from Dave Nachman and Steve Syrek)