​Shinshin Toitsu Aikido is training which uses martial techniques to examine our reactions to potential collision. Soshu (Koichi Tohei Sensei) has always taught us to apply these understandings to our daily life. We use Aikido, meditation, breathing techniques as well as specialized experiments to become aware of how we deal with daily pressures by using the exaggerated pressures of Martial practice. 

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This approach to conflict resolution extends beyond the dojo into our daily lives. Maintaining a peaceful mind and avoiding arousing the idea of battle within ourselves is crucial. Too often, people believe that life without conflict is impossible or that gaining dominance, even at the expense of others, is necessary. However, achieving true peace requires that each individual understand the principle of non-dissension.

Non-dissension does not mean passive acceptance of all things or weakness in the face of aggression. True non-dissension arises when we harbor no ill feelings toward others and maintain a calm in our hearts. It is not simply enduring or suppressing our emotions but transforming our perspective to see no enemy and to recognize that anger and conflict are born from within. In this state, we can overcome any attack without harm, laugh off slander, and deflect hostility without receiving the blow or offering one.

Non-dissension allows you to smile in the face of hostility, leading others to realize the error of their behavior. In a broader sense, this principle teaches us that conflicts arise when both parties are on the same level and are unable to rise above the situation. By examining our own faults and approaching others with generosity and forgiveness, we elevate ourselves, diffusing potential conflicts before they start. As the old warrior code suggests, the highest form of victory is winning without fighting—guiding others to follow where we lead through the principle of non-dissension.

Aikido, with mind and body coordinated, teaches us that the best way to resolve conflict is not through force but through harmony. By embodying the principle of non-dissension, we can navigate life's challenges with a calm spirit, avoiding battles and fostering peace in all our interactions.

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