Last night I had an interesting experience. It seems that Takamatsu Toshitusgu, the last active Ninja in history, decided to visit me in my dreams. I've felt a fairly close connection to Sensei Takamatsu for a few years now.

Recently one of the facilitators at my Yoga and Martial arts studio had a client come over who happened to be a medium. By coincidence, or luck I came out of my apartment to find something in the basement. This Gentlemen took me aside and asked me who the second last picture on the shelf in the Dojo was. I replied that it was the previous grandmaster of my style of martial arts, Takamatsu Sensei. He found this interesting and explained that Takamatsu Sensei was here with me now. I'm not the type to think that I was chosen by the deceased spirit of Sensei to be watched over or anything selfish like this. If there's any kind of weight to this experience, I would say that this would apply to many more people than just myself, especially since he has returned to Nature and joined to the source infinite. He would no longer be restricted to focusing his attention on one or a few people.

As for the dream:

We were sitting in my kitchen, drinking tea, and he was speaking, "...It is most important to always act without self interest, never do something for your own benefit... If ever there was a "correct or "right" way to live or do things, this would be it..." I had gotten the chance to ask the question, "What is the most difficult technique for a human to master?" He replied, "This would be... the technique of giving life, indeed, the life giving sword."

I can't remember much else. The most vivid detail was the feeling of his presence, It felt like there wasn't any space for me to fit in the room, like his presence was en-wrapping me and suffocating me, making it hard to move, think or even breath, almost like some sort of fear, but one that reached right down to the bones or right down to the core of my being. I kinda picture a great hand reaching through me without injury and wrapping it fingers around my spine to restrict me. I have no idea what or if this dream was to have a purpose, But I will always enjoy a visit by my teachers...