I have learned several systems which employ the use of the Kuji Hou, first learning a Japanese system which linked the Kuji to the training. Then I learned some from a Japanese Tendai Buddhist. After this I was informed of a Chinese version and sought to learn that system, as well. And being the headstrong teenager that I was, I also sought out the original methods employed in India. What I give here is by no means complete. Much of the insight into these practices are gained from within. As you move forward, the deeper understandings shall be granted by your own inner realms. Do not underestimate the power and insight you possess within.
As you move forward through this, always remember that the most important thing is persistence. How well you did today isn't as important as what you did. In other words, you may be totally unfocused for some reason, but this should not stop you. Devote a few minutes to holding the posture, doing the breathing, and seeing the visualization. Even if it seems to have no effect, it does. Deep within the psyche there is a part of you that needs to get the idea of what's going on, and you won't see much change until that part of you does get it.
Chanting: At first we merely speak the name of the level (such as "RIN") and later use the full chant in Sanskrit. You can use the Japanese version if you choose, but the Japanese form is actually a mispronunciation of the Sanskrit based on the symbols used when the Japanese wrote them down and the method by which the Japanese speak. I have always noticed that the chants are softer in the Sanskrit version. It may be easier to read and chant, when learning, if you write them with all the syllables separated.
Mudra: Dokko-In - The Thunderbolt
Japanese: "ON BAI SHI RA MAN TA YA SO WA KA"
Sanskrit: "OM VAJRAMANATAYA SWAHA"
When we begin to work our way through the nine cuts of the Kuji Ho, notice how each cut sets the way for the following cut. Rin is to prepare the mind and body. As a warrior, one must learn to have a sharp mind and healthy body.
Effects: Helps in strengthening the mind and the body. Benefits the overall physical and mental health. Can be invoked to help draw upon deep internal strength.
Breathing: Twice the normal rate.
Meditation: An elixir which contains the essence of Fudo Myo-o. We often have green tea and meditate on the essence being within it, and then drink it, imagining the essence filling us. I recommend studying about Fudo Myo-o.
Mudra: Daikongo-In - The Great Diamond
Japanese: "ON ISHA NA YA IN TA RA YA SO WA KA"
Sanskrit: "OM ISHAANAYAA YANTRAYAA SWAHA"
At the 2nd level we are tapping more into the will and energy of an individual. In order to carry on throughout the warrior path, one must first be of right mind and a healthy body, and then must have the will to push on. Many challenges shall come. Many trials.
Effects: Invoked to help focus one's energy on a specific goal. It also helps in the overall cultivation of energy. And it can even help with the development of psychic power. Some find that it helps to block others from knowing their own thoughts, or even keeps others from sensing their presence. It can greatly assist an individual who is practicing any method of developing telepathy. But it does not bestow such a gift on its own.
Breathing: Half the normal rate.
Meditation: An aura of brilliant white or golden light that surrounds and protects the person, filling the person with great energy and an unstoppable will.
Mudra: Sotojishi-In - The Outer Lion
Japanese: "ON JE TE RA SHI ITA RA JI BA RA TA NOO SO WA KA"
Sanskrit: "OM JITRAASHI YATRA JIVARATNA SWAHA"
At the third level we are focused more on universal harmony. Through the first two levels we have obtained strength and health, plus have learned to cultivate psychic energy (Chi or Ki). Now, we harmonize with the universal forces. We attune. This does not mean total enlightenment. It is a step toward that. But through it we have opened the door to greater accomplishments that go beyond physical limitations.
Effects: The effects here are primarily on the psychic level, bestowing one with the ability to make an enemy freeze or hesitate with only a glance, or even through their presence alone. The force granted by Toh shall make it possible to destroy the spirits of the enemy. But at the same time, you may life the spirits of the hopeless. This level also brings the warrior into balance in mind, body, and spirit. There is also the possibility of controlling animals.
Breathing: Normal rate.
Meditation: A spiritual inner lion that leaps out through the eyes at an enemy, attacking through their eyes and destroying them from within. Making it dramatic helps.
Mudra: Uchijishi-In - The Inner Lion
Japanese: "ON HA YA BAI SHI RA MAN TA YA SO WA KA"
Sanskrit: "OM HAYA VAJRAMANTAYA SWAHA"
The fourth level is known as the level of healing. The healing is done through the destruction of impurities, and thus is a level of death and decay. On a more spiritual level, this means a death to the old self and way of life.
Effects: Healing of the self, and also to heal others. There are practices for energy healing that would go well in this level. First do the exercise for healing, and then, while still in that mental state, practice Sha. This will connect the two, and Sha will empower all healing. It also makes a person sensitive to another's injuries, to know what ails them. It speeds up one's own healing and strengthens immunity.
Breathing: Normal rate.
Meditation 1: A spiritual lion that stems from the hands and surrounds the body with a force of healing energy, permeating every cell.
Meditation 2: A golden sphere of healing Chi over your head. Inhaling, it sinks down through the crown of the head through the body and to the feet. With each inhale, it begins to fill the body. On every exhale, the energy glows brightly. Each inhale fills the body more and more. The energy permeates every cell, every bone, every bit of tissue. It fills to the top. Then just hold this image of absolute healing for a while, continuing to chant "Sha".
Japanese: "ON NOO MA KU SAN MAN DA BA SA RA DAN KAN"
Sanskrit: "OM NAMAH SAMANTA VAJRANAM HAM"
Now we begin to really work with that sense known as the 6th sense, being able to "know without knowing".
Effects: ESP. Complete control of body functions. Sharpens psychic awareness. Helps in overcoming discomforts (such as itching). Used to develop a strong intuition. One may feel the intentions of others, or simply sense when things are going to go wrong. Learn to trust your senses.
Breathing: Normal rate.
Meditation: Beams of energy stream out of the body, connecting the warrior to all happenings in the universe. Before beginning this exercise, it helps to first quiet the mind and listen to the sounds of nature, reaching the hearing further and further, until it is as though all sounds are heard simultaneously.
Japanese: "ON AGA NA YA IN MA YA SOWAKA"
Sanskrit: "OM AGNAYA YANMAYA SWAHA"
Telepathic powers are something that has drawn upon itself much debate. How could it be possible? Well, it's simple. All things are connected. If you can find a molecular sized computer hidden within DNA, which is the central programming tool of all physical objects, and DNA is found it communicate with one another, then to see that we are all linked on a mental plane should not be that hard to comprehend.
Effects: This level helps the obvious... Telepathy. Use of this level can lessen your stamina, but is helps to strengthen the mental faculties, like in the power of telepathy. With all that energy focused there, the physical energy is thus weakened. With it, one learns to read thought and hearts. But also, you can keep others from reading you in any way. It also helps to give off false impressions, so as to assist in espionage. Also, at a very advanced level, it is possible for telepathic experts to communicate mentally. But beware that using telepathic powers too much can lead to mental strain and a lack of physical energy. In fact, it can even lead to severe brain trauma. So, simply put, don;t overdo it.
Breathing: Normal rate.
Meditation: Energy streams out from the mind and reaches out into the minds of others. Use this level in conjunction with any telepathy practice, also.
Japanese: "ON HI RO TA KI SHA NO GA JI BA TAI SOWAKA"
Sanskrit: "OM JYOTIHI CHANDOGA JIVA TAY SWAHA"
The mystic shall find this to be the point wherein all worldly treasures have ceased to be of any value at all. All that matters is the spiritual quest. But to the warrior, there is a whole other side to Retsu.
Effects: This level is known as the level of mastering time and space. Few really understand what that actually means. This can be in the sense of escaping the physical prison of the body (astral projection, ect.), or it can mean to be able to slow down, speed up, or even stop time. But the reality of this side of Retsu is that you are not really stopping time. You merely speed your perception of it to the point that everything seems to stop. The first time this happened to me, I didn't even know Retsu could do that. I leaped into the air and didn't come down for a bit. What had been only a couple seconds seemed to me like at lease 30 seconds.
Breathing: Half the normal rate. And if you can, greater effect shall come through a quarter of the normal speed. So, if you count to 4 on your normal inhale speed, and you count to 8 on half that speed, then count to 16. Don't attempt this if you have to strain just to do half the normal rate.
Also, there is an whole other side to Retsu's power. Telekinesis is the power to move objects with the will. In this practice, it begins as being able to gain a great deal of control over the inner working of one's own body. One can also stun an enemy. Dim Mak shall be greatly advanced with Retsu. With mastery, one can even kill with the will alone. The level of actually moving objects with the will can only come through actual methods used to practice this, and not through Retsu alone.
Meditation: The hand sign is in the form of one holding the sword of Fudo Myo-o, which cuts through the illusions and all limitations, and also through the fabric of time and space, allowing the warrior to step outside the physical reality. Inhale, raising the sword. Exhale, calling through the breath "Retsu", and slicing downward. Time and space are dissipated into nothing, and so no limits exist. Time does not exist. There is no physical reality or world. And the ego, one's own false self, is destroyed.
Japanese: "ON CHI RI CHI I BA RO TA YA SOWAKA"
Sanskrit: "OM SRIJA IVA RTAYA SWAHA"
Now we have come to a point where we are able to step beyond the limits of time and space. We are energy. Looking back, we see the steps taken to get here. And we see that those steps are merely an illusion. Everything was only a signpost on the path. And so even as illusions, they were necessary, because we could only see the illusions. But now we begin to see past them. We see the reality. And the reality is that there is not concrete reality. Nothing is true. Nothing at all. For when something is thought, it is no longer truth. We can only comprehend the illusion. But that's okay. This realization no longer can bother us, because we have stepped beyond the fears and discomforts. We are near to enlightenment.
Effects: Becoming truly in touch with all the elements of nature. Now we are no longer tapping into them, for we have become them. We are not their master. We are their spirit. We shall feel in harmony with the entire universe, far beyond what was possible in the 3rd level, Toh. We no longer are reaching out to the universe. We are in harmony. It is possible here to leave no foot prints where you step. Soundlessness. Even nature guards you, now. But be aware of the danger that one can become mentally insane, or even go into a coma from the depth of this level. The insanity comes from being unable to decipher between physical reality and the realms of the mind. It's like being on a perpetual acid trip.
Also, Zai can be invoked to gain influence over the surrounding world and the events therein. In other words, you can make things happen or not happen with will alone, much like a Sorcerer.
Breathing: Normal rate.
Meditation: An aura of intense golden energy surrounds the entire body. Dissolve into the elements. Become everything. Become nothing. The hand sign is the ring of the sun, and so see that golden light as being the energy of the sun. It gives life, and it has made you the sustainer of the elemental forces. But not as their master. As their friend.
Japanese: "ON A RA BA SHA NOO SOWAKA"
Sanskrit: "OM AH RA PA CHA NA DHI"
Here we may find the true enlightenment sought by the mystics all over the world. True enlightenment is an absence of ego. Mastering this level in the tradition from which I was trained leads to an initiation into a practice called "Oni-Ki", in which a person's self is destroyed. It brings about a warrior version of enlightenment, wherein a person is seemingly invincible, unstoppable, and stronger than any man. But the ego must be conquered, or else it can lead to insanity, leading to suicide or a cereal killer without mercy. One could become like a machine. I will not be giving the Oni-Ki on this site.
Effects: Unifying all aspects of the psyche. Gain total control over the mind and body. Mastery here can lead to seeing the future. Here is where the ego truly perishes, if one chooses this. But beware that holding tightly to the ego can lead to total insanity.
Breathing: Normal rate.
Meditation: A surrounding shadow, like an aura of darkness. The warrior vanishes from the world. The light of the warrior is not hidden, though. It simply fades into a new reality. A higher plane.
The Methods of Development
There are those who prefer to work on every cut each day. There are also those who work on all the elemental levels and the nine levels all in one day. Then there are those who relate the cuts to their entire training.
There are so many ways to train. None are really wrong. In fact, each way may have better effects for certain people and not others. Nonetheless, it's good, when in a group, to get set on how you'll be doing it together. When working with several, the energies are greater. So bring together as many as you can for every practice, or at least once a week.
Here's our typical method. We first have people train on the elements. And once they've shown their mastery of those elemental forces within, then we begin them on the nine cuts. At first, they'll practice all 9 each day. At the second level, they must practice one of them each day. It makes no difference what day you begin on. Do this for maybe 4 rounds or more. Then, we begin the much deeper training, wherein we focus on one single level for a while before moving on to the next.
