<Principle of Shorinji Kempo>
The Founder So Doshin established Shorinji Kempo in Japan in order to make good and brave persons and to change the world better by the power of achievement of these good and brave persons. The Founder stated, "The person, the person, the person, everything depends on a quality of the person." He explained importance of developing good personality and the making the world better through practicing Shorinji Kempo.
When Japan lost World War II in 1945, the rules of society, the economy, and people's hearts as well were in turmoil in Japan. The Founder Doshin So had many hard experiences in China and Japan, and awakened to the knowledge that "The person, the person, the person, everything depends on a quality of the person who stand in positions of influence." The Founder considered that, to build a peaceful world, "there is no other way than to cultivate many people's deeply rooted compassion, great courage, and a strong sense of justice."
Aiming at rebuilding people in body and spirit, and to transform society through peaceful means, the Founder founded Shorinji Kempo with the goals of "developing individuals through Shorinji Kempo" and "constructing an ideal world." He emphasized importance of developing good personality and making the world better through Shorinji Kempo. Shorinji Kempo makes strong and brave individuals through the practice. These individuals can change the world better by the power of achievement which they have acquired through Shorinji Kempo.
<True Strength>
When we say "true strength," we do not mean the strength to defeat an opponent in a fighting game, but rather a strength that is founded on a sound self, a reliable self, and the strength to live. To have "true strength" is to have established a reliable self. The aim of the practice of Shorinji Kempo is to become an individual who is strong both physically and spiritually. Through Shorinji Kempo, we gain strong confidence and bring happiness, not only to ourselves, but also to the people around us, by helping each other, foster the capacity to confront injustice in society. Shorinji Kempo aims to achieve such "true strength."
<Purposes of Shorinji Kempo>
1. Discipline (Gyou): All Shorinji Kempo members train body, mind, and spirit through Shorinji Kempo practice including Zen meditation. They practice intensely, enjoyably, and steadily. Through Shorinji Kempo practice, people gain confidence, courage, and vigor, and nurture a spirit of compassion and a sense of justice. They acquire "true strength." This practice is called "Gyou (Discipline)" in Japanese.
2. Self-Establishment (Jiko Kakuritsu): All the members earn body strength, mind cultivation, spirit enhancement, and self-defense through Discipline (Gyou). Shorinji Kempo does NOT hold competitions, not make martial arts champions, but makes "bright and brave leaders of a society."
3. Mutual Happiness for oneself and others (Jita Kyouraku): All the members contribute well-Self-Established themselves (Jiko Kakuritsu) to making this society better through various activities. It is our motto: "Half for our own happiness, half for the happiness of others."
