The Art in its Simplicity
Throughout humankind’s history, words have been used to influence the way we think and feel.
In the Art of Jin Shin, words often convey unconventional meaning and significance. Mary Burmeister was a master of linguistics, and she deliberately chose words or phrases that invoke thoughtful consideration.
The JSG Academy takes the initiative of developing and making available a glossary of terms embedded in the Art’s philosophy and teaching. The purpose is to contribute to the Art’s simplicity. Terminology should not complicate the way to our understanding of the Art.
Art of Jin Shin: A to Z is a collaborative tool. Members of the Jin Shin Guild are welcome to contribute new entries or make amendments to the existing ones. All contributions will be subject to an assessment process, coordinated by JSG’s Lead Instructors, before publication is authorized.
Answer SheetA nickname given to the unique handout Mary Burmeister offered in classes. She masterfully synthesized the knowledge of the Art of Jin Shin into one page, relating the physical and energetic dimensions of the human body to the Cosmos. |
Art of Jin Shin
The Art of Jin Shin is an ancient art, an innate wisdom that harmonizes an individual’s spirit, mind, and body. Through use of simple hand placements, the vital life force responsible for animating and nurturing each of us is balanced. A sense of well
-being is restored and uplifted. The Art can be practiced by anyone, at any time, and in any place. Equally important, the Art of Jin Shin engages one in self-study and self-exploration. Involvement with the Art facilitates the discovery of answers to many of life’s questions such as “who am I?” and “ why am I here?”
The Art of Jin Shin was rediscovered in Japan in 1912 by Jiro Murai. Murai was ill with what he believed to be a terminal illness. Alone in a mountain cabin preparing for his death, he sat in prayer and meditation. He held his fingers in postures he had seen in the depictions of Gautama Buddha. After some days, his illness disappeared miraculously. In his wonder and gratitude, Jiro fell to his knees and dedicated his life in search of the reason for his recovery. That search and research, which continued until his death in 1960, gave birth to what we know today as the Art of Jin Shin. |
As Above So BelowA great aphorism of Western classical philosophy. The practical application within the Art of Jin Shin where: "as above" refers to the macrocosm or the energetic dimension; and "so below" refers to the material dimension and the human body. |
AttitudesUnbalanced emotional states that, when integrated into one’s lifestyle, become the cause of all disharmony, pain, illness and misery that affects human beings. |
Breath of LifeMetaphor for the universal energy that circulates through all individualized dimensions (depths). It moves in two directions: the descending movement is associated with exhalation and the ascending movement is associated with inhalation. |
CauseAn energetic action that produces perceptible effects in our lives and in the relationships of our lives. The Art of Jin Shin teaches that all disharmonies are effects of the Attitudes - the cause - that we integrate into our lifestyle. |
CreatorThe Creator is the creative source of the Universe. The Art of Jin Shin refers to this source simply as the Dot, not questioning the individual understanding, which can be mystical (God) or scientific (the Big Bang). |
DepthA depth is a dimension of being; a state of manifestation. |
DisharmonyWhen the life energy circulates as intended by the source, there is harmony within and outside the body. When the circulation is stagnant or diverted, disharmony occurs. The body demonstrates this disharmonized circulation through discomfort or diseases. |
DotThe Dot is a name given to the creative source of the Universe. |
EffectAn effect is a symptom in the physical body, which is the result of disharmony in the energetic body. |
EnergyEnergy is the essence of the Universe. In physics, energy is the strength and vitality required for sustained activity. According to the Art of Jin Shin, energy is what creates, maintains, and sustains life. |
FlowA specific sequence of hand placements that activates energetic circulation or unlocks one or more of our Personal Energy Centers. |
Fundamental LawsImmutable cosmic laws that govern the Universe and everything in it. |
Fundamental PrinciplesBasic philosophical principles that facilitate the understanding and practice of the Art of Jin Shin. |
Jiro MuraiJiro Murai, who rediscovered the ancient Art of Jin Shin, was born in 1886, in Taiseimura, on the western coast of Japan. As a young adult, he was adventurous and carefree, enjoying a lifestyle of excess in food and drink. In 1912, at the age of 26, he was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Alone in a mountain cabin, Jiro prepared for his death. He fasted, sat in Zen meditation, and held finger postures (mudras). For six days, he felt life leaving his body, growing colder with each day. On the seventh day, the cold was replaced by a fiery heat that consumed his body, and he fell into unconsciousness. On the eighth day he awoke, knowing he had been healed. In gratitude, he devoted the remainder of his lifetime to the study and research of his miraculous, mysterious healing. Jiro Murai died in June 1960. The Art of Jin Shin is his legacy, the result of his dedicated journey. |
Jumper CableA term that metaphorically represents the function of our hands when practicing the Art of Jin Shin. |
KojikiA classic Japanese book written in the eighth century; a collection of stories recounting how the gods created the world, Japan, and the human being. The Kojiki helped Jiro Murai understand the Art of Jin Shin. He said his research is nothing but a medical interpretation of the Kojiki. |
Main CentralA short name referring to the Main Central Vertical Universal Harmonizing Energy, the primary circulation of energy in our bodies. |
ManifestationAccording to Albert Einstein, manifestation (matter) is the concrete expression of energy (E = mc2). According to the Art of Jin Shin, it is the individualized expression of energy known as a living being. |
Mary BurmeisterMary Mariko Iino was born on October 21, 1918, in Seattle, Washington. Upon completing her early education, Mary chose to go to Japan, where she taught English. One of Mary’s students introduced her to Jiro Murai. In their first meeting, Jiro invited Mary to become his student and to, one day, take the Art of Jin Shin to America. While in Japan, and during her studies with Jiro Murai, Mary met and fell in love with Gilbert Burmeister. In 1954, with Jiro’s blessing, Mary returned to America and married Gilbert. Through written correspondence, Mary continued her studies with Jiro Murai until his death in 1960. In 1966, Mary began teaching and created her first textbook on Art of Jin Shin. She created several revisions of the textbooks during her years of teaching. In addition to her classes, Mary worked tirelessly giving private sessions to students and to the general public. In 1989, Mary fell and sustained a head injury that would bring her teaching to an end. Mary Burmeister passed away on January 27, 2008. |
MatterThat state of energy that can be perceived using the five senses. |
MediatorA short name referring to the Diagonal Mediator Universal Harmonizing Energy, sometimes called the Principle of Activity. The Mediator is in charge of bridging and integrating the left and right energetic circulations of the body and creating a unity we call life. |
Organ Function EnergyAn energetic circulation moving throughout the body that builds, repairs, and protects the body, manifesting as the physical organs. |
ProjectA positive goal for restoring or maintaining health and happiness. |
PulseThe demonstration of the energetic body in the physical body. |
Safety Energy LockThe name Mary Burmeister gave to the 26 pairs of Eki Ten rediscovered by Jiro Murai. Each one is a Personal Energy Center. |
SELAcronym for Safety Energy Lock also referred to as Personal Energy Center. |
SourceThe dot, the universal fountain that continually produces the energy that creates and sustains the Universe. |
SupervisorA short name referring to the Major Vertical Supervisor Universal Harmonizing Energy; an energetic circulation that creates the five manifested depths and supervises all function on each side of the body. |
TextureA subtle expression of the pulse of the body, which is attributed to one of the six individualized dimensions of energy. |
Thirty-Six BreathsA breathing exercise whose function is to restore and maintain the harmony of the body. |
Universal EnergyThe energy generated by the universal source - the dot - that creates and sustains the entire Universe and everything within it. |
Universal LightOr, simply, Light - Light is the essence and function of 7th depth; the energy generated by the dot that is present everywhere in the Universe. It can be related to the quantum field known in physics. |