Images in Hackney / Fish-eye Vision
Those are the photos, which I’ve clicked the camera on the street of Hackney.
As the default of the optical design, the image was heavily distorted.
Which people dubbed as fish-eye lens effect.
Some people hate this effect saying too unnatural —- ? is it ?
Everybody knows perspective. If you see a thing in distance, it looks smaller.
Assuming, you are standing on front of a huge building, 50m tall and 100m wide.
You are standing from the central door abut 25m or so distance, facing the
building straight. = From this stance, you can just see whole building in one picture.
The building spread side to side about 120~140 degree in angle on your view.
The center of building looks so high on front of you. —– yet far away, you can see
the end of building = it looks not as high as in the center, because of perspective.
While you are standing and able to see whole building in one picture —– Don’t
you think something wrong ? = Despite the building was built with straight lines
both end of the same building looks smaller in the same time. = ONLY a conclusion
is “You are not able to see straight line as a straight line = it’s bent down in both end”
In fact, as the eyes are ball-shaped, we never see straight line in our optical image,
except the one run straight in the center. All the straight lines are in the imagination,
or “Re-construction” in our visual cortex in the brain.
So, I would say, this is our natural vision. = only the center of our eyes shows
straight line, and the both end of image, lines are converging = above, down ward,
below, up ward = you see —– or ARE you still clinging your illusion ?
Ha ha ha. I’m kidding. 😀
(In real life, if you see a straight line looked carved, you got to see a doctor.
Despite we definitely having blind-spot in each eyes, no body see any blank in
our vision, our brain re-configuring the visual signal perfect (well, more or less)
we see the straight building straight — in fact, what is “to see it as it is in open eyes”
a good question. 😀 )
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Moksa / Moksha
Time to time I encounter the people who use a word Moksa or Moksha.
Most of the case they are not a Buddhist but somewhat around of it, such as Herbalist,
Acupuncturist, Psychoanalyst, or so-called New-age type of people who knew or read
something about “Higher state of Consciousness” kind. (Buzz word “Higher” would
satisfy the Ego = I’m better than others. 😀 —– thus, able to sell more books)
Yet still, a sect of Buddhism, Theravada who supposed to maintain the older form of
Buddhism, is using this word Moksha instead of Nirvana.
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Even among the Mahayana Buddhists, their understanding of the Buddhism is to deal with
this endless cycle of re-birth / Samsara, and to close this cycle is the Nirvana.
And most of the Buddhists believe, this is the fundamentals of the Buddhism.
This must be the biggest blunder and a fraud in the human history.
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This matter has been the most grievous headache to decipher Buddhism to me.
Lord Buddha’s teaching has broken the tradition and the popular belief of the
perpetual soul. As everything is in the Karma, relating and depending each
other, non can remain for ever. Naturally, when the body has died, the mind,
the soul resided in there, ceased to exist = So, this is the end of the suffering of
the person, hence it is the Nirvana.
So that, how come, why after one’s death, the person
has to suffer rebirth, to keep having the trouble of so-called Samsara ? ? ?
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Utterly contrary to popular belief, the idea of Samsara was not what
Lord Buddha taught. —– I haven’t traced all of his words in the scriptures still,
just give a rational thought, it is obviously THE self-contradiction of which NO
Lord Buddha would have made.
Lord Buddha might have used the word “Samsara” for a sake of convenience,
when he talked to mass audience who was not educated but
at least know it mean the trouble of the life. —– Assuming, if
Lord Buddha said, “My teaching will save you from the trouble of Smsara”
—– What he meant was “Trouble of the IDEA of Samsara” since,
such IDEA itself is nothing but a false DELUSION which fooled the people.
Lord Buddha needed to teach and save the people who has been suffering
from a fear of such deluded IDEA, saying ” Don’t worry no such re-birth
would ever happen, since the soul wouldn’t remain after the death” (But
people’s fear is a cash-cow of Guru and Monks, they changed the story)
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It seemed, this “Story-Change” had happened in the earliest stage of the Buddhism history,
long before even the Agama Sutra was written. Considering that Theravada sect is using
a word Moksha which was originated from a popular Cult then who taught the idea of
Samsara and the Moksa, this mixed-up must be happened long before the birth of
Mahayana Buddhism.
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The IDEA of said ancient Cult was that all the life-form born as its own stage of progression
from the lowest to highest, hence this idea became the Cast System in the Hinduism.
And according to the one’s deed, if the one did good enough, the one will reborn in the higher
cast but did bad goes back to the lower, even down to be a beast. This cycle of Rebirth is
the Samsara, and only the highest will get ultimate Moksa to end this cycle.
Lord Buddha totally against this IDEA, hence in his Sangha, all the followers were
treated as equal (NO cast), and he taught, ultimate goal can be reached in one life
as Nirvana (NOT the Hindu idea of Moksa which may takes several lives to reach ).
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Lord Buddha’s teachings were “How to acquire the mind-set [Detachment
= Mushin, Selflessness] to deal with harsh reality in life, and to see the TRUTH”.
= The Truth, “No such things like SELF exists, hence nothing to be Reincarnated”
and to live in this truthful life, the one can reach peaceful Nirvana.
He did not teach a product of imagination, far from it, he fought against it.
—– If you believe otherwise, please show me a FACT of Rebirth.
Lord Buddha was not such idiot to teach dubious imaginary story.
___/\___
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Rare Earth Gig or Party ?
Last night, there was a gig or party in a corner of north London, somewhere
undisclosed address, having had 100 of the visitors. —– In fact, the place was
a disused office building occupied by 40 of the Artists or Musicians —– it was
said to be 37 people are living though, always having their friend etc staying,
so about 70 is the population there.
The performance was Experimental Jazz kind of live music and many
live DJs, mostly rather experimental techno kind —– still some were
quite danceable good beats, not just an out of rhythm loud noise.
So, I had an opportunity to have some rapid steps. 🙂
Those photos are for those who participated the performance, to download
and use for their own promotion, hence I didn’t put their names here.
Any how they are my friend’s friends etc.
The place is not only undisclosed, but officially not exists, hence it’s a kind
of a vacuum in the society = more likely in other planet. Some of residents
might have found a freedom and a free studio, free rehearsal, performance
space and some are just having a gap time in their life.
And as the Artists respects each others, despite its chaotic looks, it’s quite
relaxed nice atmosphere there ( — and the kitchen looks very clean !)
—– So, I might go back there again.
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Spanish Art
Last evening there was a PV of Spanish Artists’ Exhibition in Lewisham,
south London. —– Since when I was captivated by the Surrealism Art,
the images and the extraordinary creativity of the Spanish artists were
almost an enigma to me. I never be impressed by a twist of thinking kind,
but Spanish often conceive utterly inconceivable vision in their
subconscious, long before it become clear image.
So that, when I saw Sacra da Familia Church of Gaudi in Barcelona,
before my jaw dollop, my hair stood. = where imagination came from ? ?
—– The photo above is the typical sample of that kind. = What a hell !
(It didn’t resort any known figure or style still, utilizing the character
and the possibility of the material to fully express the image = if it was
a stone or wood carving, such wired distortion couldn’t be created !
— So, I bought one of black piece, second from the left on the photo 🙂 )
Photo left is a tree made by colourful fabric, so, it has flowers
and a bird on top and so on. = Rather stale staff though, as
it is colourful nice decoration, at least it was photogenic !
(Still, real tree in the nature teachs us 100 times more. 😀 )
Photo right was created by the same artist of top photo, Maria.
Strangely, I felt quite strong spirituality here. M m m m ???
(Something common with their traditional religious paintings)
As many of familiar faces there, some were not seen years, so, lots
of talking as well — they said there is a good Spanish wine though,
I don’t drink alcohol or plastic bottled water, —- I rather wished to
pick a grape or strawberry kind. 😉
Nevertheless, it was an interesting evening, worth visiting there.
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This is their Info’ :
—– The exhibition “Take It Or Leave It” organised by SAL
(Spanish Artists in London)
at the Art House Gallery, 140 Lewisham Way, London SE14-6PD.
Private view on the 29th of May from 7-9pm.
The exhibition opening dates & times are the following:
Wednesday-Sunday from 10-6pm
Friday 31st of May from 6-7pm special event with
invited musician Iggy Rathmann
Maria Alvarez Echenique, Trinidad Ball, Marisol Cavia,
Loli Cardenoso, Silvia Ramona Estevez,
Manuel Noguera & Natalia Rivero.
Curator Manuel Noguera has written about the exhibition:
“Their creations explore the incredible possibility of what their artistic
voices can say to others. They celebrate the diversity of the many ways
that creativity and artistry can be revealed to those who view them.
A voice that expresses our feelings through the work that we produce.
This voice is unique to each one of us. Our creations are expressions of
our concerns & beliefs, our fears, or our deepest hopes.
They represent a personal journey through life that uses a
universal language, art. —– Take it or Leave it.”
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Hand-made Bag
This not a museum piece from the Captain Scot’s camp.
This is a bag I made about 1976 and used over 10 years since.
Unless I was on a Shooting assignment to carry full gear,
I only needed to carry A5 size Duplicate Notebook and,
may be just one Nikon with wide angle lens. — Only to carry
little things, ordinary bag on the market was too big.
Then I found a leather-goods shop selling off-cut leather,
I decided to make one, fit to my use.
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—– To make a bag out of off-cut pieces need to have just
a cut and stitch work though, being off-cut, the leather
pieces are irregular shaped mixed sizes,
I needed to do a jig-saw puzzle first, to make required, workable
flat piece of leather. And how to design such as closing fitting
on the top flap was the another fun. 🙂
(I used the same key system for the small coin-purse too.)
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—– Whether you convinced or not, this is a Zen practice.
When making it, there wouldn’t be any other thoughts. (Mindfulness)
And while stitching it, just fingers were working. (Mushin)
Considering the time spent, it wouldn’t make much financial gain nor
as it is not a kind of Master piece to show-off, it’s far from any Arrogance.
Still it was a fully absorbed commitment to deal with the material and the work.
So, it was, I would say in Ichijo. ( Oneness = Non Duality )
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—– Forget the brah brah, anyway the bag worked well, for its purpose
and it was my good companion for rather long time on my life.
___/\___
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Dog mourns the loss of Friend Beaver
This is a Youtube clip ” Vella (dog) mourns the loss of Beaves (beaver)”
I was told to watch. And I found myself I can add anything to say.
So, just watch and give a tear or two for them.
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When I was living with cats (mind you, with up to 9 of them) I even
bemused how they can read my mind.
And able to know when I was coming back, all together waiting
behind of front door. (looked like a gathering of tadpoles. 🙂 )
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The video clip seemed to be uploaded today, and it said to be
when the friend beaver, Beaves was suddenly found dead,
the mate Vella came into really deep mourn.
___/\___
___/\___
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Flow-Chart of Buddhism Teachings
Flow-Chart or the Steps in the Pathway
1) Do anything which has a fixed pattern.
2) By doing it repeatedly, 100s, 1000s even million times =
3) Because the nerve signal dealing with its action has
the same pattern, our Perception and Emotion’s threshold
level rose, hence the significance of the signal will be
lost and disregarded.
4) As the action has been repeated, its pattern will be
programmed into Motor-region of the brain and the action
become automatic routine.
5) As the effects of 3) and 4), the action can be carried-out
without thinking, even out of one’s conscious.
6) In the same time of 5), the one doing the action without
one’s conscious mean, it is in the Selfless state of the mind.
7) Once the one is in its Selfless state, the things become
distant objects as if it is somebody-else’s matter, =
Detachment = the one’s Ego or Greed wouldn’t be triggered.
8) To apply the same state of mind to other aspects of the
life, the one can see everything in distance = objectively
= Clear eyes. (Gradually, the one acquire this, and once
mastered, it become free to control, if detached or not,
or which one to concentrate or ignore.)
9) And the one can see even the Self detached, objectively,
as if it is one of public, the social action start to follow
common-sense, not self-centred. (Centring self isn’t there)
10) And able to act or help others without Ego and do the
things as much as possible. (Strangely, we instinctively do
it better ! Even if it is not in competition with others and
even to useless things, it’s mean, it’s not for Ego or Greed.
—– Fundamental Pleasure ? 🙂 )
11) From those aspects, it is rational to conclude, Ego itself
is not one’s imperative, so is the Self. = Self is not naturally
exists but a product of one’s imagination or thinking.
12) Without having the Self, Ego and Greed which tend to
creates trouble and discontent = could any suffering be left ?
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It must be clear from this chart, all the process is pretty
natural as it follows the natural mechanism inherent to
our brain which is common to anybody, so that
Lord Buddha concluded that the Dharma which
rules us is Selfless and as it is common to anybody,
in other words, all of us has it within and Selfless.
— And it become clear, the so-called Rules of “Do this and
Don’t Do that” had been written by the person who hadn’t
actually done the practice to reach Selfless state by himself
hence, didn’t have a knowledge how the human mind
naturally works. (Real selfless person need no instruction,
nor such instruction would stay in the mind. 😀 )
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It must be clear. —– Is there any argument ?
___/\___
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PS : Though, in addition to this Chart, applying the context
of “denial” not only to the Self and suffering life, but to the
“Idea of Denial” itself, therefore, instead of being enlightened,
“being suffering” seems to be more natural = and this idea
became the stance of Mahayana Buddhism. —– Hence, Zen
says “To see NO enlightenment is the Enlightenment”
= (Anyway, no Self, what’s the matter ! )
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Tablet ZEN
Last night there was an essay read by a philosopher Julian Benjamin
on BBC Radio 3. In it, he talked about how our attitude had changed
during the rapid advancement of the technology.
And he typified it in the situation to use a gadget such as a Tablet
saying “Matter of Familiarity taken over the Understanding
or Comprehension” —– we may no longer able to understand
how those quantum theory is working behind the electronics and
its design neither need to be, but have to become familiar
with its touch-pad operation and each function.
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He found an interesting talking point though, his thought didn’t
go deep enough that in fact the situation has been always the
same even in the time of our ancestor, Hunter Gatherer’s day.
I don’t think even a good archer did know a theory of
Aerodynamics or effect of air resistance etc yet, as long as familiar
with the use of Bow and Arrow, he could have a good hunting.
= And that was what THE matter for them.
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You believe or not, this is exactly the point what
Lord Buddha taught, hence this is the Zen Buddhism.
Even though some of the people loves and attached to their gadget,
say a Tablet so much, and using it all day long for everything, still,
funny to say, virtually all of them are completely detached from
the questions of what this Tablet is and why such thing exists.
They accepted it almost granted as a part of their life.
—– Except the programmer working for App design, very few of us
know the code of its OS, even fewer people know it in the hardware
level, let alone the theory behind of all those micro electronics.
Instead, we just accept it, as it is and just concentrating practical
aspect and try maximise smooth operation and the efficiency,
in order to have own life fulfilled.
To be a master of Tablet, we needed to become a machine
to operate it. = even finger moves automatic,
without conscious !
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As I said, this is not a Tablet phenomenon, but derived
from our inherent processing system in the brain ! =
This is the System to maximise the efficiency of our life.
—– The way to extend and apply this Operating System
to all aspect of the Life, was what
Lord Buddha taught as the Buddhism.
—– (Bemused ? ! Just open your eyes and see it. 😀 )
___/\___
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Three times BUDDHA
There is an interesting story in the Agama Sutra
(of Buddhism ! = there are many.) —– one day,
Lord Buddha met a horse trainer (other versin said Village Chief).
Then asked to the horse-trainer “How to teach a horse ?”
Horse-trainer replied that there are three ways to teach horse.
Gentle way, Hard way and Gentle / Hard mixed.
Lord Buddha asked him further “If all three ways failed,
what do you do with that horse ?”
The trainer answered “Kill the horse” and he asked back
“How you teach your follower ?”.
Lord Buddha answered him, “There are three ways to teach,
Gentle way, Hard way and Gentle / Hard mixed, but if all
those teachings failed, kill him”.
Hose-trainer was horrified and shouted “You been telling us Don’t kill,
how dear you kill the follower ?”
Lord Buddha smiled back “Well, I just stop talk to him.
Completely stop talk, is the same to deny his existence,
same as to kill him, isn’t it ?”
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This episode sound like just a casual funny story though,
this was the episode which gave the most important clue to the
so-called “Unanswered Questions” You must be realized that
Lord Buddha’s No-answer was not just a rack of word but it
was the massage as strong as to kill the person !
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There is an often used phrase in Japanese “Even Buddha tolerates till
three times” (Hotoke no kao mo sando made. 仏の顏も三度まで)
—– I didn’t know, this phrase was in deed, originated from the Scripture.
—– And this story showed rather realistic attitude of
Lord Buddha, contrary to the popular belief, he was not a
bottomlessly gentle and kind teacher. As once a hard-core
austere, he was not an optimistic person, as he defined what
the life is, such as in the Four Noble Truth.
From here, in a process to idealize and idolize him, even worse,
to fabricate many so-called Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism,
( in fact, it was the mix-up with Tantrism and Hinduism )
crux of the original teachings was lost.
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What Lord Buddha himself taught was, to have the Detached Eyes.
Detached Eyes mean, detached from the Mind / Emotion, hence there
was neither attachment to the subject or person. In other words,
there was no attachment even to his followers. Hence, as long as
Lord Buddha committed to give guidance to the person, he was in deed
committed it to 100% (and try to teach in three different ways) though
if it was failed, he literally ex-communicated the person.
Once excommunicated, the person became invisible.
Even visually saw the person, it wouldn’t connected to any
emotional memories, hence there were no anger or feeling of
disappointment etc. —– Because of there are nothing to cling
past Mind / Emotion, only the matter is what on front of eyes,
on its very Moment. (This IS the very Zen mind-set)
(After you practised long enough, and gained this condition / Mind-set
then you know what Detached Eyes and Detached Mind can help you.)
(And how to practice to gain Detachment, please read the post under a
category of [Lemon Zen] in the right column.
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You may feel, it’s sound very cruel and not-Buddhist like,
it’s because So-called monk or teacher is not really understood, or only
making diplomatic smile and pretending to be friendly, in order to
sell to the mass.
Because of this confusion, one of the greatest novelist, Soseki Natsume
described it in his book, [Mon (門) / Gate], when a priest of Zen temple
has told to him, “Mind of Zen is Hijo (非情) / No Emotion” he felt even
alienated. —– (To describe Mushin (無心) / Mind of No-Mind, this
priest used more realistic word Hijo in stead, because he knew the
Zen Buddhism deeper, and didn’t mind to sell it to the mass.)
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Load Buddha didn’t give his teachings to give false optimism,
or fancy dream but the Truth.
In this aspect, he was quite harsh. Telling the followers to get rid of
their possessions even their family (little consideration to an agony of
the family left behind, not mention to his own Royal lineage).
(This was the reason why
Lord Buddha bared the women to join his follower’s sanga.
Since, to a woman, to abandon the child is out of question in the
first place = woman may have conflict to follow his teachings.)
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—– Still, with detached eyes and the mind, there wouldn’t be
any matter left to worry about, because the psychological
source of worry = emotion itself had been already detached.
The mechanism to feel any suffering has no longer exists.
= Peace of mind ! 😀
—– though, I’m not an enlightened man, hence mixed with
failed person and teasing them or teased by them are fun.
This is what the Life is. Ha ha ha 😀
___/\___
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Huineng vs Shenxui — Poetry Contest
Provably the most well known Zen story was a contest to became
6th Patriarch of the Zen.
For the contest, the most respected top monk in the monastery,
Shenxui wrote a poem as the answer to the 5th Patriarch, Hongren
who request to show the Zen mind,
“Mind is like a mirror, I polish the mirror diligently for
no dust to settle on it”
When an illiterate low-rank monk Huineng who has been working
in the kitchen of the temple heard this, he asked friend monk to
write his poem contesting Shenxui’s,
“Since Mirror is not exists in the first place,
where dust could settle”
Hongren saw Huineng has much deeper understanding of Zen,
he chose Huineng for his successor.
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This story showed what all about the Zen and its pathway
in amazing clarity.
Shenxui was a well educated, well learned monk, hence he must
have read hundreds of scriptures and understood the attitude to be
a good Buddhist. (in this extent, his answer / poem was quite
appropriate and correct though, it was more like a posture of
Theravada monk, still on the way to the enlightenment, in other
words, he hadn’t broken the barrier, or gone to the other side yet. )
In contrast, Huineng had showed exactly what the notion
of Void in Zen Buddhism.
— How Huineng could get this, while working in the kitchen.
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As a son of peasant, Huineng had no education and illiterate hence,
he had no chance to read and study Buddhism other than just pick
up the words, what other monks were talking about.
Anyway, he had to work every day as a casual labourer in the temple,
still, those every day’s continuous repeating work gave him to gain
the essential mind-set to be a Zen Buddhist = Unconditionally
accepting (humble) to be a lowest working monk, hence there
couldn’t be any possibility left to have desire or even an Ego.
And as day by day, the same work continues, the mind
became empty = just the hand repeating the work.
Yet still, by keeping eyes clear, he could see the crux of human
existence = how the Life exists = what the World and the Dharma is.
And he was able to make the straight connection of his state of mind
and the observation, to each notion. In effect, he had mastered the
Zen in DIY. Zen doesn’t need to be literate but to have clear eyes to
see inside and outside, with the direction of few key-word.
(This straight connection is behind of
“Sudden Enlightenment” and the “Direct Transmission” )
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And this observation lead me to see an amazing parallel in
the history of Buddhism.
Founder of Zen, Master Bodhi Dharma had to establish the way
of Zen in DIY, as there was no text book exist then, even worse in
foreign country. And the situation was more or less the same, when
Lord Buddha started his own teachings = NO Buddhism
textbook at all, of cause, let alone whether even Vada was
available to the public in written form. 😀
Shen[]
But this is what the Buddhism is.
Since, it is the matter of one’s mind-set and the programming of
one’s subconscious = the one has to do it by oneself.
It is literally Do It Yourself / DIY = A book might give a hint, still
the one has to DO the work (practice with good insight) =
Book wouldn’t do the work on behalf. 😀
(Put Buddhist book in a memory of “Automatic Voice Generator”
and make voice out-put of script, wouldn’t make
the Machine enlightened — very fancy though. 😀 )
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—– Whether the stories (given in the Platform Sutra) has true
historical fact or not, to make the story in this way itself, was the
reflection of their understanding then = and expressing
supremacy over other sect of “Just reading scripture and sitting”
Illiterate Huineng was THE very typical sample in Zen.
___/\___
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PS : Still, there are many questions left. Zen understanding could
be gained without words, since it is not knowledge based intellectual
understanding but to customising the perception and behavioural
pattern in the subconscious level though, whether to compose
a stanza without having enough knowledge of lexical pattern is
possible or not ? And the script telling the story, “Platform Sutra”
was written long after with a lots of diviating history.
—– Yet the fact is, the mummified body of Huineng has been kept
in the monastery till today and still sitting there !
(you can see the photo by Googling it) —– If he was not such a
great Master in real life, no such things could ever have happened.
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