Archery Contest — Zen ? ? ?

There is an annual Archery Contest in a Japanese Buddhists Temple = Sanjyu-sangen-do, Kyoto. (If you are interested in its details, please google > Toshi-ya, Sanjyu-sangen-do ) (the Viz here is the Female Archer’s day’)

What I want to talk about here is not about its history or meaning, but the way how Japanese Archery / Kyu-do was done.

From the Viz here, you must be realised that the Japanese Kyu-do mount the Arrow outside of the Bow, and not aiming the Arrow while watching its direction from the back. Unlike a western archery, cross-bow, or a riful gun there is no “sight” to aim the target. The eyes, the head of archer is the other side. So, you might be wondering how the archer could aim the Arrow to the target ?

Training is to train the body function, its power and the coordination to higher level. —– In the case of Karate, (say, hit an opponent by a fist) the movement and the control is rather simple as it is the matter of the hand’s movement. Though, if it involve a weapon, the coordination has to become a bit more complicated as the movement became indirect. — still, like cutting a lemon, the body (hand) need to keep the knife steady and make its movement constant, while involving rather small number of the muscles, while having the straight feedback of the each movement through the eyes. (On this “cutting lemon” arrangement, even a direction of the knife blade could be changed while the blade is in the middle of lemon.)

Though, the Japanese Kyu-do’s control is incredibly indirect. Certainly the Archer is seeing the target and stand towards the target though, we can not see any further details of the control, how minute adjustment of the angle was transelated into the arm’s muscle or body position etc.

In this field, a book [ZEN in the ART of ARCHERY] by Eugen Herrigel has almost historical significance. (—– though, as the Kyu-do has no mechanical system of the “Control”, neither Zen use the verbal communication to explain how, the book wouldn’t give you any answer how the arrow could hit the tail of the first arrow. But only hinting something spiritual made the arrow to fly.)

In Zen term, it is the state of the Ichijo = Body and the Mind, the Bow and the Arrow, the target, and even the air all became one by abandoning all those. In Buddhists term, it was absorbed by Dharma. = By abandoning all the aim or thought to hit, obtaining the natural control of the Dharma = this paradox IS the core of the Zen Buddhism.

In This extent, the Book by Eugen Herrigel was a very rare and important guide book to learn the Zen. To learn the Zen, an innocent, naive man could not able to learn anything by sitting. Because there wouldn’t be any explanation of Zen let alone what the sitting for. Yet still, that book explain, how to negate the own Ego by exactry follow and copy the way to do the Kyu-do. And the way to abondan even the intention to hit = to become the Void oneself. (The book was written by the outsider = not by Zen monk, hence the trade secret has been exposed ! ) So, the reader could able to learn the mechanism of the Zen.

However, if it was looked at more demystified angle, the control of the Kyu-do might be somewhat similar to the Skiing. Control of the ski board couldn’t be done by just the legs but needs to have all the coordination of the whole body, on top of the snow condition and the topography, even the weather. Then the certain aim or a mind goes to the ski, yet still, we are not skiing while thinking how to ski. There may not be a kind of “The Mind of Ski” —– it could be empty. But, without having any thinking of control, if the aim was goes left, the ski goes left. There may not be any mythical control behind still, in the certain level of advanced skill, whole control of ski or Kyu-do could be done in the almost God’s hand level. —– This advancement could be achieved also under the Zen approach, still, make it thankful to the mythical Dharma or just a physical advancement would be a matter of one’s belief.

—– So, it was the same situation, when I was making aluminium sculpture “Buddha 2009” I needed to find the aluminium pipes for the material, then I found a lots of discarded pipes from a construction site = its always like this happen on me. (What I’m doing synchronise with Dharma —– or they help me) .

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ヨシ禅ブログ要約

これは「仏教の行と大脳生理」のポストに付いたコメントのやり取りで言い得て妙だと＝再録に至った次第

Spiritualism | Yoshizen’s Blog said, on April 21, 2019 at 19:00(Edit)

[…] このブログでは禅仏教を専ら神経生理の自動制御に帰結して論じていますが、そこでは「だから何ンなの」はめったに出て来ない。自動制御の稼動状態は誰の目にも明らかであるから解り易い。しかしその背後には不可解なものが多すぎる上に「ホンマ？」がついて回る。無心になる事で、経験則やDNAに予めプログラムされた自動制御に任せる。同様に生をカルマの生起に任せる。＝これで人智を超えたダルマによる完璧な対応処理が行なわれ全てメデタシメデタシなれば文句ナシ。－－－とはいかない。都合良い神ワザ伝説はいくらでも並ベられるし、それをもってスピリチュアルな調和が得られるなどと強弁しても意味はないーーーつまりそれが真実ではないのだから。＝真実ではない所がダルマゆえの真実か？と、解ったようなシタリ顔してもまた無意味であるし、だからサトリは犬のクソと言ってみても何も始らない。　つまり完璧な答はどこにも無い。 […]

yoshizen said, on August 25, 2019 at 12:02(Edit)

スピさん、コメント深謝。御自身で諒解の如く言葉としての解答などどこにも無いでしょう。それでも何かスピリチュアルな真実をお持ちいただいたとか？　是非お聞きしたいものですね。
そもそも小生がやっているのはゼロから出発してのDⅠY禅探求です。つまり２５００年前同様、何の仏典も無い状態で、色々試しながらそれが「いわゆる」禅と伝えられているものと合致するか、その検証を試みている訳です。
自動制御は遇然の発見ながら、これこそが
釈尊が見出したもの、そのものであったとは完璧に納得。で、だから何ンなのよは、DIYそのものが答え。現にここに在り何だかンだやっている当人の在りよう、その事実、日常平常が答えです。ヤレ同心ニ重濃度針穴写真云々、ZAPPAの写真がどうのと、全て能書抜き、現にためらいも無くやった事、おそらくその解脱の上に在る自在が問題です。禅は能書でも足をひねる事でもなくいかにこだわり無く生きる事が出来るか、それが唯ーの目的。　(乞参照　＞ヨシ禅縁起）

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〜〜〜で、ここまで来てハタと気がついた間抜け、[ Spiritualism ]と言うのはコメントを書いた誰かではなく実は大分前に書いた自分の古いポストからの抜粋であった。

で、そこでさらに出て来る疑問は、いったい誰がこの抜粋を作ってコメントに入れたのか？？？－－－そもそも１０００以上も有るポストの中から、しかも日文の内容を理解して撰択すると言う作業を、果たしてどっかのボランティアさんがやったのか、あるいは WP かグーグルの AⅠ が全自動で処理したのか？？？ ーーーそのどちらであったとしても、これは驚き以外の何物でも無いし, いささか怖い話でもある。ーーーつまり処理する目的で僕のブログを読んでいる目にとってこれらはどう見えているのか。ジャンクのベス単と禅がいかなる脈絡で捕えられていいるのか？？？　フシギ。

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Mindfulness sleeping ?

I found a net post where someone talking about Mindfulness sleeping —– what ?

Mindfulness is a misconceived idea somewhat related to Zen Buddhism. As it was invented in the west, there was no equivalent Japanese notion let alone Chinese or Indian idea. ( Hindu or Tantric practice has something similar, as their belief stands on the existence of the Atman = Perpetual mind — Buddhism stands on the belief of No existence of Atman = Anatman, hence Mushin and No Reincarnation)

So, it is bizarre enough to say “Mindfulness”in the context of Zen. To talk Mindfulness Sleeping is utter nuts. Such a silly notion could obstruct the sleeping but never able to make the person fallen asleep. —– There seems to be several technics such as to imagine your whole body top to bottom and scanning down next by next. —– You might be familiar with counting a sheep jumping over the hedge. (One sheep, two sheep — thousand one sheep — 😀 ) If you have any thought in your mind, it would just distract you to fall asleep. You are wondering around its thinking all night.

When I got into the bed I’ll be asleep within a few minutes. But if got something to think about, I get up again and sit before the keyboard and start drafting the idea. Unless otherwise, I’ll be fallen asleep = You might say how ? —– When you got into the bed = What you see for the last moment. = It might be a tangled bedding fabric over the pillow, or it could be a side lamp next to the bed. —– Whatsoever none of them is worthwhile to think about. —– yet still, when you close your eyes, the image remained in your eyes while the color or brightness reversed. Such an image has no value or meaning at all, so, it wouldn’t bother your brain either. And its image would sink down or dissolved away. When the brain found nothing to do, you just fell asleep.

Zen would teach you, don’t be bothered by a silly idea. Just close your eyes, it is enough to make you asleep. (When all about Zen is “Void” or Mushin (Mind of No-mind) who invented such a silly idea “Mindfulness” to focus particular image or thinking.) 😀 (It seems that the tendency of the Hinduism which want to theorize everything, couldn’t accept “No answer / nothing” = that’s why Buddhism was so revolutionary.)

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Spiritualism

スピリチュアルショップといった店は意外とあちこちに在るようで、何やらエネルギーとかパワーが宿る石とか透視のできる水晶玉などを売っていたりする。で、しばらく前のこと、そんな店で自分はスピ派だと称する女性に出会った。何故か日本人で古代エジプト系のチャームをためつすがめつしていた。「はァ、そういうのに何かパワーでも有るンですか？」と不躾に声をかけたら「あァ、何か感じますね」とおっしゃる。「へェー、僕は手相に神秘線は在るがオカルトっぽいものは全く見えませんなァ」と返したら僕の手をのぞいて、「アッ、本物はヤバい」とのこと。スピ派というのはファッションアクセサリーのように雰囲気を楽しむものでガチのソーカとかゲンリは避けられるのだそうだ。同様に褝などはそのベジタリアン料理まではいいがその先はオタクより臭いのだとか。

そこから見たら今の日本に、家業の禅寺をつぐ必要のある人以外、何人ぐらいの人が自分の撰択で禅を学んでいるのか？ーーーさらに不思議なのは日本からこのブログへのアクセスが断えない「ダルマ/法と仏教の構造」のポストを読んでくれているのはいったい誰なのか？　そもそも、このポストをどうやって発見できたのか？（書いてある内容は素人受けする物ではないし、逆に本格的に仏教学を学んだ職業僧にとっては奇異過ぎるのではなかろうか？　いかに禅が自由な発想を呼ぶものとしてもあれはどうなのか？）

このブログでは禅仏教を専ら神経生理の自動制御に帰結して論じていますが、そこでは「だから何ンなの」はめったに出て来ない。自動制御の稼動状態（神ワザの正確さで黙々と作業するなど）は誰の目にも明らかであるから解り易い。しかしその背後には不可解なものが多すぎる上に「ホンマ？」がついて回る。無心になり、経験則やDNAに予めプログラムされた自動制御にコントロールを任せる。同様に人生をカルマの生起に任せる＝これで人智を超えたダルマによる完璧な対応処理が行なわれ全てメデタシメデタシとなれば文句ナシ。－－－とはいかない。都合良い神ワザ伝説はいくらでも並ベられるし、それをもってスピリチュアルな調和が得られるなどと強弁しても意味はないーーーつまりそれが真実ではないのだから。＝真実ではない所がダルマゆえの真実か？と、解ったようなシタリ顔してもまた無意味であるし、だからサトリは犬のクソと言ってみても何も始らない。　つまり完璧かつ有効な答はどこにも無い。

（実は禅の奥では片仮名のスピリチュアルとか本人の思い込みなどをはるかに超えた超常現象が起っているのです。（俗に目に付くものは神霊現象とかパラレルワールドとか呼ばれたりしているらしいですが）しかし、残念なことにそうした現象の証明や説明は全くできません。卑近な例で恐縮ですが小生の８１５０の怪なんてのは極めて厄介。(例えばダルマのような全能の神以外に当人の行動を予測してチケットの数字を予め準備する事などが可能か？)ーーーしかしこれが禅やダルマの神秘性と関係があるのか、単に当人の妄念の産物なのかは解らない。（なぜかそう思って行動しているとそのようになってしまう。）＝俗に因果応報と称される現象は単なる遇然ではなく、それなりのつながりを持っているようですし、現にそれが起っているのは間違いない事実です。ちょうど特定のDNAを持った人が特定の運命に従って生きているのと同様ですが、これに対する　何故か？　は永久に不可知でしょう。）（しかし、もしそうした超常現象の操作法が解ったなら、多数のグルが居るインドが核兵器や病院を持つ必要は無かったでしょう）

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釈尊のためらい―ーー梵天の勧請

仏伝によると釈尊は菩提樹の下で悟りを開かれた後も、その叡智を他の人に伝える事をため らわれたとか。何故ならその真実はあまりにも深遠すぎて伝え難く、かつ人にとって理解し難いものであったからと伝えられています。で、伝説によればそれを知った梵天（バラモン教の最高神ブラーマン）は、これは人類にとっての大損失と憂い、釈尊の元に参じるや是非とも教えを説いて欲しいと懇願したとか云々。

釈尊の初期の教えは先ず四聖諦、次に縁起の考えであったとされているのですが、それでは、と改めて考察してみると、明析な真実を指摘した四聖諦や極めて論理的な縁起思想の中に伝え難い複雑な真理が隠されていたとは考えられない。むしろここには、かの自我無我の問題が在ったと考える方が妥当ではないかと見えますが。

そもそもバラモン教、べーダ思想の根幹である霊魂の不滅に対して発想された無我の思想が

釈尊の悟りにおいて、その核心として確立されていなかったとは考え難い。（見ている当人＝主体が無いなら、無い主体が見た対象が存在するのも確かでは無いと、後の空観の根底を成す）（般若心経に書かれているような、はるか後年になってから弟子に加わった舎利子に対って、たかが菩薩如きが無我を大発見したなどと説教する話は全くの荒唐無稽）しかし、自我の問題ばかりは説明しようの無い難問が付いて回るのです。自我あるいは、霊魂は無いと言えるのは、その概念が在るからこそ成り立つので、それが初めから存在しなかったら発想すら出来ない。ちょうど色盲の人には色について説明しようが無いのと同じです。ーーーで、真に自我が無いならそれについて説明できる筈も無いし、そのふりをしながら言葉で説明するなどひどい欺瞞でしかない。伝え難く、理解し難い重要問題とは将にこの自我無我の難問であったに違い有ません。（だからこそ、それが憶測を呼び後の空観へと拡大発展していく事になった）

ーーーしかし、この壁をのり越えるのには別に梵天の登場を待つ必要は無かった、と言うよりそもそも言葉で説明する必要は無かったのです。要するに何かをやらせて見れば良い。人が何かをやる時、別に自我は必要ない。歩く目的やその損得を考えるなどと言うのはわざわざ考えた時に思い付く事であって、歩いている最中には何も考えていない。つまりそれをやっている本人がそれに気がつきさえすれば良いのです。（とは言うものの仲々気付けないもので、言葉の上で自我は存在しないなどと理解しても自分が無意識で歩いている事は自覚できない。(たった今、この文章を読んでいるのがあなた自身であることは自覚していなかったでしょう？）なにしろそれを自覚する自我が無い事が要点なのだからややこしい。いまわの際の

釈尊が「人の言葉を信じるな。自分で学ベ」と言い残したのはきわめて象徴的だったと言えますーーーーーあるいは何かのたとえ話しで解らせる事もできる。ここから仏教独特の行とか方便と呼ばれる教法が出てきた訳です。それらは皆、

釈尊の機知、その場の情況に即した発想から出て来たものだったのですが、言葉を介さずに無我、無私を教えるコツを掴むには梵天ではなく多少の時間が必要だった訳でしょう。しかし、臨機応変、言葉を介在させずに教えられた無我の教え(註参照)は、言葉として伝えられて書残される事もなく、当然のことながら教典にも登場して来なかった。＝だからこそ以心伝心や禅の伝統が起らざるを得なかった訳です。（梵天の話を書いた仏伝の作者は、この無私無我の構造を知らなかった＝つまり、仏教徒ではなく単に文章力にたけたバラモン僧であったと言う事です）

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（註）このリンクにある極めて珍らしい例外的記述はアーガマ経からの話ですが、実はここで全く自我を出す事無く無条件に追従して歩く事が教えられています。しかし、それについての説明は従弟のアナンダにすら告げられていません。（無意識に歩く事が肝心で、その理由とか説明は全く必要ない雑念である＝無意識で歩ける＝それはダルマが歩かせているのだから）

つまり仏教が目射すのは無私になってダルマと合―することで得られる完璧な調和です。

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Self again (2) — Buddha’s hesitation

In the Lord Buddha’s story, it was said that the after reached his enlightenment he was very reluctant to tell others what he found, since

Lord Buddha was very much aware that what he found was too difficult to make others to understand.     It seems, the earliest teachings started with the teachings of the Four Noble Truth and other stories showed that the idea of the Karma, Cause and the Effect has followed it. —– though, behind those story, there seemed to be a many misunderstandings or a twisted truth.

Give a thought or two, is the teachings of the Four Noble Truth or teachings of the Cause and Effect contain any difficult logic or the theory which gave a headache to comprehend.

Considering the situation, that the time when the oral tradition of the teachings were written down by the Vedic Brahman ( = only the people who could read and write then, even if he was converted to the Buddhism, like Shari Putra.), the teachings of the No-self may not to be written down faithfully.  Because to the Vedic Brahman who has been taught to believe that the existence of the Atoman (perpetual soul) it was too irrational to write down the teachings of Anatoman (= No-self).    And as I wrote it in the previous post, it is almost impossible to explain it without using the notion and the word of “self”. = (If you use the word Self, it is effectively recognised the existence of the Self.)

So that, it is much more natural to believe that what Lord Buddha found in his enlightenment was the idea of the No-Self (which was the rational answer from our existence as a cause) = Anatoman.   Yet this was really a problematic, revolutionary idea then.  = naturally very difficult to teach against the others popular belief.  Therefore, it naturally made him to become very reluctant to talk about —– until, he found the way to teach it without the words = in action (and the Upaya.)

(Without having this under line  tradition — (or the hidden fact) behind, it is hard to explain how and why the idea of No-Self or Void came up and became very popular in the time of Mahayana.)  

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Self again

To a Buddhist, self is the most problematic subject for ever.  Though, surprisingly very little was   written in the scripture.  Do you know why ?   Because, it was the first problem of all.   As you might know, that, in the Buddhism, there is no self. (How to write about which is not exist)

Yes — NO-SELF but in here there are already two problem was loaded.   When we say “Self” there are two meanings or the Aspects of it.   One of them is a part of our mind, somewhat related to the Ego.   And the other is the notion created by its observation.

= If you ARE true ( = Rationally coherent) Zen Buddhist, you can not say No-self. —– ?   Why ?    If there is really no Self, even a word “Self” can not exist.  (If you say “No-Self” there is one more self in your mind who is observing your mind = you are not yet in a state of Ichi-jo = oneness)

If there is a land where no crime neither criminal act exists, there couldn’t be a word / notion of crime there.   Exactly same to this, when there is no self, the word “Self” is not exists. (Unless it was a fraud)  On the time of

Lord Buddha, the followers could receive his teachings in an up to the occasion metaphor or so-called upaya often using the action, there was not much difficulty to understand it.    With, the notion of No-Self, therefore No Perpetual Soul, therefore No Reincarnation, therefore No cast was demonstrated in the Sanggha as a deed (not the verbal explanation) = Everybody was accepted and treated as an equal followers.

Though, hundreds of years later, on the time of Mahayana, the scripture writer had to invent a kind of printable expression to explain the “Selflessness” to the mass without using the word SELF, such as in the Vimalakirti sutra “To give without having the mind of giving is The true giving” or otherwise “See as not to see”, “Do while not to do” kind —– they are trying to express the act without having the conscious of action (not such as a gray zone between two.) —– yet now, quite a lot of people still thinking that to sacrifice own self is the selflessness. (it’s just a devotion —– while riding a bicycle, your body moves without your self-conscious, so, you don’t need a devotion for bicycle = just ride) = It’s the same, Buddhists doesn’t need to be a vegetarian.

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Karma – Fate – (3)

This is yet another 8150 story.   On my life, the sign 8150 is regularly appear here and there = nothing special or I would say, they are a kind of road sign, OK to go.  Yet still, it may seen quite odd or even a supernatural phenomenon to others eyes.

In the world, there is a kind of people who proclaims that they ARE the chosen people though, it seems if it was a case they seemed to have far more share of the bad fortune all through the history.  =  It doesn’t seem that the God is anywhere near to their side.   From the eastern view, the idea of a personified God speaks same language and negotiable, sounds too odd, in comparison to the absolute eastern Heaven.   They are more like a children’s bed time story.   Yet still, you are free to believe any story.

Lord Buddha, as the enlightened teacher, he didn’t believe a God kind or after life as they are too irrational, and banned the magic kind of deceptive practice to his followers.  (Its mean, Tantra’s “Magic words”= Dharani is not the Buddhism, neither all sorts of Mahayana fantasies are nothing to do with the original teachings.  (They are the stories borrowed from the Veda = Brahmanism / Hinduism.)

Yet still, the belief of the Dharma and the Karma is in the teachings.   So, where those two seemingly conflicting idea reconcile ? —– In fact, they are the real phenomena and its rules.  They themselves exists like a phenomenon of lightning or thunder, they exists without the imaginary god of lightning or thunder. = Such Gods are nothing more than a children’s story.

So, does it mean, the Dharma and Karma are just the visible phenomena ?  or actual occurrences ? —– the rules  rules behind = invisible.   Those ruler IS the western equivalent of the God, but the Rules or Heaven is almost the abstract, —– we only see its sign.   And in my case, the sign was the number 8150 (and its variation).   When I see it’s there, I feel a kind of approval of me doing it.   Still, to find the address of the seller in China was also 8150 (in fact 518000) frightened me.  (By the way, the mysterious lens I talked about also having that number —– its mean, I was right to speak out)  😀 —– So, what’s all those mean ?  Even though, the Karma is abstract, it IS watching us and ruling our life.  It is not an imaginary existence.  It’s real.   (at least on my life = I was born to have this life while possessing the palm line which is saying the same = So, its benefit is, I don’t get ill or get accident. Except getting old.   😀 — getting old is a nature of the Karma ) —– I wouldn’t boast such as that I was chosen but I’m actuary seeing the Karma / Dharma is with me. —– though, as an honest feeling, it is a bit bothersome = leave me alone.  I want to have a bit more naughty life away from their watchful eyes.     😀  ) 

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Simple Fact = the Truth

It is a simple fact, in our daily life, unless we intentionally think “I am”, we are living without a conscious of self. —– Do you walk while thinking “I am walking” ? Or, are you reading this script here while aware of “My eyes are following this, letter by letter and my brain is taking and understanding its meanings in” —– I don’t think so. You are just walking without knowing who is walking or who makes you to walk. So does, you have been reading this without knowing who IS reading. In deed, You or Your-SELF haven’t been existing as a conscious. That’s because such as SELF is nothing other than a product of the thinking, in other words, it was an intentionally created imaginal figure which is to assert or to demonstrate the ownership of “this person”. In fact it IS a part of one’s desire, Ego and the Greed. So that, such as the SELF, let alone Perpetual self could not exists as a reality. It’s mean, such as a reincarnation could never possible to occur simply because the subject, the SELF, whom to be reincarnated is not existing. How could it be ?

It IS so simple as a straight fact yet still because of it, it is very difficult to explain why. Quite a lot of Buddhists tried to explain though all of them only made a simple truth more complicated. Because of the authoritative attitude of those monks, who want to make their word looks great, they made up unnecessarily heavy theory such as Void or so on. The truth to be with Dharma is not necessarily heavy matter such as even a seed of dandelion can fly away.

Lord Buddha’s teachings were not complicated or theoretical, in order to any followers can grasp the truth by themselves. (not by understanding the complicated words or teachings but through their own observation on the practice = not believe the words but get it by yourself) —– Such as the earliest teachings of 4 noble truth, they were not a kind of complicated deep theory but the clear fact or simple human reality. That’s reality IS the very truth. Like we are here IS the Dharma.

So, when Lord Buddha pointed out the Point, it went straight into the mind of the followers almost like a lightening, the followers could get the truth at once. ( it made a legend and the tradition of the instant enlightenment.)

So, even now those monks still keep talking complicated words and the fantasy of heavens. —– can’t those people open their eyes to see such simple reality and the truth ?

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Screen shot by Soft lens (2)

I found this pretty image in the net.  The original was much sharper, rather normal picture.  When I took screen copy using my homemade Mag lens, in order to avoid a moire, I gave a bit of off-focus.  It was a character of the Mag Lens, when it was off focused, the image suddenly increases the aberration thus, the image become nice soft picture.

This image was not as much as off focused like the first picture. (Just enough not to see the screen pixel, hence neither moire)

Then give a bit more off-focus.  —– Isn’t this picture looks more sexy ?  (Shame, I was not the photographer to see the lotus flower in the first place)

I think, now you were convinced to appreciate soft image !

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