Is MUSHIN same as Thoughtless ?

Well, it is not about a Justice / Punishment from the heaven but about the mind-set.

Non

These days our topics were often related to the Riot, and there was an interesting question.

“Wasn’t the mind-set of [senseless] [thoughtless] behaviour, same to the Zen

Buddhist’s [Mushin]. —– What makes the difference between them ? ? ? “

—– in fact, someone who put a comment to the previous post had the same thinking.

And this question has so many implication and the facets.

—– Once, Pablo Picasso said “ Keep drawing like a child is the hardest things in the Art”

—– Then, “what is the difference between [Innocence] or [Ignorance] to the [Mushin] ?  “

May be the easiest answer to this question is, just whack the person shouting “Idiot” —– really ?

non

There was an interesting story among the legend of the Sword Masters.

In the Samurai era, top sword-man was roving around the country seeking the contest-match

against each other, in order to achieve the record / reputation. ( And the winner was invited to

give a lesson to the local Lord receiving good reward)

Then, someone got an idea of plank, dressed up an ignorant peasant as a respectable

samurai, claiming that this is the supreme sword-master, and challenging top local

sword-master.

On the match, the peasant was just standing facing real master just having his sword down.

As the peasant had a slightest idea of what the sword-mastery is, he was just standing still.

The challenged was the master who knows everything —– but as the opponent seemed to

standing utterly defenceless —– almost like an idiot (in fact he was an idiot) it made the master

utterly confused.  —– no such things could happen here.   Otherwise it must be a ploy to make

the master wrong-foot = this man must be a real sword-master and able to kill him instant.

—– it was what the master felt.  (To his eyes, the peasant’s utter ignorant appearance, not even

recognize him was seen as the ultimate Mushin only possessed by a supream sword-master  😀 )

Then, the master throw his sword away, and kneel down for begging his life.

—————

The pair prankster succeeded all the contest-match in the same way.

But, after a while, the peasant started to wonder why those famous masters just give up and

kneel down to him.   And interested in to use the sword, as he mistook that he is in deed a

strong sword-master and able to kill the opponent.

So that, on the next match, peasant break a stillness and showed a slight sign of intention.

Then, the challenged sword-master instantly reacted to this sign, sway the body to other

direction and cut the peasant into two pieces.    (The End   😀  )

non

It is true, even a Zen Master has used a metaphor of the mind of small child

to describe the Mushin and a state of mind of Jizai.

And in the Buddhist’s arguments about the universality / inclusiveness of the Mahayana stance,

this matter —– What is the distinction between [Innocence, Ignorance, Senseless,

Thoughtless] to the [Mushin] is some time mixed-up.

As a matter of fact, when it is convenient, this kind of metaphor has been often used though,

[The Mushin] is a very specific, peculiar state of the mind, nothing similar to any of

those mind.  Not just the matter of inclusiveness of the Mahayana, but also the confusion of the

[ What is the Buddhist’s mind] ( before this, What is the Buddhist ? —– there are all sorts of the

Buddhist exists —– Such as to enjoy the life having the eyes to appreciate peaceful nature which

gave a feeling of the liberated mind = could be perfectly the life and the mind of a Buddhist)

—– it has been left out of strict argument.

Non

But in strict term, the Mushin is the state of the mind, which only occurs when our

brain ceased to operate to categorising and reconfiguring the notion. —– yet

able to react to incoming stimulant.

—– In practice, this state of mind can be reached only through the long long repeated

practice which wear out those active, intentional activities of the brain

= thinking process.

And very similar to the treatment of an allergy, those practice also wear out the basic

desire and the emotional reaction = So that, the state of the Mind [ Mind of No-Mind]

= [Mushin] is only strict to [Purely the state of No-Thinking and No-Emotion]

= Dispassionate.

(but not akin to senseless or thoughtless —– because in those cases,  senseless / thoughtless

mind is, in fact occupied by another sorts of mind = such as an anger, greed or

overwhelming fanaticism = ideology or madness)

non

=== this definition must have cleared the confusion.

=== the mind of childish, senseless, thoughtless Rioters were definitely, utterly

no way near to the Buddhist’s Mushin.

[ If it was done in Mushin,  it got to bring the GOOD outcome.  This is what the

Karma mean. And if it brought bad outcome — because,  it has done not in Mushin]

—– You may say this is out of rational logic and say ” Why”,  but this is what I found and true.

And this must be the reason why the Buddhism is existing.   🙂

___/\___

non

MORAL DECAY ! ?

Being faced with the Riot situation, PM David Cameron hastily came back from his holiday —–

and today shouted “Moral decay of the Nation”.

With some cynicism, it may not too far to say, the fundamental mind-set of the Tory is  “ This is my country

and we are in charge with it” —– and the Labour’s is  “We are the victim of THEIR suppression. Hence we are

entitled to rob THEM”   😀

Therefore,  when Tory saw the disorder,  they feel their treasured possessions and the peaceful life were

threatened = Crisis of the Nation !  ( Labour says ” It’s their expression.  Blame only yourself.  Not us ”  😀  )

( In fact, with their mind-set,  Labour devoided the Britannia and its collective Ethos with a pretext of

Political correctness such as Multi-culturism, superficial ethnic equality, human right etc —- only resulted

with fragmentation of the society, and made this country easiest place for a [non-person] to live.)

Non

There has been thousands of talking analysing the situation —– poverty, under-class, unemployment,

frustration of young people, lack of role-model = lack of father figure etc etc —– !

I noticed yet everybody is missing the point. —– may be as they are living in THIS society,

they don’t have eyes to see it from the distance / objectively.   (and a consideration and a precaution not to

go against the voters psyche,  they can’t speak out the truth.  And, all the words of politicians are

preloaded, to make life of opposition party hard —– not necessary good or bad to the Nations = politics)

( That’s why politician often says completely opposite when they are in the power or not)

}}}

So, what was the POINT  I found ?

The root of evil is the virtualization of the society.

—– I’m not just talking about the Computer Game — it is only an iconic symbol of phenomena.

You may say I’m too anachronistic though, think, the situation is only around single century or so.

Only less than hundred years ago many people were the farmers and did know, the food is not coming

from Tesco.   Not only the industrial system,  whole socio-economic system is now beyond the anybody’s

imagination.   No body understand how the financial system is working.

And to the many rioters who is receiving the benefit —– the money is just coming.  There is no

reality such as “HARD EARNED MONEY” —– they don’t know who is working hard  paying tax.

And almost all of us don’t know how a shiny gadget was made or who is making it.

Thanks to the Information revolution, you may find a company website and a photo of the factory

producing iPad in China though,  how anyone can have real feeling, toil of work there, from an

image of Computer screen. —- We can see zillions of information but no reality.

—– without any reality, nobody care, how the Shiny Gadget was happened to be there —– rioter would

easily think “WHY NOT in my hand”—– anyhow shop will claim the insurance = no damage.

As the socio-economic system became beyond the comprehension, in the same time law and order

the judicial system is in hay-wire.   Somebody can get huge pay-out from the compensation claim which claim

is not in line with social sentiment or common-sense, especially when it is related to a racial issue,

human right issue —– the feeling of  ” somebody else is cunningly exploiting the system = Why not me ?

I can dodge the system as well.   Even MPs are defrauding public money, and the Banks, Multinationals got

enough money for exuberant payout = pinching small amount wouldn’t harm them = any how their money is in

the tax-heaven.   They are not in our world.  And I AM not with them ”  ====> How they can feel

that they belong to the same society, same community and shar the same pain, and Moral ?

}}}

The ETHOS and MORALITY is not came from a preaching or written knowledge.

But its comes from practice. A process of Doing. Doing through own practice and seeing others’ doing.

That’s why thousands words of nice talking of politician evaporated when their fraud was exposed.

( Why more Labour Politician was caught ?  Because of their fundamental psyche to see themselves fighting

the establishment —” it was an enemy’s money = why not appropriate for myself  in this good opportunity” )

If those supposed to be a role model is corrupt, how they can expect other’s morality.

—

In old days, the life had to learn and the money had to earn —– with actual hard doing of work.

In the process, everybody learn the relation and effect of working with others and the outer community

= lesson of the cause and the effect.   And what would boomerang.   What is good or Bad.

Everything were directly connected —– there was no virtual world other than the dream.

—-

And this is the reason why Buddhism employ the practice in their teachings.

Because, the practice and its nerve signals is connected to the one’s subconsciousness, hence it will

be burnt into the bottom of the mind.   It is invisible but bound the man’s life = Ethos.

But the abstract notion and the words in the higher legion of brain does fade away before long.

—

LOOTING in MUSHIN ???

Following my post [Wet Mid —] I’ve received amazing comments which said,

the young people live in the MOMENT and LOOTING is ZEN.

It seemed this man has read a book about the Zen Buddhism and picked up few buzz words, and as he is

pretty tenacious —– he might be believing what he is understanding is the Zen or believing he

had understood the Zen !

Fortunately, I haven’t read the same book therefore I can’t tell whether the book was crap or his reading was.

( ZEN for DUMB written by a dumb ?   for the dumb ?   😀 )

non

Often people mistook, just pick-up a buzz-word or two is [got it] even worse [understood].

Even more worse is, especially this kind of people tend to talk a lot    😀

( In my Uni’ there was a woman nicknamed “ Three fold BESHI “ who got a reputation of, when she read

one book, she talked about three times more amount —– a book inspired her and her creative interpretation

sky-rocketed —– only a trouble was her idea was utterly bull-sit   😀 )

non

Later, I gave another thought, —– in hypothesis, if the man was actually in the line of rioters, and

actually did looting —– then he realized, he has been completely absorbed in the situation, in the rapidly

changing chaotic situation, he just reacted moment to moment —– there couldn’t be a

time to give a thought, —– when he saw a gadget on a shelf = just grubbed and run.

—– then, he become aware ? ? ?    Where am I ?   Why this gadget is in my hand ? ? ?

Boila ! ! !   I got Zen, it was an act in Mushin.

Non

When he was arrested and sent to a Court,  it could make a very interesting case. —– as far as I

know,  it will create an unprecedented test case in the regal history.

If a man accused for a theft,  but pleaded not guilty on the ground of diminished responsibility

since, he was acted in Mushin,  and in the fundamentals of Buddhist’s belief, there is no Self,

therefore an allegedly accused / the man himself was not really in the crime scene = since

the body which has been captured in a CCTV is effectively empty or illusion.

( Don’t laugh  😀 —– this is quite a feasible scenario !  )

non

This case would give a   nightmare  as big as public disorder itself to the Judiciary.

As it is concerns to the fundamental belief of the Buddhism,  it can not be denied or criticized, therefore

a civil-right organization such as Liberty ought to defend the case,  as they did to Sikh and Moslem, otherwise

they will be accused of their discrimination against the Buddhists.

As long as  he is not having any mental disorder,  to throw the case out in this ground wouldn’t succeed.

There wouldn’t be any difficulty to have Expert Evidences from  Zen Master,  Martial-art Master,  Sports man—–

as it compels them to testify that the teaching of Zen is not  mumbo-jumbo = Mushin is a real phenomenon.

And, Prosecutor has to prove that the [Self] of accused was existing and the proclaimed [Mushin] is not exists.

( But how to prove it ?  It is exactly the same problematic  issue like whether the God exists )

—– It is the direct confrontation over the Buddhism. ( You see how tricky this case is    😀 )

non

Then, Council may address “My Load,  if the prosecutor is right,  it is the fundamental denial of the

Buddhist’s belief,  but on the other hand if the court find that the Defendant is right,  it is the seal of approval that

the Dharma exists and in the case of Buddhists,  responsibility of the Self may not exists.

Hence, creating yet another loop-hole to escape  Justice.   This would bring the serious problem to the future of

the law and order and to whole Judiciary.   Therefore only the remedy would be, an out of court settlement to

sort the difference out “

—– so, an awkward case will be swept under the carpet without leaving any precedence   😀

Ha ha ha   😀   😀

—

PS:  I will explain  What is real Buddhist’s Mushin on the next post.

___/\___

—

Clockwork DHARMA ?

I just found a good metaphor to explain [What is Dharma] !

It’s a huge gigantic machine !    (No, this is no a joke   😀 )

Gigantic, as its mechanism extend as far as to the end of universe.

And as it is working and ticking,  it’s keep moving,  hence, no same moment ever exists.

But this machine is invisible, except some end-device connected to its mechanism.

Its mean, all the visible existences are the part of this machine.

This machine exists since the start of the universe, long before human kind appeared on the earth.

Therefore, no written specification, operational manual in any language exists, yet still, some part of its

mechanism and the function has been observed and deciphered as a science and chemistry.

As it is a viable working machine, there is certain tendency and the rules of the way how it works,

though, as it is so gigantic and too complicated, it is beyond the capability of the human to know whole function.

—– except Buddha.

Non

While observing the phenomena and its occurrences, Buddha noticed that, this world is a kind of system

which is affecting and reacting to each other. ( This intertwined connection is the Karma )

He found it as the system of infinite size which contains ourselves as a part.

And as it is constantly adjusting and reacting, there can not be a single moment of stillness

—– nothing stays the same.

And as it is a system automatically working like a machine, it doesn’t have human like Ego or its own SELF

—– and the human is its part of mechanism, human has SELF neither.

And this system exists before human and not designed to serve for human, its operation is not necessary

for the benefit of human, therefore to live as a part of this system, occurrences are not centred for human

nor kind to human. —– Hence life is harsh.

—– with those contemplation, Buddha found the wisdom to deal with this system or to live as a

part of the system with minimum aggravation,  hence in peace and the harmony.

And the teaching is —– to know how the mechanism of the system and the mechanism of ourself works.

Only the way to find the function and its internal rules of the unknown mechanism is —– to observe

and find it by oneself.—– (Finding it,  is the Enlightenment)

As the system is working automatic, disregarding the human ego or emotion, to impose or try to understand it,

with human-like mind is pointless —– because the system itself has no such mind.

( You can’t deal with machine with your emotion — you have to do it like handling a machine 😀 )

As the system (include ourself) is operating without the mind, try to think or explaining it with words is

useless.  It needs to observe its function and the results = deeds.   Hence, talking, thinking has no place.

—– This is what the Dharma is.

non

You may not like this description   😀

Especially the western people got used to think the God as a personified figure, as it was imagined as a

super-human,  though,  no such things in the Universe.

Nor so-called great soul, like Brahman or Atman. ( Romanticized idea appeals to the emotion, but

romantic idea is far from the Truth )

The Dharma is the system much more like a huge machine.

That’s why it is operating dispassionately / in Mushin ( Mind of no-mind).

( Financial panic may caused by the fear of speculators which some Buddhist may say “It’s only in the mind”

though, resulting rise of interest will affect all others like a mechanical precision and the force)

 

In fact, human mind is always causing a destruction and a mayhem to the system.

—– that’s why the Buddhism says Mushin, Taoism says Woii —– do nothing intentionally = let the natural

mechanism to take its own course.

( I found this metaphor is the clearest explanation —– in words 😀 —— Convinced ? )

___/\___

non

What a situation, what BUDDHIST can do ?

Having more than 2,600 years history, Buddhism acquired very wide-spread of diversity and its facets.

From almost purely religious belief to the way to control one’s mind-set, on top of its local variations.

Like, Pure-land sect might be its extreme and the Zen is the other.

And the Tibetan Buddhism is one of the most uniquely evolved type in its land.

Some are adopted and fused with the fashion of popular belief then, such as the Tantrism.

Still all derived from the teachings of Buddha. Which is,

how peacefully live the life of impermanent life.

[ Don’t worry regardless how the situation in THIS life is dire, there is a heaven waiting for you.]

—– is a typical religious approach, such as the Pure-land sect.

[ See only the subject which IS on front of you ( its mean, Don’t be deflected by a matter which is

irrelevant )] —– is the Zen approach.

Non

Most of the Buddhist’s site says [Be grateful to have a joy of the life and have a peaceful life ] —– how sweet !

Yet seeing too many disturbing news, too gloomy aspects of the social, political, economical situations, and

seeing loads of destructive reports ( such as in a website < Extinction. Protocol > —– which is giving

an impression [ the world is end tomorrow ] ) —– how can I keep my peace ?

Non

Facing the devastation of the world such as happened in Japan [could we still stay calm ? ]

As a Zen Buddhist, I might have made an explanation “ As a Buddhist, I gave some donation to Japanese

Disaster Fund etc, which I thought my duty, though further than that, I can’t do much as it is too far away”

—– but, wasn’t it, bought small peace of mind, then buried the head in the sand with convenient excuse ?

And making excuse “ What I can do is, transmit nice stories to make a reader to feel a joy of the life —– and

put photos of flowers and blue sky “ ( though, i’m not necessary doing this  🙂  )

Other Buddhists might have thought “ This is what the Samsara meant, this is what the life is, so, I need

to chant the Mantra more ( to go to heaven) “

—– but in reality, the situations are not such benign, nor Buddhist’s thought is simple.

Non

There could be some thoughts, from quite meta-physical view such as, we human being is facing an

awful repercussion, as we have been odd with the Dharma too long ( so-called Punishment ) to

much talked about break down of ecosystem / global natural balance, devastation of environment

—– driven by the man’s greed (Capitalism) —-> hence we are having so many freak weather, climate

change and its chain reaction etc. etc, the list of implication is endless.

———- then, what can we do, and should do as a Buddhist ?

In fact, when I faced this question on the time of Japanese disaster, I was deeply affected, or simply

depressed. —– what AM I doing here.   just reading the news ?

Just an ordinary man who went there with bare hand and shifted the mud, would have done much more

good to help the situation.  Or, should I keep stay calm, as if nothing happened in the world, while stop

reading the news —– and making nice lemon tea ?

Was that a kind of peace what a Buddhist should enjoy ?

Nothing other than on front of me, exists in the world ? ? ?    Other than that, are all irrelevant to

the one’s life and they are the delusions ?

non

Where is the realm of one’s life — while everything are inter-connected to each other.

The air I have inhaled now could contain an oxygen atom which has been exhaled by a man in the other side

of the world a month ago, or from a plant leaf of Amazon jungle.

What actuary Dharma affecting one’s life ?

—– Or, was that only manifested as a flow of the occurrences ?

The answer seems to be, there is no fixed answer to what is right or wrong as a notion,

such as [go to disaster area and help clearing the mud] or [stay here].  They are just man’s Thinking.

As, there was no way to go there and I happened to stay here and worried about the situation

—–  happened as it was, it was right = the natural flow of the Dharma. ( if it was wrong, I shall

pick up the consequence soon or later = if it’s comes, it comes )  ( In this extent,  Buddhists are passive

= unless we were attacked, we don’t fight, we don’t attack —– ? ? ?  Does it mean, to research defence against

tsunami is wrong ?  No, the danger is already there, and soon or later it will come = preparation is a defence.

non

While after the Atomic Bomb, the ground of Hiroshima and Nagasaki started to have regrowth of

the plants, flora and fauna, and the People started to rebuilt the houses.

People couldn’t wait 25 years like Chernobyl.  (Incredible though, it’s just a historical fact )

People lived there might have shorter life and some baby might have died prematurely —– still, we haven’t

found any mutant man, or super cockroach from Hiroshima or Nagasaki —– simply defective GENE has been

died and disappeared —– and survived are just lived on as normal existence.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the same bustling Cities like all another Cities in Japan now, other

than their horrendous memories. —– Life continues and the cities and towns in Japan will be recovered with

wiser adaptations in their building design.

Living far away from Japan, I’ve shed a tear or two with the emotions of  powerlessness.

—– that was my deed,  this is what happened. That’s it.  Not my word or thinking but only the fact count.

( Regardless, what ever the theory, planning, talking, we don’t know what actually happen —— and when

it happened, we have to follow and find the measure —– only the reality, the fact and the deed count. )

There wouldn’t be any escape and in the same time, no use to dream any hypothetical

possibility or have an illusion to be a Superman.   ( Unless you were born to be a Superman  😀  )

Yes, this is what the Dharma is.  We have no way else but accept and follow.

___/\___

( PS :  By the way,  I like Bob Geldof —– He was a young man with passion as a young man is,  but

don’t like Bono —– he is just a bully, who found a mechanism to satisfy his ego)

—

Shit JOKE

While talking about jokes, my friend suggested me to see the site,

[ If shit happens ] —– Aha !   Its here.   ( You may Google them 🙂 )

I’ve heard some of them before, but didn’t know such comprehensive collection ( a lot of it )

has been circulating among the people. 😀

Basically the say is more or less the same between here and there though, one of the listings are

having pretty comprehensive collection, therefore the one which may noteworthy was :

 [ Close-to-complete Ideology and Religion Shit List ] —–  thejaywalker.co

To quote some from there ; —

• Taoism: Shit happens.
• Confucianism: Confucius say, “Shit happens.”
• Buddhism: If shit happens, it isn’t really shit.
• Zen Buddhism: Shit is, and is not.
• Zen Buddhism #2: What is the sound of shit happening?
• Hinduism: This shit has happened before.
• Islam: If shit happens, it is the will of Allah.
• Islam #2: If shit happens, kill the person responsible.
• Islam #3: If shit happens, blame Israel.
• Catholicism: If shit happens, you deserve it.
• Protestantism: Let shit happen to someone else.
• Presbyterian: This shit was bound to happen.
• Seventh Day Adventism: No shit shall happen on Saturday.
• Creationism: God made all shit.
• Secular Humanism: Shit evolves.
• Quakers: Let us not fight over this shit.
• Utopianism: This shit does not stink.
• Darwinism: This shit was once food.
• Capitalism: That’s MY shit.
• Communism: It’s everybody’s shit.
• Feminism: Men are shit.
• Commercialism: Let’s package this shit.
• Impressionism: From a distance, shit looks like a garden.
• Idolism: Let’s bronze this shit.
• Existentialism: Shit doesn’t happen; shit IS.
• Existentialism #2: What is shit, anyway?
• Stoicism: This shit is good for me.
• Hedonism: There is nothing like a good shit happening!
• Atheism: What shit?
• Atheism #2: I can’t believe this shit!

**********

I don’t know how many people contributed to each Joke and when its became a crèche.

Obviously they were said by the westerner as the list has more of the Christian sect, in comparison

to such as Buddhism, Moslem or even Judaism. ( Buddhism might have more than 50 sects and

Sunni and Shiite Moslem seemed to be quite different, and from moderate to ultra-orthodox, the

Judaism sects might not having the same view —– When it came to the Matter of Shit 😀

non

They are the caricature based on the stereotype —– though, don’t be serious its a joke.

Yet still, to make a caricature funny, it need to have certain resemblance —– That’s why its Joke

makes people realize “ M, m, m, its true 😀 “ —– so, I would say, “ Well said !”

non

Something related to this blog is, there are two entry of the Buddhism.

Buddhism general and the Zen Buddhism. —– m, m, m, interesting.

But, the one quoted  What is the sound of shit happening?  seemed to be a caricature of KOAN,

it’s mean Rinzai Zen sect. ( Soto-Zen doesn’t use the words )

—– If I were there to answer this Koan, I would say

“ It deafening the nose “ 😀

—

Pok’s ZEN

Ten days ago I received an invitation to a private view of an art exhibition from a man whom I don’t know at all.

I was quite puzzled, how come ? ? ?    (since my Email address is not public)

Exhibition was a contemporary art in context of dairy practice in Zen Buddhist’s culture —- What ?

Before go down to the puzzle of Zen art, I guessed that somebody my friend who knows of my Zen blog

might have suggested him to send an Email to me.

Any how, it’s best to see a man and ask.

Non

So, I took a journey to the exhibition and met a young artist, Chong-Boon Pok.

Obviously he is a Chinese but turned out to be from Malaysia and living in here about 10 years.

And he is a kind of [native] Zen Buddhist, who doesn’t need to know what the Zen is or its

history etc,  but as he was grown up in its environment he is naturally doing it.

(even unaware of why —– it’s in his subconscious)

—– As he was saying in his Press release;

“ My studio practice operates within subjects, time and space using the everyday and engages

aspects of mindfulness,self, memories, social, cultural and symbolic form. My cultural upbringing and

life experiences are often revisited, examined and evidenced in my work.

The work embraces ideas of as-it-is-ness, nothingness, the impermanent nature of things, and the

interconnectedness of objects and people, all of which are relevant to Zen Buddhist discourses of everyday.”

non

And what he is showing are — in his words;

“ Devoting attentiveness to and contemplating the everyday is central to my art practice.

The everyday that I refer to is the trivial, ordinary and inconsequential objects and activities that

people tend to take for granted such as the cutlery we use for eating, something we are so familiar

with that we are less likely to give a second thought when we encountered them. Besides

assembling everyday objects into sculptural forms and installations, part of my work involves

using food and cooking to perform and interact with people visiting my exhibition.”

non

Like a round piece in the photo above ( can be enlarged with click on the photo) it was made out of

drink-can’s pull-ring —– thousand of them. So as the other pieces, they are made out of really

ordinary objects —– but with the thousands of repeated works.

Some may think, it might have done by dreadful swet-shop like endless work or even it might have done by

the hired worker —– wrong.   It was all done by the artist himself.

And some may think, it is a kind of play devoting to the God —– wrong again.

Except the first few line of the work where the artist needed to find the best adjustment, following work

all through up to the finishing line, it was done almost automatic = just the repeating movement of the fingers.

There was nothing else in his mind = so-called Mindfulness, though, in fact, there was nothing.

Hence Mind of No-Mind = the true reflection of the Nothingness of the existence.

—– in deed, those repeating work is the Buddhist’s practice = by which the one can reach to

the state of Mushin (Mind of No-Mind ).

non

But we shouldn’t forget, that the Practice is just the practice to get the state of the mind, Mushin.

Mushin itself is not a goal. It is just a state of the mind.   What is the goal ? —– Life, that’s all.

But the Life without unnecessary worries or useless delusions hence without pitfall.

What else anyone needs to have ?

More than handful of gold ? Or surrounded by 100 of virgins ? —— ? ? ? What to do with those virgins ?

Do you want to be a rapist or dirty old man ? —– in fact, all those dirty idea negates the goodness or virtue of

the Mushine, since it against the Rules of the Dharma.

One’s life is to make other life happier.   This is what all about the meaning of the Life.

( Running big company employing thousands of staffs and selling the products all over the world

—– in effects, supporting those who working for him, and appreciated by the people who bought the products,

in the same time, making money and able to supports his own family —– this is the Life.

(well, billions of variations there)

non

So, unmistakably,  the artist,  Pok succeeded in this task —– by his work in Mushin, made

the people smile and made their eyes open “ A, Ha ~ ~ ~”  and making people feel Happy.

He should be rewarded by the Dharma.

Non

His exhibition [ Contemplating the Everyday ] continues until 8^th July, 11am~5pm

@ Central House Building / Metropolitan University —– Near Oldgate East Station , London

(it is opposite of the Whitechapel Gallery / Habib Bank on the corner / entrance is over the Bank office)

—– < www.thegroundweshare.co.uk.blogspot.com >

It’s worthwhile to pay a visit  🙂

—–

Order in Disorder (2)

Before the Buddhism evolved into Mahayana, the followers try to understand the existences in each

definition, in order, such as described in the Abidharma Kosa, and tried to fix the rules,  so that,

in effect,  made the person into the orderly ideal TYPE.

Then, the Buddhists realized that there is no such things like an orderly type nor

orderly existences —– no order is the order.

Like the nature, even a Hurricane or a Tsunami are also a part of the Dharma, not mention a Death.

Try to impose an ideal TYPE or the imagined ORDER and branding anything else are evil,  is

the human invention, and such thinking is nothing but the delusion.

In contrast to [see the Dharma as it is ], — [try to impose the idea over the Dharma ] is

the fundamental difference between Mahayana and Hinayana.

Accept the Dharma as it is, accept the human as human not an ideal TYPE,  was

the starting point of the Mahayana Buddhism.

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From his earliest period, Buddha’s teachings consists of the Four Noble Truth, in which

Buddha defined that the Life is suffering, getting ill and getting old then to die —– far from any

ideal TYPE of the life. —– but this was what Buddha did find.

And it took 500 years for the followers to realize what it’s really meant.

Still, if the situation of the life is confined only to this,

Buddha wouldn’t have taught his enlightened wisdom of —– how to deal with

this apparently hopeless situation.

The Buddha’s answer was,  against this disorderly situation (Samsara),  to live the life

in Mushin (which can be acquired through the practice)  would open the way to live without

fear or negative thought,  and away from any negative effect of ego and the delusion.

—– therefore lead to the peaceful Nirvana.

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Only the rules what Buddha found was the Rule of the Karma though, as he also explained the

constantly changing nature of the Dharma (which include ourself),  this Rule still having unknowable

hence,  no-order again.

Yet still,  strangely you might think,  this uncertainty still retains the overall direction of the Karma.

(Which is the direction of the Dharma) —– situation constantly changes,  occurrences seemed random,

still we pick up what the one should pick up = on the end the one goes to certain direction.

Only the matter is, to pick up right one. —– To do this, its need to have clear eyes

and absolutely calmed, exposed sensory. —– here, the Buddhist’s practice comes in.

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To the absolutely opened eyes and the mind of no-mind = Mushin,  even a minute sign of

something happening will be seen.    And as the mind is open, usually an out of scope kind

of irrelevant matter (which can be crucial to one’s  life)  may also be seen.

Stereotype,  self-imposed casting always limiting one’s perception and cause wrong thinking.

But, creative, progressive idea and the direction is over this barrier —– why you find this ?  why you ?

is the indication of [ because you were assigned to do this] —– this is what the direction mean.

To the outsider,  the nature / the Dharma looks No-Order though,  to the open mind = Mushin,  it looks no

problem —– since he could see the direction and be in contended as in the right direction.  He stays calm.

Non

– – – “ Oh, C’mon, can’t you see, the World is disintegrating”

“Yes I can see, its true.  But because of that, somebody has been assigned to work hard and dealing with it.

So, if he asks your help.   Help him.   If not, don’t interfere him, or worrying about it yourself.

If the Dharma in deed had the intention for the World to sink,

the Dharma didn’t assign him to solve the problem”

Put faith on the Dharma.  🙂

___/\___

—

PS :  It may look nicer to shout against the Nuclear Power or multi-national Capitalists etc. while pretending

to be a conscience of Planet Earth though,  I don’t think it is not necessary a typical Buddhist’s attitude,

unless the one was born to be a campaigner.    Because, the Buddhism is not stand on the mouth but practice.

Before open the mouth,  better stop wasting energy, electricity etc,  stop buying bottled water,  fizzy drink,

give up the car etc etc.   Those practices may be in your hand but, —– ? ? ?  how many people in the world

can stop the Nuke ?  —– the drive to change the policy of some country to give up Nuke was not by the

campaign,  but by an accident in Japan which costed hundreds of billions of money.  Money speaks louder.

In emotion, everybody feel ” What a hell, Japanese government is doing (or not doing !)”  though, it need to

think what an emotional shout can affect the actual policy there  —– yet, on the Election, they vote to the

well-known TV characters or comedian —– ? ? ?    (What’s  going on there)

—

Anyhow,  no-one’s conscience or emotion would give a halt to earthquake or tsunami  😀

(To the Planet Earth, it was a small wobble to release a tension (so, it was a rational adjustment.  Not a

disorderly passion ) though, for us, minute human being, it was a devastating quake) we are utterly powerless.)

—– but this is what the nature / Dharma is.

non

Order in Disorder (1)

Reflecting back my own life, I myself often amazed, or even bemused,

how I’ve been coming through chancy life.   I wouldn’t say I was anything casual or irresponsible,

because if there was anything due, I did my bargain in my best.   But beside this, I put even more effort for

something else which is not necessary I was expected to do. —– but in the hind sight, I’m wondering

whether it was my choice or just happened to be there, and I just picked it up ?

—

When I was small, my interest was the Nature, insect or plant kind.    But it was not my choice.

Soon after the war ended, Tokyo was a burnt down city, not much other than a wild field to go around and

no sports facility or game kind there.     (My hobby of electronics was definitely my choice. And to get the

components, I needed to take a journey to Akihabara where ex-Korean war junk was sold — and those

mechanical-electronical components  such as variable condenser, vacuum bulb’s intricate, futuristic

structure fascinated me ! )

—

For me to turn my eyes to human life and its psyche was happened when one of the (bad) boy in the

secondary school incited me to read a book of the notorious suicidal novelist, Osamu Dazai.

(so, I became bad boy too —– and became a rebel )

And to start to go to mountain other than for chasing the insects was, simply the class teacher organized an

out of school activity club and I joined it.    (Since I was familiar with walking on the hill or in the woods)

And this activity continued while getting heavier and heavier even to winter rock climbing level.    (Its mean,

I did this, one of the physically, mentally hardest training from 12 years to 27 years, up to 1/3^rd of the year

in the mountain)

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For me to take the subject of  Industrial Sociology  in my Uni’ was also a sheer coincidence.

A Professor of Industrial Sociology asked me to help his project, and I got involved deeper, that’s all.

But I personally learned from him, how to observe and analyse the man and its society.

(Visualize somebody’s life and give an insight “If I were the man in there, how do I feel

and behave”—– this approach gave me great insight, and the way to see the human life

—– instead of imposing the view or criteria of observation, not to take superficial

observation of one’s behaviour, but to see the situation from the person’s psyche and his

stance, was the crucial attitude I learned from him)

—

And while in my Uni’ I spent most of the time  (well, while I was not in the mountain)  in the Herbalium in

the Science dept’ despite I was studying sociology.    This Makino Herbalium is one of the largest in Japan

having millions of botanical specimen and I was working there, taking photo of plant or making specimen.

It was my part-time work to pay for the Uni’ and to go to mountain or skiing.

While there, I was asked to join 3 expeditions to help botanists as a botanical photographer and an expert of

jungle walking   🙂 —– in fact for those reason I remained in my Uni’ altogether 7 years.

(with annoyance of the administrator, who shouted me  “Are you still here ?” 😀 )

———- but I might have made a mistake to become a photographer   😀

( But if I were not a photographer, I didn’t come and to live here —– it was a necessary

 element in the course of my life —– like a Butterfly Effect / minute change may cause

the drastic difference in the end result —– therefore, there is no regret )

( To deal with close-up photography,  it is necessary to improvise or even specially design the equipments.

Working in a part of the Science Dept’,  I could access the engineering machine in the Technology Dept’ and

having the knowledges of electronics lead me to design even special camera.  It happened, as it happened.

—– was that natural consequence or just a lucky coincidence  —– it’s a good question  🙂 )

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Then I left Japan.  And while staying in England as a photojournalist, suddenly the awkward court case was

started which I had no choice.   I had to deal with the case as a Litigant in Person while learning English Law

overnight —– and I was forced to give up photographic business.   Court case really consume time though,

in the other hand,  if next hearing is months away —- suddenly, too much time but nothing to do.

So that, I got plenty time for reading and thinking —– about  Zen.  Then, suddenly  “ Alas,

now I know,  all through my life,  I was given the hardest training to become a Zen monk”.

I’ve learned Nature. Then my scope was expanded to human existence while dealing with sociology and

working in the mountain as a voluntary keeper,  seeing the people in their edge of  the life.   Hence, farther

into the spiritual fundamental aspects of humanity.

(but didn’t learn how to deal with funeral , so, don’t ask me to conduct a funeral 😀 )

(Since, the Court case was caused by a woman’s explotitation of my immigration status, I was quarified to decrear

” Woman is the cause of nothing but the trouble”  hence I quit to deal with woman.  Literally became a monk  😀  )

Non

Looks utterly chancy life ––— though, on the end, it converged into one direction.

And yet another coincidence,  I happen to start this Zen blogging.

Before I left Japan,  I was told by my mother who was a psychic, and while she was reading my palm line

“Since you got mission, you wouldn’t be fallen before your task was accomplished. Therefore I wouldn’t

worrying about you at all” —– I don’t know the reason why I don’t get ill (I still have no registered Doctor

while staying in this country 35 years), or in the mountain,  I had falls on the rock 3 times though never

injured.   And I’ve broken 3 skis but never broken any bone   😀

—– It’s hard to tell, whether all of those are just the sheer coincidences, and I was just lucky

—– or something else ? —– there seems to be no order or rational connection, everything

were just occurred,  yet still,  in the hind sight,  there was a certain direction.

( If A hasn’t been there, encountering  B wouldn’t be happened, then at the B, conveniently C

happened —– and so on,  and lead to  Z  on the end = this is the life. )

—?— is this the hidden order ? —– Or the Dharma’s intention ?

___/\___

( To be continued to the next post  🙂  )

—

Bodhi-Tree / Bodai-ju

You believe or not, this is the tree what Japanese believes as the Boddhi-Tree.

My parents believed and explained to me, “This is the tree which Buddha said to have enlightened while sitting under this tree.  Therefore it got the name BODAI-Ju.   Since, a flower blooms as if it is standing in a palm.”

Yes, it looks uniquely strange flower.   So, I believed its story.  Anyhow, I was a small boy —– no argument 🙂

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Not only a boy, everybody in Japan believed that this is the Boddhi Tree,  hence a  German song composed by Franz Schubert  about this particular tree and its title  [Der Lindenbaum]  was translated into Japanese as [ BODAI-Ju ] — of cause, in this case, the tree was a tree known as a Lime tree in the west.

—– (Strangely, this [Bodai-ju] has another name which has Ainu tribe origin [Shina-no-ki] and from its shape of the false leaf under a flower, the another name was [Hera-no-ki] —– so, the name [Bodai-ju] was only after the time when Japanese got Buddhism)

Non

When the Buddhism was brought to Japan,  the India [Tenjiku] was in the another planet, even to the Chinese monks who travelled over there and studied Buddhism, it was a distance needed to take years of journey.

Hence, to read the scriptures was just a guess work,  let alone to distinguish what was the historical truth or even chronological order among the jumbled scriptures.

Therefore, to have mistaken Lime tree as to the Boddhi tree was not a big crime   🙂

(I haven’t found what Chinese people were understanding about Boddhi Tree, yet.    So, any Chinese reader who knows about it,  please leave a comment herein after)

In comparison,  we now can have amazing amount of informations and even a photo of a real Boddhi Tree ( Ficus religiosa )  while sitting in a room thousands of miles away from India —– still, we are not sure, 

whether we are any wiser than a monk thousand years ago. —– yet still, the reason why we can get the same understanding of the teachings is, Buddhism is not based on the knowledges but on its practice.    Like riding a bicycle —– no one can explain how to ride it, but by the practice you can get to know how by yourself.

( So,  there is no problem whether it was [Boddhi tree] or [Bodai-ju] to get enlightenment  😀 )

___/\___

non