TOUCHING the VOID
Yesterday I was invited to see a dress rehearsal of an Art Performance at the Holland Park.
It was titled [ Common sounds : Touching the Void ] ( Flyer is in the end of this post )
In fact it was in the building of the former Commonwealth Institute.
The building has been closed for more than decade —– what a shame. I used to go there to see many ethnic,
cultural exhibition, art performances.
And as the building has been bought by the Design Museum, they are under the refurbishment.
It is a kind of trend to use a disused empty space, some time pretty strange place, to utilize
them for an exhibition, art events. —– naturally, the space itself was unusual, the almost
crèche “Site specific installations, performances” are the regular program.
Though, this particular space is nothing like any another space.
Under the first ever built type of column-less huge roof, it is the burst empty space —– having
a round centre stage and the surrounding multi-storey corridor —– you got to be there
to see and feel the space.
The event has been directed by Harry Ross, and designed by Helen O’Neill who is my friend though I haven’t dig
deep enough to know how they organized the event to use here yet —– may be a kind of trade secrets there 😀
—
The actual performances are the conceptual play and the dances, therefore impressive but a kind, often
described as “mind boggling” — not only the space is out of comprehension, hence we feel out
of space ( pan 🙂 ) giving a feeling of being in the time trip —– Where am I ? What’s going on ?
Then the audiences were bound together and taken to the ride —— or to the darkness of the limbo !
At there I met another photographer who introduced himself as Jim the dance photographer.
While he shoot, he moves with dancer anticipating their movements and click, no fancy angle or strange
foot works, always facing straight, very authentic —– I noticed, this guy really knows the subject, in
many years experiences —– to capture the moment of dance. (Good for the dancer’s own portfolio)
( His link =http://www.perfectlandscape.com/touching_the_void/#)
non
My photography is more to participate, or even invade the situation —– interaction with the situation.
That’s why I like to use ultra-wide or even fish-eye lens to close the core of subject.
Like the Theory of Relativity, there can not be a pure observation.
Observation itself affects the Phenomenon —– therefore, to be a part
of Phenomenon is more logical —– That’s what I think 😀
—– Believe or not, this is my understanding of the Zen Buddhism.
Once we were born, we can not exist outside of the world.
The interaction with the other existences, moment to moment,
is the life.
Otherwise, why do we need to be here in this moment ?
And why the Dharma placed us to be here and now ?
—– So that, why the art event like in the Commonwealth
Institute was happened and WHY I was there ?
This is the understanding of “What Karma meant ” and totally embrace the
situation is “What Mindfulness mean “. —– This is the Conviction to the LIFE.
Hence, this IS the ZEN. ( ZEN in action, not sitting away from the situation 😀 )
___/\___
—-
|
Sheer JOKE
Some years ago, I was asked by a friend, stage designer Francesco to produce some stage set and props.
In fact, I also took a part acting as a Mad Doctor ? ! (If I were asked, I just join —– because its
occurrence was in the Karma. Hence I don’t think too much or no use to think. It’s a reaction in Mushin )
It was titled [O-project] which the story was based on the Hoffman’s Tale, but in the ultra modern settings 😀
—– instead to create a doll to whom a guy fallen in love, a Mad Doctor created a life in a vitro and so on.
( So, I created Oparlin’s Life Bottle of which lightning spark to the primeval sea water said to have
created first element of the life on the earth.
And the Laser Harp, on top of the Virtual Woman / rotating Wire torso )
non
While working it, on a desk of a Sent Martin’s art student, I found a photo of Dalai Lama. —– I made
a joke “Hey, don’t you know, He is my first cousin” and Francesco took picture of me
holding Dalai Lama’s photo.
When Francesco compiled the O-project DVD, he put the photo-images to show the episode in the production
process —— ? ? ? What ! —– In the DVD, a photo-image of me holding
Dalai Lama’s photo has been Photoshoped to [Me holding Star-war’s Yodo]
So, the story has changed to “ Hey, I’m a cousin of Yodo” —– ! —– Very very funny 😀
( Francesco expected me to get angry —– later he said though, for me it was more of an amazement
than a kind of matter to get angry. What a fun ! ! ! I like this kind of fearless, blatant idea.)
When it came to a joke, a western wit is far more naked (often quite bad tasted) which makes a big
difference to the Japanese. Some said, it because of the carnivorous nature of the European against
the vegetarian Buddhist though, it seems it’s a too simplified view. ( Simplly Itariano is noughty 😀 )
Non
I always fascinated by the artistic creativity of the Latin psyche. Yet, unlike other Italian or Spanish artists,
this designer’s thinking remains always within the feasibility —– never impossible fantasy —- and amazingly
able to find the best suitable material or structure which is good to convert for the purpose etc, in another
words quite technically minded —– that why he is a designer not a pure fine artist —– still
his novel ideas are always there and fascinated me.
non
After all, any creative perception, unless it was materialised, it couldn’t be displayed, unless it
was displayed, it couldn’t be noticed by others —– this is what the communication meant.
Otherwise, its perception remained inside of an autistic mind.
Stage design must be one of the hardest task which is facing this dilemma —–it has to be materialised.
(while complying all the safety regulation etc, and reliably working in one-piece 😀 )
non
Artistic creativity live in the same terrain where the good joke came from.
non
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 8th 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.
non
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.
non
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.
non
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
FORMURA in DHARMA
I have written about how Leonardo Davinch was obsessed with his Masonic belief a while ago.
And it is well known that the Masonic people has been trying to figure out the fundamental rule of
the universe in its proportion or mathematical formula, hence the architectural proportion of
the old temple etc.
Fibonacci number / its rule of consecutive numbers are one of the rules found in nature —–
since they thought, it should have the ultimate power of rule of universe. etc etc. ( It is true, some plants
and its order of distribution of leaves or seeds on the pod shows certain pattern, hence certain formula
which lead to the discovery of the very Fibonacci number ) —– so what ?
non
Unfortunately, there is no such magic formula to solve the trouble in the human life.
If the perfect proportion of the old temple have had any mythical protective power of the universe,
it couldn’t have been destroyed.
It is a tendency of the dream of lazy and yet greedy man —— to grub the power and the fortune
by tricking using the simple and easy formula —– and believing such things could ever exist.
Non
Of cause, Buddha taught no such things could ever exists, and such idea is nothing
but a delusion. —– though, some Mahayana Mantras having many fancy super natural stories.
A man who read Diamond Mantra and wanted to gain such super natural power, asked me to teach
the secret of Zen. (since he believed I’ve got it —– how nice complement 😀 )
non
Give a thought or two to what Buddha taught —–
Fixed formula which got only few parameters only works to the fixed, limited condition.
Buddha said, nothing stays permanent and keep changing moment to moment = out of
reach of any fixed formula.
Such formula is a product of our poor thinkings —– how we can rely such idea when the author,
ourself is unreliable. Even its existence is not certain.
Above all, what is the intention to get such secret formula for — to get the good result quick ?
To get power and the fortune in easy way ? = What a greed and the arrogance.
Such greed or arrogance negates any virtue of the Buddhism.
One Buddhists sect recruiting the people saying “Get happiness quick“— though, such idea to appeal
the people’s greed negates Buddhism itself. ( You can see, despite they are taking a lots though they
are the most miserable people — only able to repeat what was written in the book, and thinking Happy)
Strange Paradox of Goodness in the Buddhism only came out of absolute nothing. From No expectation.
non
Buddha didn’t give an answer to many questions — long time myself has been thinking, because
it was not necessary for us to know, — though I realized, it was the very answer Buddha intended to give.
The answer itself is a notion, whether it was said by Buddha or not. When the notion itself and
the condition based upon it couldn’t exist in a fixed form, there couldn’t be
a fixed answer = no answer is the very answer.
—– Then all the another pieces of his teachings fallen into the jigsaw —– that’s why the clear eyes to
see the Dharma is essential = Dharma itself is not fixed entity, it changes a moment to moment,
hence the flow of response is essential. The free mind, not cringe to any fixed idea, away from any
deluded idea or belief is essential = Mind of No-Mind is the key to see the Dharma.
Its mean, the compliance to the situation is the matter. See the situation as it is.
And the response on this moment may not be the same to a response a moment ago.
Its mean, there is no fixed formula. Or no-formula is the ultimate formula.
No quick fix with anticipation exists.
Don’t worry with bad anticipation, until its happened, it hasn’t happened yet.
When it’s happened, then, take best action —– as long as you keep your eyes clear,
the situation you see is far better than misguided anticipation.
Flexible structure is much stronger even in an earthquake.
This is the Buddhism. Buddhists never miss the moment.
___/\___
non
SEXUAL Conotation
It is a funny paradox. I always amazed to find that the search term and its wording which end up
here having many sexual connotations. Its mean I’ve been giving so much disappointment to
those who is expected to find somewhat erotic content here. Sorry folks 😀
It was not in my intention or tactics to attract the readers but my careless choice of the subjects.
(For instance, when I used the term [xxxx Do] it supposed to mean such as Kendo, Judo, etc.
in general. As I was not familiar with X-rated film kind, I was not aware — to other’s eyes, it can
be construed as “about Do XXX act” Ha ha ha, very funny. 😀 —– my ignorance but too late)
on
In 1987, when I heard very first news of the new disease from San Francisco which is now known
to be the AIDS, I noticed that the sexual relation is no longer safe.
And it was the same time when my court case which related to a woman’s exploitation of
immigration loop-hole was started.
(A woman deported from here, fraudulently registered the marriage in Japan using my name
without my knowledge. The woman admitted that she did it by an instruction of employer, though
the High Court Judge made it valid and granted her quick divorce for her to escape deportation to
Japan where the Police was alerted. Naturally, the case was brought up to the Court of Appeal.
Because of the case was too obvious fraud, the President of the High Court came out to suppress the
matter saying “no need to go into the evidence”—– since the evidence in the transcript says
“Marriage is Void” —– He couldn’t go into the EVIDENCE ) —– ( From this evidence, how
High Court Judge Dobly made the marriage valid, reflect the situation in the English justice)
I just gave up any relation. Woman is nothing but the trouble.
So that the file in my brain to deal with woman was deleted.
The woman became just a part of a landscape, hence its sexual connotation disappeared.
Existence of Genitals doesn’t mean sex —– its sexual connotation is all in the mind.
( of which I’ve been calling [ OBSESSION ] —– which can be erased )
non
Anyhow, court case consume a lots of time and a money. Especially in my case, to proceed it myself
as Litigant in Person (without Lawyer, while studying English Law overnight) was hard.
I was simply fallen into the situation, not able to spare the time or money to a woman.
It was totally out of question.
On
Of cause the knowledge was still there and able to see or hear what woman says, though it doesn’t
connect to my EMOTION hence the so-called female sexuality or their sex appeal stop to
appeal to my mind —– they became the matter of foreign land or different universe.
A funny side effect (?) was, as the receptacle to read sexual context in my mind has been deleted, I lost
a capability to see the innuendo or meaning of suggestive approach or its signal. (So that, in many
cases, after long time, I suddenly became aware “I see, she wanted to sleep with me” 😀 )
non
As a matter of fact, even myself was amazed to see the change of my own perception. And it
made me realize, this must be the condition of mind what the Zen Buddhism is talking about.
Then I gave a thought. Read the books I brought from Japan etc. etc. —– it was an epoch in my
quest to the Zen. If the mind can be controlled in this way, in reverse this must be the way to control
the mind in general. (If even a so-called imperative instinct could be negated and completely
disappeared, there can not be any difficulty to control the mind )
On
Since then somewhat strange 23 years past —– but, it seems it was seen by others even more strange.
Most of all, be in the Club every weekend, seemed to give an impossible puzzle to others. 😀
I was there to perfect my body movement (others call it dancing) nothing else. Though, even a
club owner, manager seemed not able to understand what is the purpose for. As a matter of fact, I had
the indispensable opportunities to observe the Skinner Box of male-female behaviour ! ! ! 😀
And seeing hundred of almost naked young girls shaking their ass every weekend for (just with the
Fridge Club in Brixton — almost 6 years) so many years, I’ve accumulated a collation of body shape, facial
expression and her dancing style and the character —– how to behave, and so on.
But never dance or even talk with them (and never drink alcohol) created funny myth —– such as,
I was the real owner or under-cover detective etc. —– The worst was mistaken as a gay (for their mind,
“if not interested in woman it must be a gay” then start sexual act straight on the spot, hugging from
behind or touch the body while wearing only kinky strings, etc. —– I respect their right to be a gay.
But I have exact the same right not to be sexually harassed by them —– do what you like but
don’t count me in) —– yet still, those facts enforced my view even stronger—-> not all the gay
person was born to be a gay, but became gay by their choice, its mean a drive came from
their thinking = mind-set can change even an inherent, imperative instinct.
non
To accumulate too much data makes a person insensitive. —– nothing would surprise nor excite.
And having so much data (about woman) made me too casual, or there is no romantic sanctuary left.
So that I might have lost the usual sense to handle the matter with kid gloves, hence I might be
giving an impression to have lots of sexual talk. (Certain extent, it is true 😀 —– when the subject
having no significance to place in the sanctuary, it became just one hilarious subject among the others)
Hence, I just have no boundary or prohibition.
non
And the reason why I created so many female nude figure was, simply it is easier. —– it is much
more cumbersome to make a dressed figure, using such as wire or metal panel. And if you put big
boobs it became female nude. In comparison, to show the male figure as male, needs to show more
complexed muscles etc. which is harder for the simple material. (Strangely, my Buddha stature has
no muscle, just the bones —– still nobody thought he is no other than Buddha 🙂 )
non
If you happen to be an unsuspecting, misguided reader, who unfortunately end up here,
it was mainly caused by the Google’s key-word program —- they literally, pick up a word out of context.
Still, I hope, you had unexpected fun while reading this. Ha ha ha 😀
non
DIVINE Intervention
Yesterday (20 April ’11) this Blog became off the Net by which WordPress said that I’ve violated
their term —– ? ? ?
With my inquiry they explained, my blog is having many Spam comments on it and unless I remove them
the service wouldn’t be resumed. —– ? ? ?
WordPress got their own Spam filter Akismet which is boasting so much thousand of Spams has been
filtered out, yet still they showed some more spam in my Dashboard.
My understanding was, those short comments might be genuine, hence WP asking me to distinguish.
Some Spammer is a kind of amateur while web surfing (since it’s his hobby and anyhow spending so
much time on front of a screen) might got the idea to supplement his income while leaving his URL as a
visitor’s name and anybody click his name it might linked to such as poker site.
He might get some commission by the number of visitors there. Still, unless a reader click his name
it wouldn’t link to the dubious site. It is harmless.
non
Even a spammer has his right to seek the truth in Zen Buddhism. Why not.
Many famous Buddhists monk used to be a bloody warrior or notorious womaniser before.
And because of its past, they came to Buddhism to seek a peace. —–The one born innocent and having
smooth event-less (rather boring) life —– it’s peaceful enough. He doesn’t need the Buddhism.
But the one who is having rather bumpy ride in his life, is looking for a different way of the life and for a
start, came to a Zen Blog like here. He may not an eloquent talker (if so, he have had different job already)
hence just left a short comment of “It’s nice” kind. —– I still obliged to say Thank you.
He was a visitor, which makes no difference to an eloquent Zen Talker.
non
Strangely you might think, I knew this (suddenly all the two years writing disappears) is going to
happen soon. A week ago, I’ve asked a friend, James Stevens of SPC.org who is running such as
OWN, a community WiFi networking movement, to archive all of my Blog in their huge HDD.
( I’m providing electrical, mechanical adaptation, modification to help them, which I’m good at 🙂 )
And all of my recent posts were first written as Open Office Documents and automatically saved.
Therefore, I’m ready to move to another domain fully intact.
—– And as it really happened, it must be the Divine intervention, me to move to independent
site, while re-organizing the sorting, indexing system.
(Though, I have no idea how big the task would be :-D)
non
It seems, as this Blog started with sheer coincidence, yet another coincidence like this must be the
another direction given by the Dharma. I myself is in fact puzzling why like this happen —– could
just be a sheer coincidence though, don’t ask too much. —– As it happened it happened.
Just follow and live. So that, I have no complaint. And I know, a good reader like you are seeing
the same phenomena in your life as well. This is what the Life to be a Buddhist. Isn’t it ?
What the best to be a Buddhist is, we don’t need to panic what ever happened, since it is in the
hand of Dharma. We just go with it. This is the confidence to be with Dharma.
___/\___
non
ZEN in PRACTICE
There was an interesting experience lately.
A Chairman of an Internet Talking Shop asked me to join their mailing-list to invigorate the activity.
It was a small group of University alumni of which the members used to play a sports together, hence
the members consists of their 30th to 70~80th old-boy.
The mailing-list was said to be proposed and set-up by the core member of the group a year ago to
facilitate vibrant communication among the members, as the members live scattered all over the country
over a years, and not necessary knows each other in their different generations.
With a kind of marketing research considerations, I saw the characters of the group and their needs.
I found this is in fact a retired old boy’s talking shop. Since, younger members are too busy
in their job and the family —– they may not have much leisure time left, and busy talking with
their colleagues etc. So that the real aim is to create the environment for the old members to
exchange and join the conversation.
—–
Zen is a way of the life to live the situation in 100% commitment. (So-called Mindfulness )
When the situation required to ply a role or to carry-out the task, to become the Role itself or
the expert of the task, and Just Do It, is the speciality of the Zen.
As my role is to invigorate the conversation, I started to talk as many as possible number of the
members I know before, while inventing all sorts of excuse or pretext of talking piece, in order to draw
them into the forum. Within a month the forum became pretty busy and started to have many new talkers.
As each member has graduated in each faculty and the specialized subject, they got their expert view
and the unique opinion, some time it went pretty deep in its subject and turned out to be a very interesting
exchange of two different view etc etc. While receiving a congratulation mail from the other side of the
world as this member is working over there, which said “It is a great pleasure to see the forum invigorated
which I myself had proposed to set-up”
—–
Journalist ( or Ex-photojournalist precisely ) as I am, I was in certain extent, well suited to the role as I can
deal with many subjects ( like interviewer has to know the subjects, despite every time the subject
could be different ) —– though, the core members who proclaims they set-up the forum started to feel
the forum has been Hijacked by somebody unknown ( since I’ve been out of communication with them
40 years 😀 ). And they started to say this is not YOUR blog site. 😀
Of cause, to draw somebody into the forum, I had to send the mile and when somebody sent a mail
with unfamiliar subject, still somebody has to answer, and many cases it happened me to reply.
When I gave an answer and sent PS: soon after, it was accused “from the same person, enormous
amount of continuous mail occupying the forum” 😀
It was exactly like a Hen’s chorus in the Animal Farm, even a man who congratulated the
invigorated forum, changed his colour and joined the chorus. And a funny opinion to design a special
sports shoes talked by other member which I just responded was still attributed as my fault 😀
When the attack came, it need to hit back like the sword master Musashi was also a Zen master.
But, if this is the situation. That is it.—– I’ve been there to talk not waste the time to argue with.
—–
Zen react to the situation Just as it is, like just handling a small thing, therefore no emotion or
personal interest involved. As there is no notion of possession ( like, this forum is mine or I AM
the man in charge with ) when the requirement or the situation changes, the commitment or
duty evaporate at once as if there was no such things ever existed.
—–
This mind-set, Full Commitment but without Emotional Involvement ( Ego, Greed, Arrogance)
and Instant Dissociate with no mind to cringe, is a typical Zen Practice.
( Fundamentally, member of 150 people’s Talking Shop, most of whom I don’t know and 40 years
out of communication, what anyone can expect from them ? And what to lose by stopping it, if any ?
It is like a chess game on the street cafe table. Once join, still have to use full extent of the brain to win.
Yet it is just for a small fun. Nothing to gain but nothing to lose. Just Do it and Just Stop it.
This is the mind-set of the Mushin which respond to the situation which keeps changing.
—– And this is the Zen in Practice in the real life, not in sitting.
___/\___
—
DISASTER in Japan
–
–
–
–
——————————————————– Here Everything was lost
—————————————————–anything remains is the HOPE
————————————————–and the WILL to Re-build the LIFE.
–
–
–
–
Seeing the Earth Quake and the Tsunami report from Japan is nothing but a heart-braking to me.
To see a photo of a flatten muddy field which caption says, There used be a town, its empty span of
nothingness shocked and made me wordless. Emptiness of almost perfectly flushed-out field.
—
It seemed, the western reporter, photographer prefer to pick up dramatically or even funnily
piled-up devastation. An orgy of destruction. ——— but to Japanese, as I am, it is not funny at all
nor the object to be amazed.
—
Another cultural differences appeared in the western media is, all the report found it is even strange,
the reporters unanimously says ” how Japanese can keep emotion in check and stays calm ?”
The emotion is the default feeling of the human-being, hence it is more or less the same to any
culture. Though, emotional expression is not instinctive, in other words, it is cultural.
Whether it is emotional or not, expression is a way of the communication, therefore even
an emotional expression is dependent on the situation.
—– there was an interesting psychological study and the video images of the small children.
When a small child stumbled and fallen, having a pain the child started to cry. —– You will think it is
a natural emotional reaction.
Though when the same child stumbled and fallen on the empty street where nobody else is in sight
( except a hidden video camera ), child didn’t cry, and stand up by herself.
This is the true nature of the human-being. —– communication is to appeal to others.
Having emotion is one thing. To express is other.
If there is no other person to help, no need to express. —– even small child knows this
and behave accordingly.
AAAAA
In the western culture, where the Ethos and the psyche was shaped in the cast of Judia-Christian religion.
In there, the God is a humanized image or notion. And the relation of the believer to
the God is one-by-one base. You have to stand before the God in person. Hence you have to talk or express
to him — otherwise you can’t to be heard.
Therefore, unless you express and assert your Self, you are not exist. And under this understanding
even a word expressed by a person may not necessary enough. Hence, a written contract became essential.
So that, express and express and make a claim is the basis of the psyche.
And as the relation to the God is one-by-one, when something happened, shout “ Why me “
AAAAA
In comparison, the Eastern God or the place of the mighty power is the Heaven,
or Buddhist’s explanation is the Dharma. The rules of the Universe.
Regardless, whether you face it or not, believe or express yourself or not, you are under the Dharma.
As all the occurrences and the existences are in this Dharma or under this Dharma, hence even a huge
natural disaster may produced by this same Dharma, hence you can’t argue with it.
Nor there is no use to complain or express your emotion. —– Shout and cry is no use. The matter is
just think what you can react to the situation. What you have to do the next.
And in the case of huge natural disaster, as the same fate has come to everybody, and as everybody
was created by the same Dharma, everybody has the same feeling and facing the same situation,
one crying wouldn’t make situation any better.
Thanks to Japan has very little foreign element in their psyche, everybody is sharing the same psyche
—– even to the people who was not affected by the disaster, they share the same pain,
hence the help started almost instantly. And no looting at all.
—
In the Buddhist’s explanation, this is the moment when the Dharma prevailed.
As everybody having the Dharma in them, when they sees the situation far beyond the human
comprehension, lost the word, hence lost any thinking, therefore the mind became
blank = blank open space = Mushin —> The Dharma, hence its nature of Charity and compassion prevailed.
And the Dharma is inside, whether the police is there or not, no looting occure. Since Dharma knows it.
—-
I only hope the people who had this disaster to recover and able to re-build their life.
( And in this given opportunity, Japanese can root out their rotten government and rotten policy in their
nuclear generating system )
___/\___
—
Yoshizen's Blog 
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