Moksa / Moksha
Time to time I encounter the people who use a word Moksa or Moksha.
Most of the case they are not a Buddhist but somewhat around of it, such as Herbalist,
Acupuncturist, Psychoanalyst, or so-called New-age type of people who knew or read
something about “Higher state of Consciousness” kind. (Buzz word “Higher” would
satisfy the Ego = I’m better than others. 😀 —– thus, able to sell more books)
Yet still, a sect of Buddhism, Theravada who supposed to maintain the older form of
Buddhism, is using this word Moksha instead of Nirvana.
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Even among the Mahayana Buddhists, their understanding of the Buddhism is to deal with
this endless cycle of re-birth / Samsara, and to close this cycle is the Nirvana.
And most of the Buddhists believe, this is the fundamentals of the Buddhism.
This must be the biggest blunder and a fraud in the human history.
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This matter has been the most grievous headache to decipher Buddhism to me.
Lord Buddha’s teaching has broken the tradition and the popular belief of the
perpetual soul. As everything is in the Karma, relating and depending each
other, non can remain for ever. Naturally, when the body has died, the mind,
the soul resided in there, ceased to exist = So, this is the end of the suffering of
the person, hence it is the Nirvana.
So that, how come, why after one’s death, the person
has to suffer rebirth, to keep having the trouble of so-called Samsara ? ? ?
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Utterly contrary to popular belief, the idea of Samsara was not what
Lord Buddha taught. —– I haven’t traced all of his words in the scriptures still,
just give a rational thought, it is obviously THE self-contradiction of which NO
Lord Buddha would have made.
Lord Buddha might have used the word “Samsara” for a sake of convenience,
when he talked to mass audience who was not educated but
at least know it mean the trouble of the life. —– Assuming, if
Lord Buddha said, “My teaching will save you from the trouble of Smsara”
—– What he meant was “Trouble of the IDEA of Samsara” since,
such IDEA itself is nothing but a false DELUSION which fooled the people.
Lord Buddha needed to teach and save the people who has been suffering
from a fear of such deluded IDEA, saying ” Don’t worry no such re-birth
would ever happen, since the soul wouldn’t remain after the death” (But
people’s fear is a cash-cow of Guru and Monks, they changed the story)
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It seemed, this “Story-Change” had happened in the earliest stage of the Buddhism history,
long before even the Agama Sutra was written. Considering that Theravada sect is using
a word Moksha which was originated from a popular Cult then who taught the idea of
Samsara and the Moksa, this mixed-up must be happened long before the birth of
Mahayana Buddhism.
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The IDEA of said ancient Cult was that all the life-form born as its own stage of progression
from the lowest to highest, hence this idea became the Cast System in the Hinduism.
And according to the one’s deed, if the one did good enough, the one will reborn in the higher
cast but did bad goes back to the lower, even down to be a beast. This cycle of Rebirth is
the Samsara, and only the highest will get ultimate Moksa to end this cycle.
Lord Buddha totally against this IDEA, hence in his Sangha, all the followers were
treated as equal (NO cast), and he taught, ultimate goal can be reached in one life
as Nirvana (NOT the Hindu idea of Moksa which may takes several lives to reach ).
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Lord Buddha’s teachings were “How to acquire the mind-set [Detachment
= Mushin, Selflessness] to deal with harsh reality in life, and to see the TRUTH”.
= The Truth, “No such things like SELF exists, hence nothing to be Reincarnated”
and to live in this truthful life, the one can reach peaceful Nirvana.
He did not teach a product of imagination, far from it, he fought against it.
—– If you believe otherwise, please show me a FACT of Rebirth.
Lord Buddha was not such idiot to teach dubious imaginary story.
___/\___
[]
ヨシ禅縁起
（これは友人に送った手紙の拔粋で，まァ日本霊異記，仏教説話の現代版ですな）
———————————————————–
昔母親が僕の手相を読みながら ｢お前は下らない事ばかりやっているが，曲った事だけはやらない。それに使命を負って生れていますからそれを果すまでは絶対に犬死にする事はないし，そもそも不動様が付いているので全く心配していません」と言い放ってくれた事があった。 しかし，なんで俺ごときに，わざわざ不動様の番が付かねばならぬのか？
この意味が把めたのは実に厄年も過ぎてからで ーーー ハタ！そう言えばえらくヤバい所を歩き回っていた割にマムシ、ハブはおろかサソリ、毒グモの類に出合った事も無い。 考えてみるとそもそも病気にかからない。 岩場で二度も転落しながら全くの無傷。 大転倒してスキーを二本も折りながら何の怪我も無し。 一方、背後から刺してくれた者、裏切ってくれた者が突然癌にかかってコロッと死んだり、もっとひどいのは死ぬ事もならず苦しみ続けている。 山で嫌がらせのしごきをやってくれた男は即、雪盲で動きもとれなくなって痛みでひいひい泣いていた。(因みにこの男、しばらく前に山に登ったものの徹底して暴風雨にたたられたとか＝神サマ後々までかなりしつこいらしい。笑） 偉そうに命令はするが自分では薪切りも荷上げもやらなかった小屋番の五人は還暦を迎える事もなく他界して当時のメンバーはあとー人しか生残っていない。（ずっと後になって知った訳だが全く異った状況と死因ながら五人が次々に、というのには流石に目をむいた） ーーー 小生が常連になると店や団体は大繫盛，逆に行くのを止めるとそこは倒産する。—–（ディスコ四軒，カフェ二軒，三団体, 山小屋二軒） 遇然にしてはちょっとタイミングが重なり過ぎている。（全て知らないうちにそうなっていたので，小生が呪いをかけた訳ではない－－－念の為）（例外的にBrixtonのクラブスタッフには予め警告を与え次の仕事捜しを勧めておいたのだが、六ヶ月後現実につぶれるまでは誰も本気にしなかったようだ。）
［］で，もっと奇妙なのが［８１５０の怪］といふ奴で，こちらの関係先，立回り先，それこそ電話番号から
銀行口座，
ブログの統計ページ，
ユーチューブの整理番号に至るまで，
将に「張番中］とばかりにこの数字が現れる。 －－－数字学の人によるとこれは語呂合せ通りに［ハイゴレイ，背後霊］の告知なんだそうな。－－－思い込みにしては，本人が選んでいる番号ではないし，それが勝手に現れて来るのは止めようもなく，現に個人向けの物に出て来る事実は動かし難い。－－－しかし、どんなメカニズムで現れて来るのかね？
［］と言うのを逆から考えてみて，ハタと思い当ったのは，実は小生は元々坊主になる為の修業をさせられていたのではと。 虫や花の自然観察から始まって科学一般，一方では詩人逹の人間学，次に社会学で視野を広げる一方，山登りの有無を言わせぬ荒行と，小屋番の只働き ＝ そりゃ無私無心の達人にもなるさ。 （永平寺の香月師はそれを一目で見拔いた訳だ）
で，幸か不幸か裁判沙汰で仕事を離れ，改めて禅なるものを考えるうちに無私無心と神経生理との関係に気が付き，禅と仏教の謎が一気に解けた。
［ で，これも何故か遇然，ブログを始める事になり，書始めてから気付いたのは，どうやらこれは
釈尊以来，２５００年間で初めての解釈，ひょっとしてこれはえらい大役で，これが母親の言っていた使命なるものではなかろうか？ もしそうであるなら，そりゃ不動明王の加護，背後霊の加護が付くと言うのも納得が行く。－－－逆に見れば，これが必要であったからこそ，全てがここに集束すべく物事が生起して来た，生起すべく配置されていたという事だろう。
遇然のように見えているが実は全て起るべく定まっていた訳です。（これを運命と呼ぶ）
［］唯一困るのは，小生のブログでは元々の仏教に怪し気なナンジャモンジャは（あれはヒンズーや土俗タントラの混交）存在しないし
釈尊もそれに対する質問は無視して黙っていたとされている（無記）－－－それではこの不動明王と言うのは何者で，そもそも小生の運命を規定するダルマに意志や意図が有るのかと言う難問が出てしまう。
ダルマは単に縁起が網のように連鎖した［空］で意図を持たない無私である筈。（まァそれは不可知と逃げるのですが） （しかし，これも逆説で，もし小生のやっている事，書いている事がダルマや
釈尊の意図に反しているならそれこそ大逆罪で，とっくの昔にコロッと死んでいた筈だし，嫌がらせやハッカー攻撃を受けてブログもつぶれていた筈。）ーーー結果として何故か小生が禅仏教の基になった脳生理について語る事になった。 小生自身は悟りを得ようとも教祖になる気もさらさら無く単に迷信に侵された仏教者，研究者に［これが本来の教えというもの］を証したいだけで，２５００年の間に一人ぐらいは，これをやる奴が居ても良かろうと言う事です。
［］ これを整理，組識化し，宗教化するも哲学化するもそれは誰かの仕事で，それも因果の生起として起るものなら起り，仏教も元々の形に戻るでしょう。あるいは，鼻クソとして消えるものなら消えて行く。 それがダルマの意志,と言うものでありそれが己れに付いたカルマです。
合掌 良禅拝
［］
Zen Sound of Fuke Shakuhach
There was a funny chain of connections. It was started a word “Kuwa-no-mi”
(桑の実 / Mulberry) in a post by a prolific blogger Tokyobling, in which he talked about it
with the photo of tree in Tokyo. —– I’ve put a comment “80% of Japanese may not
know what the Mulberry tree is, still 99% of them knows the Word
“Kuwa-no-mi” because of a song “Aka-tombo” ( 赤とんぼ/ Red-Dragonfly) which
was dubbed as the Second National Anthem of Japan.
[]
May be with my emotional attachment to this song which strikes Japanese psyche and
my associated memory, (—– Aka-tombo only appears on the end of summer which
meant us the end chapter of all the sweet and bitter memory in that summer
(and our youth) —– (you must remember, when you were young and small, how one
summer was long and eventful which was engraved deep into your subconsciousness =
You know, we only had 10 or so summers in the whole life to grow into an adulthood !)
And I’m very conscious about this Mulberry tree and the distinct taste of its berry.
So that, since when I accidentally found this tree in a town called Hitchin, I made my
annual ritual to visit there every year and eat the berry, until I found the another tree
in south London. (I talked about this tree in one of my post.)
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As an answer to my comment, Tokyobling sent me a link for a song-video of
“Aka-tombo” in Youtube.
—–> while listening a song, I found another Japanese old folk-song as well, which was
accompanied by a traditional Japanese bamboo wind-instrument called Shakuhach (尺八).
—–> as usual in Youtube, many related or similar kind are listed next by next.
—–> and I stumbled this viz, which plays “Fuke Shakuhachi” (普化尺八)
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Fuke-shu (普化宗) is in fact, one of the Zen sect unique to Japan, and
there is a temple called “Fuke-dera” (普化寺) in south of Kyoto.
(I hope it still exist though, many years ago, it was said only 9 monks left
but in this viz the monk was from Mukai-ji temple, there might be more monks in
another temple —– incidentally, why he is hiding his face is a symbol of No-Self )
(Composer Toru Takemitsu’s “November Steps” is the most famous adaptation of
this sound to Contemporary music. It’s worthwhile to listen ! )
—– This sect is using the sound of Shakuhach to teach what the
Dharma, and the Enlightenment is.
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But in practice, just to make a sound out of this instrument is hard enough because,
there is not much structure to make sound = one end of bamboo was just cut in angle
and having small notch to blow (that all 🙂 )= it is the matter of the way to blow in
certain angle. —– ( for me it wasn’t too difficult as I had an experience to blow sound
out of Peruvian Quena Flute which got somewhat similar structure) Still to play
good sound, let alone to master Kaza-iki etc. must takes 10,20 years of practice.
And THE result is —– just as it is = the sound you can hear but just the sounds,
nothing more than the sound neither Bamboo changed to the Gold. 😀
= still, if it is good, it’s good and in deed, it shows (or sounds) the Dharma,
—– or you may hear it, as a sound of the nature or its reflections.
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This is in deed, touches the hardest part of the Zen teachings and the deepest
human psyche which could interact or communicate with the Dharma.
(I wouldn’t imply, Dharma would talk to you though —– we might only feel, passively. 🙂 )
For this, please read those posts; [Harmony in Dharma] / [Aaaaaa~~~~~]
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Still some of you might say, So what ? —–
Nice tone which sound no apparent pattern or rhythm, hence it refuses
our mediocre comprehension, and its high tone makes our perception
sunk deep into the spiritual state (or totally open minded blank state).
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I met quite few professional Shakuhach players as most of Japanese traditional music
regularly needs to have them. Of cause, a player, able to play and able to make
beautiful sound doesn’t needed to be an enlightened Zen Buddhist, let alone Fuke monk.
And not necessary beautiful sound makes the people to get enlightenment.
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Yet still, to a person who actively seek an enlightenment, start from making
Shakuhach out of raw bamboo by himself, and try to achieve the best sound,
is the typical (endless, repeated) Zen practice.
—–> on the end, no wonder, the one could achieve and reaches to the state
of Ichijo = player, bamboo pipe, the air, the sound, all become one = as what
the Dharma is. Still, this is nothing but the state of blankness, Mushin
= the mind was sublimated into infinite Void.
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—– Because it is blank or Void, there isn’t much of use, hence it is a Dog shit.
And only there is a blank, what left in your life is, Just carry on, be who you are.
(expecting anything else is nothing but one’s Greed and Pretentious Ego and it is nothing but
a Delusion. Since, Void will not hold anything in it —– though, Mahayana
understanding is, because of it is Void, everything is in, since it would make no difference
at all = So, your life is your only life.)
Never mind, as long as the sound is good, it’s good.
___/\___
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Test of Selflessness
While looking for a hint to see what was the mind-set of
Lord Buddha, here and there such as in
the Agama Sutra, I stumbled that
Lord Buddha had intentionally not revealing
his intention preventing the followers become
“head big brah brah person”.
[]
An episode in the Argama, which was — In a rainy night
Lord Buddha told a disciple, Ananda that he is going for
a walk. (without telling where or what for.)
To follow him, Ananda came out carrying umbrella and
torch-fire. Everybody in the sangha followed as well,
each carrying umbrella and a torch, as they have been
accustomed to follow their teacher. —– After a while
walking up a hill, and saw all of his followers were there,
Lord Buddha smiled. Then Ananda asked him,
“Great Teacher never smiled without a reason. So,why
this time ?” but he received no answer why.
[]
Lord Buddha has, in fact, tested
the followers reaction and their progress.
Even under a condition, not nice for a walk, still all
the followers actually followed him. Which was an
indication of that, everybody had sublimated his
teachings and able to do it in practice.
—– What was the crux of teaching ?
= Without asking why or what for, despite in a rainy
night, just follow unconditionally, was a proof of that
everybody has reached to the Selfless state of the mind,
hence able to respond the situation as it’s happened.
(As he saw the sign, that the teachings has
worked perfect, so, smiled.)
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Lord Buddha had such a good insight of human mind.
That was why he never explained the intention why,
or the logic behind of it. —– Once he explained and gave
a verbal key, the followers remember it as a buzz-word
and become head-big, then the thinking start to
control their behaviour which is nothing but a
sham or superficial pretence.
Buddhism is not a religion of Dogma of which followers
have to read and remember and recite the words, but the
Buddhism changes one’s psyche down to the subconscious
level through the practice. (= not behave what was told by
the Dogma or Rules, but naturally do it unconsciously)
If followers knew that it is a test to check whether the one
can respond at once without questioning and to follow
in the state of Selflessness. —– it can be mimicked and
easily pretended while competing with others.
(Look at me, I can do this. I’m better than you —–
this arrogance is the most remote from the Buddhist’s mind.)
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This episode clearly showed the essence of the Buddhism,
hence it become clear, how unfortunate the followers
of especially Zen Buddhism today. = Knowing that
the Zen is to get Mushin etc. brah brah, it is
completely opposite to get Mushin, let alone Zen.
If the one has a conscious of “I’m in Mushin”, it is not
Mushin at all. It is the same to tell “I’m doing the sitting
in silence” (—– If so, shut up. Just sit ! :-D)
[]
To master the Zen, you may need to be thrown into a
situation, where you were forced to do something utterly
boring repeating work (as a volunteer ?)
—– after you became able to do the work almost like an
automatic machine (while knowing, it’s useless to complain)
—– then need to realize “Aha, this the Selfless state
of Mushin” ! = So, it is even better if it looks most unlikely
set-up to do Zen, which would prevent to hold any pretence.
(In my case, it has happened while I was working in a
mountain shelter, cutting log, and in Disco dancing. 😀
= I was lucky, similar to Huineng who was placed to work
in the kitchen of the Monastery.)
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—– In fact, sitting in a temple to learn Zen is the worst
setting to learn, since such conscious of
“I‘m doing Zen” prevent the person to get rid of
such notion and the thinking.
It’s exactly the same irony = try to get cured in a hospital
where all sorts of infectious germs, viruses has been
brought in and more concentrated than anywhere else. 😀
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—– And in the same context, what I’m writing here
could be quite harmful to a novice, as I’m revealing the
trade secret, while analysing mechanism of
the psyche in the Zen, utterly contrary to
Lord Buddha’s silent smile, aforesaid —– still, this
may be help the people who is studying psychology.
= So, it may need to put a health warning.
“Experienced Adult only” 😀 )
But this is what this Blog is, using my own mind as
a guinea-pig to figure-out what the Zen is. !
(Try to see Zen, objectively is not in Ichijo in Zen,
therefore the most remote from own Enlightenment.)
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(And that was why master Kogetsu damned me, that I
can get no Enlightenment ! — but, What’s wrong ? 😀
Get an enlightenment may help mere one person,
but to those millions of the people, who has been
mislead by a mixed-up-Buddhism, to open their eyes
could be a crucial matter.
and that must be the will of
Lord Buddha and the Dharma.)
___/\___
[]
PS : Friend asked me at once “So, is it useless and
hopeless to attempt to learn ZEN at all now ?”
“Not at all. Don’t try ZEN but just clean your
room or kitchen. 🙂
Make it perfectly clean and do it everyday”
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Reverse Engineering of ZEN
As I often wrote before, my approach to Zen Buddhism is a
way of reverse-engineering = disassembling a product to
analyse the structure and components etc. to find the reason
why it was designed in such a way, for what purpose and for
what advantage.
Then able to see even a philosophy behind of it.
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In a case of Zen, to see what sort of practice in such as
Tea-making or Martial-art etc. which were well known to be
a part of Zen culture, and see what is the common factor and
common philosophy, how they are related to Zen teachings.
—– from those observation, it was
easy to see that the key-word was the [Mushin], and
to attain, it was achieved by the years of repeated practice.
—– But, what repeated practice to do with [Mushin] ?
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For me, it took many years of search until I connected it to
the neurological phenomenon, which is the threshold of the
perception rose against the same repeated signal, and
become immune to it.
It was almost an Eureka moment to me. —– With this,
how the emotional tension decay after while, or how we get
used and overcome a fear, even become apathetic, all became
clear and able to make straight connection to the Zen.
Then, I realized that this is the reason why all the Buddhism
sects are using the endless repeating practice as a part of their
teachings. (whether chanting the same or banging the drum,
walking round and round etc etc —–
Lord Buddha said to have used the way of breathing as a practice)
—– All for getting the state of [Mushin]. —– And I realized
that the continuous action such as cutting the log in a mountain
shelter, or even Disco-dancing which automatically reflect to each
element of music I did, had in deed having had the same effects.
[]
Mushin is not only to abandon the thinking process
but more importantly, it disconnects perception
(coming signal) to the emotion. = This is exactly what
Buddhism says [Detachment] which is behind the
[8 Right path]. (I wouldn’t presume that, it included a
Disco-dancing though. 😀 )
And as a neurological fact, detached emotion cause a
detachment even from a conscious of Self and the own belongings.
= Detachment from primordial Instincts, Ego and
Greed, is exactly the State of [Selflessness] and not
attached to any fixed tendency is the [Middle-way] =
Hence, all the peculiar phenomena in the Buddhism became clear.
(In fact, all those [Mushin], [Selflessness], [Middle-way] even
[Mindfulness] are all created by the [Detachment] of the nerve
signal from the Emotion = actually they are the same one
phenomenon, but named it seeing from different angles.)
[]
As all those phenomena was the core of
the Buddhism teachings, it’s mean,
Lord Buddha did know all those mechanism in our mind
though, to trace back all those to his teachings in the scripture
is not straight forward, such as metaphor and his real wording
may not been correctly recorded and translated.
—– A description in the Vimalakirti Sutra “If you have a mind
that you are giving, it is not true giving” or in a typical
Mahayana expression “Giving as not-giving is the giving” are
in fact all meant “Giving in Mushin or in Selflessness”
(without conscious of action).
—– All the religion require the active mind-set, “Complete
attachment to the Belief which was written” but only the
Buddhism teaches [Detachment] = this is the very
distinctive point though, to describe something
which is not there = [Empty mind] is very difficult.
[]
The trouble of the Buddhism is, virtually no reliable written
record exists. It’s a pile of hearsay after 10th, 100th of Chinese
whisper. 🙂 And seemingly, the person, good in writing may
not be the person who actually reached Mushin or Selflessness
— otherwise such as Abidharma-kosa was never been written.
And on top of this, even though the matter is all in the depth
of murky subconsciousness, there was no understanding of
psychology neither a notion or word to describe was existed then.
[]
In such an environment, to pretend to be a Master and boast,
creating yet another Mantras was very easy, but to disprove
it was difficult. = all came down to the political power game of
the sects. Winner takes all and justify their righteousness,
regardless of its authenticity —– hence, created utter
mixed-up-Buddhism (in fact, it was a Tantra mixed Hinduism
with some idea from the Buddhism)
for a sake of populism and a commercial success. =
(It’s easier to sell, “This God would save you” than “Need to
know, Suffering is not exists” —– after a death nobody ever
came back to complain “God wasn’t there”= So, its sale’s point
has never been disproved and able to keep assume that the
dead are in Heaven. 😀 )
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Obviously, it is necessary to re-examine and to see what was
the original teachings, even though it might be yet another
guess work. —– Still, my approach, which is based on the
neurological mechanism, can explain all the Buddhism
phenomena. —– If not what else could explain it ?
(Leaving the matter to mythical unknown power and
its blessing ? —– Joking ! We are in the 21st century ! )
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This neurological, psychological response is common to
all human being (hence it was described that everybody
born with it) it is applicable to anybody and many area of
human activities. (In fact it has been used a lot.)
And it will prove that the Buddhism has a tangible substance.
(unlike any other religion, which is based on a fantasy which
is only exists if it was believed) —– As the Buddhism is based
on the tangible substance, not on the imagination or belief,
it was often classified as a philosophy not a religion.
___/\___
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Flow-Chart of Buddhism Teachings
Flow-Chart or the Steps in the Pathway
1) Do anything which has a fixed pattern.
2) By doing it repeatedly, 100s, 1000s even million times =
3) Because the nerve signal dealing with its action has
the same pattern, our Perception and Emotion’s threshold
level rose, hence the significance of the signal will be
lost and disregarded.
4) As the action has been repeated, its pattern will be
programmed into Motor-region of the brain and the action
become automatic routine.
5) As the effects of 3) and 4), the action can be carried-out
without thinking, even out of one’s conscious.
6) In the same time of 5), the one doing the action without
one’s conscious mean, it is in the Selfless state of the mind.
7) Once the one is in its Selfless state, the things become
distant objects as if it is somebody-else’s matter, =
Detachment = the one’s Ego or Greed wouldn’t be triggered.
8) To apply the same state of mind to other aspects of the
life, the one can see everything in distance = objectively
= Clear eyes. (Gradually, the one acquire this, and once
mastered, it become free to control, if detached or not,
or which one to concentrate or ignore.)
9) And the one can see even the Self detached, objectively,
as if it is one of public, the social action start to follow
common-sense, not self-centred. (Centring self isn’t there)
10) And able to act or help others without Ego and do the
things as much as possible. (Strangely, we instinctively do
it better ! Even if it is not in competition with others and
even to useless things, it’s mean, it’s not for Ego or Greed.
—– Fundamental Pleasure ? 🙂 )
11) From those aspects, it is rational to conclude, Ego itself
is not one’s imperative, so is the Self. = Self is not naturally
exists but a product of one’s imagination or thinking.
12) Without having the Self, Ego and Greed which tend to
creates trouble and discontent = could any suffering be left ?
[]
It must be clear from this chart, all the process is pretty
natural as it follows the natural mechanism inherent to
our brain which is common to anybody, so that
Lord Buddha concluded that the Dharma which
rules us is Selfless and as it is common to anybody,
in other words, all of us has it within and Selfless.
— And it become clear, the so-called Rules of “Do this and
Don’t Do that” had been written by the person who hadn’t
actually done the practice to reach Selfless state by himself
hence, didn’t have a knowledge how the human mind
naturally works. (Real selfless person need no instruction,
nor such instruction would stay in the mind. 😀 )
[]
It must be clear. —– Is there any argument ?
___/\___
[]
PS : Though, in addition to this Chart, applying the context
of “denial” not only to the Self and suffering life, but to the
“Idea of Denial” itself, therefore, instead of being enlightened,
“being suffering” seems to be more natural = and this idea
became the stance of Mahayana Buddhism. —– Hence, Zen
says “To see NO enlightenment is the Enlightenment”
= (Anyway, no Self, what’s the matter ! )
[]
Three times BUDDHA
There is an interesting story in the Agama Sutra
(of Buddhism ! = there are many.) —– one day,
Lord Buddha met a horse trainer (other versin said Village Chief).
Then asked to the horse-trainer “How to teach a horse ?”
Horse-trainer replied that there are three ways to teach horse.
Gentle way, Hard way and Gentle / Hard mixed.
Lord Buddha asked him further “If all three ways failed,
what do you do with that horse ?”
The trainer answered “Kill the horse” and he asked back
“How you teach your follower ?”.
Lord Buddha answered him, “There are three ways to teach,
Gentle way, Hard way and Gentle / Hard mixed, but if all
those teachings failed, kill him”.
Hose-trainer was horrified and shouted “You been telling us Don’t kill,
how dear you kill the follower ?”
Lord Buddha smiled back “Well, I just stop talk to him.
Completely stop talk, is the same to deny his existence,
same as to kill him, isn’t it ?”
[]
This episode sound like just a casual funny story though,
this was the episode which gave the most important clue to the
so-called “Unanswered Questions” You must be realized that
Lord Buddha’s No-answer was not just a rack of word but it
was the massage as strong as to kill the person !
[]
There is an often used phrase in Japanese “Even Buddha tolerates till
three times” (Hotoke no kao mo sando made. 仏の顏も三度まで)
—– I didn’t know, this phrase was in deed, originated from the Scripture.
—– And this story showed rather realistic attitude of
Lord Buddha, contrary to the popular belief, he was not a
bottomlessly gentle and kind teacher. As once a hard-core
austere, he was not an optimistic person, as he defined what
the life is, such as in the Four Noble Truth.
From here, in a process to idealize and idolize him, even worse,
to fabricate many so-called Buddha in Mahayana Buddhism,
( in fact, it was the mix-up with Tantrism and Hinduism )
crux of the original teachings was lost.
[]
What Lord Buddha himself taught was, to have the Detached Eyes.
Detached Eyes mean, detached from the Mind / Emotion, hence there
was neither attachment to the subject or person. In other words,
there was no attachment even to his followers. Hence, as long as
Lord Buddha committed to give guidance to the person, he was in deed
committed it to 100% (and try to teach in three different ways) though
if it was failed, he literally ex-communicated the person.
Once excommunicated, the person became invisible.
Even visually saw the person, it wouldn’t connected to any
emotional memories, hence there were no anger or feeling of
disappointment etc. —– Because of there are nothing to cling
past Mind / Emotion, only the matter is what on front of eyes,
on its very Moment. (This IS the very Zen mind-set)
(After you practised long enough, and gained this condition / Mind-set
then you know what Detached Eyes and Detached Mind can help you.)
(And how to practice to gain Detachment, please read the post under a
category of [Lemon Zen] in the right column.
[]
You may feel, it’s sound very cruel and not-Buddhist like,
it’s because So-called monk or teacher is not really understood, or only
making diplomatic smile and pretending to be friendly, in order to
sell to the mass.
Because of this confusion, one of the greatest novelist, Soseki Natsume
described it in his book, [Mon (門) / Gate], when a priest of Zen temple
has told to him, “Mind of Zen is Hijo (非情) / No Emotion” he felt even
alienated. —– (To describe Mushin (無心) / Mind of No-Mind, this
priest used more realistic word Hijo in stead, because he knew the
Zen Buddhism deeper, and didn’t mind to sell it to the mass.)
[]
Load Buddha didn’t give his teachings to give false optimism,
or fancy dream but the Truth.
In this aspect, he was quite harsh. Telling the followers to get rid of
their possessions even their family (little consideration to an agony of
the family left behind, not mention to his own Royal lineage).
(This was the reason why
Lord Buddha bared the women to join his follower’s sanga.
Since, to a woman, to abandon the child is out of question in the
first place = woman may have conflict to follow his teachings.)
[]
—– Still, with detached eyes and the mind, there wouldn’t be
any matter left to worry about, because the psychological
source of worry = emotion itself had been already detached.
The mechanism to feel any suffering has no longer exists.
= Peace of mind ! 😀
—– though, I’m not an enlightened man, hence mixed with
failed person and teasing them or teased by them are fun.
This is what the Life is. Ha ha ha 😀
___/\___
[]
Huineng vs Shenxui — Poetry Contest
Provably the most well known Zen story was a contest to became
6th Patriarch of the Zen.
For the contest, the most respected top monk in the monastery,
Shenxui wrote a poem as the answer to the 5th Patriarch, Hongren
who request to show the Zen mind,
“Mind is like a mirror, I polish the mirror diligently for
no dust to settle on it”
When an illiterate low-rank monk Huineng who has been working
in the kitchen of the temple heard this, he asked friend monk to
write his poem contesting Shenxui’s,
“Since Mirror is not exists in the first place,
where dust could settle”
Hongren saw Huineng has much deeper understanding of Zen,
he chose Huineng for his successor.
[]
This story showed what all about the Zen and its pathway
in amazing clarity.
Shenxui was a well educated, well learned monk, hence he must
have read hundreds of scriptures and understood the attitude to be
a good Buddhist. (in this extent, his answer / poem was quite
appropriate and correct though, it was more like a posture of
Theravada monk, still on the way to the enlightenment, in other
words, he hadn’t broken the barrier, or gone to the other side yet. )
In contrast, Huineng had showed exactly what the notion
of Void in Zen Buddhism.
— How Huineng could get this, while working in the kitchen.
[]
As a son of peasant, Huineng had no education and illiterate hence,
he had no chance to read and study Buddhism other than just pick
up the words, what other monks were talking about.
Anyway, he had to work every day as a casual labourer in the temple,
still, those every day’s continuous repeating work gave him to gain
the essential mind-set to be a Zen Buddhist = Unconditionally
accepting (humble) to be a lowest working monk, hence there
couldn’t be any possibility left to have desire or even an Ego.
And as day by day, the same work continues, the mind
became empty = just the hand repeating the work.
Yet still, by keeping eyes clear, he could see the crux of human
existence = how the Life exists = what the World and the Dharma is.
And he was able to make the straight connection of his state of mind
and the observation, to each notion. In effect, he had mastered the
Zen in DIY. Zen doesn’t need to be literate but to have clear eyes to
see inside and outside, with the direction of few key-word.
(This straight connection is behind of
“Sudden Enlightenment” and the “Direct Transmission” )
[]
And this observation lead me to see an amazing parallel in
the history of Buddhism.
Founder of Zen, Master Bodhi Dharma had to establish the way
of Zen in DIY, as there was no text book exist then, even worse in
foreign country. And the situation was more or less the same, when
Lord Buddha started his own teachings = NO Buddhism
textbook at all, of cause, let alone whether even Vada was
available to the public in written form. 😀
Shen[]
But this is what the Buddhism is.
Since, it is the matter of one’s mind-set and the programming of
one’s subconscious = the one has to do it by oneself.
It is literally Do It Yourself / DIY = A book might give a hint, still
the one has to DO the work (practice with good insight) =
Book wouldn’t do the work on behalf. 😀
(Put Buddhist book in a memory of “Automatic Voice Generator”
and make voice out-put of script, wouldn’t make
the Machine enlightened — very fancy though. 😀 )
[]
—– Whether the stories (given in the Platform Sutra) has true
historical fact or not, to make the story in this way itself, was the
reflection of their understanding then = and expressing
supremacy over other sect of “Just reading scripture and sitting”
Illiterate Huineng was THE very typical sample in Zen.
___/\___
[]
PS : Still, there are many questions left. Zen understanding could
be gained without words, since it is not knowledge based intellectual
understanding but to customising the perception and behavioural
pattern in the subconscious level though, whether to compose
a stanza without having enough knowledge of lexical pattern is
possible or not ? And the script telling the story, “Platform Sutra”
was written long after with a lots of diviating history.
—– Yet the fact is, the mummified body of Huineng has been kept
in the monastery till today and still sitting there !
(you can see the photo by Googling it) —– If he was not such a
great Master in real life, no such things could ever have happened.
[]
Machine in MUSHIN — Where KAIZEN came from ?
The people who read the previous Post [Zen is DO —- ] feed me back
“It explained the Zen mechanism extremely clear, — then the question is,
you wrote Zen also liberate the mind and the creativity — How a
Machine like mind can have a creative idea in the same time ?”
—– I knew this question would come soon or later. 🙂
[]
A Japanese working practice called [Kaizen] (改善) is now even in the English dictionary
(but not in this spell-check yet. :-)) = It was translated “continuous improvement”which is
widely practiced in the Japanese work-front.
Japanese worker’s almost machine like accuracy, consistency and the
dedication toward their work is notorious to the west. = Their work ethics
is nothing but the traditional Zen which forms the basis of the Japanese
psyche. = Hence, they work like a machine = in Mushin.
[]
But, to have [Kaizen] is yet another feature on their work-front. [Kaizen] is, to have
better adjustment of the way of production to a modification of the machine, even a
production line’s configuration —– in fact anything, for the sake of better quality,
productivity, or for the safety of the working environment, which was conceived or found
by the workers who has been doing particular job. (Hence knows it best.)
If its adjustment is not too big, it could be done by themselves. Otherwise the modification
may be carried out by the expert engineer, who follows the proposal. (of cause, proposal
should be studied by the senior engineers first, or even management level discussion.
I’ve seen this process in the Honda factory in Suzuka by myself.)
—– So, machine-like worker is still capable to analyse the situation and
able to find the better adjustment or alternative approach.
This is a proof of “Machine-like Mushin” and “Open-minded free thinking”
can exists side by side, in the same time.
[]
As a matter of fact, to create the Samurai Sword, and to push its quality to
a level of the technical limit has been achieved by the endless efforts to work
better, hence make the Sword stronger. —– It’s mean a man-machine with
a hammer, work in Mushin still has the eyes and an active brain to analyse
and find the better approach.
[]
Being in Mushin, hence having no useless thought or a thought anything else
of the work-on-front, mean the mind is completely filled with the subject
—– say, the Sword-Making. = Zen described this
“the Sword Master is in Ichijo (Oneness) with Iron and a Fire”
—– (a western (a bit wrong) translation in “Mindfulness”)
Still, the hands are working exactly like a machine, perfect accuracy and the consistency
thanks to the perfectly programmed Motor-region of the brain.
Superficially, we calls it Mushin because of no conscious thinking is there,
instead we do it without conscious, so, the brain is not blanc or idle, far
from it, unconsciously the brain is working with full conviction.
[]
While walking on a street, we never consciously think how to move each foot.
Because the whole movements and to keep the balance of whole body has been perfectly
controlled by the Motor-region of the brain, like the most advanced self contained machine.
While leaving its walking business to the autonomous machine, we can have a freedom for
watching nice bottom etc or pay attention to traffic, even find a philosophical answer.
Likewise, while Sword-Maser hitting the iron, even if the hands moves
automatic, his eyes can see the minute details of the work-piece. = any
short-coming should be noticed. As, all the process were handled
subconsciously, this minute detail were observed in the at-most silence of the
perception. Any noise, useless brain activities would mask this minute sign.
= The matter is, to open this subconscious perception by eliminates the noise.
Lord Buddha called this Clear eyes.
[]
If you take the meaning of Mushin as just [empty the THINKING] you miss
the part, concentration of your subconsciousness = Mindfulness.
(In fact, Mushin and Mindfulness are not separate notion or psychological phenomenon =
those are just different words.) Because of subconsciousness is invisible, it is impossible to
objectively manipulate, or discuss in words, let alone to teach others.
(remember, how to learn to ride a Bicycle. 🙂 )
This is the reason why Buddhism, Zen teaches the people by the repeating practice. Unless
you learn and become able to follow this subconscious mechanism, you can’t learn Zen.
And that is why, talking or reading about Zen is utterly useless.
Only the way to experience and to learn is by Doing.
[]
Crucial point in Doing is, unlike imagining or having fantasy, to find a way of
improvement, it got to be rational and technically feasible = even an intuitive
idea, it never be mambo-jumbo, but quite scientific. No body imagining that to
sprinkle a holy water from a church could solve a malfunction of the machine.
Even in the darkness of subconscious, our mind is very rational and sane.
(Well, in most of the case, among most of the people. 😀 )
[]
So, let this subconscious to see, listen and perceive = as this perception is
completely open, therefore, able to see almost invisible, inaudible = we
can see the better solution. Or conceive the idea, which has been blocked
by the idiosyncratic thinking. This is the liberation of the Mind, in Zen.
= And this is the mechanism behind the creativity or [Kaizen].
___/\___
[]
Zen is DO — NOT sitting Idol
Life was not made by what the one (wishfully) think (most of the thinkings
are to find a justification, excuse) but by the deed, what the one did and
do on the moment.
It is the matter of how to deal with the situation. The situation shows what to DO.
We only need actually DO. When the situation forced us to respond, in most of the case
it is not our choice but the MUST = hence we have to DO unconditionally = and very
little chance to indulge with own EGO = in other words, be in SELFLESS.
We become almost a machine to carry-out the task. —– This is in fact,
what the Zen is. Zen is not a fancy mind-game.
It is the systematized clarification and the direction of what and how
we have to DO, and to live.
So that, to follow the way how to make a tea could be a Zen. How to fight with a sword
could be a Zen too. —– Found a Cherry blossom, and to try a “Why not” kind of
approach to shoot, and struggle to DO it, is also a Zen. Ha ha ha 😀
[]
— Who said, Zen is to sitting and meditate = meditate in Mushin ? Joking.
All the Indian religion takes Meditation as a traditional practice though, do nothing and
sitting is not a Zen. (Such as Yoga Meditation is said to be aiming to have a harmony
with the soul of the universe = to fuse one’s Atman to Brahman. Though
Lord Buddha himself denied very existence of such Atman.)
So, the idea of Zen Meditation must be invented by very lazy monk to excuse his work.
—– “Don’t be lazy, do something” “Yes, I’m busy sitting” ! 😀
[]
—– Do something in Mushin will increase the efficiency of the work,
therefore able to achieve more productive life.
In contrast, Do nothing and in Mushin mean Body is idol, the Brain is empty,
it’s just a rug-doll isn’t it ? Still the Mind is wishfully believing, such practice
could make the person “noble” and reaching to higher consciousness (Really?)
Isn’t it strange ? If it was Buddhism, the Mind supposed to be empty, yet still
having such wishful thinking is a self contradiction.
It is nothing but a delusion. 😀 😀 )
[]
Zen is to grasp the situation and clearly see what the task on front.
And carry-out its task without any quibble or hindrance
as if nothing else is on the table.
With a clear awareness, that no-one-else would do on my behalf, and no-one
but myself can do, kind of confidence and the determination.
And DO it as if it is the only and the last chance to DO in the whole life —–
to a task, even if it is yet another daily chore.
—– Sound very heavy isn’t it ? Though, there is a knack, to make it so easy,
just DO it in Mushin.
[]
= When you face its task straight, there is nothing else you can conceive,
because there is no thinking of alternative, or escape, hope of help from
others, even a notion of next-time, because of Mushin.
Since, the task was carried-out almost machine like accuracy and the efficiency, it will be
cleared without having even a time to have a complaint, therefore, what you feel is
only a sense of achievement and a satisfaction. =
Having a sense of fulfilment and relaxed peace.
This is the Zen. Having the life all through with this sense of fulfillment
and the satisfaction, on the very end, what can you complain ? =
There only be a peaceful Nirvana.
—– This is the Buddhism of what
Lord Buddha taught.
___/\___
[]
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