Unconscious ~ Subconscious ?

“There must be an unlimited possibility beyond the boundary of human consciousness”.

But there is a strange myth ” We human is only using 20% (?) of our brain,  hence to develop its hidden

potential is limitless,  blah blah ” —— according to the Guru. —- What a beautiful dream.

( With the observation by the PET Scanner, no such hidden or inactive region of brain exists)

Since it is a myth, nobody know who said it or where its original research has come from.

And such myth has been used by ignorant youth to justify the experiment to the drugs and even many

grown ups is using it as an excuse to smoke cannabis,  saying ” This is to touch my Spirituality ”

I know a lots of 19 century poets, novelists and artists were the addict of opium when it was not a banned

substance and quite a lot of their works were said to be contributed by its influence etc etc. — THOUGH,

—– Really ?  The question is even though their poems, stories were written when they were under

the influence of the drugs, their works and the imaginations couldn’t be existed without it ?

And the drugs DID OPEN any unknown horizon ?

Did, LSD actually created anything new, unknown to human culture, other than colorful

so-called psychedelic paintings or rather dull monotonous, endless music ?

——

The surrealism poet / artists, Andre Burton, Poul Eluard tried the mescaline, alkaloid  from cactus

to have a hallucinated state of the mind and produced  poetries or so-called  Automatism scripts.

I spent quite a money to buy this expensive book and looked their creation or the description of

unknown ! (?)  when I was a poor student of the Uni’.   Though, there was nothing in it.

Just the meaningless, endless continuation of the words and words —– yet more words.

( Still, it was better than  Dadaism poetry  ( Ha ha ha  😀  ) as they are at least the words ).

—-

We, some times, speak or utter a word without conscious.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the word came out of the mouth disappear at once.

What ?  What did you say ? —– What ? Did I say anything ?   I don’t know,  I don’t remember.

( It could have been a Truth ! )

Though, it is almost impossible to write unconsciously.  Yet, in the written words, our subconscious

may show up without our intention, so the skillful writer could write hidden meaning using utterly different

description —– lots of poetry, especially  Symbolism Poetry is using this technique. ( Since, it is stronger )

Our vague inspiration would take a form of concept and then converted into the word or words, using

the notion or meaning of the word to carry and to express what was the original feelings or inspiration.

Therefore, it is often the process of the compromise.  Just borrow the meaning of the word which is likely

fit to the original inspiration, but not necessary exact.  (—– Some time, a  rigid meaning of the particular

word itself may give the inspiration as a trigger )

Unlike the spoken words, the writing leaves visible evidence, which can be objectively read

again and again.  As the written letters has to be visually read and its pattern has to be configured

as the word, then converted to the notion or meaning,  it is impossible to avoid the thinking process.

So, no unconscious writing could exist, hence  Automatism couldn’t produce anything significant to

the human creativity at all. —– ( finger itself may move unconsciously though, it would be hard to create

legible letter without having visual feedback of the graphic positioning ).

_____

So,  there is a funny misconception,  lots of people thinking as if there is a secret garden in our brain where

the treasure was hidden. And suddenly its door would be opened by the drug or meditation,  and make

us a genius or superman. 😀 —– Though as I wrote in many of my early posts, there is no such magic, but

we are living with unconscious / subconsciousness as a part of our life in every moment.

We are thinking unconsciously, —— and  when we converted  its result to visible or noticeable form as in

the last process in the brain, we start to feel ” Thinking “.

Our eyes are seeing the scenery mostly  without noticing anything —– until something trigger the attention.

Then, conscious process of  WATCHING starts.  Still, during this unconscious seeing, some of the images go

to unconscious memory and  its data process is taking place. ( Some of them may come back in a dream )

So, all about the matters of unconscious / subconsciousness are how to deal with those invisible animals. 😀

How to know or see its tendency,  and to know how to control them.

—— and this is what all about the Buddhism.

—–

When I was in my junior school,  we were taught to keep the school tidy and clean.

So too, pick up the trash on the floor.  Teachers told us ” Picking it up, while you are thinking ” This is a trash,

I have to pick up” is not good enough yet.  Pick it up without thinking is what you have to do “.

In fact, effectively  we were taught Zen practice in the junior school. ( Whether a teacher was

aware, this is the Zen Practice or not —– such Ethos has been  so deeply embedded in the Japanese culture,

people are no longer bother to distinguish its origin )

Picking up a trash without thinking ( ie; in Mushin )and put it into a bin,  how many second does it need ?

And living in a clean environment all day without bothered by dirt ( ie; in Peace of Mind ). Who needs more ?

So,  we were taught and learned the way to live in the clean environment.

And this Ethos and the Practice has been  embedded into our deep subconsciousness as a habit.

—— therefore one’s room would be clean,  not mention his (her) own life.  ( Well, ideally  😀  )

You may say ” What ?  Is this All about the Buddhism ?”—–Yes it is. It’s a Dog shit isn’t it.  😀

Yet this Dog Shit would clean up your life and give you a Peace of Mind and the Nirvana.  That’s

why ” Every body was born with Dharma and anybody can get Nirvana “

( Of cause, Buddhism and the Zen practice will not end with picking up a trash.

It is a start and it is a metaphor  😀 )

And how to utilize those mechanism of subconsciousness to more proactive situations, such as

in the creative front is what I wrote before —– ( Please refer to Category / Art )

___/\___

—-

Cold blow / Wistle blow ?

Its getting pretty cold.  I saw beautifully frosted  decorated leaves.

It said to be the coldest in 17 years, and some says the ill effect of the climate shift caused by  El Nino

or La Nana kind —–. (To know the detail, go to Wikipedia please  🙂  )

On my previous post I wrote  “To know the Truth wouldn’t change our life” ——- then, the conflicting

question arose.

In the Hinayana Buddhist’s view,  an attitude “When its cold, just feel the chill and shiver with

other people who is suffering” —— this is correct.

Or, stand up and shout, telling the people  “What is causing the climate change, and the cause

of appearance of El Nino, in order to save the suffering of the people”——- this is correct too, save

the possibility he might be barking wrong tree.

So, one sect might go out and walking in a chilling wind. ( Don’t catch cold or even worse, pneumonia )

And another sect may go to a demonstration banging their symbolic flat drams on the front line.  (Though,

I haven’t seen them these days —— are they still alive ?    Do you know ? )

It’s better know the fact, better still the Truth. —– the one might be placed there to know and shout as

he (she) might be born for its purpose. —– though it may not be a license to become arrogant or snobbish.

——– And my answer ?

I would stick with Buddha’s teachings “Don’t torture yourself. Don’t go extreme” therefore

sitting next to a heater. (How convenient  🙂 )

——- Environment or external occurrence may give you a jolt to your unprepared mind

as it has been in the blank state.   Its jolt may give you a sudden enlightenment, though,

if it was expected or a prolonged same condition, mind couldn’t be fresh and naked

—— nothing would happen  /  it’s a same cold day)

Better make a hot tea with honey and lemon  😀  ( The truth is in the cup.  Honest, I can taste it.)

___/\___–

——

PS :  It seems the world was so disturbed by the exposure of the confidential US diplomatic correspondences

by Wikileak. —— how silly.

Every body knows, politics, diplomacy, economics, even so-called big charities are dirty business and

having dirty linen and utter hypocrisy,  tons of it,  exactly same to everybody’s private life.  Yet still

we pretend to be clean face and  talking with others with sweet words.

Sneaking behind, and suddenly pull-down somebody else’s trouser and to expose dirty pants,  then

shouting  “Have look this is the truth” —–So, what ?   It wouldn’t help anybody.  History will tell.

It just filling the arrogant dirty satisfaction of  Wikileak’s  founder.  Much worse than a scavenger.

Because, if it was a whistle blow,  what the blower want to resolve or change and to which direction.

There is non. Could he expect the politics can change ? ( In any system or ideology —– because the

environment and the contents / human is the same —– no utopia nor ideal man exists)

It would only push the politics even more murkier business, deleting all the traces at once.  That all.

Since, clean man (and woman) wouldn’t become politician.

Since, ambition to the power and to become famous is the synonym of self-centered arrogance and the

manipulation of the others by deception as an effective means. ——- Hence it can not be clean by nature.

Still, we could have wiser life, accommodating and concealing smelly guts inside.  😀

(You are well aware this hidden truth  😀  )

The Truth of the life was clearly elucidated by Buddha as the Four Noble Truth —— and

its Fourth is the direction How to live DESPITE of Those TRUTH / Reality.

Exposing smelly guts wouldn’t help anything.  The MATTER is how to live with it.

This is the Buddhism.

___/\___

Short POEM ( but not HAIKU )

( may be titled as ) [秋]———————– Aki / Autumn

————————ある————————–aru / one

————————雨の————————-ame no / rainy

————————朝—————————–asa / morning

————————アスファルトに————asphalt ni / on the asphalt ( pavement )

————————アシナガバチの———-Ashinaga-bachi no / a Wasp’s

————————死骸————————–shigai / dead body

————-  Well, this poem was composed in my twenties when I was having evening class of

an   Advertising Copy-writer’s training.  ( Since, I didn’t expect Industrial Sociology BA may not enough

to go into  Advertising or Publishing industry)   I wanted to have a skill to compliment my photography

and  I was writing lots of poems.  ( Preceding to this,  I was a  fanatic of  Jean Arthur Rimbaud )

————– In one glance you may noticed there is no subjective word / Who is watching a dead wasp.

This is a deep and long tradition of the Japanese language —– not clarify the subject word.

This is a part of the Buddhist’s culture combined with Confucians ethos.

Name Me is arrogant.   Self shouldn’t be there.   And name You is disrespect —— it should be only

implied by the proper use of honorific expressions. —— hence, all the HAIKU is missing subject word.

More importantly, without seen by anybody, the pavement and the wasp is still there. We were not the

designer of the world or control it —- How, Self can be there.  Why we need to assert I am watching.

( Hence, lots of old Haiku is based on a  man’s vulnerability,  a powerless observer’s sentiment, Wabi )

Japanese has been using the same language all through the history ( well, classic style is a headache

even for me 😀 ) and having such thousands of years history with Buddhism culture in the bottom,

translate it must be a daunting task, much harder than a Japanese to read Chinese Buddhist’s Mantras.

(So, it is no wonder to find lots of misunderstanding of Japanese Buddhism and wrong translations there)

In comparison, when I read an English translation of  Heart Mantra, translated from

the Sanskrit, I was rather amazed ( and disappointed ) with its clarity as there wasn’t enigmatic

[ Mysticism ] left there.  🙂    There was no mysticism in the Buddha’s teachings.

It was our own creation with over jealous expectation. (save my 8150 story.   It’s not my creation.  😀 )

In the Paradox of Buddhism, mysticism  never appeared where expected.  Because the expectation

is a thought emanated from one’s ego —— which against the Mushin / No-Mind.

—-

Here another poem which I wrote when I left Japan. ( No need to have a title )

( In hind sight, this was the moment I became a Bhikku )

—

美しい手紙を書こうと思った—–Utsukushii  tegami wo kakou to omotta / I wanted to write beautiful letter

私は詩を勉強した——————Watashi wa Shi wo benkyo shita / I studied Poetry

* * *

手紙ー通——————————Tegami, ittsu  / A letter

母へ—————————-———Haha e / to my Mother

—-

ありがとう——————–———Arigatow / Thank you

ごめんなさい———————-Gomen nasai / Forgive me

さようなら————————–Sayou-nara / Farewell

—

( This could be the shortest poem as it using only three most ubiquitous mundane words yet to describe

a man’s whole life.    As after 35 years I still couldn’t find any shorter, fewer word could do the same.

The space inside of  Zero could have whole life history and all the thought —– yet no need to talk

or discuss.  Just shut a mouth and a thought. ——– it is almost like the Zen,  isn’t it )

___/\___

Dharma and Heaven

( This post may read as an addition to the previous post  Dharma = System )

In the east a word Heaven ( Ten in Japanese, Tien in Chinese ) having somewhat similar meaning like

the word Dharma.  Heaven  can be just a sky above but not necessary a Paradise like in the west.

Heaven is where the invisible but ultimate power,  the Ruler reside.  Or the Rules itself.

As the Heaven cover everything on the earth, there is no escape therefore this notion affects every other

notions and the fundamental philosophy and the ethos.

Unlike under western humanised or personified notion of God, in the east there is no margin of negotiation

to the morality, like the situation of crime and punishment.  There is no such things like ” If the God doesn’t

arrow this I’ll go to another God, or our church justify this killing since enemy is pagan”.  Killing is killing.

( I’m not talking the sheer number of execution in China, or having  sever  punishing flood and earthquake)

Without having the insight of this fundation of ethos,  ” Wrong is wrong. There is no escape” it is hard to

understand the hidden psyche of Fatalism in  Taoism or  Zen Buddhism.

As the basis of the Buddhism lie in the word / notion of the  Dharma which is all the Existence /

Nature and the Rules behind or Existence / Nature itself is the Rules, it is naturalto see why

eastern culture is so well harmonized with the nature,

or to see why the Hinayana Buddhism says The man’s life itself is the Enlightenment —— as

the man born with the Dharma within.

___/\___

KILLING

According to the news on a asian radio,  in a corner of India,  there was a serial killing of  the children, and

a couple who is desperate to conceive a baby was suspected for its killings,  as the (religious ?) belief says,

” To conceive a baby,  it needs to kill 11 children “.

? ? ? —— this is 21st century.     If this kind of belief is still held among the people  even now,  it is

no wonder,  why  Buddha needed to utter ” There is no such things of the dead person’s soul.   Once

the person died,  it is the final, hence it is the Nirvana ”    Dead children can’t contribute anything

to the conception,  since they are dead.

In the Buddhist’s eyes,  it is obvious if anybody committed such killings,  it will  boomerang  back,

——— completely opposite of happy conception.

This is what the Karma mean.   And this is a simple human commonsense.

“

LISTEN, LISTEN

I saw somebody shouting in his blog  ” Listen ” ” Listen”.

Yah,  I can see what he meant.   But,  Hang on Mate,  we had in deed listened.

We born as a virtually blank sheet of paper.   And while growing up, we have listened and listened,

and learned and seen , learned, listened ——– then here I am.

Listened the same thing again and again,  it became ” A Type”——- and imprinted as the commonsense.

Once the one acquired  A Type, he start to pick up only the information fit to A Type, because any

other Type hadn’t heard often before ——- such rare exception is irrelevant to the life.

The people shouting a minority opinion still want  “Them” to listen, but ” Them” belong to the  majority.

Majority share their commonsense. And it is imprinted in Subconsciousness.

———- though, it is not necessary the truth.

To see the truth, the one has to get rid of the filter of  A Type, and open the mind.

Blackbox / Backet

” Buddhism works like the way to empty a Bucket “

In the previous post ” Why Subconscious  (2)” I have used the word Black box to describe how

Buddhism is operating in a simple idea, by keeping the awkward “Mind matter” in the Black box.

——————–

In order to save the suffering people Buddha found the way, not by Political approach or

Social change, but to change the people’s perception  and the way of thinking, in another word

changing the mind system.  Since, the burning issue was to rescue the people who has been

deluded by the Vedic belief of reincarnation, and guide them to the correct spirituality.

To change the Mind system / one’s perception and the way of thinking which is inherently

entwined  with the person’s  Self,———- Buddha casted the doubt to this  Self.

Since he had contemplated the Fundamental principle of the Karma, nothing can be certain

therefore this very Self couldn’t escape either.  Even worse, the part of Self is the Ego which is

the cause of the troubles.  So, he found the best way to solve the trouble is, to get rid of

this Self all together.

Since its existence itself is uncertain, and in fact we are doing many of our activity without

even noticing it, if people practiced long enough, people get used to do it without the Self, and

the Self should disappear by its own deed, since the Dharma and its rules is ruling us from inside.

As Buddha observed and felt the Dharma in his Selfless state, he found  we are born with it

though, the Self is masking it.  Therefore, live without Self will lead to the Enlightenment.

The actual way to study and practice and contemplate Buddha’s teachings differ sect to sect now,

but from the earliest original form, it must be consisting the repetitive simple practice, such as

walking round and round, and exactly follow  the Buddha’s way of life, eat exactly like him,

wash exactly like him, sleep exactly like him etc, down to the minute details.

As Buddha was doing everything in the Selfless way, the life itself is simple and everything was

carried out as a routine.  And the routine looks always the same, so the followers can learn and copy it.

———-

We can not see Buddha himself in person now, nor the Master who wrote Mantra did,

still those tradition was reflected and kept in the way of daily life in a monastery  such as I’ve seen in

the Eihei-Ji, Soto Temple where no conversation, explanation taking place, therefore we just have to

follow the senior who already learned.  We were only the visitor, we are free not follow and

free to leave though, strangely, —–if you are there, you know—– it was the Imperative.

Nothing written, nothing instructed still, something the invisible power overwhelmed us.

There was no another way exist but just follow and Just Do the same, unconditionally.

By doing this, effectively one’s Ego has been removed and any remaining question was silenced.

This must be the way how people followed Buddha in the first place 2500 years ago.

———-

With this practice,  how its affect the follower’s mind may be described as emptying the bucket,

much more than a button on the Black Box.  The content of the Bucket is still in the Black Box though

regardless, or it is not the matter what is in the Bucket, just empty it, so remove the Self include the

Ego all together.  ———-And replace the contents, with the Ethos of the Buddhism.

The marvel of the Buddhism and its  “Just do the practice ” is, it works perfect without  clear reason.

( That is why it took 30 years for me to find out the reason Why and How it works )

——————–

To empty the Bucket and put new idea, is in fact commonly known as a  Brain Wash.

Sound awful as the most of the people may think though, whats wrong with Brain Wash.

All the culprit of so-called  Cult with Brain wash, has used the technique they had learned

from the Buddhism, simply because it is the only technique, effectively works to the Mind

hidden in the Black Box. (If it is not in the Black Box, Logical persuasion  will work)

The matter is not the technique,  what to put into the emptied Bucket.

( It must be quite comfortable to have dirty brain washed.  Splash, Splash,  😀 )

——————–

Just learning or hearing new idea, only makes yet another memory  which may be soon forgotten and

not give any effect to the person’s life, since it is only connected to the person’s conscious memory

(known as a short-term memory) and the thinking.

Instead, what Buddha had found is, to connect it to the subconsciousness and put the new idea into

subconscious long-term memory by the technique of simple repetitive practice.

(My explanation, why this repetitive practices work ?——- Please see many of previous posts )

——————–

——————–

Until here, what I’ve talked about in this blog is,  the hidden facts of ” What the Buddhism is ” which

you may not like my radical view and use or choice of the word (as I’m explaining it in a form of skeleton,

without any fat ) though if you remove wool from your eyes, you may able to see it in the same way.

This is not my invention, the fact is there and all the old  Masters had been doing it.

I’ve just found the words to describe it,  thats all.

———-The professional (so-called ) Buddhists  who is extracting the money from the innocent

(in certain extent, ignorant )followers, need to sell the product / the image or snobbish good feeling

of the Buddhism, therefore need to wrap up the product with nice wrapping paper, knowing as

most of the people are, in reality, never goes more than just touching, playing with its package.

So that those professionals wouldn’t like my view especially.

The important point is,  Buddhism is not based on the glorious illusion or dubious miracle, but on the

clear factual effect to the mind.  This truth is hard and dry as a  Skeleton  (Like the Buddha-2009  :-))

——————–

I’m not trying to start any new movement or sect, I am more of an investigative journalist after the truth.

What I did is just an ” Alchemy of Life ” follow the old steps of Arthur Rimbaud, as myself as a guinea pig

and me myself as a closest observer,  since we can’t see the inside of other person’s mind but we

may see the own mind deep down to the subconscious level. (with the help of the Zen technique)

———- Basically I’ve learned this from the Professor Okamoto while studying  Industrial Sociology,

” Think and observe, as if you are the person with his back ground  and working there.  As a same

human, you can feel and think almost like him.  Sociology is not just counting the number of people

in the category, but you may need to create even new category and  the frame work and the Theory”

———- And I actuary worked, like in the construction site, building huge power station in

Okinawa, Japan, even  setting up safety net 30 m high (as I was a climber it was my expertise)

And, even worked in the production line of Honda car factory in Suzuka.

( That is how I got loads of funny stories )

———-When I left Japan, taking a ship to Siberia and train to Europe, I thought this is my Abyssinia.

( In the next post, I’m going to step out from the simple fact and go to my Hypothesis

of the structure of the human mind.

In fact this is the core of my findings, and the purpose of this blog.)

Why Subconscious (2)

” How Buddhism dealt with Mind “

In this post, I’m going to talk about the practical effect of the practice which Buddhism

invented  as the way to deal with the matters in the subconsciousness.

If you are more interested in the historical, theoretical view in the Buddhism, please read

the Mantra of the Yogacara school. especially about the Alaya

——though I found there isn’t much useful insight.

Or you can look into a mountain of the books about brain science——again, they may lead you nowhere.

Our Ethos, notion of the Dharma or Spirituality is not operating in electrical, chemical level.

(Still, the hormone, Serotonin and Dorpamin seemed to have an effect to the deep contented feelings

but, of cause they wouldn’t make you any wiser or enlighten you )

——————–

Buddhism’s teaching method and its practice has been well thought out in the history.

Whether it is walking, banging the drum or sitting, what ever  they looks monotonous silly practice.

Yet, there are 2  hidden agenda or very effective function behind.

(1)  is what I’ve explained many times, it is to induce the selflessness, and disconnecting the coming

signals to the Emotion which contained the subconscious of Self or Ego  as well.

It can be said, it is to automatize routine work, together with the apathy caused by the mental fatigue.

(This is the harsh varier you have to go through.  Any soft sweet words to sugar court it, is a fraud)

(You can’t buy cheap Enlightenment in pink color.  Real one is pretty heavy and cost you, though

its worthwhile to pay.  Since the value of it would be much much more than your own life)

——————–

(2)  and the second purpose is to make you give up any

question such as what for, what would happen after or  think what others say.etc.

Here absolute obedience  is essential.   As long as you  keep fussing about what, why or am I good ?

you have no hope to go any farther therefore the teacher would just give you a nice smile, as he

is not operating in no win no pay policy,  to keep the student coming back is far more important.

So, the second purpose is to make you to lean giving up your Ego without any question or condition.

This is not easy matter,  that is why its have to be repeated again and again to imprint the notion deeper.

This process is to change the system in the brain down to the deep subconscious level.

And (1) (2) together the denial of the Self became complete, both conscious level and subconsciously.

This is the reason why, even if you  get the intelectual knowledge of how and  why practice,

it wouldn’t help you to get  Enlightenment any quicker, if any at all.

( So does, this blog too.  That’s why I’m keep shouting, Just Do It, yet still this blog would gives you

a kind of navigation guide to find  where you are.)——- if you can see where you are objectively ,

at least it will gives you a confidence, you are on the right path. (or completely wrong place   😦   )

——————–

So, the Buddhism practice will kill two birds in one stone.

Yet still, even with this practice, which may have killed off your  Me Me Me Ego,  the another animals

in your instinct is still at large.

So, this is where the rules, discipline comes in force to curb your greed, desire etc.

Still, from the personality profile, the one who could gave up the Ego, tend to follow the rules easily,

and the effect of the practice which had blocked the connection to the Emotion, the greed,desire,anger,

obsession, etc, even a fear of death, will gradually lose the grip and you no longer be bothered by them.

( I’ve been using a metaphoric expression ” The File has been Dilated  ” therefore, even a word ” Alcohol ”

is no longer exist.  So that a bottle on front, wouldn’t give any meaning.   It wouldn’t excite the emotion,

as it is not exist.  Same apply to another evil, money, drug, ghost, vanity, sex-mania ? ,you name it )

———— (Sound grate,  though your wife may not like this. ——— But don’t blame me  😀

There is an Old say, in its reverse Maxim,  If you can’t beat, run away.   Ha Ha Ha )

In fact tender Buddhist persuasion may work, and if you succeeded she is the first one you have saved.

——————–

When you read this, you may think it looks too simple.  —— You are right, since there isn’t much secret

in the Buddhism or the margin left to think about, since  the secret remained in the black box.

So far we only know the functional map of brain,  still don’t know even how or where the memory kept.

And even with the limited number of input, try to induce human like response with a simulation

program had all failed, since we even not know how many factors which may influence the result, were

hidden unconsciously.  Even worse, in a real life, situation and the perceived informations are never

static and its never same to a person to person. / Nothing stays permanent and each Karma is different )

——- So, the mind is still in the black box, but this black box is like a Nintendo, you don’t need to know

the internal electronics. The matter is,how to use it, which button to push, that is all we need to know.

Exactly like this, what Buddha found is, this button in the human life.  This is why its so simple.

———-And this is why when grate Zen Masters realized this, all of them were so annoyed.

The story of  ” Its a dog sit ” was well known even at the time, still another Zen Master

couldn’t understand  until he discovered it by himself.  Its too funny, but unshakable fact.

——————–

One of the most Not Thinking Sect, the Pure land Sect  (Which followers are just chanting

Nam-Amida-Butsu  that all, and may even  not necessary to know who is  the Amida-Butsu, still,

the follower can attain  the Enlightenment.——–( In this aspect,  the Zenist  is the worst.

They will make a question to Buddha when they met him in the Heaven.   Buddha wouldn’t answer   😀 )

My Starting point (2)

” What made me to go into the Buddhism “

( Sorry, the order of writing is not necessary follows  what you may expect, I just write about

the subject when / suddenly / its shape comes up ——To structuring  and make it solid is

the more logical,  intellectual process than the intuition of the Zen ——–Zen follows flash )

——————–

Strangely you might think, I spent 3 years of my High school time to read a book of

French Poet, Jean Arthur Rimbaud. (along side of mountain climbing, skiing and photos of  flowers)

Since, his symbolism poetry needed to be read 100 times to understand what he meant

but, his poems carries the deadly virus of self-destruction too.   Rimbaud was doing his

” Alchemy of Life ” (which is the analysis of his life’s journey and who he is ) which was depicted

in his poem “A season in hell” or ” Drunken Boat ” it led to the inevitable wreck,  which he

actuary got and end up in Abyssinia.

—– (After 3 years, I became a copy of him, seeing in his way and thinking like him )  I completely lost

the certainty of who I am. ( Later I found, anybody who was infected by this virus experienced the same )

—– From this experience, now I confidently say  “Anyone who read the same Mantra 1000 

times, it would be embedded into your subconscious and become the base of who you are”

—– so, be careful which one to read 😀

—————————-

What makes the reading of Rimbaud Poems somewhat common with Buddhists Pathway

was, that his approach to be a Boyant ( Seer / Watcher) in  Alchemy of Life  was,   

to examine the own mind again and again, deeper and deeper, exposing everything

like as a dissected dead body = effectively made his own mind (and the life) a completely

detached dried object.  Detachment while having cut-off the Emotion will lose the tag 

of the SELF,  hence creating a state of mind similar to the Buddhists’ Selflessness.

(This process is very similar to the Hinayana Buddhists practice  = Process of  Self-denial )

And as Rimbaud’s subject, include his own life became a detached object without the 

emotional attachment, it was described as a metaphorical object or the Symbol =

thence his poetry was called Symbolism.  (This detachment was the self-alienation too, so that

Rimbaud called the state of mind before, as a slumber of the animal —– he missed it

with tears but it was too late)

—————————

It was in the late 60th.  In order to re-construct myself, I resorted to Jean-Paul Sartre’s  Existentialism

and later, then popular  Structuralism  ( I liked this more than  Carl Jung as the theory extended to the

society )

The Sartre’s idea of  “The self defined by the self”, shifted to  “The self defined by other’s eyes”,   then to

“The self defined by the History”  was smoothly evolved to the  “self in the structure” in my eyes.

But in hindsight, I was more influenced by the Max Weber’s idea of Ethos. (as I was studying

Sociology for my degree )

Weber’s theory was, such as the Ethos of the self devoting Protestantism created the self-enterprise

of the own business and hard-working attitude, which led to the development of the Capitalism.

Yet, my eyes was a bit more afar, not just each profession or race, there must be more universal,

fundamental Ethos of Human being.—— My eyes turned to the Buddhism.

——- So that my starting point was more intellectual than the spiritual, and not because of my

farther’s influence. (though, the Ethos and the way of thinking of the Buddhism was THE environment)

——– ( Yet still, to cast the eyes to such direction instead of Technology or Art in my case,  it must be

driven by the deep spirituality,  which I can say only now, it must be the way  how the Dharma works.)

And this was the very timing of my  Karmic encounter to Master Kogetsu.

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