Gauzed Image or in a Reflection — My Answer to Elena’s Paintings
When I saw the paintings in a fantastically talented artist Elena Caravera’s blog, of which
a girl’s portrait was overlaid by gauze like white, I found there is somewhat similar psyche
exists in the mind of the painter = in order to give a psychological depth, intentionally cover
the painting and make the image fuzzier.
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Strangely you may think, I’ve been creating “Not sharp” photos intentionally over 40 years.
Since I started my photography taking the photos of Nature, and the close-up photography had
become my part-time job when I was in my Uni’, to make clear sharp image became a norm
and a routine, then I started to go further departing from cosy home of normal photography.
In our generation, some photographers gone to the rough-grain image such as Moriyama
or the subject the society despised such as Araki, etc. but I was rather enchanted by the
ghost of the image, which we can’t see, or hidden behind of fuzzy or double images.
Since then, I tried Soft-focus lens, Improvised, modified lens, Lens from an old folding camera on
a handmade camera etc. to see fuzzy image or the image on a reflective surface —– see through
a distorted glass material etc. —– I got thousand of this kind of photos.
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Photography is a COPY of the subject. = The more realistic and the closer to the reality of the
subject, it become mere substitute of the real thing. It’s better to see the real thing if possible.
But when its reality was lost, its image started to have its own mind. Whether it is in fact my
own mind or the curse to the image, it start to assert its own voice = the photo became
independent of the subject. —– or, that’s what I’m thinking. 😉
Though, I don’t know, what Elena is thinking. 😀
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Don’t Think -vs- Think yourself
Almost crèche like joke among the Zennist is this contradiction.
Think yourself yet still Don’t think. Well, here is a typical sample.
This is an Electronic multi-meter, and the matter here is its cables. Some of you might think
“What the matter to fuss about such trivial things” and you may say “Anyhow, when we use next time,
we need to loose the cables anyway. Why bother to tidying up each time ?” —– still in the same time,
you may remember the past trouble of entangled cables with other wire. And when the cable was left
loose on the work bench, you may needed to un-entangle them while wasting the time which was
always in the busiest moment. And in the worst situation, try to pull the cable out, then it was broken,
and in such moment you don’t have a spare. In any account, it is better to keep the cable tidy.
No one can argue or think otherwise.
Not told by others, what you thought and convinced by yourself,
its understanding stays for ever.
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This is the end of argument and the THINKING process. Once you were convinced,
just DO IT in practice. (—– only an obstacle is your laziness. 🙂
But, if you a person, aiming better, you will DO IT. Why not. This is THE ZEN.)
—– in practice, once you made it as a habit = after use, always just put the cable back to round
the meter and tie it up with the tape. (to make it like in the photo ! )
It is a simple practice hence, no-one need to think or use the brain to do it.
—– the hand will do it automatically as a habit. = When everything are tidy, there
wouldn’t be any havoc on the work. —– This is how “Peace of mind” comes from. 🙂
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Lord Buddha’s teachings are all for gaining the NO SELF, and MUSHIN state of mind.
To be in this state, everything has to be left to the subconscious hence NO conscious thinking there.
Because of this, he showed how he does it and made the followers to copy, or gave an instruction
what to DO. But never explained why, or what was the intention. Simply because, if it was
explained, the person remember the word, then an action become “an action according to the word”
= stuck to its notion / Thinking.
This is the reason why, if you think, Sitting is for a practice of Mushin, you are wrong.
If you sit, just sit. = If you settle your bottom on the floor, that is what sitting is. You don’t need any
thinking. —– In fact, it doesn’t matter, whether you are standing or walking.
= Just let the body to DO, stand or walk.
Without your thinking, your body knows everything how to keep balance while sitting or walking
whatsoever. This automatic, inherent perfect control was seen as the Dharma.
(Hence, the Dharma is in you !)
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Then, what you can see or find in the state of absolute Selfless, Mushin —– So far,
NO clear description was ever elucidated by anyone.
Just say, the state of Panya Paramita. —– there might be NOTING.
Or, this Nothing may be the ultimate wisdom what human being can ever get.
So to say, the Dharma is everything, in the same time it is nothing = VOID.
(If you think, it is a matter for you.—– But, if you don’t think, there is no issue here. 😀 😀 )
How great, Zen is. — don’t you agree ? Ha ha ha. 😀
___/\___
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Robot astronaut Kirobo
This is an article from Gizmag —– it looks cute and interesting story.
—– Even a grown-up astronaut, not a Hary-Potters kids, feel comfort talking with robot
might be a reflection of Japanese Shinto religion, which sees the spirit in any beings.
Robot astronaut Kirobo headed for ISS in August
By David Szondy
June 26, 2013
The video below (in Japanese) shows Kirobo going through its paces.
Source: Toyota
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Images in Hackney / Fish-eye Vision
Those are the photos, which I’ve clicked the camera on the street of Hackney.
As the default of the optical design, the image was heavily distorted.
Which people dubbed as fish-eye lens effect.
Some people hate this effect saying too unnatural —- ? is it ?
Everybody knows perspective. If you see a thing in distance, it looks smaller.
Assuming, you are standing on front of a huge building, 50m tall and 100m wide.
You are standing from the central door abut 25m or so distance, facing the
building straight. = From this stance, you can just see whole building in one picture.
The building spread side to side about 120~140 degree in angle on your view.
The center of building looks so high on front of you. —– yet far away, you can see
the end of building = it looks not as high as in the center, because of perspective.
While you are standing and able to see whole building in one picture —– Don’t
you think something wrong ? = Despite the building was built with straight lines
both end of the same building looks smaller in the same time. = ONLY a conclusion
is “You are not able to see straight line as a straight line = it’s bent down in both end”
In fact, as the eyes are ball-shaped, we never see straight line in our optical image,
except the one run straight in the center. All the straight lines are in the imagination,
or “Re-construction” in our visual cortex in the brain.
So, I would say, this is our natural vision. = only the center of our eyes shows
straight line, and the both end of image, lines are converging = above, down ward,
below, up ward = you see —– or ARE you still clinging your illusion ?
Ha ha ha. I’m kidding. 😀
(In real life, if you see a straight line looked carved, you got to see a doctor.
Despite we definitely having blind-spot in each eyes, no body see any blank in
our vision, our brain re-configuring the visual signal perfect (well, more or less)
we see the straight building straight — in fact, what is “to see it as it is in open eyes”
a good question. 😀 )
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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.
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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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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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 ?
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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. 😀 )
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It must be clear. —– Is there any argument ?
___/\___
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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 ! )
[]
Tablet ZEN
Last night there was an essay read by a philosopher Julian Benjamin
on BBC Radio 3. In it, he talked about how our attitude had changed
during the rapid advancement of the technology.
And he typified it in the situation to use a gadget such as a Tablet
saying “Matter of Familiarity taken over the Understanding
or Comprehension” —– we may no longer able to understand
how those quantum theory is working behind the electronics and
its design neither need to be, but have to become familiar
with its touch-pad operation and each function.
[]
He found an interesting talking point though, his thought didn’t
go deep enough that in fact the situation has been always the
same even in the time of our ancestor, Hunter Gatherer’s day.
I don’t think even a good archer did know a theory of
Aerodynamics or effect of air resistance etc yet, as long as familiar
with the use of Bow and Arrow, he could have a good hunting.
= And that was what THE matter for them.
[]
You believe or not, this is exactly the point what
Lord Buddha taught, hence this is the Zen Buddhism.
Even though some of the people loves and attached to their gadget,
say a Tablet so much, and using it all day long for everything, still,
funny to say, virtually all of them are completely detached from
the questions of what this Tablet is and why such thing exists.
They accepted it almost granted as a part of their life.
—– Except the programmer working for App design, very few of us
know the code of its OS, even fewer people know it in the hardware
level, let alone the theory behind of all those micro electronics.
Instead, we just accept it, as it is and just concentrating practical
aspect and try maximise smooth operation and the efficiency,
in order to have own life fulfilled.
To be a master of Tablet, we needed to become a machine
to operate it. = even finger moves automatic,
without conscious !
[]
As I said, this is not a Tablet phenomenon, but derived
from our inherent processing system in the brain ! =
This is the System to maximise the efficiency of our life.
—– The way to extend and apply this Operating System
to all aspect of the Life, was what
Lord Buddha taught as the Buddhism.
—– (Bemused ? ! Just open your eyes and see it. 😀 )
___/\___
[]
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.
[]
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