How KARMA Works
When Buddha explained the mechanism of the Dharma which is the system of the existences
and the relations between each existence and the rational of the occurrences, each action and
the consequence which shows the rules.
The rule and the reason why a wood burns = wood was made of a compound of the matters.
The matters such as C, H, O,N, Mg, Ca, K, S, P, Fe —–. And each matter such as H, Hydrogen was made of
subatomic particle, Proton, Neutron, Electron —–.
The number of Electrons define which matters are tend to combine, such as H, C with O, in order to
gain the more stable / balanced / harmonized state to a molecular like H2O or CO2.
With the existence of those matters preconditions an occurrence of Fire, which occurs when
somebody or something put a fire = by a match or lightning etc —–.
All those observations are the basis of his understanding of the Karma, cause and the result.
Existence of Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen etc are the cause, somebody light it up is the cause too.
The fire is the result. Still, there is far more ramification such as the produced CO2 —– with huge scale
burning of the jungle, contributes even the change of climate and on the end, small island may disappear
with rising sea level, causing the misery to the people living there, and so on. All those links are the Karma.
This is, in fact, the approach with the science ( whatever it was primitive on the time ).
To see the Karma need to have the detached clear eyes, open mind, and the deep insight.
The reason why Buddha approached in this way was, nothing other than to eliminate the
uncertainty caused by the idea of the Atman which said to carry effects of former life.
To deny the imaginary existence of the perpetual soul, so-called Atman was the starting
point of his philosophy to elucidate the truth of the Dharma.
non
In today’s approach in science, the attitude is the same.
To eliminate uncertainty, make the variables to the clearly defined minimum.
Such as in the clinical medical science, make the condition the same as much as possible.
And to eliminate the bias caused by the most unreliable factor of human eyes and the mind,
use the double-blind test and so on. The so-called Clinical Detachment = Selfless eyes is the must.
The Buddha’s approach with [Selflessness] was not a coincidence. It was the must to deal
with the Truth, not only for the sake of promoting the idea to deny Atman.
non
Even in a today’s clinical trials, such as try to establish the effect of a medicine, use double-blind test involving
as many as possible number of guinea-pig in two groups, one for a counter test with placebo —– still, there
could be a funny coincidence.
Looks almost the same and complying the same condition in the pre-examination, yet still one of the group
may consist the people who got certain tendency. Hence, there could be a certain bias toward the result.
Nobody could predict such coincidence. —– Still, it could happen.
This is still the Karma. —– invisible part of it.
non
Somewhat invisible hand acted to cause this bias, as the part of the Dharma is invisible.
Sometimes it acts toward the better direction but sometimes not. Yet strangely, to
somebody toward one direction and to others opposite direction.
To pay attention to this fact and contemplates the existences of this invisible hand is the
spiritualism.
This spiritualism was called as the Panya Paramita in the Buddhism which was not clearly
explained even by Buddha himself. —– In fact he said to have kept silence.
As Buddha kept silence, this is the part of the Dharma, human-being shouldn’t
touch = leave as unknowable. ( Still, strangely it is noticeable to somebody)
An attempt to decipher this unknown was the Tantrism. Though, as it is unknowable, it wouldn’t work.
Otherwise thousands of Tantra Superman could have been ruling the world —– but didn’t happened.
non
What I’ve observed so far is, it seems as long as we live in mushin away from greed and ego,
the Karma is kind to us. This is the reason why the millionaire become philanthropist in their later life.
(at least avoid to have a premature miserable death) —– Late is still better than nothing.
They buy a time. Good on them. 😀
___/\___
non
Conflicted view to Steve Jobs
Some people pointed out that my view toward Steve Jobs in two previous posts are conflicting.
Appreciate him in respect of his Zen influenced attitude but in the same time showing an
almost a hatred toward him. —– this is true in certain extent.
There is a very clear reason. From the beginning I didn’t like Apple at all as I’ve described before.
Then, I learned a life history of him and his background —– born as a child of Syrian father
and an American mother, but as their marriage was not accepted by their parents, Steve was grown up
in the adopted family, Jobs. —– those conflict embedded in his psyche lead him to seek the Zen
which gave him an ultimate confidence to be HIM and the mental strength.
non
People having a stereotype towards the Buddhism that it is a teaching of peace and harmony.
Though, as I wrote long ago in a Post [ Third aspect in Zen ] there is yet another aspect =
Zen as a technique of Mind Engineering. How to reprogram one’s mind and give a confidence.
The most famous Sword Master Musashi Miyamoto who wrote [ Book of the Five Rings ] was an accomplished
Zen Master too. —– Still, he was a killer of 30 odd people — (said to be, as I wasn’t there 🙂 ).
And lots of opponents who fought with him were also Zenist. Being a Zen Buddhist doesn’t mean they
avoid the fight and settle peaceful draw. One has to die. The matter in there was only how to kill
in the most efficient way. Live as a Samurai, death is a part of their Karma and the contemplation.
This is nothing but the Zen Buddhism.
non
Zen can give completely open eyes of Mushin, hence the reaction or decision-making is
the reflection of the Dharma, thus the result would be the most appropriate and the best.
In this aspect, Steve Jobs has accomplished the task what he needed to Do. Which
he conceived the idea with his open-minded way ( having no dithering to the conventional
thinking or hesitation to others ).
I appreciate this, in relation to the Zen. —– though, I hate the way how Apple exploited the others.
Dharma did give him the best idea of the product design, though I quite doubt of the
well thought-out (second thought driven by the greed) business model to enslave the
consumer = too much tactical thinking and the greed subjecting others was excessive.
Zen will make a person to perfects the task, but to harm others
would lead to the repercussion of the Karma to him.
I give certain appreciation to the products, though I wouldn’t make myself to become
a slave or their colony.
My freedom is more precious than few hundreds pound gadget 😀
non
I hate Apple.
Since I’ve put quotations from Steve Jobs on my previous post, some of the people got a
misconception of that I am a fan of Apple products. Far from it, I am a proud Apple hater.
Never attracted to buy any of their product, therefore I don’t have any, except some discarded junk for spare-
parts. ( A power adapter with broken connector for Mac’ laptop, I bought for £1 from an Odds and Ends box
of a shop, wasn’t too bad for a 24 V power supply to use with stepping motor, as it is smaller
and having a built-in fold-away main plug )
The reason why I hated them since very beginning was, I hate their sales tactics.
Only designed and schemed for the way of money sucking system, was utterly repulsive to me.
non
Storing digitized music signal in a solid-state memory was a natural evolution, as I was seeing the last moment
struggle of Sony trying to cling the market by their Mini-disc, I really pitied them with a question Why ?
Though, I didn’t buy Apple’s iPod, as I saw their greed to monopolize the Music distribution system by their
monopolized iTunes. ( Before, I’ve been annoyed by their Mac’ design. Everything is incompatible with PC.
All the connectors are exclusive, not only the style of it, but the signal protocol, format etc, hence it needs to
have all sorts of converter. — On top of this, they are much more expensive, selling to the snobs who want to
show off. —– I despise those kind of snob most. ( Just watching heavily compressed signal of downloaded
porno, what is the point to have so-called “ good in graphics Apple Mac “ —– don’t make me laugh.)
( Me to use bloody expensive full-frame Canon was not for fancy pretence, simply because no other camera
allow me free to use another manufacturer’s lens, even hand-made lens, while keeping auto-exposure function.
You can’t do this with any another camera —– I had no choice. )
non
The reason why I did put a post quoting Steve Jobs’ word ;
>>> you are not going to usea piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and
nobody will ever see it. You will know it’s there, so you are going to
use a beautiful piece of wood on the back.
—– is to say, in real life, he didn’t cut even a single piece of wood to make his product. He was
not a programmer nor electronic engineer. — He only know the design spec’ which can sell.
He just pressurized others to make it —– in notorious draconian way.
Apple didn’t make any of their products, from single component (nearly 80% came from Japan )
to final assembly (in China).
But got most of the profit for themselves thanks to their inflated price.
non
I can imagine the pressure who supplied the component, had to face —– such as to make it 1mm even thinner
out of already minuscule 3mm high, and even with reduced price.
Everybody had to work for Apple while dripping their blood and under a fear of instant dismissal.
He was a man lived in grudge and the revenge against the people who has kicked him out of Apple before.
No wonder such obsessed hi-tensioned psyche shortened his life. I don’t think he had a happy life, neither he
gave any happiness to other people —– he only sold an empty vanity, a Myth to the mass.
When Steve Jobs realized, that their brain couldn’t keep hold the Myth for ever, they opened the design of
APP to the outside designer ( in fact it was an ingenious solution ! ) and started to sell the APPs designed by
somebody else. Yet another exploitation of others while running their money-making machine for them.
And this must be the reason, why his Hero was real Ninja —– who got a deadly efficiency, able to carry out
a duty [to kill] in a most ruthless dirty manner —– contrast to useless fantasy in Superman or Spider-man.
non
Seeing his death, and seeing the wane of Apple, flood-gate was opened for the people to speak out.
So, I’m very curious to hear, how Steve Jobs could able to force his concept in their product design system.
( Steve Jobs invented nothing. He just used the existing technology and the components only in smaller, pretty
package = putting a lot more together, in order to give an illusion to the users that they can do a lot more.
—– To do this, the supplier of the component, such as camera, touch-pad etc had to work bloody hard to
make it even smaller with higher spec’ to fill the requirement of the Apple)
non
And interesting to see, how such as the Korean industry who got used to just copy, is going to do their future
business without having a sample to copy 😀
(—– It’s mean, the inspiration of Steve Jobs was at least unique to him and impossible to copy.
—– in this aspect, he WAS a unique man —– all the technology in the iPhone has been known
to the electronic industry though, nobody else, other than Steve Jobs
actually made it to iPhone )
It’s a funny paradox here. — (It’s easy to do, still nobody else but him did do. He Just Did It.
It was a good sample, how to keep an Open-Mind. And if it needs to be done, Do it. 😀 )
]]] non
Tiny LIFE
( What I casually called Mayfly here was in fact Green lacewing / Chrisopidae )
Some days ago, short floss like thing standing on the edge of the book, caught my eyes ? ? ?
At second glance, I realized, it was an egg of the Mayfly. Then I remembered a
Mayfly was flapping around the table lamp a night or two before. = so, she laid an egg ! ?
While looking around —– I found four more those eggs
here and there. —– And I found a dead Mayfly too.
—– M m m m # ? # ?. What a hell ! What should I do ? ? ?
non
I don’t like it. Absolutely not welcome at all.
Even if those eggs hatched, there is no food for its larvae
—– simply I can’t take care of them.
—– and if I pick and throw them out, the eggs will be
eaten by other small creepy crawlies.
—– In any choice, those small life would be doomed —– isn’t there any alternative ? ? ?
non
So that I decided to take picture of them = at least, Mayfly could contribute something to
the world —– ( really ? —– for what extent ? ) —– Don’t ask me, it’s a sheer excuse.
But, to take picture of such minute subject is not easy. As my macro photo system has been
disappeared somewhere I decided to make it using cheap Chinese Micro-scope Lens.
( Using wide-angle lens with reverse adopter could make large magnification though its big
shoulder prevent to access small corner to take picture of this kind of fixed object )
So, I wound a wire around the screw mount of the microscope lens (and partly soldered / Photo above left )
then glued this ring on top of a splay can which happen to have suitable diameter ( Photo, middle ) and
put LED focus light —– here the Macro Photo Adopter for Canon EOS.
( can was mounted on a Canon body cap —– with a cut-out hole in the middle, of cause 🙂 )
What a hustle you might say. Yes it was a hustle in deed. To holding a wire ring in the dead centre
of a mouth of can while keeping it exactly parallel (well, sort of 🙂 ) and filling the 2.3 mm gap around
of it, using Araldite glue etc. etc, a lots of work.
non
But don’t forget the life of a small Mayfly —– she unfortunately end-up her life in this room though,
at least she did her best, surviving few days without drinking any water (may be — I know not) and
laid the eggs which was her duty in her life.
At least, I have to respond to the encounter with this life —– it is the duty to be a Buddhist.
Squeezing the brain and find the way to solve the technical difficulties and achieve ( at least in the
acceptable standard 🙂 ) the necessary objective —– is the Zen ( in action ).
This is what I’ve been saying “ Do It “ not wasting the time thinking.
—– Um m, the result seems not too bad. ( I think —– for an almost cost nothing hand-made device 😀 )
( Quality of the images is not as good as Zeiss apo-chromat lens I used to use, but think about the price 😀 )
___/\___
PS : The stem or egg supporting rod (?) is nothing but a wonder of the nature. How the secluded liquid
—– can instantly harden and able to hold the egg on top. —– If anybody know the scientific research of
—– this, please let me know. (Incidentally, the rainbow color on top photo was created by the optical
—– diffraction of the transparent membrane of the wing. —– it’s mean, the thickness of this film is as thin
—– as a wave length of the light ! — isn’t this incredible ? Man’s technology is still behind of the nature )
PPS ; After many years of having had their visit here, this year I came to the resolution, how to deal with
—— them. = When ever I saw them flying under the light, catch them and throw them out of window.
—— Watching them fly or take rest on somewhere —– might be amazing or interesting and giving a water
—— or piece of fruits etc. may seems to be an act of friendship or what so ever. IT IS our arrogance
—— and on the end, it would do nothing good to them. They don’t belong to this room and there is no
—— prospect for them to have their fruitful life here. Throw them out where they belong = NATURE.
—— It is the most kind and friendly things we can do to them.
It is often the case, without giving a help and leave a person in their own device could be
the most kind things to do to the person’s life.
—
RIOT ! RIOT !
In south London, just next area of affluent Dulwich Village, there is [notorious] Peckham.
—– anyhow, I’m going there to find some kind of cheap fancy products, as there are 4 of the pounds
shops competing. With short hop down there, suddenly my journey was halted by a Police cordon.
What ? A, Ha ~~~~ so this is the aftermath of the Riot !
Non
I don’t have a taste of excitement to be an onlooker of violence or fire what so ever.
( In fact, in the 70th, I’ve seen the battle between Up-rise student and the Riot police or the battle between
the student sects, and took picture of it, so, I know how bloody and agly it is)
So, here, I settle with a rather [peaceful] afternoon landscape.
A shop right on the photo was said to have ransacked and a lingerie shop in the centre of photo was burnt down.
—– ? Why lingerie shop ? (May be a connection of gang group or lack of it ? Who knows )
non
In this country, the culprits and his (her) right has been perfectly protected, if not by the law, by the
so-called civil right organization who can invent any pretext to justify the acts —– in other words,
completely shielded from the consequences. Which effectively make the culprit untouchable
and the authority and the police became transparent or make them mere chaser in a Game.
Even if it was convicted, few weeks community works ?
Anyhow, rioter wouldn’t know the full brunt of the victim’s pain. If the person, culprit
wouldn’t feel the consequence, how the person knows the meaning of Karma.
Situation has been made even worse by the false environment of the Computer Game kind.
Not because of its violent contents, but
by the Player’s subconscious has been conditioned to live in the Virtual world.
Or, they got used to live in an imaginary = Virtual world.
Once the person lost the firm connection to the community or real society, this real world became
no different to the space in the Game. Find the target, avoid the enemies. [ACTION REQUIRED]
RIOT GAME in the real set-up must be much more exciting than in a small screen.
—– Trouble is, once they tasted the excitement, this Game may become even more popular.
Urban Warfare in the London town may become most played young kid’s game soon.
One of the SMS in the Black Berry Massage said to be ” Pure havoc. Free staff ” — how exiting ! (for them)
Unless the person was connected and feel the same pain, to see somebody else’s havoc must be exciting.
This is a trouble of a disintegrated / fragmented society which no longer hold the same Ethos.
non
Very funny irony is, as the Riot spread, even Rioter and their close friends became to the victims,
then working together to clean up the aftermath, sharing the pain —– even Rioters are discovering the
sense of the community which is similar to the situation, under the German Bomb, it’s created
close tie of the people. ( This tie is not virtual)
My only hope is, the Police doesn’t become THE ENEMY of the People, nor different ethnic groups armed
themselves as the Vigilante Force. ( —– England is in a tricky situation)
___/\___
non
Wet Mind and Dry Judgement
This year’s freak weather is not kind to the nature. Nor to the farmers who grow corn,
but in the same weather said have brought a bumper harvest to the strawberry growers.
The situation seems to be the same all over the world. Hence, it said to have brought big profit to the
commodity speculators who [rightly] speculated to have corn shortage and its price up.
Whether it is right or wrong, it is always the case, somebody’s misery is some other’s god opportunity.
This is the hard fact, as the weather is.
Then bring an argument to those situation is either emotional or in moral issue
—– both based on the Wet Mind.
Because of the dry weather, the plants on this patch of the land here couldn’t succeed.
In fact this year they failed twice. —– once the weeds grown to a feet high, then the dry spell on April
wiped them out. And after a short but pretty heavy wet weather, some plants shot up again —– then
they are all dead now. === is rather prosaic description of what happened here.
From this desiccated scene, may be I should create quite emotional, wet stories such as how I feel sad
while imagining a pleasure to see wild green, mentioning the glory of the sun and the joy which the nature
has been brought me over the years, and so on.
—– wet stories appeal to the readers, who is seeking sweet story
and a moment of consolation in the cyberspace.
non
Despite we are living in the environment of 90% Hard, Dry Facts, our mind seemed to have
90% of Wet Thinking / Wet Mind —– because we don’t see the Dry Fact in Dry —– We are seasoning it
with wet, slimy source, mostly to sweeten it. —– On top of it, before cooking and seasoning them, we are
conveniently selecting them to meet our taste. (Hence, sweet blog is more popular 🙂 )
Then, end of the day, we have to face Dry Fact and forced to give Dry Judgement — if the judgement
was not Dry enough, it will fail and Boomerang.
I know, Dry Food is hard to swallow, Dry Fact is hard to see though, anyhow it IS Dry —– to
see the world as it is, the first step to avoid to hit by a Boomerang = have a long-term peaceful life, in stead of
temporary comfort —– which need to have some practice. ( to begin with,
to know how sweet your taste, and the favourite source is 😀 )
___/\___
non
What a situation, what BUDDHIST can do ?
Having more than 2,600 years history, Buddhism acquired very wide-spread of diversity and its facets.
From almost purely religious belief to the way to control one’s mind-set, on top of its local variations.
Like, Pure-land sect might be its extreme and the Zen is the other.
And the Tibetan Buddhism is one of the most uniquely evolved type in its land.
Some are adopted and fused with the fashion of popular belief then, such as the Tantrism.
Still all derived from the teachings of Buddha. Which is,
how peacefully live the life of impermanent life.
[ Don’t worry regardless how the situation in THIS life is dire, there is a heaven waiting for you.]
—– is a typical religious approach, such as the Pure-land sect.
[ See only the subject which IS on front of you ( its mean, Don’t be deflected by a matter which is
irrelevant )] —– is the Zen approach.
Non
Most of the Buddhist’s site says [Be grateful to have a joy of the life and have a peaceful life ] —– how sweet !
Yet seeing too many disturbing news, too gloomy aspects of the social, political, economical situations, and
seeing loads of destructive reports ( such as in a website < Extinction. Protocol > —– which is giving
an impression [ the world is end tomorrow ] ) —– how can I keep my peace ?
Non
Facing the devastation of the world such as happened in Japan [could we still stay calm ? ]
As a Zen Buddhist, I might have made an explanation “ As a Buddhist, I gave some donation to Japanese
Disaster Fund etc, which I thought my duty, though further than that, I can’t do much as it is too far away”
—– but, wasn’t it, bought small peace of mind, then buried the head in the sand with convenient excuse ?
And making excuse “ What I can do is, transmit nice stories to make a reader to feel a joy of the life —– and
put photos of flowers and blue sky “ ( though, i’m not necessary doing this 🙂 )
Other Buddhists might have thought “ This is what the Samsara meant, this is what the life is, so, I need
to chant the Mantra more ( to go to heaven) “
—– but in reality, the situations are not such benign, nor Buddhist’s thought is simple.
Non
There could be some thoughts, from quite meta-physical view such as, we human being is facing an
awful repercussion, as we have been odd with the Dharma too long ( so-called Punishment ) to
much talked about break down of ecosystem / global natural balance, devastation of environment
—– driven by the man’s greed (Capitalism) —-> hence we are having so many freak weather, climate
change and its chain reaction etc. etc, the list of implication is endless.
———- then, what can we do, and should do as a Buddhist ?
In fact, when I faced this question on the time of Japanese disaster, I was deeply affected, or simply
depressed. —– what AM I doing here. just reading the news ?
Just an ordinary man who went there with bare hand and shifted the mud, would have done much more
good to help the situation. Or, should I keep stay calm, as if nothing happened in the world, while stop
reading the news —– and making nice lemon tea ?
Was that a kind of peace what a Buddhist should enjoy ?
Nothing other than on front of me, exists in the world ? ? ? Other than that, are all irrelevant to
the one’s life and they are the delusions ?
non
Where is the realm of one’s life — while everything are inter-connected to each other.
The air I have inhaled now could contain an oxygen atom which has been exhaled by a man in the other side
of the world a month ago, or from a plant leaf of Amazon jungle.
What actuary Dharma affecting one’s life ?
—– Or, was that only manifested as a flow of the occurrences ?
The answer seems to be, there is no fixed answer to what is right or wrong as a notion,
such as [go to disaster area and help clearing the mud] or [stay here]. They are just man’s Thinking.
As, there was no way to go there and I happened to stay here and worried about the situation
—– happened as it was, it was right = the natural flow of the Dharma. ( if it was wrong, I shall
pick up the consequence soon or later = if it’s comes, it comes ) ( In this extent, Buddhists are passive
= unless we were attacked, we don’t fight, we don’t attack —– ? ? ? Does it mean, to research defence against
tsunami is wrong ? No, the danger is already there, and soon or later it will come = preparation is a defence.
non
While after the Atomic Bomb, the ground of Hiroshima and Nagasaki started to have regrowth of
the plants, flora and fauna, and the People started to rebuilt the houses.
People couldn’t wait 25 years like Chernobyl. (Incredible though, it’s just a historical fact )
People lived there might have shorter life and some baby might have died prematurely —– still, we haven’t
found any mutant man, or super cockroach from Hiroshima or Nagasaki —– simply defective GENE has been
died and disappeared —– and survived are just lived on as normal existence.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki are the same bustling Cities like all another Cities in Japan now, other
than their horrendous memories. —– Life continues and the cities and towns in Japan will be recovered with
wiser adaptations in their building design.
Living far away from Japan, I’ve shed a tear or two with the emotions of powerlessness.
—– that was my deed, this is what happened. That’s it. Not my word or thinking but only the fact count.
( Regardless, what ever the theory, planning, talking, we don’t know what actually happen —— and when
it happened, we have to follow and find the measure —– only the reality, the fact and the deed count. )
There wouldn’t be any escape and in the same time, no use to dream any hypothetical
possibility or have an illusion to be a Superman. ( Unless you were born to be a Superman 😀 )
Yes, this is what the Dharma is. We have no way else but accept and follow.
___/\___
( PS : By the way, I like Bob Geldof —– He was a young man with passion as a young man is, but
don’t like Bono —– he is just a bully, who found a mechanism to satisfy his ego)
—
Chinese DESIGN
As a humble man who is wearing £6.99 shoes from Lidl shop ( in this instance, forget about a bit expensive
camera lens etc 😀 ) my only shopping pleasure is (as I don’t buy other than regular essential staff) to
find something funny products (always from China) in a pound-shop.
As a matter of fact, most of the case I don’t use them as it was expected to do —— I disassemble and use the
material or components for another purpose.
In the same time I can see the way how they designed and manufactured the product —– in
extremely cheap way ! I use a word [ Amazing ] for such products —– Amazing in certain extent, for
their pretty innovative, creative, lateral-thinking !
( Remember, Chinese was the people who invented Gun-powder, Paper, Magnetic Compass, etc. and
able to establish the viable system of Herbal-medicine, not mention the Acupuncture. )
non
In the development of human civilization, there has been numerous [ Amazing ] invention, some of them
might have come through by accident though, some are beyond the imagination, such as the way how
acupuncture was invented ! —– once after the phenomenon was noticed, there was no limit to
experiment for this point and that, and thousands of years of accumulated observation = here the each point
were established, —– For a Royal Doctor, hundreds of prisoners or poor patients must be his disposable, no
shortage of guinea-pig. Hence, thousands of systematic experiments, research could have done in ease,
untill the exact point or portion of herb and the mixed combinations were defined and established.
( I guess, millions must have died in agony when the experiment went wrong —– and this tradition is
seemingly continuing in China even today, the prisoners in death low are executed to meet the schedule of
organ transplant for the hospital and corrupt officials to make money )
But what about the very first moment to notice “ there is a certain connection between the
symptom and accidentally pieced needle “ —– ! ! ! [Amazing observation ! ]
( It might be evolved from the [Shiatsu massage] / Press the point strongly as a part of martial art —– then
“stronger the better” so that, burn a Moxa on the same point, and came to the idea “How about piercing” )
non
In comparison, I don’t think there was not much length needed to invent Gun powder as
a Taoist Doctor was an Alchemist too. ( Herbalists use all sorts of material such as even Mercury or
Arsenic etc ( the fancier the ingredient the more profitable, — such as Tiger-bone, Rhino-horn — which
carry the price of £60,000 /Kg and Sea-horse, etc) ) —– there could be a mixture of Carbon and Nitrate
made soon or later. Then put them in a bamboo pipe, it would easily make a Rocket 🙂
And as Chinese is making dried sea-weed using bamboo mat ( like Nori on Sushi ) there couldn’t be
much distance to discover the technic of Paper making.
Non
So, there seems to be a key ingredient in Chinese mind-set, —– acute keen eyes to observe,
and the millions of try and error, some are pretty inventive approach —– on the end
it would be succeeded. (But, a question is, why they couldn’t find [ Periodic Table] kind ? )
Ten years ago, Chinese products were just cheaply made crap though, these days some are nicely made
( even shiny iPhone, iPad are all made in there, anyhow there is no difficulty as most of the components
come from Japan ) they are getting the skill to make a copy and make it looks nicer — after all, the screen
of iPhone, iPad were all made by Sharp Japan, what else they need ? 😀
non
An interesting small item I found in a pound shop was an engraver to scrape a name on what ever the
surface material. ( When I saw it, I wondered how the drill tip and the small motor-shaft was connected
—– it can be useful somewhere —– purposely made shaft coupler is much more expensive )
When I opened, I discovered the most minimalistic, ultimately simplified structure !
I think, the photo can show you everything. Just one twisted wire is functioning as a spring to pressurize
and holding the batteries while connecting it to the motor.
Still it works ! —– no frill but enough for ordinary use ! —– That’s why it was £1.
To see such drastic simplification made my jaw drop. This is almost a revolution.
While maintaining its function, still able to cut the cost to such bare minimum, this way of thinking is
noting but amazing.
—– M m m, ? ? ? But in the same time, it made my spine chill. This kind of mind-set, very very
innovative cunning thinking, disregards any convention but “as long as (apparently) it works = it’s OK”
might be behind even their rapid construction of Hi-speed Train or the Cooking Oil recovered from the
sewerage —– that’s was the way how it made somebody horrendously rich.
And now their Hi-speed Train was plagued by the accident, killing many people. ( but, because of their internal
rule, the number of fatality of any accident is always 35 max, otherwise the local official will be sucked
—– therefore if the number of dead exceeds = the bodies disappear and classified as missing —– ? ? ?
but, where those 3~400 missing bodies has gone ?, it’s middle of nowhere ).
Non
To liberates the way of thinking, but in the same time, strain the mind to stay within the
morality, stay away from greed, is on the very thin blue line.
Where their thousand years proud tradition of Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism has gone ?
—– Wasn’t that, their sublimated Ethos ? ? ? ——- or Mammon-ism is much stronger ?
The trouble seems to be —– they got only two choice, either connected to the Communist Party’s power
and get rich, otherwise stay poor and killed ( or even worse, suppressed and disappear).
And root of this trouble is, they have been in the [Artificial] society too long. —— Ideology
is artificial, and a policy of such as [one baby] policy was utterly artificial ( because of this,
they are facing the crisis of having twice as many old retired population than young working generation).
When facing the deadly choice of life or death = Mammon-ism is only the mean to survive. Is it ?
———– I really wonder, how long a society totally against the Dharma able to go on ?
—
PS: If anybody is wondering about the situation in China, especially around their Hi-Speed Train,
—– Please search and find the articles about ［劉志軍] and [丁書苗] in [経済観察報］or 香港 [明報] .
—
TOUCHING the VOID
Yesterday I was invited to see a dress rehearsal of an Art Performance at the Holland Park.
It was titled [ Common sounds : Touching the Void ] ( Flyer is in the end of this post )
In fact it was in the building of the former Commonwealth Institute.
The building has been closed for more than decade —– what a shame. I used to go there to see many ethnic,
cultural exhibition, art performances.
And as the building has been bought by the Design Museum, they are under the refurbishment.
It is a kind of trend to use a disused empty space, some time pretty strange place, to utilize
them for an exhibition, art events. —– naturally, the space itself was unusual, the almost
crèche “Site specific installations, performances” are the regular program.
Though, this particular space is nothing like any another space.
Under the first ever built type of column-less huge roof, it is the burst empty space —– having
a round centre stage and the surrounding multi-storey corridor —– you got to be there
to see and feel the space.
The event has been directed by Harry Ross, and designed by Helen O’Neill who is my friend though I haven’t dig
deep enough to know how they organized the event to use here yet —– may be a kind of trade secrets there 😀
—
The actual performances are the conceptual play and the dances, therefore impressive but a kind, often
described as “mind boggling” — not only the space is out of comprehension, hence we feel out
of space ( pan 🙂 ) giving a feeling of being in the time trip —– Where am I ? What’s going on ?
Then the audiences were bound together and taken to the ride —— or to the darkness of the limbo !
At there I met another photographer who introduced himself as Jim the dance photographer.
While he shoot, he moves with dancer anticipating their movements and click, no fancy angle or strange
foot works, always facing straight, very authentic —– I noticed, this guy really knows the subject, in
many years experiences —– to capture the moment of dance. (Good for the dancer’s own portfolio)
( His link =http://www.perfectlandscape.com/touching_the_void/#)
non
My photography is more to participate, or even invade the situation —– interaction with the situation.
That’s why I like to use ultra-wide or even fish-eye lens to close the core of subject.
Like the Theory of Relativity, there can not be a pure observation.
Observation itself affects the Phenomenon —– therefore, to be a part
of Phenomenon is more logical —– That’s what I think 😀
—– Believe or not, this is my understanding of the Zen Buddhism.
Once we were born, we can not exist outside of the world.
The interaction with the other existences, moment to moment,
is the life.
Otherwise, why do we need to be here in this moment ?
And why the Dharma placed us to be here and now ?
—– So that, why the art event like in the Commonwealth
Institute was happened and WHY I was there ?
This is the understanding of “What Karma meant ” and totally embrace the
situation is “What Mindfulness mean “. —– This is the Conviction to the LIFE.
Hence, this IS the ZEN. ( ZEN in action, not sitting away from the situation 😀 )
___/\___
—-
|
Sheer JOKE
Some years ago, I was asked by a friend, stage designer Francesco to produce some stage set and props.
In fact, I also took a part acting as a Mad Doctor ? ! (If I were asked, I just join —– because its
occurrence was in the Karma. Hence I don’t think too much or no use to think. It’s a reaction in Mushin )
It was titled [O-project] which the story was based on the Hoffman’s Tale, but in the ultra modern settings 😀
—– instead to create a doll to whom a guy fallen in love, a Mad Doctor created a life in a vitro and so on.
( So, I created Oparlin’s Life Bottle of which lightning spark to the primeval sea water said to have
created first element of the life on the earth.
And the Laser Harp, on top of the Virtual Woman / rotating Wire torso )
non
While working it, on a desk of a Sent Martin’s art student, I found a photo of Dalai Lama. —– I made
a joke “Hey, don’t you know, He is my first cousin” and Francesco took picture of me
holding Dalai Lama’s photo.
When Francesco compiled the O-project DVD, he put the photo-images to show the episode in the production
process —— ? ? ? What ! —– In the DVD, a photo-image of me holding
Dalai Lama’s photo has been Photoshoped to [Me holding Star-war’s Yodo]
So, the story has changed to “ Hey, I’m a cousin of Yodo” —– ! —– Very very funny 😀
( Francesco expected me to get angry —– later he said though, for me it was more of an amazement
than a kind of matter to get angry. What a fun ! ! ! I like this kind of fearless, blatant idea.)
When it came to a joke, a western wit is far more naked (often quite bad tasted) which makes a big
difference to the Japanese. Some said, it because of the carnivorous nature of the European against
the vegetarian Buddhist though, it seems it’s a too simplified view. ( Simplly Itariano is noughty 😀 )
Non
I always fascinated by the artistic creativity of the Latin psyche. Yet, unlike other Italian or Spanish artists,
this designer’s thinking remains always within the feasibility —– never impossible fantasy —- and amazingly
able to find the best suitable material or structure which is good to convert for the purpose etc, in another
words quite technically minded —– that why he is a designer not a pure fine artist —– still
his novel ideas are always there and fascinated me.
non
After all, any creative perception, unless it was materialised, it couldn’t be displayed, unless it
was displayed, it couldn’t be noticed by others —– this is what the communication meant.
Otherwise, its perception remained inside of an autistic mind.
Stage design must be one of the hardest task which is facing this dilemma —–it has to be materialised.
(while complying all the safety regulation etc, and reliably working in one-piece 😀 )
non
Artistic creativity live in the same terrain where the good joke came from.
non
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