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
Clockwork DHARMA ?
I just found a good metaphor to explain [What is Dharma] !
It’s a huge gigantic machine ! (No, this is no a joke 😀 )
Gigantic, as its mechanism extend as far as to the end of universe.
And as it is working and ticking, it’s keep moving, hence, no same moment ever exists.
But this machine is invisible, except some end-device connected to its mechanism.
Its mean, all the visible existences are the part of this machine.
This machine exists since the start of the universe, long before human kind appeared on the earth.
Therefore, no written specification, operational manual in any language exists, yet still, some part of its
mechanism and the function has been observed and deciphered as a science and chemistry.
As it is a viable working machine, there is certain tendency and the rules of the way how it works,
though, as it is so gigantic and too complicated, it is beyond the capability of the human to know whole function.
—– except Buddha.
Non
While observing the phenomena and its occurrences, Buddha noticed that, this world is a kind of system
which is affecting and reacting to each other. ( This intertwined connection is the Karma )
He found it as the system of infinite size which contains ourselves as a part.
And as it is constantly adjusting and reacting, there can not be a single moment of stillness
—– nothing stays the same.
And as it is a system automatically working like a machine, it doesn’t have human like Ego or its own SELF
—– and the human is its part of mechanism, human has SELF neither.
And this system exists before human and not designed to serve for human, its operation is not necessary
for the benefit of human, therefore to live as a part of this system, occurrences are not centred for human
nor kind to human. —– Hence life is harsh.
—– with those contemplation, Buddha found the wisdom to deal with this system or to live as a
part of the system with minimum aggravation, hence in peace and the harmony.
And the teaching is —– to know how the mechanism of the system and the mechanism of ourself works.
Only the way to find the function and its internal rules of the unknown mechanism is —– to observe
and find it by oneself.—– (Finding it, is the Enlightenment)
As the system is working automatic, disregarding the human ego or emotion, to impose or try to understand it,
with human-like mind is pointless —– because the system itself has no such mind.
( You can’t deal with machine with your emotion — you have to do it like handling a machine 😀 )
As the system (include ourself) is operating without the mind, try to think or explaining it with words is
useless. It needs to observe its function and the results = deeds. Hence, talking, thinking has no place.
—– This is what the Dharma is.
non
You may not like this description 😀
Especially the western people got used to think the God as a personified figure, as it was imagined as a
super-human, though, no such things in the Universe.
Nor so-called great soul, like Brahman or Atman. ( Romanticized idea appeals to the emotion, but
romantic idea is far from the Truth )
The Dharma is the system much more like a huge machine.
That’s why it is operating dispassionately / in Mushin ( Mind of no-mind).
( Financial panic may caused by the fear of speculators which some Buddhist may say “It’s only in the mind”
though, resulting rise of interest will affect all others like a mechanical precision and the force)
In fact, human mind is always causing a destruction and a mayhem to the system.
—– that’s why the Buddhism says Mushin, Taoism says Woii —– do nothing intentionally = let the natural
mechanism to take its own course.
( I found this metaphor is the clearest explanation —– in words 😀 —— Convinced ? )
___/\___
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)
—
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
Order in Disorder (2)
Before the Buddhism evolved into Mahayana, the followers try to understand the existences in each
definition, in order, such as described in the Abidharma Kosa, and tried to fix the rules, so that,
in effect, made the person into the orderly ideal TYPE.
Then, the Buddhists realized that there is no such things like an orderly type nor
orderly existences —– no order is the order.
Like the nature, even a Hurricane or a Tsunami are also a part of the Dharma, not mention a Death.
Try to impose an ideal TYPE or the imagined ORDER and branding anything else are evil, is
the human invention, and such thinking is nothing but the delusion.
In contrast to [see the Dharma as it is ], — [try to impose the idea over the Dharma ] is
the fundamental difference between Mahayana and Hinayana.
Accept the Dharma as it is, accept the human as human not an ideal TYPE, was
the starting point of the Mahayana Buddhism.
non
From his earliest period, Buddha’s teachings consists of the Four Noble Truth, in which
Buddha defined that the Life is suffering, getting ill and getting old then to die —– far from any
ideal TYPE of the life. —– but this was what Buddha did find.
And it took 500 years for the followers to realize what it’s really meant.
Still, if the situation of the life is confined only to this,
Buddha wouldn’t have taught his enlightened wisdom of —– how to deal with
this apparently hopeless situation.
The Buddha’s answer was, against this disorderly situation (Samsara), to live the life
in Mushin (which can be acquired through the practice) would open the way to live without
fear or negative thought, and away from any negative effect of ego and the delusion.
—– therefore lead to the peaceful Nirvana.
non
Only the rules what Buddha found was the Rule of the Karma though, as he also explained the
constantly changing nature of the Dharma (which include ourself), this Rule still having unknowable
hence, no-order again.
Yet still, strangely you might think, this uncertainty still retains the overall direction of the Karma.
(Which is the direction of the Dharma) —– situation constantly changes, occurrences seemed random,
still we pick up what the one should pick up = on the end the one goes to certain direction.
Only the matter is, to pick up right one. —– To do this, its need to have clear eyes
and absolutely calmed, exposed sensory. —– here, the Buddhist’s practice comes in.
non
To the absolutely opened eyes and the mind of no-mind = Mushin, even a minute sign of
something happening will be seen. And as the mind is open, usually an out of scope kind
of irrelevant matter (which can be crucial to one’s life) may also be seen.
Stereotype, self-imposed casting always limiting one’s perception and cause wrong thinking.
But, creative, progressive idea and the direction is over this barrier —– why you find this ? why you ?
is the indication of [ because you were assigned to do this] —– this is what the direction mean.
To the outsider, the nature / the Dharma looks No-Order though, to the open mind = Mushin, it looks no
problem —– since he could see the direction and be in contended as in the right direction. He stays calm.
Non
– – – “ Oh, C’mon, can’t you see, the World is disintegrating”
“Yes I can see, its true. But because of that, somebody has been assigned to work hard and dealing with it.
So, if he asks your help. Help him. If not, don’t interfere him, or worrying about it yourself.
If the Dharma in deed had the intention for the World to sink,
the Dharma didn’t assign him to solve the problem”
Put faith on the Dharma. 🙂
___/\___
—
PS : It may look nicer to shout against the Nuclear Power or multi-national Capitalists etc. while pretending
to be a conscience of Planet Earth though, I don’t think it is not necessary a typical Buddhist’s attitude,
unless the one was born to be a campaigner. Because, the Buddhism is not stand on the mouth but practice.
Before open the mouth, better stop wasting energy, electricity etc, stop buying bottled water, fizzy drink,
give up the car etc etc. Those practices may be in your hand but, —– ? ? ? how many people in the world
can stop the Nuke ? —– the drive to change the policy of some country to give up Nuke was not by the
campaign, but by an accident in Japan which costed hundreds of billions of money. Money speaks louder.
In emotion, everybody feel ” What a hell, Japanese government is doing (or not doing !)” though, it need to
think what an emotional shout can affect the actual policy there —– yet, on the Election, they vote to the
well-known TV characters or comedian —– ? ? ? (What’s going on there)
—
Anyhow, no-one’s conscience or emotion would give a halt to earthquake or tsunami 😀
(To the Planet Earth, it was a small wobble to release a tension (so, it was a rational adjustment. Not a
disorderly passion ) though, for us, minute human being, it was a devastating quake) we are utterly powerless.)
—– but this is what the nature / Dharma is.
non
Order in Disorder (1)
Reflecting back my own life, I myself often amazed, or even bemused,
how I’ve been coming through chancy life. I wouldn’t say I was anything casual or irresponsible,
because if there was anything due, I did my bargain in my best. But beside this, I put even more effort for
something else which is not necessary I was expected to do. —– but in the hind sight, I’m wondering
whether it was my choice or just happened to be there, and I just picked it up ?
—
When I was small, my interest was the Nature, insect or plant kind. But it was not my choice.
Soon after the war ended, Tokyo was a burnt down city, not much other than a wild field to go around and
no sports facility or game kind there. (My hobby of electronics was definitely my choice. And to get the
components, I needed to take a journey to Akihabara where ex-Korean war junk was sold — and those
mechanical-electronical components such as variable condenser, vacuum bulb’s intricate, futuristic
structure fascinated me ! )
—
For me to turn my eyes to human life and its psyche was happened when one of the (bad) boy in the
secondary school incited me to read a book of the notorious suicidal novelist, Osamu Dazai.
(so, I became bad boy too —– and became a rebel )
And to start to go to mountain other than for chasing the insects was, simply the class teacher organized an
out of school activity club and I joined it. (Since I was familiar with walking on the hill or in the woods)
And this activity continued while getting heavier and heavier even to winter rock climbing level. (Its mean,
I did this, one of the physically, mentally hardest training from 12 years to 27 years, up to 1/3rd of the year
in the mountain)
non
For me to take the subject of Industrial Sociology in my Uni’ was also a sheer coincidence.
A Professor of Industrial Sociology asked me to help his project, and I got involved deeper, that’s all.
But I personally learned from him, how to observe and analyse the man and its society.
(Visualize somebody’s life and give an insight “If I were the man in there, how do I feel
and behave”—– this approach gave me great insight, and the way to see the human life
—– instead of imposing the view or criteria of observation, not to take superficial
observation of one’s behaviour, but to see the situation from the person’s psyche and his
stance, was the crucial attitude I learned from him)
—
And while in my Uni’ I spent most of the time (well, while I was not in the mountain) in the Herbalium in
the Science dept’ despite I was studying sociology. This Makino Herbalium is one of the largest in Japan
having millions of botanical specimen and I was working there, taking photo of plant or making specimen.
It was my part-time work to pay for the Uni’ and to go to mountain or skiing.
While there, I was asked to join 3 expeditions to help botanists as a botanical photographer and an expert of
jungle walking 🙂 —– in fact for those reason I remained in my Uni’ altogether 7 years.
(with annoyance of the administrator, who shouted me “Are you still here ?” 😀 )
———- but I might have made a mistake to become a photographer 😀
( But if I were not a photographer, I didn’t come and to live here —– it was a necessary
element in the course of my life —– like a Butterfly Effect / minute change may cause
the drastic difference in the end result —– therefore, there is no regret )
( To deal with close-up photography, it is necessary to improvise or even specially design the equipments.
Working in a part of the Science Dept’, I could access the engineering machine in the Technology Dept’ and
having the knowledges of electronics lead me to design even special camera. It happened, as it happened.
—– was that natural consequence or just a lucky coincidence —– it’s a good question 🙂 )
non
Then I left Japan. And while staying in England as a photojournalist, suddenly the awkward court case was
started which I had no choice. I had to deal with the case as a Litigant in Person while learning English Law
overnight —– and I was forced to give up photographic business. Court case really consume time though,
in the other hand, if next hearing is months away —- suddenly, too much time but nothing to do.
So that, I got plenty time for reading and thinking —– about Zen. Then, suddenly “ Alas,
now I know, all through my life, I was given the hardest training to become a Zen monk”.
I’ve learned Nature. Then my scope was expanded to human existence while dealing with sociology and
working in the mountain as a voluntary keeper, seeing the people in their edge of the life. Hence, farther
into the spiritual fundamental aspects of humanity.
(but didn’t learn how to deal with funeral , so, don’t ask me to conduct a funeral 😀 )
(Since, the Court case was caused by a woman’s explotitation of my immigration status, I was quarified to decrear
” Woman is the cause of nothing but the trouble” hence I quit to deal with woman. Literally became a monk 😀 )
Non
Looks utterly chancy life ––— though, on the end, it converged into one direction.
And yet another coincidence, I happen to start this Zen blogging.
Before I left Japan, I was told by my mother who was a psychic, and while she was reading my palm line
“Since you got mission, you wouldn’t be fallen before your task was accomplished. Therefore I wouldn’t
worrying about you at all” —– I don’t know the reason why I don’t get ill (I still have no registered Doctor
while staying in this country 35 years), or in the mountain, I had falls on the rock 3 times though never
injured. And I’ve broken 3 skis but never broken any bone 😀
—– It’s hard to tell, whether all of those are just the sheer coincidences, and I was just lucky
—– or something else ? —– there seems to be no order or rational connection, everything
were just occurred, yet still, in the hind sight, there was a certain direction.
( If A hasn’t been there, encountering B wouldn’t be happened, then at the B, conveniently C
happened —– and so on, and lead to Z on the end = this is the life. )
—?— is this the hidden order ? —– Or the Dharma’s intention ?
___/\___
( To be continued to the next post 🙂 )
—
WHAT —– ? ? ?
The left photo here is —– can you believe, a broken
heat exchange to condensate the steam to water,
inside of the Hamaoka Nuclear plant (now its
operation is halted) in Japan.(photo from Exite News)
We may expect, a Nuclear plant was constructed by
shiny special alloy with ultimate precision.
Though, the fancy part is the inside of the Nuclear chamber
where the radio-active nuclear fuel rods are placed which
is heating up and boiling the water to make steam which in turn drive a turbine
and drive an electric generator —– so, the lest of the plant is just an ordinary electric power station
which could be built by any ordinary worker. —– really ? ? ?
The boiling water is directly contact with nuclear fuel, hence it is highly radio-active too.
And such radio-active water is circulating inside of the pipes you can see in the photo,
its mean nuclear radiation is not confined and sealed inside of chamber.
non
Unexpected accident could happen in any unexpected manner.
The broken pipes on the photo was said to be caused by an iron cap only 5kg heavy dropped inside.
Of cause, no such simple mistake should be happened, though in realities
we are making unexpected silly mistakes everyday.
So, why that iron cap didn’t have a secure chain or why the pipes didn’t have protective grid etc.
All those short comings were emanated from the complacency and the mind-set to cut the cost.
(Though, the pipes looks like burnt by intense heat, not broke open by mechanical force —– ? ? ?
—– their explanation seems wrong—– What is the truth ? )
non
From the ever powerful Power Company, contract went to such as GE (having patent of the design)
then such as Toshiba or Hitach may built the plant though actual work was done by subcontractor
and sub-subcontractors —– who knows. Those sub-sub-subcontractors may picked up a worker
who is saying know how to weld —– and the inspection was just a formality.
Then the heat-exchange for nuclear power plant went into operation.
non
In the Japanese ethos, each profession / technician has their own pride called [Shokunin-konjyo]
(Craftsman’s ethos) which proud of their perfection and the quality of the work —– it’s exists even in
a forefront hi-tech industry, the eyes to find minute difference in the material or a work piece and
the minuscule adjustment which is almost invisible to the eyes ( in Buddhist’s term it is the mindfulness)
—– then realize supreme quality.
Though, it might be too much to ask to a worker of sub-sub-subcontractor picked up on the day.
Even a billion of billion yen project, as the profit was siphoned out ( in order to pay for the politician
and the licensing inspector) then the cost was squeezed by which only sub-sub-sub worker can accept
to work —– so that, no one can expect the quality and reliability of their work.
—– wait a moment, this is a part of dangerous Nuclear Power plant not a steam boiler to
heat a green house for vegetable.
Something went seriously wrong in Japan.
Japanese government keep refusing the research and assessment of the IAEA, WHO
and the Greenpeace in order to prevent the situation of the spread of radio-active
contamination become public, and the rest of the world to know —— I wonder, they could
be accused of the crime against the humanity. Why not ? ? ?
non
Japanese ENIGMA — It’s the BUDDHISM
There are numerous report of the Japanese disaster which showed incredible calmness
and the orderly behaviour of the people who went trough unimaginable devastation of
their life.
AND the unbelievable calmness while hearing and facing the situation of their Nuclear plant’s
meltdown. —– as if even a meltdown didn’t make a news or no longer the issue.
non
Of cause there was a cunning manipulation of the media by the government and the establishment
whose interests are heavily entwined with those Power supply industry ( with their financial, political
mutual interdependency ) and the PR machine which organized the bent scientists who has been
creating smoke screen and the deception saying “ Nuclear is safe and clean “.
non
So when their Nuclear system break down and shown the leak of radio-active material, they kept
pretending it was just a minor trouble of electric power failure, hence nothing serious at all, and
try to patch-up behind the scene. —– though, as it has melted down just the next day of Tsunami,
the trouble couldn’t be solved easily—– meltdown is really serous trouble.
—– still, they managed to keep the people ignorant, then rose the accident level 5 to 7, a month
later —– waited until the people get used and become immune to a bad news.
Strangely you may think, even in this situation, there is no word of Meltdown in
the Power company’s official report. (Saying ” I’m not good in English” 😀 😀 )
So that no longer Japanese believe the Company who is just dodging the word.
( Then what can you believe —— nothing. —– neither knows what will happen )
non
Strangely, how serious the situation was, which was detected and assessed by the foreign experts
who saw the Nuclear accident in Three miles Plant US, and those report was appeared in the media
abroad, —– but they were ignored as a demagogue —– anything bad news were suppressed.
This attitude was taken not only the Japanese media but it was common among the people.
[ The most important issue is, to rebuilt the life and regain the normality.
Anything obstruct this has to be rejected and ignored]
———- Whether you can believe or not, you like or not, this is the Buddhism.
non
Buddha told that the life is suffering — and the death is in the end. Yet still, there is
the way to overcome those obstacles by the way to see the world and the life.
And the way to see it, is the Buddhism.
By this, the Enlightenment, we can get the Nirvana —– therefore, instead of wasting
the time worrying about those obstacles and the troubles, [Just get on the life. Just Do It]
Japanese are literally doing this. ( Unlike in the west, no riot smash or burn down the
Company —– because they know such emotional act can’t solve the trouble at all)
non
Buddha ignored a question what is the structure of the universe or the soul is perpetual.
—– obviously because [ They are unknowable and it doesn’t matter for us at all ]
non
Now we human being is at the brink of finding the fundamental of the existence by the experiment
of Atomic research —– sound interesting though, —– [ String theory ? ? ?] —– ?
Is it the matter to how many person in the world ? Is Parallel World (even if it’s existed)
anything matters to you ?
The more closer to us, all the fancy gadgets wouldn’t work and couldn’t be designed without the
calculations in the Quantum theory —– though, how many people in the world actually dealing
with this ? Most of the people using the gadgets only knowing which switch is on-off.
We might be extinct because of the activities of the Sun or by an Asteroid etc. etc. who knows ?
Is it help us to know what could happen one day ? — other than interesting brain teaser. 😀
———- So that, Buddha rejected anything which exist only in the mind
and irrelevant to our dairy life —– defining they are just the delusions.
non
To the Japanese people, natural disaster —– when it’s comes what would happen are same as the
Asteroid or Solar Activities —– it may come but what can you do ? Nothing.
If nothing, it is better not to bother. —– Worrying wouldn’t help anything (except to the
scientists who knows better and the engineer who design more reliable structure )
And for them, the trouble of the Nuclear Meltdown and its consequence came into the
same category. —– therefore, if it’s happens, it happens —– same as inevitable death,
there is no escape hence no point to argue. —– just resign.
(Anyhow, they can’t understand what is the Nuclear Reaction mean and radiation is
invisible. It makes no different to Earthquake. They just shut off the useless thinking )
And as the blockage removed ( worrying mind has gone) then, just live the day in its best.
Do the best mean, do what you can, to the things on front of you. Help others who is having more
difficulties. Utilize something which remains —– improvise and be resourceful. etc.etc.
The matter is live there while making in its best. —– best mean not to do wrong —– they
don’t rob others, nor steal. Even don’t cry —– crying makes others even more depressed
—– it’s no good. So, this is how and why they are seemingly behaving in such orderly way.
non
You must be realized, it is not enigma at all —– and realized, the control of ego and
emotions can be done by anybody. ( If you can not, it is because you are believing and
unconsciously wanting to cling your ego and the emotions.
—– it is your trouble of fundamental Mind-Set — you need to change the subconscious )
non
Play to the 25,000 victims of the disaster in Japan.
And the best wish to the recovery of the half million people who has been affected.
___/\___
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