Why TALK, Why Blog ?
It is the most fundamental contradiction in Zen Blog. Which I’m well aware.
Zen is after all, [in practice] how to live. Not a system of thinking or idea. Nor dubious magic at all.
Therefore, if any notion or thinking of even an idea of spirituality or any religious notion is there, it is
not the Zen but mere pretence.
In Zen, because of no preconceived idea or thinking is there (or no longer there) it is described as Mushin
and having the eyes to see the subjects without preconception, it is fully opened clear eyes by which
the one can see the object as it is, hence, there couldn’t be any barrier between
seeing and be seen = it is the Oneness / Ichijo.
Seeing and be seen are no longer there as the separate entity, hence no Self could exist
—– all those are not a logical conclusion or answer, but just a state of the brain.
( Brain is not only for thinking 🙂 )
non
State of the brain ( In fact, the balance of hormone, Dopamine and Serotonin etc) will be
reflected to one’s feeling and the actual action, so does to the results ( hence to the one’s Karma)
not as a revealing words. ( Because, Zen is not a word game but real dairy life )
non
This is the Buddhism of which Buddha taught.
To learn this, the followers literally followed
Buddha and copied what he does, down to the minute details, since
Buddha himself was the teachings itself. And as
Buddha did practice his own dairy life according to the Dharma,
and himself was a part of the Dharma too, his actions or practices were the Dharma.
( So that the recordings of those teachings were also called as Dharma, and those practices has been reflected
into the Zen Buddhism, such as in the Soto Zen, there is no verbal communication but just follow the practice,
and through practice, the learning could be achieved and even sudden realization could be occurred,
which was called Direct Transmission )
non
—– this is the reason why I feel deeply paradoxical to talk about Zen, let alone blogging.
In the so-called Buddha’s biography, there was the story of
Buddha’s hesitation to teach what he found in his Enlightenment, which was needed a persuasion of
the Brahman to start.
(So far I couldn’t find the origin of this story in the Scripture —– the author of the biography must have
really deep understanding of the Buddhism and had the insight )
Buddhism having inherent trouble refusing to be explained by the words.
Understanding or so-called enlightenment may just come while practising.
So that, I can definitely say, Just Do it.
___/\___
—
How Mindfulness and MUSHIN exists in the same time ?
This question seems to haunt a Zen novice for ever, as I’ve been asked again and again.
One of the reason, why it is hard to understand is —– because the person is trying to understand it
in the head, as one of the thinking process.
Zen is a very simple PRACTICE but not a kind of practice to be understood or comprehend.
(Think, riding a bicycle — you don’t need to understand the theory or to know the how to ride. You just need a practice on youe body.)
Understanding is the process in the higher legion of the brain / conscious thinking process,
but Zen is the state of the subconscious —– hence it can not be handled consciously.
Without your conscious control, to move forward right leg, then left leg, this is how you walk.
As it was all done in subconsciously, you don’t need to know, in order to move your right leg,
which muscle to contract or so on —– everything done in automatic. —– You walk in Mushin = Without thinking / awareness / conscious.
non
As the Zen is a PRACTICE, you got to practice and master it, or simply just do it. While doing it, you will
get used it and soon or later you master it = you don’t need to understand.
Once you mastered it, as it will be processed and carried out in your subconscious = you do it just as a
routine or a habit = you do it in MUSHIN. (Very simple and clear isn’t it ?)
non
And Zen is the state of the Mind behind of those action, in any or all sorts of the action —– hence
Walking Zen, Lemon Zen, anything can be the Zen — put all together, everything LIFE in Zen.
(When total Life became Zen, it is a step before the Enlightenment 😀 )
Because of the people misconceived that the Sitting is Zen, it made the matter confusing.
Sitting is a relaxed posture, taking a rest = have a break = do nothing hence most of the time even
the brain is in idle. (but deep in your mind, some thing might come and go —– sometime new idea might come-up)
—– therefore, some say, it is the MEDITATION (deep thinking), others says its got to be
in Mushin = No-thinking. But, sitting is only one of the action (or rack of it ?) and
the state of the Zen is not confined in this posture.
non
When you are in action, —– if you have been doing it routinely, you are able to do it in Mushin, —– but
can you DO two things in the same time ? I don’t think so.
When you DO, you do only one thing. The brain can think many things in the same time or rapidly
scanning many thoughts, hence you feel, many thoughts are in busy traffic.
Not only many thoughts are running, the situation is rapidly changing = only a measure is, to deal
one thing at a time, in fact that is only we can do without making a mistake.
(Only a thing you can do in the same time is to do something while walking on a flat road as an exception.
You can test it. Still, thinking can run parallel —– but, it would be a destruction, that is why it’s need to
have a concentration = eliminates any another thinking = this is what Mindfulness really mean)
non
People thinking and imagining, try to figure it out —– by way of thinking. That is the reason why it is hard
to imagine, the state of the mind / fully concentrating to the subject on front = (so-called Mindfulness ) and
the Mushin (Mind of No-Mind / not thinking) can exist in the same time.
It’s co-exists only in Practice, or because of when it is Practice, it is co-exists.
(may be the use of two words made it complicated, like an electrical phenomenon, Current and the Voltage
—– phenomenon itself is only one phenomenon = just a dynamism of the Electron. In order to observe
its phenomenon, when we put a meter in series = meter shows the current. And if the meter was connected
in parallel = meter shows the voltage. But the electron has no intention to express anything.
They just move when it is possible to move —– man created two separate notion and made it looks complicated.)
non
In metaphor, Mindfulness is to eliminates all another thoughts —– say, when you got to
do [A], to eliminates any thoughts other than about [A] is Mindfulness.
Then eliminates the very thought about [A] is the Mushin. ==> While doing [A], if no thought
is there at all, how the job [A] can be done = it is done by the Dharma.
Therefore, it is far better than “Done by yourSelf ” ! ! !
( Quite convincing isn’t it ? 😀 )
non
—– It seems that instead to use two words, it is better to use one word Ichijo.
(Oneness = a mind and a subject are fused together as one Dharma, hence the Self and the
subject itself are no longer exists as the separate entity, or seen to be exist) —– therefore,
the matter of whether one’s mind is there or not (about Mushin) or the subject which needs
to be fully concentrated (So-called Mindfulness ) is there or not, all become irrelevant.
( May be the first person who translated the notion of Zen into English didn’t know what the Zen really mean
—– good in English doesn’t necessary mean having good understanding in Zen 😀 )
non
It’s true, in the notion of ICHIJO, all the teachings of Zen resolved into
an infinity of the DHARMA.
The best of all, it is cheaper to practice only one ICHIJO, instead of Mushin, Mindfulness and Meditation.
—– you can get all three in one practice of DOING anything. — Ha ha ha, it’s suits to a humble man 😀
—– And this is exactly what the Dharma mean.— Totality is the Dharma.
___/\___
non
When you ride a bicycle, you don’t carry a banner of “Thinking how to rid” “Riding in MUSHIN” “Full concentration in riding” “I’m the man of riding” —– in fact, all those Notions were created by “Somebody else who observed the Matter in riding”. = The situation was the same in ZEN = “Mindfulness” “Mushin” “Awareness” “Consciousness” “Thinking” “Meditating” etc etc, all those notions or idea were the debris of the useless thinking (about ZEN) —– ZEN is only a ZEN = it may not even be a notion or name = It is a kind of state of the mind (?). A person was just riding a bicycle while being a state, nothing else of riding = was observed / analysed by the others, and “Its state was categorised / named” as “In the mindful state” —– but other saw it in different angle and named “In MUSHIN” and the other said “Without the consciousness” and “Without a thinking” —– in the same way, [This ZEN master saw it in this way, and started to say in that way then taught in this way = which was called “*** school / sect” etc, etc.
The funny things were, the ZEN is only one and it may not be anything different from just a life. (It seemed, somebody trid to be looks clever by saying in different way.)
Detailed attention to the LIFE
I came across a kind of Japanese book review —– about a book talking about a small knack,
which would make your life more fulfilling. What a gospel. 🙂
non
Contents itself is nothing new or anything eye-opening.
Such as the way how you staple the papers = the best way to do it, is in angle, so that it would not tear the
paper when a page was flipped —– in every small knack to do each dairy practices, in total, it would
smoothing your dairy life, hence the end of a day, you can achieve the life in happier satisfaction.
—– m m m ? Sound familiar ! ?
Familiar yes, thousand of religious, lecturing the life’s wisdom books are saying the same kind, but this
author has nothing to do with religion. Purely talking about how to do each dairy chore.
In fact, everybody knows something this kind, and even I may able to put some more this and that too.
Such as after cut anything, wash the cooking knife in order not to transfer the smell —– think, if your apple
smell onion you’ve cut a moment ago, or you may not like to use the same knife for salad vegetable which
has been used for cutting a meat. There might be a possible contamination of germ ?
non
—– A man (and a woman) said, “ I don’t care because I’m using different knife”
In fact, I’m not going to talk about each knack here. Here, I noticed the mind-set —– how people react to
those small advise in general. —– Something I found very peculiar among the western people is,
—– regardless, if it is good and useful or not, many people just don’t like to be told.
May be the reason is, it is too simple common-sense = no need to be told by others. And another reason is,
“ I know but may be I don’t do it because I don’t care. So, don’t repeat it to me again”
—– laziness is the fundamental Evil here 😀
Though, those kind of small practice is the foundation of the Buddhism. — you believe or not.
(For instance, the Japanese Tea Making which was originated from Zen Temple as a
way of the Buddhism study, is a continuous process of small practice )
Non
Whether it is good or bad, the way which is making most stark contrast in the children’s up-bringing
in the west and east is, —– in the west, the children are grown up hearing the words “ Superb !
You are marvellous. You are doing very good ! “ (regardless whether the child is doing utter crap
and hopeless, as the parents think, they need to have an encouragement )
In the east, the children are nurtured and taught “ No good, you are idiot. Study more “. 😀
This would make fundamentally different mind-set —– in the west, it would give pretty strong
ego and the arrogance “ I’m a lord of my life “ (—– though, it is not the case in the most of the person, later
they may depressed and couldn’t figure out the direction —– but it’s too late to do it again)
In the east, as the children were forced to learn the curriculum regardless he or she is good in it or not —–
but, at least they learn their place and learn to pay attention to what they are facing,
therefore they become good to do what they have learned but not much creativity, still they know how to
follow others (provided, somebody lead them).
Non
Buddhism is based on the eastern psyche = hence accepting and follow the Dharma and
its Teachings, is the starting point.
Dharma is not a human invention therefore it has no human-like attitude or speak in human language.
—– because of this, to accept and follow mean, we have to observe first and learn from it. Then do,
what we found necessary to do. There is no [ I want to do ] or [ This is what I want ] —–
we are not the dominant Force in the Life.
Do, what was allowed for us to do, in its best. —– down to the minute detail.
non
When you are cutting an onion, you ARE the man cutting an onion = It is your whole life of
the man cutting onion, on the moment. (this is what Buddhism calls [ Mindfulness] and [ Ichijo] )
When you got used to observe the life in your open-eyes (not the eyes to project your idea / Ego)
you start to see what is a better way to do. And keep doing it, it would become your routine, soon
you are able to do it without thinking = in Mushin = You are right path to the Enlightenment.
( It is simple, when you do every thing in better way down to the detail, of cause the result would be
far better = naturally you succeed in your life / fulfilment of the life)
—– So, to start, wash your knife every time after use. 🙂
( If you can’t keep even your knife in the best condition, how you can expect
to achieve anything better in your life)
___/\___
—
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)
—
Pok’s ZEN
Ten days ago I received an invitation to a private view of an art exhibition from a man whom I don’t know at all.
I was quite puzzled, how come ? ? ? (since my Email address is not public)
Exhibition was a contemporary art in context of dairy practice in Zen Buddhist’s culture —- What ?
Before go down to the puzzle of Zen art, I guessed that somebody my friend who knows of my Zen blog
might have suggested him to send an Email to me.
Any how, it’s best to see a man and ask.
Non
So, I took a journey to the exhibition and met a young artist, Chong-Boon Pok.
Obviously he is a Chinese but turned out to be from Malaysia and living in here about 10 years.
And he is a kind of [native] Zen Buddhist, who doesn’t need to know what the Zen is or its
history etc, but as he was grown up in its environment he is naturally doing it.
(even unaware of why —– it’s in his subconscious)
—– As he was saying in his Press release;
“ My studio practice operates within subjects, time and space using the everyday and engages
aspects of mindfulness,self, memories, social, cultural and symbolic form. My cultural upbringing and
life experiences are often revisited, examined and evidenced in my work.
The work embraces ideas of as-it-is-ness, nothingness, the impermanent nature of things, and the
interconnectedness of objects and people, all of which are relevant to Zen Buddhist discourses of everyday.”
non
And what he is showing are — in his words;
“ Devoting attentiveness to and contemplating the everyday is central to my art practice.
The everyday that I refer to is the trivial, ordinary and inconsequential objects and activities that
people tend to take for granted such as the cutlery we use for eating, something we are so familiar
with that we are less likely to give a second thought when we encountered them. Besides
assembling everyday objects into sculptural forms and installations, part of my work involves
using food and cooking to perform and interact with people visiting my exhibition.”
non
Like a round piece in the photo above ( can be enlarged with click on the photo) it was made out of
drink-can’s pull-ring —– thousand of them. So as the other pieces, they are made out of really
ordinary objects —– but with the thousands of repeated works.
Some may think, it might have done by dreadful swet-shop like endless work or even it might have done by
the hired worker —– wrong. It was all done by the artist himself.
And some may think, it is a kind of play devoting to the God —– wrong again.
Except the first few line of the work where the artist needed to find the best adjustment, following work
all through up to the finishing line, it was done almost automatic = just the repeating movement of the fingers.
There was nothing else in his mind = so-called Mindfulness, though, in fact, there was nothing.
Hence Mind of No-Mind = the true reflection of the Nothingness of the existence.
—– in deed, those repeating work is the Buddhist’s practice = by which the one can reach to
the state of Mushin (Mind of No-Mind ).
non
But we shouldn’t forget, that the Practice is just the practice to get the state of the mind, Mushin.
Mushin itself is not a goal. It is just a state of the mind. What is the goal ? —– Life, that’s all.
But the Life without unnecessary worries or useless delusions hence without pitfall.
What else anyone needs to have ?
More than handful of gold ? Or surrounded by 100 of virgins ? —— ? ? ? What to do with those virgins ?
Do you want to be a rapist or dirty old man ? —– in fact, all those dirty idea negates the goodness or virtue of
the Mushine, since it against the Rules of the Dharma.
One’s life is to make other life happier. This is what all about the meaning of the Life.
( Running big company employing thousands of staffs and selling the products all over the world
—– in effects, supporting those who working for him, and appreciated by the people who bought the products,
in the same time, making money and able to supports his own family —– this is the Life.
(well, billions of variations there)
non
So, unmistakably, the artist, Pok succeeded in this task —– by his work in Mushin, made
the people smile and made their eyes open “ A, Ha ~ ~ ~” and making people feel Happy.
He should be rewarded by the Dharma.
Non
His exhibition [ Contemplating the Everyday ] continues until 8th July, 11am~5pm
@ Central House Building / Metropolitan University —– Near Oldgate East Station , London
(it is opposite of the Whitechapel Gallery / Habib Bank on the corner / entrance is over the Bank office)
—– < www.thegroundweshare.co.uk.blogspot.com >
It’s worthwhile to pay a visit 🙂
—–
ZEN in PRACTICE
There was an interesting experience lately.
A Chairman of an Internet Talking Shop asked me to join their mailing-list to invigorate the activity.
It was a small group of University alumni of which the members used to play a sports together, hence
the members consists of their 30th to 70~80th old-boy.
The mailing-list was said to be proposed and set-up by the core member of the group a year ago to
facilitate vibrant communication among the members, as the members live scattered all over the country
over a years, and not necessary knows each other in their different generations.
With a kind of marketing research considerations, I saw the characters of the group and their needs.
I found this is in fact a retired old boy’s talking shop. Since, younger members are too busy
in their job and the family —– they may not have much leisure time left, and busy talking with
their colleagues etc. So that the real aim is to create the environment for the old members to
exchange and join the conversation.
—–
Zen is a way of the life to live the situation in 100% commitment. (So-called Mindfulness )
When the situation required to ply a role or to carry-out the task, to become the Role itself or
the expert of the task, and Just Do It, is the speciality of the Zen.
As my role is to invigorate the conversation, I started to talk as many as possible number of the
members I know before, while inventing all sorts of excuse or pretext of talking piece, in order to draw
them into the forum. Within a month the forum became pretty busy and started to have many new talkers.
As each member has graduated in each faculty and the specialized subject, they got their expert view
and the unique opinion, some time it went pretty deep in its subject and turned out to be a very interesting
exchange of two different view etc etc. While receiving a congratulation mail from the other side of the
world as this member is working over there, which said “It is a great pleasure to see the forum invigorated
which I myself had proposed to set-up”
—–
Journalist ( or Ex-photojournalist precisely ) as I am, I was in certain extent, well suited to the role as I can
deal with many subjects ( like interviewer has to know the subjects, despite every time the subject
could be different ) —– though, the core members who proclaims they set-up the forum started to feel
the forum has been Hijacked by somebody unknown ( since I’ve been out of communication with them
40 years 😀 ). And they started to say this is not YOUR blog site. 😀
Of cause, to draw somebody into the forum, I had to send the mile and when somebody sent a mail
with unfamiliar subject, still somebody has to answer, and many cases it happened me to reply.
When I gave an answer and sent PS: soon after, it was accused “from the same person, enormous
amount of continuous mail occupying the forum” 😀
It was exactly like a Hen’s chorus in the Animal Farm, even a man who congratulated the
invigorated forum, changed his colour and joined the chorus. And a funny opinion to design a special
sports shoes talked by other member which I just responded was still attributed as my fault 😀
When the attack came, it need to hit back like the sword master Musashi was also a Zen master.
But, if this is the situation. That is it.—– I’ve been there to talk not waste the time to argue with.
—–
Zen react to the situation Just as it is, like just handling a small thing, therefore no emotion or
personal interest involved. As there is no notion of possession ( like, this forum is mine or I AM
the man in charge with ) when the requirement or the situation changes, the commitment or
duty evaporate at once as if there was no such things ever existed.
—–
This mind-set, Full Commitment but without Emotional Involvement ( Ego, Greed, Arrogance)
and Instant Dissociate with no mind to cringe, is a typical Zen Practice.
( Fundamentally, member of 150 people’s Talking Shop, most of whom I don’t know and 40 years
out of communication, what anyone can expect from them ? And what to lose by stopping it, if any ?
It is like a chess game on the street cafe table. Once join, still have to use full extent of the brain to win.
Yet it is just for a small fun. Nothing to gain but nothing to lose. Just Do it and Just Stop it.
This is the mind-set of the Mushin which respond to the situation which keeps changing.
—– And this is the Zen in Practice in the real life, not in sitting.
___/\___
—
Third Aspect in Buddhism / in ZEN
If anybody has read my blog all through from the beginning ( thank you very much ) may found
something different tone around the posts about Kisa Gotami and some posts following it.
You are absolutely right. The posts around Kisa Gotami are about one of the main aspect of
the Buddhism —– Buddhism as a Religion. Religion to save the tormented soul. (And also
about the Intellectual snobbism / Philosophy —– this is the Second aspect )
———- Though, I’ve been talking a lot something different, especially in my early posts.
Yes, they are about the Third aspect of the Buddhism especially strongly in the Zen. —– It is the
aspect of the Mind Engineering, and in this aspect, so-called burden, the Self Denial having different
treatment —– since it is not for a salvation of a man but more for the achievement of the person.
—
Third aspect in the Zen is, as the word Engineering suggests, it may remote from the religion
hence it may seem Atheism, hence the person may not end up in the Heaven though, don’t worry
no such things over there. And even if you were reborn to a dog, there shouldn’t be any trouble as
no dog remember the former life or the name. ( I never met any dog telling me his former life, so far 😀 )
To deny such deluded idea of the Perpetual Soul, therefore to deny the same person can be reborn
to a dog, was the starting point of Buddha.
Anyhow, before talking about after a death, to regain the sanity out of tormented mind is the way to
save one’s miserable life —– that is Buddha’s approach.
When a part of a machine was twisted and jammed, whole machine wouldn’t work properly.
So that before imagining what dreamy product the machine could make, repair the parts and
adjust each part of the movement and make it works perfect, is the first thing to do.
Same to this, to re-construct one’s life out of misery, has to start from a part to part, step by step.
Re-adjust the way to operate and the way to carry out the daily life —– and on the process,
to learn the way to see the mechanism, how they work together, in what principle. —– and as
the result, one can operates their machine or life perfect, therefore
able to create perfect product / LIFE.
This pragmatic approach IS the Teaching of BUDDHA.
Hence, in the Buddhism the practice is inseparable as it is the way to learn how to see and
to know the principle operating in there. This principle is the Dharma.
———- So that, the Buddhism’s structured approach to the practice having the most effective
way and the wisdom to DO the Things and achieve the highest standard. ( To see the proof,
have look the Japanese products 😀 —– But don’t ask me why the products from other
Buddhist’s country are not necessary so. —– it’s really a good question 😀 )
—-
To see the way how the approach of the Buddhism ( or Zen ) can solve the question in a field of
to DO something, is the Third aspect in the Buddhism. In here, there is not necessary
tormented soul or miserable life, the precondition of Self Denial having different aspect too.
Such as a case of a sportsman is the best sample, in there, it is the fight against the Oneself.
And its effect or the result doesn’t appear anywhere other than in practice, it got
not much use for an intellectual interest. ” As long as you are thinking, you can’t do it “
—
On the end, the key element in all aspects of the Buddhism is the MUSHIN, mind of no-mind.
Though, anyone who wants to be saved out of misery, needs to get rid of the Ego,
hence needs to have Self Denial first. ( One small sect of Buddhists in Japan, Ittou-en going around and
asking the household to let them clean their toilet in order to have one’s Ego to be denied —– though, the
toilet is a genitals of a house, not open to the public —– it might be better them picking dog shit on the street
than invading somebody else’s privacy, in the name of religion —– still it’s their practice)
To a tormented soul, as the person’s mind had been through the torment and its Ego had been
defeated already, and as long as the person can see the Karma straight ( without twisted view, misdirected
grudge etc which is caused by an arrogance —– so that it need to have personal consultation ) the process
of Self Denial has been done.— Hence the person can go to the next stage while having proper direction.
—
Yet, the one who doesn’t care end up in the hell ( 😀 ) but still aiming highly tuned life and the
freedom of creativity and actuary want to Do it —– gain the Mushin by doing it as a practice.
This is so-called a technique of the mindfulness —– to eliminate any thinking in the brain, even the subject.
It is the process to re-program your subconscious, hence Mind Engineering.
You may find the explanation for each sample and others, in my old post somewhere.
( I should make the Key-word index —– for a moment, seek is your part of practice. Just Do It 😀 )
___/\___
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Unfortunate History of BUDDHISM
In most of the case, study deep into the Buddhism, quest to the core of the Buddhism mean
read more books, another Sutra and then sitting 😀
Natural consequence, here, sitting mean, thinking about what was found in the book.
Strangely, you might have found a fine print saying ” Sitting has to be without thinking “ 😀
And somewhere, ” —– but most crucial teaching can not be taught by the word “.
———- What a hell, where to find the answer ? —– rightly you might say 😀
Unfortunately, ( especially in the west ) a so-called teacher or a master of a sect or group, did come
through same process. Simply he did it longer than you, hence read a bit more books, met another
master ( who studied in the same way ) and so on —– that’s all. In fact, non the wiser than you.
—–
Unfortunately Buddhism is not the matter of the knowledge nor what you learned.
But don’t become desperate and shout What a Hell, since you are not alone.
This is the inherent trouble of the Paradox in the Buddhism.
When Buddha was in this world and teaching his immediate followers, he showed the way how to live
how to see the things etc etc —– those were the practice, then time to time he took the rest —– rest mean
rest, hence give a break to the brain. Naturally, he was not thinking while sitting.
It looked like a meditation, or later people thought and called, it was a meditation.
When the brain was left completely blank, time to time suddenly new idea or
understanding comes out. ( Ref : Blank space —– somewhere in the another post )
Then, Buddha might have told something new understanding, even a joke to such as Shariputra —–. So that
the followers thought, Buddha, in his deep meditation he has been in touch with the unknown
truth / Panya Paramita —– though, Buddha was taking a rest and having a time of no thinking.
Of cause, even Buddha couldn’t show what’s going on in his brain nor disciples could seen it.
We only see the apparent outcome when it came out. Only the person with very good insight, who had
the same experience, could guess the process in the brain or in the mind.
So, the situation even among the immediate followers was like this ( —– how do I know ? Ok, tell me any
another possibility you can conceive )—– since, without having the proper understanding of the
Buddha’s teachings, Buddhism spent hundreds of years in the argument of such as AbiDharma.
And the superficial posture of ” Meditation ” became idiosyncratic synonym of the Buddhism.
Hence gave a misconception, With deep thinking process, you can get supreme wisdom.
Further trouble in the western Buddhism was emanated from the word MEDITATION which meaning
imply deep thinking ! — even though Buddha was just having a rest.—– It was a Kitkat time 😀
In practice, to practice ” To Do without Thinking ” the sitting is the hardest sample to try —– it’s mean
only few people who already reached to the advanced level could do it, still how do we know he could ?
Can the person sitting ( without thinking ) tell ” I’m not thinking ” —– How funny. 😀
It is the same to a man sitting, supposedly be in silence, declare ” Yes, I’m not speaking “.
Anyone can pretend and say, I can —– but those impostor tend to preach others, with his glorious story.
This was the history in its reality. The more glorious, needs to listen with the more sackful salt.
—-
When the crucial matter of the Buddhism is NOT THINKING / MUSHIN, cringing stereotypical posture
and its idea of sitting ( in fact it is very bad to the leg —– resulting wheel-chair in the later age —– all
the high priest in the Zen sect had end up in a wheel-chair ) because of it looks authentic, is
nothing but a vanity.
Throw away all those POSTURE. Throw away the IDEA of Buddhism. Let it go.
Take a break, relax —– in the deep breath, you may find yourself in the blank moment.
Then you are in the void of this mess of the life.
This VOID is the MUSHIN. You are in the true pathway of the Buddhism.
( When you let it go. Then you get it as the whole —— What a paradox ! ! ! )
___/\___
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My HEALTHY LIFE
Ha ha ha , I know it is utterly misleading. 00 Because I don’t have a notion of Healthy Life.
I am just living as I am. —– and just happen to be healthy ( apparently 🙂 )
If I have to analyze any peculiar practice which might be related to my health is ——
I’m keeping my hands, nose and throat as clean as possible —– or just wash them very often.
To keep the hands clean was especially essential to handle photographic films.
But to keep the nose clean was taught by a teacher in my junior school. Which was to take water in
the hands and suck it in the nose, then blow it out three times ! —– All the pupils in the class were
horrified, saying it’s too dirty though I convinced at once —– it’s a good idea and very rational, why not. 🙂
So that, when ever I came back to my place, like take off shoes, to wash hand, nose and gurgle are
the automatic routine. Though, it might be related to a sublimated Japanese Shinto Custom — keep clean.
And there is no such thinking which relate this practice to health matter exists.— Just doing it.
It is not possible to have objective comparative test of IF-NOT. We got only one life and I couldn’t
replicate my same life, but only having NOT washed hands, and see what would happen.
Simple fact is I rarely get ill, nor catching Cold, Flu. Still, I don’t know whether washing hands are anything
to do with my health. —– very funny you may think though, I rarely use soap ! —– same as, I don’t
use washing-up liquid. I have one in the bath-room and another in the kitchen though they last—-may be
six months or more ? My view of the soap is —– mankind is using soap not more than one or two hundred
years. Removing our own natural oil, then applying pig-oil with artificial fragrance, is not a good
idea and the waste of the money. —– If I were ever smelly soapless person, still it’s not a problem at all,
since I wouldn’t come closer to others less than an arm’s length 😀
So is a shampoo, I just shower the hair removing a salt in the sweat and use a shampoo less than once in
a month. The shampoo is notoriously bad to the head, the reason why I still have full head of hair, in more
than three feet long pony-tale might be because of not using shampoo. (So, one bottle of it last years 😀 )
—-
I eat anything though, the amount has been reduced in comparison to when I was young.
( I still have the same body weight 60 Kg / 9.5 stone,since when I was 15 years old ! —– When I was
physically very active, such as climbing the mountain , eat twice amount was no wonder though, sitting on
front of key-board blogging or making electronic circuit needs to eat less —– and I never eat chips)
For my cooking, generally I use one carrot, one onion, a grab of green or green pepper etc and 150g~ 200g
of protein, meat, chicken, fish or egg etc everything from fresh ingredients, except fish-tin (tinned fish has
no artificial preservatives) and smoked fish or bacon (to make bacon soup ) tofu or fried tofu are the rare
processed food. And cooking them in many different way (by the way, I don’t buy cooking oil —– oil comes
from ingredients such as chicken naturally) and eat them with rice, pasta, noodle etc.
So, I’m eating more or less the same food every day with my own cooking —– in past 25 years ?
Buying fresh ingredients is the cheapest, but I buy a lots of not cheap fruits as well.
And cooking from the fresh ingredient may take a bit longer cooking time still, my electricity bill
for a quarter is only £40~£50 (I don’t have gas —- I knew it become expensive ) 1/3 of other people.
——
This is literally, humble life —– or some said almost a life in poverty 😀
And I don’t take any drag, never do gamble, stopped to drink alcohol , never eat junk-food nor buy
fizzy drink but drink 1.5 ~ 2 litter of the tea —– hence there may not be any cause to get ill.
( Arh, no chocolate ! 😀 )
In addition, I gave-up woman 25 years ago. So, no psychological up and down. —– Peace ! ! !
On top of this life style, I used to have very vigorous exercise (which looks like dancing 😀 )
once in every week, and these days I’m still doing it, may be once twice a month.
—-
It is hard to define a reason why I live without getting ill — was it thanks to my food life, exercise regime?
But, one thing I can definitely sure is, not to ever think or worrying about it.
If there is no crime, there is no criminal law or such concept at all. Once if somebody start to think about it
then the notion of such activity teaches the possibility or another menu to the mind. Shall I try ?
In a same way, a notion of illness trigger the imaginal symptoms and it become noticeable.
(Noticing ? Feeling ? —– isn’t it just in the Mind ? )
Even an intellectual medical information, once it caught your attention, it remains in your mind. And as
often you think it, it become your long-term memory and the memory / mind deepen and goes into your
subconscious —– as subconscious is in the old cortex in the brain, with its close proximity, it start to give
an influence to hippocampus / limbic system of the brain, where the physiological control of the body
is taking place —–> hence stress and imbalance of the hormones —–> real illness !
Mind makes people becoming ill. —– It is a vicious circle and the domino-effects.
Here the Paradox of the Buddhism again, as long as the one is bothering with the notion of Health
or Illness, no healthy life ever come. Here require the teaching of Mishin again.
So, better start Healthy Life when you are healthy and having full of vigor, and make it routine.
To keep the same healthy routine is far easier than to change a bad habit or regime.
___/\___
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