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. 

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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 ?)

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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.

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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)

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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.)

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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 ?    😀 )

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—– 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   😀 )

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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.

___/\___

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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. 🙂

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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 ?

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—– 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).

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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.

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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)

___/\___

—

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/#)

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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  😀 )

___/\___

—-

View this email in your browser Forward this email to a friend For the first time in a decade the iconic Commonwealth Institute Building re-opens to a dazzling array of rising stars from Rambert Dance Company, Opera Holland Park, the London Contemporary Orchestra and others. http://www.wegottickets.com/intransit 15th – 17th July Commonwealth Institute Building High Street Kensington | map Web: http://www.ffta.co.uk Twitter: #inTRANSIT11 This email was sent to helen@red-scarlett.co.uk from Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea | You are receiving this e-mail because you have agreed to receive news from the Royal Borough’s Culture team or from one of the appearing artists in Common Sounds. Unsubscribe from the list. | Forward this email to a friend | Update your preferences Copyright © Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

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 )

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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.

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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   😀 )

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Artistic creativity live in the same terrain where the good joke came from.

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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.”

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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.”

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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 ).

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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)

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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 8^th 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  🙂

—–

TOY and ELECTRONICS

A while ago I was introduced to a guy who needs to have some helps for his electronic project.

This guy Richard has been running his shop-sign design business near the work shop of the

Open Wifi Networking people / OWN, and he was introduced me through this group.

As he wanted to expand his design to LED light sign-board, but without having enough knowledges of

electronics. ( —– good boy. I like this kind of people. Keen to study and challenge new field.)

(Any how, I myself started a hobby of electronics from scratch

without having any formal education or training)

He had started to make sign-board using a kit bought from China —– and having mountain of

problems, the power supply, heat-up, etc etc. (May be it worked in China though, this country got

much more strict Safety regulation and the customers are more fussy, and so on)

Basically, the Chinese design was rather cleverly simplified, using less components —– would work

just within the limit and under an ideal condition.

Though, the trouble of bespoke designs are, they are not always the same design, and the number

of LEDs on the board are not necessary the same number.

So, I suggested the modification and the change of the components, power supply etc etc,  in fact

quite a lots of works needed to make them perfect    🙂

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On the beginning, he tried to pay for my help. I told him “My help is free. And even if he want to pay,

he can’t afford my formal charge”   “One day, if I need, I may need to ask your help”

“So, just glad to receive a help from others, and give a help when he saw if others needed”

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——- Then, he found the Chinese toys using LEDs and showed me if they can be used to control the

electronic signal in the sign-board.

Modification or adaptation of electronic circuit is much easier than to make a tandem bicycle out of

two broken bicycles (which needs to have a lots of cutting and welding —– a messy business)

As a matter of fact, I’ve been doing many of those kind of adaptation.

A video clip of my rotating  LED disco costume in Youtube was made out of a Chinese toy too.

When I saw the complicated lighting pattern of 5 LEDs in the small toy, I’ve got the idea to utilize it

(then, I made more than 10 design and the prototypes —– and one end-up as a fancy disco gadget 😀 )

If I design and make the same from scratch, by using gate ICs or a micro-controller IC, it would become

quite a size and impossible to rotates, let alone to mount it on a disco costume.

Since Chinese manufacturer designed and made it as a cheap toy, expecting to sell millions, they made

all the controlling circuit and the memory in one custom IC, everything is in a thumb nail sized board

—– so that, I’ve bought 20 of them 50 pence each 🙂 —– what a bargain 😀

Most of those ICs in the toys which execute a pre-programmed

routine is having a digital memory and its execution speed is

clocked by an internal RC clock, and its frequency is

supply voltage dependent, its mean if we change it, it could

slow down the speed.

The toys, Richard found was rapidly flashing RGB LEDs disco

pendant kind.   Those electronic circuit can be modified to flash

the letters on a sign-board by adding higher current transistor,

and can have more effective speed or giving more interesting

random movement as well.

And by using much higher supply voltage, it can light up lot more number of LEDs —– the variations are

endless —– after all, they are so cheap,  try this and that —– any faliuer wouldn’t cost you much.

Try to analyse and modify the circuit is a kind of game and a fun. —– and I made user friendly, ready to

use small board for him (and his assistants) to make sign-board.

—– rest of work is for him / he is the designer.    I was just an adviser.

It was an interesting occasion to see a person rapidly learning and succeeding.

This is the Zen at work. (for me and for him)

Let the things to come and happen.—– In Buddhist’s view, it is not an accident. 

It’s happened as it should be.

Be flexible in the brain / in the way of thinking, and to the occurence in the life,

and above all,  just do what required there in its best.

Hence, I was happy and he was happy too.

The day and the life in total would be quite fruits-full. ( with a lots of fun as well 🙂 )

___/\___

—

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.

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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 ? )

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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.

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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 ? ? ?

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SINSAI . INFO — A Website to Help Others

—

Only four hours after the Japanese Disaster, an information website called SINSAI.INFO started.

The site is giving the extracted information of what people tweeted or the report to tell what is the

situation there or needs of help in the Geological, Graphical framework.

On the beginning it was started by a small group of the IT engineers lead by Haruyuki Seki, though soon

many more volunteers joined through internet while communicating each other by the Skype Chat and

became a formidable volunteer work force.

And the persons who did similar work for Christ Church Earthquake Relief project, using

[Ushahidi Feed] open-source program which organizing and displays the information on the map

has joined, and the top expert of the web design, top expert to organize the information as the geomedia and

top expert for interfacing to other system by designing applications hence able to provide the information

through mobile-phone or to use with Android etc has all joined together.

It became a working group, almost a dream team, no commercial project can ever dreamt of, or

no commercial project can afford to employ them.

—

What was the key, How and Why, the activity like this started ?

Everybody wanted to do something to help, the sense of duty told them “Have to do something”

It was a spontaneous fundamental urge of the human psyche to help others, unconscious sense of duty,

when someone faced the situation which needs the help.

The situation  itself has driven the people —– not one’s intention or will, neither ideology.

This was a situation where the Dharma worked. And the people who is connected to the Dharma

spontaneously reacted. —– Since it was the Dharma, it was not an individual mind or intention.

This is the Selflessness of the Dharma.   And as the people having and following the Dharma,

every person worked selfless —– or it must be said, in their default state as a part of the Dharma.

—

( I doubt, if it was a commercial project, they would not have worked together in such selfless

manner.   In a commercial project, there are certain work convention exist, which limits what

the one should do —– what you ought to do must be compatible to what you were paid, and

within a reasonable working schedule —– it became a subject of relative assessment.

It mean, The Person is seeing the Work in distance / as an object = It is not in ICHIJO ( Oneness )

In contrast, free voluntary work has no limit —– free mean, no price =  priceless mean it can be

infinitum hence the quality has to be absolute and there wouldn’t be any limit of working time.

This is the condition of WHAT the MUSHIN meant and WHAT the MINDFULLNESS appeared.

The crucial point here is, they did this spontaneously / nobody asked them BUT they did

almost automatically —– How and Why ? —– Dharma inside of them, has DRIVEN them )

On top of it, the program system they have based on, Ushahidi ( Meaning “Testimony” in Swahili ) is

an open-source program. There is no monopoly or copyright control. Open-source is selfless.

And this program was best suited to organize the information in geological order.

—

The drive to start a voluntary work to set-up and run SINSAI. INFO Website was purely came from

its situation.   Dynamics was there in the Dharma and the Dharma has no self.

The situation, a phenomena of the Earth, cracked open.

As the drifting earth’s Tectonics plate collide and the stress increased, it had to be adjusted = then

the plates has moved causing big earthquake and its movement caused the huge movement of the

sea water as well, created huge Tsunami.

The movement of the plates followed the Dharma, in its Earth level action to regain the balance.

It was simply unfortunate to the human-being happened to be there.

—

Then, seeing the situation, the Dharma in Human level responded, since some of the people

were born to be good in their IT skill, for them to react in the aspect and the possibility in IT field was

their second nature.  They found the way to help the victims in their natural capabilities.

So that, their solution was the Information website [ SINSAI . INFO Ushahidi Feed ].

Since its starting point was the fundamental compassion, therefore Ego, Greed etc has no place

and the task and the requirement is Just Do the Best.

There was no place to accommodate useless thought.

In fact, they had barely enough time to set-up and made it functioning.

They frantically worked some time all through the night.

Yet still, their action has been following the Selfless Dharma, it was the right action, destined to succeed.

( Otherwise why the Dharma made them to start in the first place . And of cause,

the Dharma is the Universal force, it covers the Buddhists, and non Buddhists all alike).

This is really the Dharma at work.

___/\___

—

MOUSE !

Some days ago, I suddenly noticed something

a fluffy blob on the floor, between my foot.

Bending myself down and with close-look, I realized

its hairy tear-drop shaped blob was a Mouse.

Even with my movement he (she ?) didn’t run.

Stayed there with crouching posture, both hand

on the floor. ( well, like all the four-leg animals do naturally 🙂 ) as if he is begging me something.

I scooped him up on a cardboard paper.   Look into his tiny eyes, he gave me rather drowsy look.

I put the cardboard paper on the kitchen table and gave small piece of  tissue-paper

soaked with water and small crumble of biscuit. —– he only touched a water.

He just staid there almost motionless, and two hours later when I looked him again,

he was laying on his side —– He was dead.

—-

Next day I took his dead body to a nearby park and buried him under a blossoming cherry tree.

—– A council flat I’m living, the building has been poisoned by the council pest-controller.

These day’s rat-poison is not like an old-day’s nasty Arsenic, but very sophisticated nerve-agent.

It interferes a mouse’s nerve system and also deteriorate his eye sight.

So, a mouse coming out to a brighter open space and die,   preventing a rotten smell coming from deep,

dark corner. —– how clever and well-designed killing system.

—

Since then a thought to that mouse remained me and made me wondering.

What a hell,  how on he came to me to DIE.     I’m not a funeral director or priest.

And, how he knew I would bury him under a tree —— ? ? ?

If there is such a reputation among the mice community in this area, am I going to have hundreds

of dying mice queuing here ?    Oh, no please.

When I was young, I was a notorious insect terminator, making hundreds of Insects specimen.

———- ? ? ?

Any how, I know at least that mouse got a peace under a cherry tree, away from harsh rat (?) race.

Yet still, as it happened, it happened.    It’s not my remit to guess whether there was a kind of

intervention by the Dharma —– or else ?

What so ever happened, what I can do —– is my best and I think, I paid enough respect to him.

( Don’t ask me to make a golden coffin to him )

—– One day,  if I were attacked by a swarm of grudged insects in the Hell, an army of mice

suddenly appeared and fight off the insects. —– How sweet children’s tale isn’t it ! 😀

___/\___

—

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 30^th to 70~80^th 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.

___/\___

—