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   🙂 )

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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 )

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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 )

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—– 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.

___/\___

—

Mindfulness – Mushin – ICHIJO

In past ten days, there were quite a bit of talking with my friends and they gave me a suggestion, that

a part of the script in my last post seems to be the most simplest but crucial explanation

of the Zen Mind, and said, having those few lines of explanation, half of my blog would

become redundant.

Great ! Thank you very much —– should I feel grateful or sad ? ? ?

( Anyhow, this blog is the ongoing report of the DIY ZEN, try to figure it out and see its notion in

a perspective = its got to have a progress and the refinement )

—– so, the following is the notorious script;

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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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PS :  In the above script  [when you go to do [A], ] = this DO mean actual action not a meditation.

—– As I’ve been saying [ Just Do ] from the beginning,  Zen effect only comes with ACTION,  because

—– it is coincided with the seclusion of a neurohormone Selotonin which gives the contented feeling

—– and calm your mind down. —– This is the reason why, all the Buddhism practice is a simple

—– repeating action. —– Once anyone master this,  then the same technique can be applied to

—– any action or no-action alike = Being contended in calm while do nothing  😀     Peace !

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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 )

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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)

___/\___

—

Is MUSHIN same as Thoughtless ?

Well, it is not about a Justice / Punishment from the heaven but about the mind-set.

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These days our topics were often related to the Riot, and there was an interesting question.

“Wasn’t the mind-set of [senseless] [thoughtless] behaviour, same to the Zen

Buddhist’s [Mushin]. —– What makes the difference between them ? ? ? “

—– in fact, someone who put a comment to the previous post had the same thinking.

And this question has so many implication and the facets.

—– Once, Pablo Picasso said “ Keep drawing like a child is the hardest things in the Art”

—– Then, “what is the difference between [Innocence] or [Ignorance] to the [Mushin] ?  “

May be the easiest answer to this question is, just whack the person shouting “Idiot” —– really ?

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There was an interesting story among the legend of the Sword Masters.

In the Samurai era, top sword-man was roving around the country seeking the contest-match

against each other, in order to achieve the record / reputation. ( And the winner was invited to

give a lesson to the local Lord receiving good reward)

Then, someone got an idea of plank, dressed up an ignorant peasant as a respectable

samurai, claiming that this is the supreme sword-master, and challenging top local

sword-master.

On the match, the peasant was just standing facing real master just having his sword down.

As the peasant had a slightest idea of what the sword-mastery is, he was just standing still.

The challenged was the master who knows everything —– but as the opponent seemed to

standing utterly defenceless —– almost like an idiot (in fact he was an idiot) it made the master

utterly confused.  —– no such things could happen here.   Otherwise it must be a ploy to make

the master wrong-foot = this man must be a real sword-master and able to kill him instant.

—– it was what the master felt.  (To his eyes, the peasant’s utter ignorant appearance, not even

recognize him was seen as the ultimate Mushin only possessed by a supream sword-master  😀 )

Then, the master throw his sword away, and kneel down for begging his life.

—————

The pair prankster succeeded all the contest-match in the same way.

But, after a while, the peasant started to wonder why those famous masters just give up and

kneel down to him.   And interested in to use the sword, as he mistook that he is in deed a

strong sword-master and able to kill the opponent.

So that, on the next match, peasant break a stillness and showed a slight sign of intention.

Then, the challenged sword-master instantly reacted to this sign, sway the body to other

direction and cut the peasant into two pieces.    (The End   😀  )

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It is true, even a Zen Master has used a metaphor of the mind of small child

to describe the Mushin and a state of mind of Jizai.

And in the Buddhist’s arguments about the universality / inclusiveness of the Mahayana stance,

this matter —– What is the distinction between [Innocence, Ignorance, Senseless,

Thoughtless] to the [Mushin] is some time mixed-up.

As a matter of fact, when it is convenient, this kind of metaphor has been often used though,

[The Mushin] is a very specific, peculiar state of the mind, nothing similar to any of

those mind.  Not just the matter of inclusiveness of the Mahayana, but also the confusion of the

[ What is the Buddhist’s mind] ( before this, What is the Buddhist ? —– there are all sorts of the

Buddhist exists —– Such as to enjoy the life having the eyes to appreciate peaceful nature which

gave a feeling of the liberated mind = could be perfectly the life and the mind of a Buddhist)

—– it has been left out of strict argument.

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But in strict term, the Mushin is the state of the mind, which only occurs when our

brain ceased to operate to categorising and reconfiguring the notion. —– yet

able to react to incoming stimulant.

—– In practice, this state of mind can be reached only through the long long repeated

practice which wear out those active, intentional activities of the brain

= thinking process.

And very similar to the treatment of an allergy, those practice also wear out the basic

desire and the emotional reaction = So that, the state of the Mind [ Mind of No-Mind]

= [Mushin] is only strict to [Purely the state of No-Thinking and No-Emotion]

= Dispassionate.

(but not akin to senseless or thoughtless —– because in those cases,  senseless / thoughtless

mind is, in fact occupied by another sorts of mind = such as an anger, greed or

overwhelming fanaticism = ideology or madness)

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=== this definition must have cleared the confusion.

=== the mind of childish, senseless, thoughtless Rioters were definitely, utterly

no way near to the Buddhist’s Mushin.

[ If it was done in Mushin,  it got to bring the GOOD outcome.  This is what the

Karma mean. And if it brought bad outcome — because,  it has done not in Mushin]

—– You may say this is out of rational logic and say ” Why”,  but this is what I found and true.

And this must be the reason why the Buddhism is existing.   🙂

___/\___

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LOOTING in MUSHIN ???

Following my post [Wet Mid —] I’ve received amazing comments which said,

the young people live in the MOMENT and LOOTING is ZEN.

It seemed this man has read a book about the Zen Buddhism and picked up few buzz words, and as he is

pretty tenacious —– he might be believing what he is understanding is the Zen or believing he

had understood the Zen !

Fortunately, I haven’t read the same book therefore I can’t tell whether the book was crap or his reading was.

( ZEN for DUMB written by a dumb ?   for the dumb ?   😀 )

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Often people mistook, just pick-up a buzz-word or two is [got it] even worse [understood].

Even more worse is, especially this kind of people tend to talk a lot    😀

( In my Uni’ there was a woman nicknamed “ Three fold BESHI “ who got a reputation of, when she read

one book, she talked about three times more amount —– a book inspired her and her creative interpretation

sky-rocketed —– only a trouble was her idea was utterly bull-sit   😀 )

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Later, I gave another thought, —– in hypothesis, if the man was actually in the line of rioters, and

actually did looting —– then he realized, he has been completely absorbed in the situation, in the rapidly

changing chaotic situation, he just reacted moment to moment —– there couldn’t be a

time to give a thought, —– when he saw a gadget on a shelf = just grubbed and run.

—– then, he become aware ? ? ?    Where am I ?   Why this gadget is in my hand ? ? ?

Boila ! ! !   I got Zen, it was an act in Mushin.

Non

When he was arrested and sent to a Court,  it could make a very interesting case. —– as far as I

know,  it will create an unprecedented test case in the regal history.

If a man accused for a theft,  but pleaded not guilty on the ground of diminished responsibility

since, he was acted in Mushin,  and in the fundamentals of Buddhist’s belief, there is no Self,

therefore an allegedly accused / the man himself was not really in the crime scene = since

the body which has been captured in a CCTV is effectively empty or illusion.

( Don’t laugh  😀 —– this is quite a feasible scenario !  )

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This case would give a   nightmare  as big as public disorder itself to the Judiciary.

As it is concerns to the fundamental belief of the Buddhism,  it can not be denied or criticized, therefore

a civil-right organization such as Liberty ought to defend the case,  as they did to Sikh and Moslem, otherwise

they will be accused of their discrimination against the Buddhists.

As long as  he is not having any mental disorder,  to throw the case out in this ground wouldn’t succeed.

There wouldn’t be any difficulty to have Expert Evidences from  Zen Master,  Martial-art Master,  Sports man—–

as it compels them to testify that the teaching of Zen is not  mumbo-jumbo = Mushin is a real phenomenon.

And, Prosecutor has to prove that the [Self] of accused was existing and the proclaimed [Mushin] is not exists.

( But how to prove it ?  It is exactly the same problematic  issue like whether the God exists )

—– It is the direct confrontation over the Buddhism. ( You see how tricky this case is    😀 )

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Then, Council may address “My Load,  if the prosecutor is right,  it is the fundamental denial of the

Buddhist’s belief,  but on the other hand if the court find that the Defendant is right,  it is the seal of approval that

the Dharma exists and in the case of Buddhists,  responsibility of the Self may not exists.

Hence, creating yet another loop-hole to escape  Justice.   This would bring the serious problem to the future of

the law and order and to whole Judiciary.   Therefore only the remedy would be, an out of court settlement to

sort the difference out “

—– so, an awkward case will be swept under the carpet without leaving any precedence   😀

Ha ha ha   😀   😀

—

PS:  I will explain  What is real Buddhist’s Mushin on the next post.

___/\___

—

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.

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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.

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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 ? )

___/\___

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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   😀 )

non

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.”

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 ).

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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  🙂

—–

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.

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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.

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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.

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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