Macro Flash-light / Small Flash on Goose-neck
This must be a “You got to be joking” kind of funny, cheap adaptation of a flash for Macro
photography. —– And I would say “Why not” 😀
Since, most of my existing flashes, except Canon 430EX-II are not compatible for the latest DSLR
to give TTL flash control, I needed to buy one for Macro-flash modification which I described
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The flash I found second-hand was 270EX-II, which is using only two batteries hence pretty small and
light enough to mount on top of a Goose-neck, instead to have internal modification I did before.
Decisive fact was that I already have [off the camera flash cable] made by Sunpak more than
20 years ago which was similar to the German SCA300 adapter system used by Metz, Agfa etc.
Sunpak tried to make the adapter for all the cameras which has been started to have new function, not
only ready-light, TTL flash control but even for focus-light for AF which was newly introduced AF camera.
Because of the Camera design was keep changing while adding new function, it was a hard task to
keep-up. —– On the end Sunpak became out of breath and bankrupted.
—– so, on that time lots of Sunpak products became obsolete and sold in a give-away price.
Once, Sunpak was a dominant force in the flash-light market with very innovative design and
versatile system such as the interchangeable head system with Telephoto head, Infra-red head,
Bare-tube head etc. not mention they produced very powerful model as well.
So, when I saw a box-full of their [Flash Extension Cable] in a camera shop, I bought all of them at once,
more than 20 cables for every type of cameras. —– Flash shoe is an awkward component to make
ourselves, (still, I worked to make and modify, such as adding one more TTL contact to Pentax type to
make it Nikon type etc. 🙂 ) therefore, it’s better to keep enough supply of many types in hand,
and it’s got very useful coiled cable as well..
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DSLR camera manufacturer is selling their [Flash Extention Cable] and all of their Female connector has
only 1/4” Tripod screw. = Once flash was put on the cable, it has to be mounted on a stand, otherwise it
has to be held by a hand. In contrast, the best thing of the Sunpak Extension Cable is, male and
female can be coupled, in other words flash can be perched on top of the camera, only 45mm
higher position. So that, it can be changed Flash on the camera to hand-lighting just by pressing release
button (which can be locked as well) hence, as far as I know, this is the best designed [FlashE xtention
Cable] in the history and the materials and the construction are also very good.
———– (Photo above: 1″ Aluminium C-channel is the best to make many structures.
———– And 3/4 ” Square Pipe will just fit inside, hence they can make best coupling system !
———– And they could be easily cut by hand tools, though it’s a very tedious work. 🙂 )
So, my modification was just Epoxy glued female connector on top of a goose-neck and made a small
piece of aluminium channel to connect the goose-neck to the camera bracket which is the in-hose
standard to connect any of my flash-light systems to the cameras.
—– To use the 270EX-II flash as a Macro-flash, thanks to the flexibility of goose-neck, flash can be
positioned (more or less) where ever desired, with or without bouncing diffuser.
—– following photos are the Test sample of each lighting. (Focus and F were Fixed)
————- (The Lens was CanonEF Macro 100mm F2.8 with home made “Ultra Proxer” / F2.8)
————- (This last set of sample photo was using F11 —— slight difference of lighting changes
————- the character of the subject ! —– See the difference on enlarged images )
(And the sample photos in the field will be followed ) 😉
—– those photos are taken in my room (I’m still busy dealing with boxes 🙂 ) of a small visitor,
Beetle, head to tale 6mm or 1/4″ big, using Ultra Proxer on Canon EF 100mm Macro
with 270EX-II flash and extension cable.
(
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——— (Photo Left : 100mm Macro at F16 + Ultra Proxer, 270EX Flash with Diffuser — taken x2 size.
——— Photo Right : same setting but at F 2.8 )
Drawing with Invisible Force
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This is a wonderful watercolour drawing by Elene Caravela, which I found in her blog:
elenacaravela.wordpress.com (Quality sake, please see her Original Drawing there)
Elena has been one of the most prolific artist and the blogger who showed Watercolors, Oil paintings,
Photographs = very wide coverage of genre in very high quality work.
In the past year or so, I always impressed, even amazed by her drawings,
how her almost whimsical free blush strokes able to capture such vivid and also
realistic human figure. —– What is the secret of her creation ?
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To my comment and a notice that I want to re-blog —– she gave me her reply ;
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I’d be flattered Yoshi. I guess, I plan in my head a bit to make sure the figure will fit on the page
(mentally count out head size both vertically and horizontally, but really loosely).
Then see the movement on the spine and extremities. The force takes over.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t 🙂
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—– As she said, she might have given some consideration to the size of the
head etc. = here the thinking stops, then “the Force takes over”
To see her blush work, there is no hesitation, its quick movement some times creates even
the paint splash or drip. (in another piece) = blush and the hand moves perfectly spontaneous.
So, —— in such spontaneous blush stroke, look again the drawing above, = one blush stroke
perfectly depicted the body-line to the round bottom. — I guess, here not only the
direction of the blush movement, also it involved certain control of the pressure to the blush
and its twists, which determine the width of the line. (though, only a guess — I know the way how
to use curving chisels but not necessary the drawing blush 🙂 ) — all in the moment of one stroke!
This phenomenal control was done by the invisible Force, not possible by a human thinking.
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Spontaneity mean, there is no intentional control or thinking. —– This is nothing other than what
Lord Buddha taught = the state of Selfless / Mushin, therefore “The Force takes over”
= this Force is what Buddhists call the Dharma ! (or the Rules of the Universe)
The moment when the blush and the subject meet, the tension and the heat created
on that moment, drives the blush wild. = and creates dynamic impressive piece.
(consideration or useless thinking such as what others or market may think etc. spoil the tension
and the heat, hence makes the piece dull)
But Elena got perfect freedom not bothered by useless thinking, and I guess, when her blush was
driven by the Force, even she, herself may not able to control = blush got its own mind and move
almost automatically. That is how she creates such impressive work = It’s wild, as it was driven
by the Force of artistic nature. 🙂 That is what the art of Elena stands out.
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By the way, don’t get me wrong, I’m not implying Elena’s work is anything to do with Buddhism.
Far from it, the state of Selflessness is one of the inherent human psychological nature.
Buddhism applied it to more general aspects of the life. Not only the superb blush work, we can
achieve the superb life with it. = Quite similar to that Love is not because of the Christianity, but
they applied it to much deeper spiritual level.
Zen Buddhism pushed the potential of Selflessness to its extremities.
—– That is what the Zen Buddhism is.
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Elena has acquired this state of mind while drawing / practicing again and again,
probably tens of the thousands of times. Hence, the Buddhism using the same way of
the approach = practice it again and again until the hand started to move automatically.
= Hand moves automatic = without thinking = without self conscious = Selflessness.
In the Selflessness, invisible force takes over. This force is the Dharma. = Under
the control of the Dharma, phenomenal freedom and the result can be achieved.
This is how the Selflessness in the Zen Buddhism works.
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Don’t Think -vs- Think yourself
Almost crèche like joke among the Zennist is this contradiction.
Think yourself yet still Don’t think. Well, here is a typical sample.
This is an Electronic multi-meter, and the matter here is its cables. Some of you might think
“What the matter to fuss about such trivial things” and you may say “Anyhow, when we use next time,
we need to loose the cables anyway. Why bother to tidying up each time ?” —– still in the same time,
you may remember the past trouble of entangled cables with other wire. And when the cable was left
loose on the work bench, you may needed to un-entangle them while wasting the time which was
always in the busiest moment. And in the worst situation, try to pull the cable out, then it was broken,
and in such moment you don’t have a spare. In any account, it is better to keep the cable tidy.
No one can argue or think otherwise.
Not told by others, what you thought and convinced by yourself,
its understanding stays for ever.
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This is the end of argument and the THINKING process. Once you were convinced,
just DO IT in practice. (—– only an obstacle is your laziness. 🙂
But, if you a person, aiming better, you will DO IT. Why not. This is THE ZEN.)
—– in practice, once you made it as a habit = after use, always just put the cable back to round
the meter and tie it up with the tape. (to make it like in the photo ! )
It is a simple practice hence, no-one need to think or use the brain to do it.
—– the hand will do it automatically as a habit. = When everything are tidy, there
wouldn’t be any havoc on the work. —– This is how “Peace of mind” comes from. 🙂
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Lord Buddha’s teachings are all for gaining the NO SELF, and MUSHIN state of mind.
To be in this state, everything has to be left to the subconscious hence NO conscious thinking there.
Because of this, he showed how he does it and made the followers to copy, or gave an instruction
what to DO. But never explained why, or what was the intention. Simply because, if it was
explained, the person remember the word, then an action become “an action according to the word”
= stuck to its notion / Thinking.
This is the reason why, if you think, Sitting is for a practice of Mushin, you are wrong.
If you sit, just sit. = If you settle your bottom on the floor, that is what sitting is. You don’t need any
thinking. —– In fact, it doesn’t matter, whether you are standing or walking.
= Just let the body to DO, stand or walk.
Without your thinking, your body knows everything how to keep balance while sitting or walking
whatsoever. This automatic, inherent perfect control was seen as the Dharma.
(Hence, the Dharma is in you !)
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Then, what you can see or find in the state of absolute Selfless, Mushin —– So far,
NO clear description was ever elucidated by anyone.
Just say, the state of Panya Paramita. —– there might be NOTING.
Or, this Nothing may be the ultimate wisdom what human being can ever get.
So to say, the Dharma is everything, in the same time it is nothing = VOID.
(If you think, it is a matter for you.—– But, if you don’t think, there is no issue here. 😀 😀 )
How great, Zen is. — don’t you agree ? Ha ha ha. 😀
___/\___
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Photos in Tone
Nature has its own tone, under rather subdued light, it’s shows subtle shade.
Shape and its 3D structure may not as clear like the image under the direct light though,
we are not necessary need to see such detail.
Subtle shade seemed to show more of what they are as it is.
Just see and appreciate as they are, without imposing my view is in fact less tiring and
able to relax. After all, the photos here are not for any scientific or reference purpose.
They are just what they are today as I’m here on this moment.
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Buddha’s Silence
After I wrote [Moksa / Moksha] I had some talk with a man who is a staunching believer of
“to gain higher conscious to attain enlightenment, to escape from the cycle of re-birth”.
—– naturally he didn’t like my view of that the current Buddhism is a mixed-up.
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While wondering why the people couldn’t understand such obvious historical fact and rational
conclusion. I try to see the Wiki kind in the net, to see what others are writing about what
Lord Buddha’s silence toward the question. (I normally refer to the collection of Buddhism
scriptures in modern Japanese translation) — then I found those writers in Wiki kind, often use the
term “Samsara” etc. which is a Hindu term, and the use of the word such as [SELF] was rather in
casual way. I realized, this must be yet another case of “writer is not necessary understand
what the [Selflessness] in the original teachings”.
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Lord Buddha’s silence said to be occurred in two kind of questions.
One was about the world or space, whether it is infinite and eternal or not.
And the other was such as what would happen to the Spirit or the Self after the death.
—– a funny connection to those questions, I remember an episode in the Agama Sutra, which I
wrote in a post [Three times Buddha] there could be a fixed attitude in
Lord Buddha’s responce.
After try to teach in tree different approaches, if they didn’t work, he just stop to talk.
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Lord Buddha’s teachings about the SELF was nothing like other Guru or Philosophers’, such as
theoretical argument of “if the self exists —- blah blah” “if not blah blah—” but
a definite phenomenon exists in our mind (brain) such as I wrote in a post
[ Selflessness demonstrated]. —– This is the very Selflessness what
Lord Buddha had based on in his teachings. This was the reason why the another episode
[Test of Selflessness] existed. — (Of cause, on the assumption, those episodes are true historical
event ) as I explained, this Selflessness (in fact virtually all of his teachings) was not a subject of
logical argument but just to be sublimated to the depth of unconsciousness and just to be.
Like “Honesty” it’s not a matter of understanding the meaning of word. Just Don’t lie.
The only rule was Just do it, Just be it. No question. No thinking.
= If the one was really in Selfless state, no question of such as “After death” could arise.
( Being oneself without having even a conscious to be oneself, no separate objective view toward
the self, let alone to the future after the death. —– no such mind could exists)
Honest man never think, nor need to think about the eyes of other people.
—– therefore, when he was asked the very question, he must be very
annoyed, hence ignored it and kept silence.
Even a conscious of self is not in the living body, how it could remain after the death.
(Self is a product of intentional thinking = delusion. Hence, when the producer dies, its product too)
And as all the existences are inter-dependent and keep changing, how could we know
how far it extend and what happenes next moment = as nothing would last for ever.
(—- Don’t you remember what I’ve taught ? Don’t ask obvious question again ! )
Lord Buddha didn’t even explain why he smiled, nor he would why he didn’t answer.
___/\___
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(The trouble of those Wiki authors are, that they are thinking the SELF is yet another
existence. But, in the original Buddhism teachings, the matter was its NON existence.
= talk about what not there is pointless. —– in fact, it indicates, that they are not
Buddhism scholar but probably Hindu writer who is familiar with the idea of “Atoman”
Lord Buddha’s Selflessness is the VOID of it, unlike an idea of Box contains “Kind Mind”
or “Self-Sacrificing Mind” “Supreme Holy Mind” etc. —— but Box itself is NOT there. )
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Moksa / Moksha
Time to time I encounter the people who use a word Moksa or Moksha.
Most of the case they are not a Buddhist but somewhat around of it, such as Herbalist,
Acupuncturist, Psychoanalyst, or so-called New-age type of people who knew or read
something about “Higher state of Consciousness” kind. (Buzz word “Higher” would
satisfy the Ego = I’m better than others. 😀 —– thus, able to sell more books)
Yet still, a sect of Buddhism, Theravada who supposed to maintain the older form of
Buddhism, is using this word Moksha instead of Nirvana.
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Even among the Mahayana Buddhists, their understanding of the Buddhism is to deal with
this endless cycle of re-birth / Samsara, and to close this cycle is the Nirvana.
And most of the Buddhists believe, this is the fundamentals of the Buddhism.
This must be the biggest blunder and a fraud in the human history.
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This matter has been the most grievous headache to decipher Buddhism to me.
Lord Buddha’s teaching has broken the tradition and the popular belief of the
perpetual soul. As everything is in the Karma, relating and depending each
other, non can remain for ever. Naturally, when the body has died, the mind,
the soul resided in there, ceased to exist = So, this is the end of the suffering of
the person, hence it is the Nirvana.
So that, how come, why after one’s death, the person
has to suffer rebirth, to keep having the trouble of so-called Samsara ? ? ?
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Utterly contrary to popular belief, the idea of Samsara was not what
Lord Buddha taught. —– I haven’t traced all of his words in the scriptures still,
just give a rational thought, it is obviously THE self-contradiction of which NO
Lord Buddha would have made.
Lord Buddha might have used the word “Samsara” for a sake of convenience,
when he talked to mass audience who was not educated but
at least know it mean the trouble of the life. —– Assuming, if
Lord Buddha said, “My teaching will save you from the trouble of Smsara”
—– What he meant was “Trouble of the IDEA of Samsara” since,
such IDEA itself is nothing but a false DELUSION which fooled the people.
Lord Buddha needed to teach and save the people who has been suffering
from a fear of such deluded IDEA, saying ” Don’t worry no such re-birth
would ever happen, since the soul wouldn’t remain after the death” (But
people’s fear is a cash-cow of Guru and Monks, they changed the story)
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It seemed, this “Story-Change” had happened in the earliest stage of the Buddhism history,
long before even the Agama Sutra was written. Considering that Theravada sect is using
a word Moksha which was originated from a popular Cult then who taught the idea of
Samsara and the Moksa, this mixed-up must be happened long before the birth of
Mahayana Buddhism.
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The IDEA of said ancient Cult was that all the life-form born as its own stage of progression
from the lowest to highest, hence this idea became the Cast System in the Hinduism.
And according to the one’s deed, if the one did good enough, the one will reborn in the higher
cast but did bad goes back to the lower, even down to be a beast. This cycle of Rebirth is
the Samsara, and only the highest will get ultimate Moksa to end this cycle.
Lord Buddha totally against this IDEA, hence in his Sangha, all the followers were
treated as equal (NO cast), and he taught, ultimate goal can be reached in one life
as Nirvana (NOT the Hindu idea of Moksa which may takes several lives to reach ).
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Lord Buddha’s teachings were “How to acquire the mind-set [Detachment
= Mushin, Selflessness] to deal with harsh reality in life, and to see the TRUTH”.
= The Truth, “No such things like SELF exists, hence nothing to be Reincarnated”
and to live in this truthful life, the one can reach peaceful Nirvana.
He did not teach a product of imagination, far from it, he fought against it.
—– If you believe otherwise, please show me a FACT of Rebirth.
Lord Buddha was not such idiot to teach dubious imaginary story.
___/\___
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ヨシ禅縁起
（これは友人に送った手紙の拔粋で，まァ日本霊異記，仏教説話の現代版ですな）
———————————————————–
昔母親が僕の手相を読みながら ｢お前は下らない事ばかりやっているが，曲った事だけはやらない。それに使命を負って生れていますからそれを果すまでは絶対に犬死にする事はないし，そもそも不動様が付いているので全く心配していません」と言い放ってくれた事があった。 しかし，なんで俺ごときに，わざわざ不動様の番が付かねばならぬのか？
この意味が把めたのは実に厄年も過ぎてからで ーーー ハタ！そう言えばえらくヤバい所を歩き回っていた割にマムシ、ハブはおろかサソリ、毒グモの類に出合った事も無い。 考えてみるとそもそも病気にかからない。 岩場で二度も転落しながら全くの無傷。 大転倒してスキーを二本も折りながら何の怪我も無し。 一方、背後から刺してくれた者、裏切ってくれた者が突然癌にかかってコロッと死んだり、もっとひどいのは死ぬ事もならず苦しみ続けている。 山で嫌がらせのしごきをやってくれた男は即、雪盲で動きもとれなくなって痛みでひいひい泣いていた。(因みにこの男、しばらく前に山に登ったものの徹底して暴風雨にたたられたとか＝神サマ後々までかなりしつこいらしい。笑） 偉そうに命令はするが自分では薪切りも荷上げもやらなかった小屋番の五人は還暦を迎える事もなく他界して当時のメンバーはあとー人しか生残っていない。（ずっと後になって知った訳だが全く異った状況と死因ながら五人が次々に、というのには流石に目をむいた） ーーー 小生が常連になると店や団体は大繫盛，逆に行くのを止めるとそこは倒産する。—–（ディスコ四軒，カフェ二軒，三団体, 山小屋二軒） 遇然にしてはちょっとタイミングが重なり過ぎている。（全て知らないうちにそうなっていたので，小生が呪いをかけた訳ではない－－－念の為）（例外的にBrixtonのクラブスタッフには予め警告を与え次の仕事捜しを勧めておいたのだが、六ヶ月後現実につぶれるまでは誰も本気にしなかったようだ。）
［］で，もっと奇妙なのが［８１５０の怪］といふ奴で，こちらの関係先，立回り先，それこそ電話番号から
銀行口座，
ブログの統計ページ，
ユーチューブの整理番号に至るまで，
将に「張番中］とばかりにこの数字が現れる。 －－－数字学の人によるとこれは語呂合せ通りに［ハイゴレイ，背後霊］の告知なんだそうな。－－－思い込みにしては，本人が選んでいる番号ではないし，それが勝手に現れて来るのは止めようもなく，現に個人向けの物に出て来る事実は動かし難い。－－－しかし、どんなメカニズムで現れて来るのかね？
［］と言うのを逆から考えてみて，ハタと思い当ったのは，実は小生は元々坊主になる為の修業をさせられていたのではと。 虫や花の自然観察から始まって科学一般，一方では詩人逹の人間学，次に社会学で視野を広げる一方，山登りの有無を言わせぬ荒行と，小屋番の只働き ＝ そりゃ無私無心の達人にもなるさ。 （永平寺の香月師はそれを一目で見拔いた訳だ）
で，幸か不幸か裁判沙汰で仕事を離れ，改めて禅なるものを考えるうちに無私無心と神経生理との関係に気が付き，禅と仏教の謎が一気に解けた。
［ で，これも何故か遇然，ブログを始める事になり，書始めてから気付いたのは，どうやらこれは
釈尊以来，２５００年間で初めての解釈，ひょっとしてこれはえらい大役で，これが母親の言っていた使命なるものではなかろうか？ もしそうであるなら，そりゃ不動明王の加護，背後霊の加護が付くと言うのも納得が行く。－－－逆に見れば，これが必要であったからこそ，全てがここに集束すべく物事が生起して来た，生起すべく配置されていたという事だろう。
遇然のように見えているが実は全て起るべく定まっていた訳です。（これを運命と呼ぶ）
［］唯一困るのは，小生のブログでは元々の仏教に怪し気なナンジャモンジャは（あれはヒンズーや土俗タントラの混交）存在しないし
釈尊もそれに対する質問は無視して黙っていたとされている（無記）－－－それではこの不動明王と言うのは何者で，そもそも小生の運命を規定するダルマに意志や意図が有るのかと言う難問が出てしまう。
ダルマは単に縁起が網のように連鎖した［空］で意図を持たない無私である筈。（まァそれは不可知と逃げるのですが） （しかし，これも逆説で，もし小生のやっている事，書いている事がダルマや
釈尊の意図に反しているならそれこそ大逆罪で，とっくの昔にコロッと死んでいた筈だし，嫌がらせやハッカー攻撃を受けてブログもつぶれていた筈。）ーーー結果として何故か小生が禅仏教の基になった脳生理について語る事になった。 小生自身は悟りを得ようとも教祖になる気もさらさら無く単に迷信に侵された仏教者，研究者に［これが本来の教えというもの］を証したいだけで，２５００年の間に一人ぐらいは，これをやる奴が居ても良かろうと言う事です。
［］ これを整理，組識化し，宗教化するも哲学化するもそれは誰かの仕事で，それも因果の生起として起るものなら起り，仏教も元々の形に戻るでしょう。あるいは，鼻クソとして消えるものなら消えて行く。 それがダルマの意志,と言うものでありそれが己れに付いたカルマです。
合掌 良禅拝
［］
Zen Sound of Fuke Shakuhach
There was a funny chain of connections. It was started a word “Kuwa-no-mi”
(桑の実 / Mulberry) in a post by a prolific blogger Tokyobling, in which he talked about it
with the photo of tree in Tokyo. —– I’ve put a comment “80% of Japanese may not
know what the Mulberry tree is, still 99% of them knows the Word
“Kuwa-no-mi” because of a song “Aka-tombo” ( 赤とんぼ/ Red-Dragonfly) which
was dubbed as the Second National Anthem of Japan.
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May be with my emotional attachment to this song which strikes Japanese psyche and
my associated memory, (—– Aka-tombo only appears on the end of summer which
meant us the end chapter of all the sweet and bitter memory in that summer
(and our youth) —– (you must remember, when you were young and small, how one
summer was long and eventful which was engraved deep into your subconsciousness =
You know, we only had 10 or so summers in the whole life to grow into an adulthood !)
And I’m very conscious about this Mulberry tree and the distinct taste of its berry.
So that, since when I accidentally found this tree in a town called Hitchin, I made my
annual ritual to visit there every year and eat the berry, until I found the another tree
in south London. (I talked about this tree in one of my post.)
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As an answer to my comment, Tokyobling sent me a link for a song-video of
“Aka-tombo” in Youtube.
—–> while listening a song, I found another Japanese old folk-song as well, which was
accompanied by a traditional Japanese bamboo wind-instrument called Shakuhach (尺八).
—–> as usual in Youtube, many related or similar kind are listed next by next.
—–> and I stumbled this viz, which plays “Fuke Shakuhachi” (普化尺八)
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Fuke-shu (普化宗) is in fact, one of the Zen sect unique to Japan, and
there is a temple called “Fuke-dera” (普化寺) in south of Kyoto.
(I hope it still exist though, many years ago, it was said only 9 monks left
but in this viz the monk was from Mukai-ji temple, there might be more monks in
another temple —– incidentally, why he is hiding his face is a symbol of No-Self )
(Composer Toru Takemitsu’s “November Steps” is the most famous adaptation of
this sound to Contemporary music. It’s worthwhile to listen ! )
—– This sect is using the sound of Shakuhach to teach what the
Dharma, and the Enlightenment is.
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But in practice, just to make a sound out of this instrument is hard enough because,
there is not much structure to make sound = one end of bamboo was just cut in angle
and having small notch to blow (that all 🙂 )= it is the matter of the way to blow in
certain angle. —– ( for me it wasn’t too difficult as I had an experience to blow sound
out of Peruvian Quena Flute which got somewhat similar structure) Still to play
good sound, let alone to master Kaza-iki etc. must takes 10,20 years of practice.
And THE result is —– just as it is = the sound you can hear but just the sounds,
nothing more than the sound neither Bamboo changed to the Gold. 😀
= still, if it is good, it’s good and in deed, it shows (or sounds) the Dharma,
—– or you may hear it, as a sound of the nature or its reflections.
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This is in deed, touches the hardest part of the Zen teachings and the deepest
human psyche which could interact or communicate with the Dharma.
(I wouldn’t imply, Dharma would talk to you though —– we might only feel, passively. 🙂 )
For this, please read those posts; [Harmony in Dharma] / [Aaaaaa~~~~~]
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Still some of you might say, So what ? —–
Nice tone which sound no apparent pattern or rhythm, hence it refuses
our mediocre comprehension, and its high tone makes our perception
sunk deep into the spiritual state (or totally open minded blank state).
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I met quite few professional Shakuhach players as most of Japanese traditional music
regularly needs to have them. Of cause, a player, able to play and able to make
beautiful sound doesn’t needed to be an enlightened Zen Buddhist, let alone Fuke monk.
And not necessary beautiful sound makes the people to get enlightenment.
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Yet still, to a person who actively seek an enlightenment, start from making
Shakuhach out of raw bamboo by himself, and try to achieve the best sound,
is the typical (endless, repeated) Zen practice.
—–> on the end, no wonder, the one could achieve and reaches to the state
of Ichijo = player, bamboo pipe, the air, the sound, all become one = as what
the Dharma is. Still, this is nothing but the state of blankness, Mushin
= the mind was sublimated into infinite Void.
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—– Because it is blank or Void, there isn’t much of use, hence it is a Dog shit.
And only there is a blank, what left in your life is, Just carry on, be who you are.
(expecting anything else is nothing but one’s Greed and Pretentious Ego and it is nothing but
a Delusion. Since, Void will not hold anything in it —– though, Mahayana
understanding is, because of it is Void, everything is in, since it would make no difference
at all = So, your life is your only life.)
Never mind, as long as the sound is good, it’s good.
___/\___
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Hand-made Bag
This not a museum piece from the Captain Scot’s camp.
This is a bag I made about 1976 and used over 10 years since.
Unless I was on a Shooting assignment to carry full gear,
I only needed to carry A5 size Duplicate Notebook and,
may be just one Nikon with wide angle lens. — Only to carry
little things, ordinary bag on the market was too big.
Then I found a leather-goods shop selling off-cut leather,
I decided to make one, fit to my use.
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—– To make a bag out of off-cut pieces need to have just
a cut and stitch work though, being off-cut, the leather
pieces are irregular shaped mixed sizes,
I needed to do a jig-saw puzzle first, to make required, workable
flat piece of leather. And how to design such as closing fitting
on the top flap was the another fun. 🙂
(I used the same key system for the small coin-purse too.)
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—– Whether you convinced or not, this is a Zen practice.
When making it, there wouldn’t be any other thoughts. (Mindfulness)
And while stitching it, just fingers were working. (Mushin)
Considering the time spent, it wouldn’t make much financial gain nor
as it is not a kind of Master piece to show-off, it’s far from any Arrogance.
Still it was a fully absorbed commitment to deal with the material and the work.
So, it was, I would say in Ichijo. ( Oneness = Non Duality )
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—– Forget the brah brah, anyway the bag worked well, for its purpose
and it was my good companion for rather long time on my life.
___/\___
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Test of Selflessness
While looking for a hint to see what was the mind-set of
Lord Buddha, here and there such as in
the Agama Sutra, I stumbled that
Lord Buddha had intentionally not revealing
his intention preventing the followers become
“head big brah brah person”.
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An episode in the Argama, which was — In a rainy night
Lord Buddha told a disciple, Ananda that he is going for
a walk. (without telling where or what for.)
To follow him, Ananda came out carrying umbrella and
torch-fire. Everybody in the sangha followed as well,
each carrying umbrella and a torch, as they have been
accustomed to follow their teacher. —– After a while
walking up a hill, and saw all of his followers were there,
Lord Buddha smiled. Then Ananda asked him,
“Great Teacher never smiled without a reason. So,why
this time ?” but he received no answer why.
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Lord Buddha has, in fact, tested
the followers reaction and their progress.
Even under a condition, not nice for a walk, still all
the followers actually followed him. Which was an
indication of that, everybody had sublimated his
teachings and able to do it in practice.
—– What was the crux of teaching ?
= Without asking why or what for, despite in a rainy
night, just follow unconditionally, was a proof of that
everybody has reached to the Selfless state of the mind,
hence able to respond the situation as it’s happened.
(As he saw the sign, that the teachings has
worked perfect, so, smiled.)
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Lord Buddha had such a good insight of human mind.
That was why he never explained the intention why,
or the logic behind of it. —– Once he explained and gave
a verbal key, the followers remember it as a buzz-word
and become head-big, then the thinking start to
control their behaviour which is nothing but a
sham or superficial pretence.
Buddhism is not a religion of Dogma of which followers
have to read and remember and recite the words, but the
Buddhism changes one’s psyche down to the subconscious
level through the practice. (= not behave what was told by
the Dogma or Rules, but naturally do it unconsciously)
If followers knew that it is a test to check whether the one
can respond at once without questioning and to follow
in the state of Selflessness. —– it can be mimicked and
easily pretended while competing with others.
(Look at me, I can do this. I’m better than you —–
this arrogance is the most remote from the Buddhist’s mind.)
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This episode clearly showed the essence of the Buddhism,
hence it become clear, how unfortunate the followers
of especially Zen Buddhism today. = Knowing that
the Zen is to get Mushin etc. brah brah, it is
completely opposite to get Mushin, let alone Zen.
If the one has a conscious of “I’m in Mushin”, it is not
Mushin at all. It is the same to tell “I’m doing the sitting
in silence” (—– If so, shut up. Just sit ! :-D)
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To master the Zen, you may need to be thrown into a
situation, where you were forced to do something utterly
boring repeating work (as a volunteer ?)
—– after you became able to do the work almost like an
automatic machine (while knowing, it’s useless to complain)
—– then need to realize “Aha, this the Selfless state
of Mushin” ! = So, it is even better if it looks most unlikely
set-up to do Zen, which would prevent to hold any pretence.
(In my case, it has happened while I was working in a
mountain shelter, cutting log, and in Disco dancing. 😀
= I was lucky, similar to Huineng who was placed to work
in the kitchen of the Monastery.)
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—– In fact, sitting in a temple to learn Zen is the worst
setting to learn, since such conscious of
“I‘m doing Zen” prevent the person to get rid of
such notion and the thinking.
It’s exactly the same irony = try to get cured in a hospital
where all sorts of infectious germs, viruses has been
brought in and more concentrated than anywhere else. 😀
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—– And in the same context, what I’m writing here
could be quite harmful to a novice, as I’m revealing the
trade secret, while analysing mechanism of
the psyche in the Zen, utterly contrary to
Lord Buddha’s silent smile, aforesaid —– still, this
may be help the people who is studying psychology.
= So, it may need to put a health warning.
“Experienced Adult only” 😀 )
But this is what this Blog is, using my own mind as
a guinea-pig to figure-out what the Zen is. !
(Try to see Zen, objectively is not in Ichijo in Zen,
therefore the most remote from own Enlightenment.)
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(And that was why master Kogetsu damned me, that I
can get no Enlightenment ! — but, What’s wrong ? 😀
Get an enlightenment may help mere one person,
but to those millions of the people, who has been
mislead by a mixed-up-Buddhism, to open their eyes
could be a crucial matter.
and that must be the will of
Lord Buddha and the Dharma.)
___/\___
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PS : Friend asked me at once “So, is it useless and
hopeless to attempt to learn ZEN at all now ?”
“Not at all. Don’t try ZEN but just clean your
room or kitchen. 🙂
Make it perfectly clean and do it everyday”
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