Winter Cherry 2015

Someone might say,”Same again how boring”

though, it’s not only an accustomed tradition here

but this tree is more than a friend to me.

She is an indicator of Life.

Having had a rather unusual life style = flowering in  

the winter and the last one tree left among the three,

— to see her flowering again in this year, really

gave me a sigh of relief.

By the way, they are the same flower though, right photo was taken

with a built-in flash of the Nikon D810, and I found it is rather useful.

(Though, flashlight was diffused by a white paper.)

So far, the weather in London is not cold at all.  Still it is winter.

The photos here were taken by either Zeiss 18mm F3.5 for Nikon or

Homemade single glass lens/so-called Gaudy Lens on Nikon D810.

(Strangely, the Non-CPU lens on D810 was functioning well here —

I haven’t fully tested whether D800 and D810 got different OS/setting.

The setting was for Non-CPU/Zeiss 18mm Lens = the Lens, brighter

than F5.6 may be working but may not be with Pinhole unless AI ring

was set to the proper position.)

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Wasn’t that a Contradiction — or— Enlightenment ?

Somebody questioned me after this paragraph :

—– You have to see it by your eyes.  Not from the stories.

Otherwise, Why You need to bother be a Buddhist.

To contact with all the fresh stimuli with your naked sense will

keep your brain young.  —– Which was

the last paragraph of the last post = Meaning on the Hand.

“You (mean Me) been saying “See the world in Detached eyes.

Do the things like a routine without Emotion” but here you

say “Feel it with naked sense” — which is true ?”

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Aha, you are right.  I didn’t pay enough attention.

It was a matter of the stage, while people gain the awareness.

= Going through the pathway, people gain the awareness and in

the same time perception, attitude etc everything will change,

but only stage by stage.  It will not happen in one go.

—– With the endless repeated practice, the person may gain a

mentality to do the practice as a routine, out of emotion, and gain

an attitude to carry-out the work/dairy life in a detached mind.

Once the person mastered this mental state, in fact the person

became immune to the emotional up and down and became a

cool observer to his/hers own life.    Once the person reached to

this stage, the person would be liberated from the Person itself.

This is the biggest Paradox in Zen. = As the person IS now free

from the SELF, there will be NO concern left = even the own life,

therefore free to commit anything.  So, feel free, enjoy or cry free.

In fact, here is an Enlightened Person.

___/\___

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Meaning on the Hand

Well, this is the Post diverted and became its own from the previous post.

Hand is a body parts which got second highest concentration of

the nerve after the eyes.  And especially we human got our hands

best developed among any animals, we have best and the most

delicate control of them.    So that, not only its dexterity or the

physical function, its acquired the mean of expression as well. 

We can read the meaning of what the hand is telling or symbolizes,

and the eyes tend to follow what the hand is expressing.  

(I mean not only F**K or Peace kind of sign but also more delicate

mood of its operator as well.)  🙂  

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Among the Buddhism, Tantra sect having not only their Dharani

(magic words) but also quite complicated form of the hand sign

(or finger twists which the followers do the same — and they are

showing off it each others “Look I can do better than you”).

It’s hard to guess where it was originated, = each

Buddhism Figures are showing their unique hand sign.

You may search their meanings or each name in the Wiki  though,

I don’t think it would bring any worthwhile understanding of the

Buddha’s teachings.   They are just the cosmetic style.

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= After all, the core of the teachings was, to reprogram the brain to

jump the process in the Emotional Region in Limbic System, where

the notion of Self-interests = Ego / Greed / Desire  were induced.

It is the same situation to learn ride a Bicycle = reprogram the Motor

Region of brain to learn the body-balance on the bicycle = intellectual

understanding of “How to ride” wouldn’t work, but physical practice.

Lord Buddha’s last words in his death bed to the disciples was

“Don’t believe what others say or you head, but learn it yourself”

—– This episode signify

(1) His teaching could not be understood intellectually but only 

a practical learning of the body and the mind could materialize.

Such as,  you been reading this blog without noticing WHO is

reading this — ?   = We are living without noticing the SELF.

Unless we assert “Me Me Me” Self is not there.

— With a practice, you will get a technique to apply this mental

mechanism to do the subject which was awkwardly entwined with

your Ego, without Emotion and without the so-called Self.

(2) The reason why

Lord Buddha had to say it in such a precious, last remaining

moment was that his disciples has yet necessarily mastered it.

—– And this fact explain why the Buddhism and its teachings of

“No-Self /Anatman” (No soul to Reincarnates) was misconceived

and mixed up with the Hinduism (which says Reincarnation) since

such early days.

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When we saw a hand and feel what sort of meaning it’s saying,

— we can feel but it can not be interpreted into the words.  

Our hand express unconsciously = and we read it unconsciously.

= they are out of the lexical comprehension.   —– The most of

Lord Buddha’s statue having the hand sign called “Semui” (in

Japanese) which said to mean “Don’t be afraid” — Can you see it ?

I can only see “Oh, what a big hand !” —– 😀 

—– You have to see it by your eyes.  Not from the stories.

Otherwise, Why You need to bother be a Buddhist.

To contact with all the fresh stimuli with your naked sense will

keep your brain young.   🙂

___/\___

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Selfridge Xmas Window 2015

Hand is a body parts which got second highest concentration of

the nerve after the eyes.  And especially we human got our hands

best developed among the any animal, we have best and the most

delicate control of them.    So that, not only its dexterity and the

function, its acquired the mean of expression as well. 

We can read the meaning of what the hand is telling or symbolizes,

and the eyes tend to follow what the hand is expressing.  

(I mean not only F**K or Peace sign but also more delicate mood

of its operator as well.)  🙂  

In old days, Selfridge’s decoration was based on the Children’s Tales

— though children themselves are not the shopper, and the Xmas

itself has changed its character too = Religious to Kid’ and to the

Grownup’s Shopping event.  🙂

= So, the window decorations now are,   Grownup’s fantasy !

(often, bizarre one) —– and they are fun to watch !   🙂

The lens used for those shootings were either Canon Fish-eye 8~15mm or

homemade, so-called Gaudy Lens and the Camera was Canon 5D Mk-III.

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Ai Weiwei Exhibition

Actuary, I went to the Fortnum & Mason again with different

lens (or hole ?) — Then, I just crossed the street to other side,

to the Royal Academy = where happen to have an exhibition

of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei.

Academy’s courtyard having trees or re-assembled dead wood.

It was an utterly odd view.  Those trees were not in the original

shape nor well composed big “Ikebana” but the standing mess.

I wondered what’s going on the inside.

(Photo above = tons of building steel rod were piled up on the floor

=Ai Weiwei is not good to make the things by himself but to

organize the  workers to do the job.)

I’m not a fun of Ai Weiwei. 

I can see he is trying hard to MAKE something “looks like an ART”.

= in other words, he was not a born artist = so that, to squeeze the

brain to manufacture the piece, not spontaneously creates a shape.

Hence, the piece wouldn’t hit our emotion but just boggle the mind. 

= So, the art critics needs to write about those “Boggle” = keeping

them busy and the art-media flourish. — The good art will hit the

viewer’s subconscious direct = no need of explanation nor critics’

blah blah.  😀

So, those were the pieces made out of the pretext of the earthquake

= the list of the dead (Left) and the debris (right).

— did such big disaster inspire him only those ?   If I were him, I

would have put a school text book or a bunch of hair between the

debris = bad taste but such straight visual signal will hit the

subconscious of the viewers direct, without needs of blah blah.

Photo left showing “a chair IS a part of a tree” = I know,

a chair used to be a tree. = So what ?

And the photo right = nicely made cabinet having holes =

spoiling the effort and saying a twist = again So, what =

What a cheap idea.  Can’t you conceive anything better ?

Yet again like the words of a second class art school

teacher = “Make a thing out of norm/Break a stereotype”.

TV camera (or that kind of shape) was made by plastic.

Chinese has been making so many utterly inconceivable

products such as fake eggs, fake protein (melamine) in

the milk etc etc = Ai Weiwei should learn from them if he

want to impress us with the eye-opening incredible idea !

Something scribble ? — or repeated print covering whole wall.

He might have thought = highly technical idea — a piece using

the reflection of acril plastic. = Yes I can see its funny reflection.

So, what ?   A bit strange doesn’t mean “Impressive”  🙂

Everyday’s  objects made out expensive jade.

Handcuffs made out of plastic. Useless and out of norm again.

(Chinese kid’s toy Handcuffs were all made by plastic ) ?

Fabricated trees in the room — not impressive though, they 

still showed a kind of fun-full free structure he must have

enjoyed like a game.  So, I liked this piece.

Thousands white plastic pieces covering the floor and one

baby buggy  (= somewhat impressive fine work)

— is this related to the Chinese Scandal / billion of forcibly

aborted fetus by the “one child policy” ?  (I only guess =

I didn’t get any information or bought an exhibition catalog.

= In my policy, I SEE the piece, not study it by the words.)

In this room, and the confined small box explaining what

Ai Weiwei himself has been subjected by the So-Called

Authority’s tenacious interrogation = kind of torture/

intimidation/suppression.

This is not an art but just an indictment.= may have a

political meaning still, visually boring exhibit. Not impressed.

So far, this must be the most impressive piece in this exhibition.

May be it was just a coincidence = still, how bizarre.

On this occasion, I had only Concentric-Double-Dencity Pinhole

intended to use for F&M Window shooting, which was not best

suits for this  subject still, I think it wasn’t too bad.

—– If you want to see more info’ or clear images please

search in the net or go to the exhibition yourself. = don’t ask me.

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Cult Party

My friend’s Immersible Cult got 2 years anniversary and had

an end of the year party.  Especially they organized “Tokyo Dream”

party this year which was even featured in the Evening Standard

ES magazine, the party got quite few Japanese guests as well.

Free meals and drinks — though, they were completely vegetarian 

= boiled alive potatoes, skinned alive carrot etc etc.

= not much mercy for them.   🙂

In fact the guests are the staffs or the freelance artists who has been

involved into those projects etc = worked together, familiar faces.

Still, I do necessary know every faces neither who was doing what.

(In this time, those fuzzy photos were taken by a homemade

So-called Gaudy Lens — though some of them were out of focus)

Then the attraction started = Japanese singing/performing group

Frank Chickens. (Started here as the female Ninja !)

But, I’m not sure what are they doing.  🙂

The singers group Frank Chickens started 70s —–

and now having some new and young members.

(and even Irish and Polish men as well)

They sound something Rockefeller Building — ?

Don’t ask me what.  🙂

Then the party went into a dancing conclusion.

And so on, so on ~ ~ ~ till early morning.

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F&M Xmas Window 2015 (A)

Yes it’s the season to see one of my favorite subject = Xmas

show-windows.   And they are the Xmas window of the

Fortnum & Masons. (It’s an annual customs. Sir.)   🙂

(And for me, to shoot them, it’s the annual custom too.)

And on this post, they are rather ordinary kind of the photos.

(In my standard)   😀

I mean ordinary = By widely available Lens in normal shot.

= no artificial lighting or stage up = Just clicked straight photos.

If you think it’s looks a bit strange — don’t blame me. 

Blame F&M for their crazy decoration.  And if you click, 

a fish-eye lens, it naturally produces this kind of image

= It’s normal nothing special.

I think I took the pictures of the same man on the door so

many times = every year he is in the same place.

(And he might be thinking too, Gosh, that photographer again.)  😀

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New Year’s Card 2016

So, It’s the season again.   🙂     2016 is a year of Monkey !

The card samples here are from Japan Post and they are free to

download for personal use.

In their original site you can see lots lots more design though, you need

Japanese reading still, you can try click and find what’s there.

Some of the cards  showed the pattern of　申 it is in fact the

letter of monkey.  Normally, we (Japanese) use the letter  猿　

for the monkey, but Chinese use the  猴  for the monkey.

Still, only to say the Year of Monkey  we use  申  for monkey.

Don’t ask me why, it’s the ancient 4000 years tradition.

🙂  🙂  🙂

Those Links also provide Free Design Templates.

They are reputed, trouble-free good site.  = Worth visiting.  🙂

http://cp.c-ij.com/en/categories/CAT-ST01-0016/index.html  — (Canon)

http://www.designbank-nenga.com/

http://nengarank.com/html/index.html

http://www.wanpagu.com/top_illustration.html

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8150 — Ha-I-Go-Rey 背後霊(?) again!

To renew my passport, I went to the Japanese Consulate and

obtained an application form. — M m m  m !   Gosh, 8150 again.

This number is like Big Brother, where ever I go, it’s follows me,

or stalks me. =  It might be Guardian Angel

or the Guardian Spirit Behind as the word Haigorey mean.

Maybe, that’s why I don’t get ill or accident.

But, I couldn’t see a point for this = why for this time, what for ?

My Guardian may telling me “Be careful with this business” or 

gave me an alert “It would have a heavy implication”.

Otherwise  just reminded me “I’m still here, watching you”.

(Expecting to give me a piece of mind — or irritation  ? ? ? )

—– the Consulate’s staff just picked a form and gave it to me =

so the serial number happen to be 518A6  must be purely random.

— Still the Question or problem is, why always this number comes ?

Who choreographed those coincidences = who is “WHO”  Is it the

Karma or the Heaven/Dharma. ( —– otherwise, who could able to

foresee where I go next or what I pick-up next.)

— It’s definitely there, such as this IS actuary happening.   Same as

the existence of Gravity.  You can see it exists but nobody know WHY ?

Or is it still in my imagination ? = See, what happen next.

(So far nothing serious happened to myself (= nothing mean

good news ) but in somewhere, without me seeing (I noticed it

much later), such as someone was bankrupted or suddenly died

though whether it was because of the trouble with me or was it

just their own fate — I could only speculate.)  Anyway, I can’t test

it — What IF the course was different. = If the man didn’t betrayed

me, could he still be alive?   Or he died anyway with his own fate ?

Life is only once = never able to repeat it in different way.

And when mistake was made, has to pick-up its fruits. = no escape.

This is what the Cause and the Consequence really mean.

And, I don’t know how to ask “Stop 8150” to the Karma !

(So, I can’t test without it’s intervention = IF not —)

I’m doing what I need to do — and the Karma might be just

removing the obstacle on my pathway.    I should be Grateful,

Lord Buddha IS walking with me. ( — I dare say. If I may.)

___/\___

PS : You might think it is a

very special heavy occurrence

though, in fact it is casually

happening almost everyday.

Photo left was a number on the

letter I received few days ago.

PPS : Now I became aware why there was a warning on the passport

business = it seems heckle a lot of trouble ahead = to receive my family

registration certificate from Japan, there is no way to send its fee,

because the International Reply Coupon is no longer available in UK.

— still,they insists it is the only mean we have to use.

— how can we ?    It’s no longer exists here.

So, I needed to make a lots of Email exchange with Japanese officials 

of which even a received time of the Email was 0815 !   😦

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Fate and the Mentality

Few days ago in Japan, one of the busy commuter train breakdown due to

the safety mechanism in their over-head power cable.  Stranded passengers

in the trains were lead to a nearby station, 20 minutes walk on the rail track.

(Japanese train takes the electric power from the over-head cable, not from

the side track, so that, without a danger of electrocution, it is safe to walk

on the track.)  = All 5000 passengers were just walked in orderly manner and

no trouble was ever occurred. 

When this news was reported on the Chinese News Paper, the Net users in

China responded with their astonishment saying such as “If this was happened

in China, within 5 minutes passengers started riot, smashing the windows etc”

“How 5000 Japanese could keep calm and quietly walk for 20 minutes long

without showing any anger or frustration !”

—– And the Japanese Net users responded to those Chinese thread saying 

“It’s no point to make a riot and break the train because it would only cause

even more delay”  “When all the people having the same fate, making trouble

wouldn’t get any situation better”  “Anyhow, the company or school where

people will be late wouldn’t accuse them because it was like an act of God =

It was the fate anybody has to accept”.

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They are the two contrasting mentalities = in my view, each mentality

originated from the Chinese Taoism and the Japanese Buddhism.

I quite doubt, in China how many people ever read the Book of Taoism =

Tao Te Ching, still, most of them seemed to visit the temple to read their

fortune = by throwing two wooden sticks six times to find Yin and Yan’s

combination (It is in fact the Ai-Ching).  The funny things were, they keep

doing it again and again until they receive good prediction. (=they would

not accept bad prediction !)    In other words, Chinese doesn’t follow even 

the will of God (or Heaven) or vend it by their Ego).  (China has Confucius 

and Buddhism as well though in mentality, they all got the same.)

—– in contrast, Japanese Buddhist is far more cool, or even cold,(may 

be even Cynical) for not to have a passion for riot.  🙂  = since they know

the situation, what sort of the process would be needed to repair the

breakdown system etc well.  They are far more rational to know

what they can do —– in fact, the situation IS telling them,

Just Walk. = So, they did.

This is the Mentality to accept and follow Dharma and the Karma (or Fate)

and the Wisdom or the Belief, that the end result would be better with this.

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