Creative Zen Mind

What can you see in the photo ?

It is a strip of bras metal from an Art material shop.

In fact it is just a cut-off, left-over of a bras panel, yet sold as a material.

Material for what ?  —– for Art ?  For making small parts of electric device ?

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Some may think to utilize it as a book marker or throw into a bin after twisting it for a while  😀[]

But, flat metal doesn’t necessary to remain, as a flat object. Cut-off piece doesn’t

necessary be a rubbish = They are the stereotypical preconceptions =

If we couldn’t go beyond this kind of preconception, our ancestor couldn’t have invented

an arrow- head out of a stone.

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If it was a Zen question —– the answer could be even “It is the Universe, Sir ”

———- Did you get it ?   😀

If it is a thin metal, it can be easily cut by ordinary scissors, and easily twisted to make a shape.

It can be anything. (Well, in a theory. 😀 )

—– So, here, one of my attempt. This is a kind of 3D line drawing. = Strip of metal was cut even

narrower strips and twisted.  If this is still a sculpture, how cheap and easy = This is the beauty of it.

And this is all about [What you can see in a strip of metal]

——– (The face shows different expression with different viewing angle —- I’m studying how and why  :-))

BUT, to see it NOT as a strip of metal, but as a 3D figure, isn’t it a Delusion which exists

only in the mind ? = good question 😀

( Here, famous story of Flower Sermon (捻華微笑経) comes = a flower can be the Universe = Dharma.

—– though, why only Maha Kashapa could understood it ?  What other disciples were doing  ?  😀 )

—– Zen has its completely detached eyes, hence see it no more than it IS, but in the

same time, as it posses no preconception = see it in the Blank Space, it can see even

an invisible = it can be a Truth.

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But, [What is the Truth ?] —– is the big question.

The Truth, which affect our life ? Or fundamentals of our existence ?

Is the Truth which is relevant to our life, is the Truth ? —– Isn’t it a bit too utilitarian view isn’t it ?

How about Big-bang and Black-hole, are they True, or anything relevant to us ?

( So far the historical fact, therefore the statistical provability showed, that Zennist

didn’t find any important scientific Discovery or earth-shuttering Truth to the human

= thus, most likely, we don’t need to worry about Big Truth.  We are busy enough to

deal with the handful headache in the dairy Life and the matter of the Self.  😀 )

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(When Lord Buddha was asked about those Big Truth, he didn’t give any answer. 

Since then, traditionally Buddhists doesn’t talk about those question, which is out of our Life.

After all, so-called Mindfulness is to eliminate any thought other than the matter

the person is facing up front.

—— Even today, the scientists who is seriously dealing with Black-Hole Theory are not more than

handful in the world = it is nothing to do with rest of us, other than an interesting talking piece   🙂

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—– the choice is totally up to to you = the matter of who you are

= if you are a person to see it as a bare strip of metal, see it.

Or if you are a person to see it as a figure, go for it = Zen is not a fixed dogma or

an attitude, since [To be who you are] is only a matter !

But this [Who you are] is neither fixed or ideal existence, as time goes, the same YOU

may not be the same person on the next moment = try to act in a fixed face IS a delusion.

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So, enjoy each moment.   And enjoy a creative moment when it comes.

When something new idea of figure, or even an enterprising business plan came up to your mind, while

you are in the state of Mushin (Mind was open to Blank space) the idea was a product

of your subconscious thinking  (generally called Intuition, some called a voice of Heart,

the other even calls it as a voice of God = it could be just a random occurence, yet

it could be a result of Karma) = Why not TRY it = Just DO it.

===> Have a fun and enjoy your creative LIFE !

___/\___

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Is Buddhism a Religion ?

I spent half of my life to find what is Zen.

As my understanding of the Zen deepen and the points what

Lord Buddha taught then became clear, I realized many mix-ups and the confusions

surrounding the Buddhism. 

(Please read the previous post to see What was the original teachings ? = Scientific Universal Truth)

Provably the most controversial question I can make is, whether the Buddhism

(in its original teachings) was a religion at all in the first place ?

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The answer to this question must lay in the title what

Lord Syakya-muni Buddha was given = [ BUDDHA] the enlightened one, not a Divine figure

even not a reincarnated Divine figure, such as Brahman’s.

Instead, he was described as a person even the God Brahman came and pay a respect.

Hindu people regarding him as a Guru, the great Teacher.

Not as an imaginary Godly figure but a historical real person.

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Another fact to consider this question is, in his core teaching of  [Four Noble Truth], of which

one of them defined that the [Life is to have suffering, illness, getting old and to die] —– what sort

of the person was able to say such extremely blunt harsh words ?  = sound not very popular.

In contrast,  moneymaking Guru needs to attract a lots of worshipers hence resorting with soothing sweet

words. = Lords of attractive promises, Salvation, Heaven, Mythical Power, New Opportunities, Love

etc etc, while saying “Believe me” and in the same time “ Otherwise you go to the Hell ”

The same tactics of  fraudsters = [Carrot and Whip] = with those [Words], Guru mislead the people

= This is what the Religion is = “If you believe, it is True”.   ( Sorry to use harsh unreserved

words here, because I don’t need to be popular nor drive Mercedes neither  😀 )

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Lord Buddha didn’t need to tell this kind of mambo-jumbo at all. Because he was not teaching

a Belief System but just the TRUTH and that was the reason, on his death bed he gave an order to his

disciples [Don’t believe the words, but think yourself] and [Don’t worship me].

What Lord Buddha taught was a Technique to live the life in Peace, and the Truth of the Life.

Like a teaching of how to ride a bicycle, and the knowledges of the road and its terrain ==> having learned

this technique, anybody can have a freedom to go around by their will.

And knowing the road-map and the condition of the road, by which people can chose the best way to

reach their destination, while avoiding obstacles and dangers.

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So that, the teachings of Lord Buddha can be applicable to anybody, any people in any persuasion.

Since it was not a belief system but the Wisdom = Truth of the life.  (How the Mind works,

and How the existences, include us are operating as a Rational Interactive System)

And this is why it is appealing to even to the people of another religion, who is

searching the road-map and the direction.

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But Lord Buddha did know that his teachings itself is not a salvation by its own.

It is not his teachings save, but the people themselves,the rider of the bicycle.

And in his teachings there is no strong Carrots or Whip = no Heaven or Hell = no Get-Rich scheme

or God’s Punishment of which those illusion can scare and drive the people.

Lord Buddha didn’t use an illusion or fear, nor Placebo effects to fool the people,

but aimed to change their Habit = Habit can be changed only by the willing person.

With this reason, he intentionally put a [MUST] in one of [Four Noble Truth] =

[The One has to actively cherish and learn this teachings] —– This is a clear indication of

[How Buddhism was not a religion] = All the Religion says ” God will give you the benefit,

otherwise sends you to the Hell”.  But Buddhism doesn’t have a God to undertake this.  

So that, the matter was not a Belief, but the Mind-set and the Technique to get it.

It was more like to recruit a member for a fancy sports club.

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As everybody remember, it was not easy to learn how to ride a bicycle = unless you wished and had

eager will to ride, you couldn’t master it.  And the way of  learning / practicing  Buddhism is rather laborious

continuous work = you can’t master it quick manner, regardless how big the donation was.

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Yet another difficulty of the Lord Buddha’s teaching was,  as a nature of learning a practice,

it was hard to teach in the words.   (You can not find any written explanation, how to ride a bicycle.)

Even worse, practice itself was not the goal but a process to change a state of Mind, which is invisible.

Who can describe this. ( On top of this, there was no notion of  [SUBCONSCIOUS] then ) = Only the way

was to observe how  Lord Buddha was doing,  and try to do the same.

Still, the teachings has been kept by the people who actually mastered the practice.

If you try again and again, soon or later,  suddenly you become able to ride a bicycle.

Because, as a nature, our body has its sense of balance and dynamic controls.

And once you mastered it,  it is impossible to go back to the state of  [can’t ride]  😀

Same as riding a bicycle, Lord Buddha’s teachings are the universal technique applicable to the whole

human, in other words,  it is the Universal Truth,  like a Scientific Truth of the Gravity.

= Because, how human mind works, and its controls are common to all the human being.

Lord Buddha’s teachings can not be regarded as a kind of religion.

Whether the person chose it, believe it or not, it is there and working. (as Dharma and the Karma IS )

Therefore, classify his teachings as mere religion and try to monopolize it,  is a mistake.

Lord Buddha’s teachings are the asset of the whole human being =

it is much more than a religion.

___/\___

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Anmochi = Rice Cake with Sweet Redbean Paste (make it in 10 min)

It was a bit of blunder  :-D　（いささかドジだったね 😀 ）

This Post should have appeared on the 3rd of March, a day of

the Hina-matsuri (ひな祭 ）

Girls Festival in Japan.

And its formal name Momo no Sekku (桃の節句) suggests,

it has to come with  Plum Blossoms, —– m m m, though,

there wasn’t a hint of blossom at all．

Then, few days ago, I found it in full bloom !!!

So, the belated Plum Blossom and the Anmochi’s photos here.  Mission accomplished !  😀 

To cook  Anmochi  in 10 minutes may misleading to some readers, since this cooking is an addition to the

previous post on January [ Cooking  Oshiruko ] ( the Link here) of which the boiled down Red Bean soup

had become to  Anko = Sweet Red bean Paste.  And the  Anko should come out freezer for this cooking  🙂

( To make  Anko from scratch, may need at least 4 hours —– still worthwhile to cook = try it. )

Provided, you have  Anko , to make  Anmochi  is really 10 minutes process ( with Micro-wave Cooker )

*** Put 4~5 spoon full Glutinous Rice powder into stone-ware noodle bowl ( Micro-wave  proof)

*** Add 4~5 spoons of water and stir well to make it to gluey staff (photo right = slowly dripping )

*** Cover the glue with Red bean Paste and heat it up in Micro-wave Cooker / Mid High = for 3 minutes.

===== Here, Anmochi  is ready to eat.  (careful !  the bowl is very hot.   And the Rice cake is stacked

to the bowl = you need to use a spoon to scrape it.  If you like even more rich taste, add a cream on it.

Looks not very pretty though, taste is unmistakably Anmochi = believe me  😀

Enjoy an eating.   Welcome Spring.

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Research to the Memory Mechanism

This is an interesting article, I found in [Gizmag] news letter.

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Researchers may have discovered how memories are encoded

in the brain

By Ben Coxworth

13:07 March 21, 2012

Scientists have developed a theory regarding how the brain stores memories (Photo via Shutterstock)

While it’s generally accepted that memories are stored somewhere, somehow in our brains, the exact process

has never been entirely understood. Strengthened synaptic connections between neurons definitely have

something to do with it, although the synaptic membranes involved are constantly degrading and being

replaced – this seems to be somewhat at odds with the fact that some memories can last for a person’s lifetime.

Now, a team of scientists believe that they may have figured out what’s going on.

Their findings could have huge implications for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Leading the study is Prof. Jack Tuszynski, a physicist from the University of Alberta. Also taking part are his

graduate student Travis Craddock, and the University of Arizona’s Prof. Stuart Hameroff.

The project was inspired by an outside research paper, that described experiments in which memories were

successfully erased from animals’ brains. That study concluded that a specific protein

(calcium-calmodulin dependent kinase complex II, or CaMKII) played a large role in the encoding and

erasing of memories, by strengthening or eliminating neural connections.

Tuszynski and his colleagues noted that the geometry of the CaMKII molecule was very similar to that of

tubulin protein compounds. These tubulins are contained within microtubule protein structures, which in

turn occupy the interiors of the brain’s neurons. They are particularly concentrated in the neurons’ axons

and dendrites, which are active in the memory process.

The scientists wanted to understand the interaction between CaMKII, tubulin and microtubules, so based on

3D atomic-resolution structural data for all three protein molecules, they developed highly-accurate

computer models.

What they discovered was that the spatial dimensions and geometry of the CaMKII and microtubule molecules

allow them to fit together. Furthermore, according to the models, the microtubules and CaMKII molecules are

capable of electrostatically attracting one another, so that a binding process can occur between them.

This process takes place within the neurons, after they have been synaptically connected, to (in some cases)

permanently store memories.

“This could open up amazing new possibilities of dealing with memory loss problems, interfacing our brains

with hybrid devices to augment and ‘refresh’ our memories,” said Tuszynski.

“More importantly, it could lead to new therapeutic and preventive ways of dealing with neurological

diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, whose incidence is growing very rapidly these days.”

A paper on the research was recently published in the journal PLoS Computational Biology.

Source: University of Alberta

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Of cause, this research only found how the neurons were connected = its structure, but not the way

how they are configured as a pattern. —– It’s mean, on future, we may repair half impaired memory

= as long as the existing connection (even if it is not in full working order) is still there.

To create new memory or re-create lost memory is not possible. —– still, it is a good step forward.

We are still no way near to find, how the nerve grows to the direction where the next neuron is, and

to create the pattern which represent [ the memory ].

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Link to the original Gizmag article >>>

http://www.gizmag.com/memory-storage-theory/21900/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=47cc5c43d3-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

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What Lord Buddha originally taught ? ? ?

My task is to find what the original

Lord Buddha’s teachings then 2500 years ago ?

As I wrote on the beginning, there was no direct recording ( I mean written ) of his words.

Even the earliest written scripture were made more than 200 years after his death.

So, does the earliest scripture Agama is telling true story —– I’m not very sure.

There is a Mantra in the Argama which is listing up what was the bodily appearances of

Lord Buddha. —– 32 major signs and another 80 miner signs of them.   (See Wikipedia 🙂 )

—– ? ? ?   Really ?

Among major signs, it is said that he had [ blue eyes ] —– M m m,  Really  ? ? ?

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Lord Buddha came from the family of the elected local chief = ruling family, but not rely on a military

power = seemingly a kind of Democracy there then.  —– Still, the dominant rich family could be a descendant

of the invader / conqueror = foreign people who got blue eyes, —– Caucasian ?.

Or a roving sword’s master with blue eyes / Hero who were married to a daughter of the King,  hence his

descendant could have blue eyes though, —– I’m very much doubt of it.   (No such historical fact there )

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Something certain is that the author of the mantra had a fascination / admiration to the blue eyes = almost

like a fanatic fan who chase Rock star.  (Despite, the idolized personal worshiping was prohibited by

Lord Buddha himself on his death bed)

And of cause, the author or the preceding people who had been keeping the teachings in a verbal form =

reciting the memories mouth to mouth, had never met

Lord Buddha himself nor able to give any rational thought while copying it. = It’s mean, despite of

Lord Buddha’s teaching [ Don’t believe the words, but think it yourself] the people had been

blindly following and believing what was toled. (regardless whether it was true or not)

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Make the situation worse was that those people who compiled the Mantras, the professional monks who

almost monopolized the writing, reading skill needed to justify their position and to enrich themselves by

tinkering the Buddha’s stories.  Later addition of the story/Mantra, such as that the Vedic God came to see

Lord Buddha and paid their respect was,  intended to show off the supremacy over the Hinduism.

Therefore, when we read those even earliest scriptures, we have to read them with a pinch of salt =

diligently follow the teaching of [Think yourself] = (this teaching seemed to be a true word of

Lord Buddha as it is not necessary convenient to the money-making monks = still,  not  altered) 😀

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While reading and thinking, we have to distinguish, what is metaphor of what, in reference to the real life =

your real life.   Especially, when it is dealing with the matters of our mind, as they are not necessary visible,

we need to give a very good insight.    And most importantly, give an insight to what was not written = such

as about their mundane dairy life in the community,  who got only a rice bowl in a bag = exactly the same

dairy practice was carried out.  And the instruction or advice to individual follower = that was the

Real Teaching given by Lord Buddha = which is the most crucial, but missing in the script.

———- In the situation of dairy life, to see what

Lord Buddha was doing, his body movement, attitude was what the CORE of the TEACHING.

That was why, all the Buddhist sects are telling importance of the dairy life.  ( Because the

Buddhism is not what you’ve read or understood, but what you are actually doing  = this

actual action become an habit which reflects into your subconsciousness = you only

learn this from ” DOING it by Yourself ” —– not from reading or thinking )

In a mantra, gone too-far-fetched glorious stories are likely just a glorious story, elaborating the glory of

Lord Buddha, nothing other than that.  ( In fact, it was a self indulgent of a monk who wrote the story)

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This is the reason why I’ve been relying on the reference to the science, since

Lord Buddha had very good observation and the insight in rational approach = very

scientific mind-set.  (But don’t expect the Modern science, it was 2500 years ago —– still,

Lord Buddha’s insight to the human mind is,  even in today’s standard,  astonishing.)

In comparison to the Hindu approaches, to see the natural phenomena —– instead of contributing

them to each God in charges with,  but see the facts and its relation, and understand it in the

frame-work of cause and effect is nothing but the scientific thinking.

———- With a psychological profile, I’ve been thinking

Lord Buddha was a scientist,  whose insight even reached to the edge of the Universe

And he found those rationally interacting system and its rules as the Dharma.

___/\___

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Early Cherry Blossom

In order to put  [ An-Mochi Cooking ] post, I needed to have a photo of Plum Blossom. 

Though I couldn’t find it in time of the 3rd of March, Japanese Hina-Matsuri (ひな祭り／Girls Festival )

Then few days ago, I saw a Pink Blossom from a bus window.  But when I went back there with my camera,  tree was

turned out to be a  Mountain Cherry  ( we call Yama-zakura/山桜 ) = the origin of  Somei-Yoshino variety.

Despite of normally rather small Mountain Cherry,  this tree was a quite hefty big tree of 5~6 m tall which

I can even climb up. ( Though, as a good citizen, I didn’t  😀 )   As it spreading the branches wide, it

convinced me to use Fisheye lens ( again )  😀

In the western tastes, the more the flowers, mean “Gorgeous” !

So, enjoy the view.  Gorgeous isn’t it.  — though, if I may a bit sarcastic, this psyche and its tendency

might be related to the birth of the Capitalism.  ( In its endless greed —– though, don’t ask me

how about the psyche of tremendously rich eastern industrialists  😀 )

So, it might be only a fig-leaf of yet another greed, still this kind of rather reserved decency, originated from

the Confucians philosophy is more appreciated in the east as it often appeared in the Chinese paintings.

Coinciding with Confucians, Taoism has been teaching

the virtue of  living with the rules of the nature.

 Be humble and live as an anonymous small person

 = This is the idea of Minimalism.

This minimalism has been reflected into Zen philosophy.

So that even in poetry, such as in Haiku/俳句, it is not just

short,but the strict rules limiting the use of the word  = only one word indicates the season/季語 = it must be

there, but another word doubling it is regarded to be superfluous, hence illegal = it got to be strictly minimal.

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So, in photography, in order to show the full bloom of cherry,  some time photographer only showed a fallen

petal or two on the ground, or floating in the stream.  ( Though, in real life, to create this image, photographer

remove all the petals on the ground before, and places the best look flower petal in the most effective,

looks natural position = it is a staged photo  😀 ) —– I don’t have any editor to please = I’ve just clicked

a photo above.   If you find the flowers in full bloom and its end of the life = temporariness of

the life,  it is what this photo meant to be.  ( Click on the photo to enlarge, and click it again for further

enlargement = it become about the life-size.   Put your lap-top or tablet on the floor.   Kneel down as if you

are  looking into the fallen petals on the real ground.  Give a thought.  =  It would make you feel a bit humble. 

—– Take this as a Buddhist’s practice in Direct Transmission. )

( Camera used was a very humble Canon EOS 5D Mk-II,  8~15 mm Fisheye Zoom, 24~70 F2.8 Zoom Lens )

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Geo-Stats of the Blog

I just found the WordPress’ new feature of  Geo-Stats of the Blog which amazed me !

I did know the number of access, but had no idea  Who is reading my Blog.

—— So that, actuary see the worldwide distribution of the readers was nothing but the surprise.

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My view may not be felt comfortable to some another people of persuasion, still

receiving a lots of access from such as the India is really the encouragement to me. 

Of cause, the India is where  the Vedic Philosophy, Buddhism, Hinduism came from and naturally

there must be a lots of quite knowledgeable people there.  ( I feel a bit of tension 🙂  )

And of cause, it may not necessary mean a seal of approval, still if I’m talking rubbish, they

wouldn’t keep coming and reading.

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And to see the access came from literally all over the world, is telling me where ever the people lives

and what ever their culture or religion, the human being is the same human being and the truth will be

accepted universally  = is, nothing but the encouragement to continue this Blog.

Thank you very much to everybody visiting here and reading   🙂

___/\___

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Yoshizen’s Blog (Dashboard)

Stats for March 12, 2012, 6:52 pm

Top Views by Country for 7 days ending 2012-03-12 (Summarized)

2012-03-05 to Today

Country	Views
United States	309
United Kingdom	291
Canada	67
India	51
Malaysia	32
Netherlands	30
Germany	23
Japan	16
France	13
Sweden	12
Australia	12
Philippines	12
Spain	9
Argentina	9
Greece	9
Indonesia	8
Norway	8
Finland	8
Switzerland	8
Brazil	7
Thailand	7
Republic of Korea	7
Mexico	6
Viet Nam	5
Taiwan	5
Chile	4
Ireland	4
Colombia	4
South Africa	4
Serbia	4
Bulgaria	3
Italy	3
Hong Kong	3
Turkey	3
Singapore	3
United Arab Emirates	3
Macao	2
New Zealand	2
Poland	2
Puerto Rico	2
Kuwait	2
Ukraine	2
Venezuela	2
Slovakia	2
Macedonia	1
Pakistan	1
Mozambique	1
Sri Lanka	1
Malta	1
Croatia	1
Cayman Islands	1
Jamaica	1
Lebanon	1
Mongolia	1
Iceland	1
Latvia	1
Portugal	1
Czech Republic	1

Sitting in Mindfulness — What ???

Just imagine a situation [ Boss shouted to the staffs. “ Don’t just sitting there. Do something” ]

Can anybody imagine, a staff shouting back “ Yes boss,  I’m  DOING  sitting” —— 😀

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Just sitting is an iconic symbol of Doing Nothing, and in deed, doing nothing.

So, how come [ Mindfulness while sitting ] —— ? ? ?

Can anybody explain what it is ?

( I found hundreds of the people in the cyber space saying in their profile = Mindfulness Practitioner /

Instructor —– there must be someone to come up and explain )

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Lord Buddha taught the people, who even not able to speak standard language then, let alone write and read.

All of his teaching got to be based on the common-sense.

Yet still, against the common-sense, there was a wide spread delusion among those uneducated people,

[ A person could be reincarnated into awful animal ]

—– to brake this useless vulgar belief and associated fear, was one of the aim of the

Lord Buddha’s teachings by saying “ There can not be Perpetual Soul ( solid existence of the

Self ) such as in the Vedic belief —– because of the everything exists in relation to the other

existences.

Therefore when the body dies, the soul also cease to exists ”   “ One’s death is the Nirvana”

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When Lord Buddha finished a talking, he just had a break = just sitting and took a rest.

So, sitting is just do nothing and take a rest = doesn’t need to even think anything.

When we need to DO something, we may need to use the brain though, if we do nothing

the brain takes a break as well.  You don’t need to put so-called mindfulness to take a rest.

Just empty your brain and the body to relax.

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While doing something, we may conceive new idea, new way of doing or another approach by way of

analytical observation. = This is a logical thinking.

But we often, suddenly conceive new idea while do nothing or doing a thing which doesn’t need to think

such as sitting in a toilet or doing simple routine work. = This is a creative conception.

( In Zen term, this state of the Brain and the Mind was called Mushin / Mind of No-Mind )

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So that, Lord Buddha, while having a rest or after that, might have told “ Hey, Shariputra, that must be

such and such ” —– which made them to mistake that he must have been in deep thinking.

This was how a misconception and a myth of so-called [ Meditation ] had been created. But,

Lord Buddha was just sitting, having a rest, and of cause, his brain was blank or in Mushin.

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Hence, the most fundamental misunderstanding of the Buddhism = [ have to sit in Mushin,

yet still Think something deep and concentrating to this, in Mindfulness ] was created.

Ha ha ha 😀 😀

It is the clearest indication of that the so-called Academics and the Monks who introduced

Buddhism to the west didn’t know what the Mushin is.

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So, when you sit, just sit. = It is to have a break and to rest.

Never even think “ I’m doing something holy Buddhist’s practice ” —– while sitting like that, you may tired

to even think about Buddhism = your brain become blank = this is the Mushin = of which you really need.

And never expect, by sitting in Mushin, suddenly should the Glorious door of the Dharma open for you

and show beautiful rose-coloured room.  ( Historically say, you most likely find a Dog Shit )  Ha ha ha 😀

————-

You may realized, —– you can’t see the Dharma in your brain.

But they are right front of your eyes.

Congratulation = this is your Enlightenment.

___/\___

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Zen Practice on the Desk

If you think, that the Zen is to twist the leg, you are wrong, it is just a posture.

The matter is in the mind = how to vacate the thinking and to get a state of the Mushin is

what the Zen mean.

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This is the easiest practice to gain a state of the [ Mind of No-Mind / Mushin ]  instantly.

Yes, instant, just by closing your eyes (even only a second = as the trigger of the Mind-set)

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If you are sitting on front of a desk to write anything, —— Close your eyes, and pick-up your pen

and put the pen on the paper where you are going to start writing.

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To do this, you have to fix the position of the pen (or what ever) on the desk, always exactly the

same place. And sit on the chair exactly the same position facing the desk in the same distance.

—– Sit on front of the desk. Take one deep breath and look at the blank paper on the desk.

Memorize the picture and close your eyes.

While visualizing the picture in your mind, put your hand straight to the pen and pick it up and

put the point of the pen on the starting line of the paper.

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Try this as many times until you can do this as smooth as possible with natural flow of the movement. Just do it.

On the beginning your finger may reach to a bit away and needed to wobble a bit to touch the pen.

But, soon or later your fingers would come to the exact position you should grip the pen.

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Every time when you sit before the desk, do this = and make this to a habit.

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Soon, you will be realized, when ever sit to the desk and take deep breath, your mind is focused

to the paper and the pen = nothing else is in your sight, and when you closed eyes, the picture

you are visualizing is the paper and the pen, nothing else.

In Zen term, this is called Mindfulness = nothing else is in your mind.

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As the practice became routine, you become able to do this automatic like a well tuned machine.

It’s mean, you become able to do all the body movement without having any thought.

In Zen term, this is called Mushin.

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This practice can be improvised to a key-board. To type a word such as [calm] if you like in Italic.

And if you like type it in the center of the screen while the eyes closed. (You may become an expert

of the timing, how long the Space-bar should be pressed down. 😀 )

Or you can do this with your Smart phone or Tablet kind.

How to access one particular program while eyes closed.

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Once you mastered this practice, take deep breath and close the eyes will lead your mind to focus

and able to eliminate any thought.  Hence, just think this practice would soon become

enough to bring your state of mind to the Mushin = deadly calmness.

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It may not looks like a mythical Zen practice though, Zen is not a pretense, but able to get

the mind-set of Mushin is the matter.

And what you need is just do this. (Further readings are in a Category [ Lemon Zen ]

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ダルマ／法と仏教の構造—Structure of Dharma

これは禅を学んでいる人にダルマ／法とは何かを説明して送った手紙の一節ですが，

実に明解，言い得て妙だと自分で笑ってしまった程で，これはここに再録せむとなった次第。

( In here, I’m explaining  [What is the Structure of the Dharma] )

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喩えが悪いケシカランと思う人が居たら，アナタ流の説明をコメントに入れてくれるよう。

－－－奇抜な喩えで，一気に理解させるというのは

釈尊以来，仏教，禅の伝統になっている。

もし，仏教は，禅は高貴なる神秘と信じているとしたらそれはアナタのロマンと高慢。

とまれ，悟りとは犬の糞。

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－－－－－－－－－－－

ダルマとは，この全宇宙，物理的全存在とそれを存在させている全法則，その総体のことです。　

解り易い例えで言えば，ダルマ／法とは宇宙サイズの機械仕掛けで，支配原理は神秘的形而上学

でも宗教理念でもなく，合理主義に立った物理学，材料工学，分子生物学，生理学，ｅｔｃ，科学

の総体です。

当然そのサブシステムのである我々もその微小部分の一つであり同一の原理で作動している（ダルマ

を内包する）訳です。

（機械に心は無く（＝無心），黙々と作動してその機能を完遂するのが役目）

このシステムがジャンクのよせ集めではなく，システムであるのは個々のサブシステム間，総システム

との間に整合が保たれ（ほぼ）完璧に機能し破綻が起らないという事です。

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ごく一般的，かつ楽天的に見れば，この機械システムは一応恒常性を保ち，全生物は間違いなく

進化して来ている。　人類も一応発展しながら無事命脈を保っている事から見て，性善と考えられ

ている訳ですが，別に人間に好意的とは限らず，むしろシステムの利益，つまり宇宙や地球の

安定的バランスに価値基準が置かれているらしい。　

つまり，個人の利益幸福よりは社会正義，特定社会の都合よりは地球環境の安定の方が重要。

－－－とは言えこのシステムはあまりに巨大かつ複雑な為に大部分は未知であり，

おそらく人間如きにその全容は不可知でしょう。

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人間は微小なサブシステムにも関らず，頭でっかちに進化し高度な思考能力，想念とか心を持つに

至った訳ですが，トラブルは，この想念（思い込み）が元々の設計仕様を覆い隠すだけでなく，

仕様からはずれたり（妄念），高すぎる期待値（我欲）を抱いたりする為に，本来の機能すら

全うできなくなる事です。

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つまり，元々の設計であるダルマと，思考想念との乖離矛盾が人間の苦の根源と喝破した

釈尊はそうした無要な思考，想念を断って（無我，無心）生きる事がダルマの回復，回帰（一如）

であり，矛盾の解消された悟りの境であるとの教え（仏教）を始めた訳です。　

[例えば季節は太陽の動きに一致し，植物が［規則］正しく芽を出し花を咲かせるように万物が［規

則］＝ダルマを持って存在するするという考えはごく自然に得られるものです。

釈尊もこの伝統的理解を踏襲した訳ですが，彼独特かつ画期的アイデアは，ダルマ理解の中に

カーマ（カルマ，縁，因果＝原因〜結果）の視点を加えた事です。つまり万物は因果の連鎖を

持って存在し，原因なくしては結果も無い。素粒子が無ければ原子は存在し得ず，光が無ければ色

は無いし水が枯渇すれば作物は育たない。－－－この考え方はさらに飢えがあるから，欲があるから

盗みが起るなど，心理や思考／その傾向にまで拡張されていった訳です。

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しかもこの因果の連鎖は網の目のように広がっているから，繋がりのどこかで生起する物事は次々と

連鎖していく。従って万物は依存する条件の恒常的変化（万物流転）の中にあり不変のものは無

い。(諸行無常)

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もっとも，どこまでをダルマ（法）とするかは宗派によって異り，禅宗では全存在を　含めて法とするが，

現象の背後にある法則（例えば合理性）だけを法とする考え方，スリランカなどの南方仏教のように，

信者の守るベき戒律だけを法と呼ぶ場合もある。（最も重要な点は

釈尊はこのダルマを概念や抽象的観念としてではなくその存在を客観的に実感し得る実在（全存

在）として把握していたと言う事です　＝　だからこそ他人の言葉（言語化された概念）を信じる

な、己れの直感で体得せよと教えたのです　＝　例えば、事実として己れが無私であるのを経験

する事。

（あなた自身これを読みながら、実は自分が読んでいる、まして眼が文字を拾っているなどと言う

自覚はまったく無かったでしょう　＝　全て無意識の内に処理される）　己れの認知にかか

わらずダルマは存在し無言で機能しているのを知る事。　ところがそれらは直感（潜在意識）で

把えたものであるから、在るとも見えるし無いとも見える　＝　つまりダルマさえも実は無私（空）

であるのに外ならない。）

ーーーーー　

[果たしてダルマに宇宙意志とか，人間界で言うような意図があるのかは議論の分れる所ですが，

僕の個人的経験から言うとやっぱりあるようです。

何故か，ぼこっと幸運に恵まれたり，逆に前述したような思い込みや妄念でストレスを高め己れで墓穴

を掘ってしまうような［極めて理に叶った例］だけでなく，｢これは死ぬだろうな」と言えるような事をやった

人が，突然ころっと死んだり癌になって苦しんだりするのは，やはり運命（ダルマの意図）の配剤らしい。

[]運命というのは，ほとんどがシステムの合理性として説明できるダルマの原理の中に残された不可知

の領域ですが，それでも直観的にピンと来る所が面白い。

しかし運命は運命，無心に（感情的になって嘆き悲しむのではなく）受止めるしかない＝不可知を

知ったからと言って何のたしにもならないという訳で，それについて質問された

釈尊はそれを無視して黙っていた。(無記)　（とのことです＝僕が目撃した訳ではない　笑）

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－－－必読：無着無住とは？　（リンク）

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