Autumn Color — in Japan

When this kind of photo is the standard, it’s quite discouraging for me to attempt a

substitute.  😀     This is a photo from one of the climbing club in Japan.

And this is the notorious mountain, Tanigawa-dake, otherwise known as the

Graveyard of the Climber.   When I went there (yet, the easiest rout “Nan-ryo”)

with many  younger members, — then one of them fallen from the face.

 = it was literally free fall of 10 m, while pulling out three anchor-pins.  

I could see him flying down mid air in slow motion.

But miraculously,  the man landed on his Rucksack, and tumbled half on the 

narrow terrace, stopped on its edge with small bruise on his knee ( that’s all ) !

While he was in the air, I was thinking  “Oh dear, I become the first leader to have

a fatality on the history of our club.  So the question is, how to carry his body =

carry him down on the tricky face or carry him up and ask rescue helicopter ?

[]

—– After thoughts, I realized that, how cold-blooded man I AM !  

While seeing a man going to die,  still able to think how to deal with its body.

(But mind you, I had to take care of other member’s safety as well. — Remember,

Zen is not for shedding a tear but keep clear eyes on even the harshest moment.

—– Can any “Sweet compassionate mind” stop him fall ? — Joking. )

—– We simply gave-up the day’s climb and came down the face. 

It was a beautiful day like this photo of the Ichinokura.    🙂

(The link to the original photo —- http://www.bunanokai.jp )

[]

Key Mechanism in Zen Buddhists Mind

While you were walking, you never thought how to move the foot for next step and

to read this blog you were not aware that your eyes is following the letters next by next.

This is what we called “Selfless State of the Mind” and you never expect to create the

money out of walking itself (itself mean, not such a thing to find a coin on the street or to

reach the place to do the business = they are the by-product or benefit from the walking.)

[]

For the people who want to get the Mushin or Selfless state in Zen, this kind of natural

Selflessness seems to be too casual and too far from the Buddhists practice though, it is

a matter of the mind-set which expect “More elaborated fashionable practice”.

But if you were a Prisoner of War and was ordered to walk to a camp 100 miles away —–

the mind-set might make the difference of life or death.

[]

When a task was given by an order or from a situation in the life, first, it’s needed to

have a “Contemplation” some time interpreted as an acceptance, giving-up (to resist) or

determination to take the task (which ever it was passive or more positive, active way).

—–> And as it was accepted = no way else to go = have to face

the task head-on (this is called “Mindfulness”).

[]

So, just get on the life (task).    Whether it was walking or small manual practice to do,

JUST DO, regardless whether it looks endless and boring.

[]

When we do repeated endless task, our brain rise the threshold of the importance of

the signal = and whole process would be categorized as neither flesh nor important.

= Brain start to process the matter without referring the signal to the Emotional 

region of the brain (in the old cortex) and it become as a routine.

In the same time, whole action process would be programmed into the Motor region

and become to an automatic action. —–> Hence, our brain does the task without

Emotion (=Detachment), without needs of thinking (since it was routine and

done in automatic) = = = This is MUSHIN.

And the task was just a repeated insignificant mundane task = no special interest 

could dwell there = nothing to arose EGO or GREED. = = = This is the SELFLESSNESS.

JUST DO IT.

[]

Once the person get used with “Desensitized perception” even other-things would be

seen detached as well. = No Emotional involvement to the useless matters in the life.

= = = This is the peaceful quiet life to be a Buddhist.   🙂

[]

And this, neuroscience, brain physiology behind our subconscious was the key

mechanism of the Lord Buddha’s teachings of the Selflessness and the Void.

Also, this was the reason why, despite the mambo-jumbo in the scriptures, the core

of the teachings were kept intact in a tradition of the Practice.

(The Buddhists on the street doesn’t read the scriptures anyway.= They only

taught and know the Buddhism in the Practice. = such as just chanting the title.)

___/\___

[]

Genuine ? — or tampered Scripture

On the end of previous post, I rather casually wrote

“Now look around and check so-called books about the Buddhism.

How many this kind of absurdities you can find ?” —– though,

I realized that it was not so easy job for the most of Buddhists in

the town.  Often, they were given only few booklet to read by the leader

or the instructing monk and not used to look for any other scripture.

For the monks, the followers are the cash-cow, of course, they don’t

want the followers to know anything other than “What he is teaching”.

[]

In the net, there are enormous number of the Scriptures available (in different translation).

Here is a sample of website, kindly providing comprehensive collection of the scriptures.

On their list, by scrolling down, soon after the Agama series, you may find a sutra called

[ Compassionate Lotus Sutra ] , click an English version and — you may start reading. —–

though, if you like a shortcut, go to V-6 (0157 / 0158) and scrolling down to somewhere

paragraph 13 =

“‘For the 1004 persons including Fire-Wreath Manavaka, who reads and recites Veda — the

Exterior-Path scriptures, the Tathagata has already awarded them the distinctive marks

of future Buddhahood, which predicts that they will become Buddhas in the Good-kalpa

(Bhadra-kalpa: the present kalpa), and will, by using the three vehicles (yana), enlighten

all the living beings who often commit greed, lechery, anger, ignorance, and arrogance.”

[]

A kind of Buddhists, more often called New-age group of the people, who is believing such 

as a mythical power of crystal etc too, also speaking the buzz-words, Veda, Upanishads etc

may not necessarily know the significance of the word Veda —– and this is the most

Un-Buddhists like word.   

Veda is the scriptures of Brahmanism, Hinduism but never with the Buddhism as

Lord Buddha took a stance against the existence of perpetual soul (Self = Atoman), 

hence against the idea of reincarnation. (When the Self isn’t existing, who reincarnate ?)

[]

As the [Compassionate Lotus Sutra] referred to Veda, obviously this wasn’t a genuine

Buddhist scripture.    Likewise, neither the scripture which got many names of Vedic, 

Hindu Deities such as Brahma God was not.  

As a matter of fact, all the Mahayana scriptures are quite remote from the original

Lord Buddha’s teachings. —– other than some resemblance in the idea of Void.

Mahayana Buddhism might be better understood as a carnival party staff with a lots of

costumed Hindu dancers. It was a party entertainment, choreographed by Nagarujuna.

And in fact, it was an extravaganza of sales ploy!    Nagarjuna was quite talented in this

kind as he used to be a performing magician.

[]

Still, the most important core of the Buddhist teachings were kept, not in the scriptures

but in their practice. (Of course, who believe a magical figure from another universe kind,

but through the practice the psychological, physiological change actually occur and it was

noticed by the followers.)   This was the reason why Zen teachings says 不立文字 (Never

rely on the lexical teachings) 以心伝心 (Heart to heart transmission).

And why all the Buddhist’s teachings consists endless repeated act as their practice.

(Chanting the name thousands of times, banging the drum, walking round and round so on

—– counting the breath or special way of breathing is literally endless practice.)

—– I’ll talk about this in the coming post.

___/\___

[]

Pear Skin

In this post, I’m talking about completely different several topics. 

To start, all of those are the photos of peeled skin of a pear.  

— peeled and dried skin.     The photo, top photo was taken by

the 4th version of Double-Density Pinhole. (Shutter speed was 1/30th)

And this photo was taken by the Two Elements Homemade Lens.

(Equivalent of  F4.5  and 1/250th)

Then this is the normal kind of photo taken by the Canon EF 40 mm F2.8.  

(at F11 and  1/100th)     Something special was that all those three photos

were taken on the ISO 25,600 setting !  —– Even with such high ISO setting,

the color and the smooth tonal character wasn’t too bad though, very peculiar

point was that the rough grain appeared only on the top (pinhole) photo.

 = a sort of common knowledge,  the rough grain appears on high ISO setting

= if that was the case, why other two photos doesn’t show the grain at all  ? ? ?

The another matter here was,

why drying the fruits peel ?

Well, in order to prevent the fruits Fly

appear, I decided not to make a wet 

garbage in a bin, but first dry them 

spread next to the window.

(Fly doesn’t come to the exposed, half dry skin)

Once, fruits skin, orange peel etc were dried, they never attract fly = it’s mean

there wouldn’t be any conflict.  (may looks a bit messy though, nobody sees it.)

I think this is the Buddhist like solution — remove the cause, resulting no conflict,

fight or killing = What a peaceful solution.  Don’t you agree ?   🙂

[]

 

A Field by Homemade Lens — (2)

Those photos were taken by the same Two Elements Homemade Lens like

previous post.    And non of them has been PSed but only the Brightness,

Color Temperature were adjusted —– though, tinkering  in a free editing

program Picasa  is a guess work, and has not much consistency.  

While taking photos,  some of them were double, treble exposed and

in the same time, intentionally camera shake was given.

(Some time, it’s works well —– if not, delete them.  🙂 ) 

Photography is not a serious business for me now.  

And I wouldn’t talk about  Reality, Truth, Cutting edge,  etc. brah brah,

and try to preach the world —– but, as long as the images cheer me up,

that’s enough !

 

[]

A Field by Homemade Lens — (1)

Well, the lens what I call “Homemade Lens” has first appeared here as

the  “Lens from Toy Camera” and then having had additional front element,

it became to the “Two element Retro-focus Lens“.

In fact, the additional front element was a concave lens from my

broken specs. (Photo above: Left)    Then, proper optical lens came from 

HOYA Optics.   And finally I properly mounted that optical lens onto

Canon EF Mount adapter, using  67 mm filter ring. —– But, to put

the main lens (from Toy camera),  I mounted it 10 degree tilted forward,

since this lens has no focus adjustment, tilting the lens would give

a kind of Pan-focus effect. (Photo above: Right)

Still,  the images were the good old Impressionistic fuzzy image

which I’m very fond of.  🙂

What I like the most of this lens was,  it’s small size,  good general wide angle,  

no need to bother focusing,  shows enough detail of the subject but

not too much,  with good fuzziness —– and above all,  it cost nothing !

It is really a lazy Sunday Painter’s best companion.  = just click a camera,  

it automatically produces the paintings in mass scale !    😀

So, a knuck to have a life contented is = don’t ask too much.  Be contented.  

Ha ha ha   😀

[]

A Field by a Pinhole

A week after the previous post, the flowers in the same field has almost gone.

When there is no distinctive color pattern, the Double Density Pinhole is not

suit for a photo, as it’s image become just an incomprehensible murky blob 

though,  never mind this is the 666th post in this blog ! 

A belief, the world to be a clear, comprehensible place may not be true.

Neither photo necessary shows  clear image. (It still a photo !  Why not. )

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM  🙂

Devil might like them !

Ha ha ha.   😀 

———————

PS :  To advocate the Pinhole Photography general,  Not most of the

Pinhole photo is such bad,  I’ll show you the images made by

the ordinary ( one small simple ) Pinhole. 

 But the trouble of the ordinary pinhole photo was that, they are only the Photo

of  un-sharp. = nothing other than that inadequacy and never showed any other

positive value. —– That’s why I’ve put yet another pinhole around the center

pinhole  to make Concentric Double Density Pinhole,  in order to achieve the 

Impressionist’s Painting like effect.)

 

 

M[]

End of Summer Meadow

Since, the time of growth and flowering has more or less finished.

= for that flower patch it was not an exception.   After some strong 

wind and the rain, now the meadow is in their closing stage.

On the other hand, now I got proper front lens for that Homemade

two elements Lens thanks to the kind assistance of HOYA Optics.

(Original lens came from my broken specs and -5 Diopter strength.  

Now I got  -3 and -6 for further experiment. (I would have  -3, -6, -9 to test !)

Unlike 25 year old specs lens, brand new lens is much clearer = less fuzziness.  

To compensates clearer image, I increased the “F-Aperture” somewhat

one-stop (6 mm to 10 mm) = it affected the depth of field as well.   😦

Still, they looks more or less the same  😀

Only (used to be) the meadow looks different.  After a Riot, there

would be inevitable dead bodies and the dried-up carcasses and sticks.

That’s what we human saw the situation though,  for the flowers 

themselves,  looks like a dried-up carcass is their very seed pod etc

= their proof of success in this summer’s operation.  

Don’t make up a drama,  it is just another phase of one cycle.

I’m not sure whether they will come back next season. —– Just wait and see.

Anyhow, I was very much fired-up by their chaos.  

(And created lords of looks more or less the same picture.  😀  😀  )

Still it was a fun !

[]

How to teach No-Self and Void

No-self,  Mind of No-mind = Mushin,  Void etc etc —– in fact it’s all same state 

of the mind or brain though, a trouble is, it can not be explained —– because,

if it was explained, its action, and the words themselves destroy the notion of

No-self or Void and in effect, it is to prove that “You have your own Self”.    🙂

It is the same to a duty of silence, you can’t tell or declare that “I am in silence”

= if you tell that you are in a practice of silence = you fail the duty.

[]

In the Buddhist scripture it was “explained” in the relation to the 5 aggregates

= in fact the relation between the sense and the object =  “sensed” —–

such as a sense of vision and the object what you thought that you have seen,

and likewise sense of hearing etc etc = 5 senses and effectively all the existences.

===> Its core is,  you never be sure whether you actually seen it,  or what you

thought that you’ve seen, was true or not, that’s because the subject, you and the

object were existing in the relation to the others in moment to moment, hence

they couldn’t be defined as a reliable solid existence therefore nothing, include

yourself is real —– in another word, Void.    (It’s shame though,  to understand

what was written there doesn’t mean “able to get Selfless or see the Void” ! )

—– (The expression in a typical Mahayana scripture “Exists as Not-exists” was

an excuse of the autoer “I didn’t say neither exists or not exists” )   🙂

[]

Because of you, yourself is Void, you can’t explain it’s situation because the

situation in any moment is keep changing hence any static description could

be a false = in fact any such notion is nothing but a delusion.

So, this is the fundamental trouble to teach, let alone to explain the Selfless or Void.

Lord Buddha had this trouble too, of cause.   And his answer was “Not answer” —–

because, there is no problem to continue the life without having the SELF, far from

it, we were born and naturally living in Selfless, in other words, having and clinging 

to the Self, or believing that the world, or all the existences are really existing, is

nothing but the delusion.    So, what

Lord Buddha did was just show the practice he does in Selfless state (Mushin) = 

and he instructed to do the the same, exactly like him. = and everybody followed =

automatically following him exactly the same manner IS nothing but the practice 

of the Selflessness.    (Please read [Test of Selflessness])

[]

It is impossible to explain what the Selflessness or Void is, still in practice 

anything can be done in completely Selfless manner and it is in deed a

demonstration and the proof of the Void.

[]

And this was the reason why the scriptures are in haywire still the teachings of

Buddhism and it’s tradition has been maintained in the Zen practice.

—– if you can do the same, again and again without conceive a question, you are

in the Selfless state.    And you can extend this state to do any other work, even a

thinking process.   (It may sound funny as it is the same brain though, the thinking

part of the brain is not necessary involving the emotional region where the feeling

of Me = Self was created.  —– So, the mental practice of Detachment will work.)

___/\___

[]  

Orange Peel

You may not guess what I’m going to talk about.   The photo here is Orange Peels.

Orange Peel (of its powder) has been used as a flavoring spice or even a 

Chinese herbal medicine. (= moderate stimulant to the stomach )

—– But I’m not going to use it in any form but I’m going to get lid of them.

Though, if you throw them into a rubbish bin in the kitchen, together with

carrot skin etc etc,  inevitably you’ll have a rotten wet bottom in the bin where

Fruits Fly thrives.  — Still, try to fight against them is the futile, impossible task.

A bin with lid didn’t work = they get inside when it was open = and lay eggs =

then come back in hundreds.   You can’t catch, you can’t hit = they fly so quick.

Throw a rubbish every day is the one  answer.  (Sounds quite paranoia isn’t it ?) 

And make them composted in a jar with tight lid, is the another answer,

though, when I tried, I realized that I don’t have a garden to use the compost. 

Anyhow, my rubbish for 2 weeks is not more than a super-market plastic bag.  

—– On the end, I got the answer = wet rubbish IS the root cause of trouble.

= Why not dry them ! = If no wet rubbish, no Fruits Fly would come, hence

= no trouble, no fight. —– isn’t this the Buddhist’s like answer !   🙂

(Same as, “No alcohol, no trouble. No woman, no trouble” kind of approach  !  

Save the joke of Mahayana Buddhism “Having trouble IS the Enlightenment”

though, Fruits Fly has no fun at all.)   😀

= So, I leave the Orange peel,  Vegetable skin etc to spread on the plastic tray

and let them dry. (Looks strange though, nobody would see it anyway.)  

—– When they are dry, put them into the bin.  

[]

Just a little bit more attention, then able to have a peaceful life !

Isn’t this a Zen ?  —– or do you think it’s a nuts or paranoid ?  

Ha ha ha ha  😀 —– Have a nice Friday 13th, and a fun-full weekend.

[]