TOUCHING the VOID
Yesterday I was invited to see a dress rehearsal of an Art Performance at the Holland Park.
It was titled [ Common sounds : Touching the Void ] ( Flyer is in the end of this post )
In fact it was in the building of the former Commonwealth Institute.
The building has been closed for more than decade —– what a shame. I used to go there to see many ethnic,
cultural exhibition, art performances.
And as the building has been bought by the Design Museum, they are under the refurbishment.
It is a kind of trend to use a disused empty space, some time pretty strange place, to utilize
them for an exhibition, art events. —– naturally, the space itself was unusual, the almost
crèche “Site specific installations, performances” are the regular program.
Though, this particular space is nothing like any another space.
Under the first ever built type of column-less huge roof, it is the burst empty space —– having
a round centre stage and the surrounding multi-storey corridor —– you got to be there
to see and feel the space.
The event has been directed by Harry Ross, and designed by Helen O’Neill who is my friend though I haven’t dig
deep enough to know how they organized the event to use here yet —– may be a kind of trade secrets there 😀
—
The actual performances are the conceptual play and the dances, therefore impressive but a kind, often
described as “mind boggling” — not only the space is out of comprehension, hence we feel out
of space ( pan 🙂 ) giving a feeling of being in the time trip —– Where am I ? What’s going on ?
Then the audiences were bound together and taken to the ride —— or to the darkness of the limbo !
At there I met another photographer who introduced himself as Jim the dance photographer.
While he shoot, he moves with dancer anticipating their movements and click, no fancy angle or strange
foot works, always facing straight, very authentic —– I noticed, this guy really knows the subject, in
many years experiences —– to capture the moment of dance. (Good for the dancer’s own portfolio)
( His link =http://www.perfectlandscape.com/touching_the_void/#)
non
My photography is more to participate, or even invade the situation —– interaction with the situation.
That’s why I like to use ultra-wide or even fish-eye lens to close the core of subject.
Like the Theory of Relativity, there can not be a pure observation.
Observation itself affects the Phenomenon —– therefore, to be a part
of Phenomenon is more logical —– That’s what I think 😀
—– Believe or not, this is my understanding of the Zen Buddhism.
Once we were born, we can not exist outside of the world.
The interaction with the other existences, moment to moment,
is the life.
Otherwise, why do we need to be here in this moment ?
And why the Dharma placed us to be here and now ?
—– So that, why the art event like in the Commonwealth
Institute was happened and WHY I was there ?
This is the understanding of “What Karma meant ” and totally embrace the
situation is “What Mindfulness mean “. —– This is the Conviction to the LIFE.
Hence, this IS the ZEN. ( ZEN in action, not sitting away from the situation 😀 )
___/\___
—-
|
Sheer JOKE
Some years ago, I was asked by a friend, stage designer Francesco to produce some stage set and props.
In fact, I also took a part acting as a Mad Doctor ? ! (If I were asked, I just join —– because its
occurrence was in the Karma. Hence I don’t think too much or no use to think. It’s a reaction in Mushin )
It was titled [O-project] which the story was based on the Hoffman’s Tale, but in the ultra modern settings 😀
—– instead to create a doll to whom a guy fallen in love, a Mad Doctor created a life in a vitro and so on.
( So, I created Oparlin’s Life Bottle of which lightning spark to the primeval sea water said to have
created first element of the life on the earth.
And the Laser Harp, on top of the Virtual Woman / rotating Wire torso )
non
While working it, on a desk of a Sent Martin’s art student, I found a photo of Dalai Lama. —– I made
a joke “Hey, don’t you know, He is my first cousin” and Francesco took picture of me
holding Dalai Lama’s photo.
When Francesco compiled the O-project DVD, he put the photo-images to show the episode in the production
process —— ? ? ? What ! —– In the DVD, a photo-image of me holding
Dalai Lama’s photo has been Photoshoped to [Me holding Star-war’s Yodo]
So, the story has changed to “ Hey, I’m a cousin of Yodo” —– ! —– Very very funny 😀
( Francesco expected me to get angry —– later he said though, for me it was more of an amazement
than a kind of matter to get angry. What a fun ! ! ! I like this kind of fearless, blatant idea.)
When it came to a joke, a western wit is far more naked (often quite bad tasted) which makes a big
difference to the Japanese. Some said, it because of the carnivorous nature of the European against
the vegetarian Buddhist though, it seems it’s a too simplified view. ( Simplly Itariano is noughty 😀 )
Non
I always fascinated by the artistic creativity of the Latin psyche. Yet, unlike other Italian or Spanish artists,
this designer’s thinking remains always within the feasibility —– never impossible fantasy —- and amazingly
able to find the best suitable material or structure which is good to convert for the purpose etc, in another
words quite technically minded —– that why he is a designer not a pure fine artist —– still
his novel ideas are always there and fascinated me.
non
After all, any creative perception, unless it was materialised, it couldn’t be displayed, unless it
was displayed, it couldn’t be noticed by others —– this is what the communication meant.
Otherwise, its perception remained inside of an autistic mind.
Stage design must be one of the hardest task which is facing this dilemma —–it has to be materialised.
(while complying all the safety regulation etc, and reliably working in one-piece 😀 )
non
Artistic creativity live in the same terrain where the good joke came from.
non
Hydrangea Otaksa
Early summer or before a summer starts, Japan has a rainy season
(middle of June to middle of July) somewhat akin to the monsoon.
Every day is a rainy day. And under the rain, it is the time to appreciate
pale blue Hydrangea flowers = 紫陽花 アジサイ.
There are many famous Hydrangea Garden arround Tokyo, especially
in Kamakura city (one hour from Tokyo), Meigetsu-in Temple, Hase-dera
Temple, Jyoju-in Temple are only name but few.
Why Hydrangea in the Temple is because of its meditative blue color.
Buddhist monks are the sombre people. 😀 — I’m just kidding. 😀
non
You might have heard that the Hydrangea flower originated from
Japan. It was brought back to the Netherlands and spread to the
Europe in late 19th century and since then many horticultural
varieties were created especially in England.
The person who introduced it to the west was a German Doctor working
in the Dutch mercantile, in Nagasaki, Philip Franz von Siebold.
( In fact, he came Japan twice, and for the second time he acted as a
foreign affair adviser for the Shogun )
While he was in Japan, along side working as a doctor and teaching
western medicine, he studied Japanese Flora and Fauna, and collected
vast amount of botanical specimen as well. From this study and the
research, worked together with a Botanist J.G. Zuccarini, a book
[Japanese Flora] was published. In this book, one of the native plant
was named as Hydrangea Otaksa. ( though, it has been renamed to
Hydrangea macropylla (Thunb) seringe f. macropylla )
Shy Siebold himself made an excuse that the name Otakusa came
from local name though, a Japanese Botanist, Tomitaro Makino
later traced back its origin to his Japanese wife Otaki-san.
The name he put, Otaksa came from non other than his Japanese wife
Otaki-san in deed. (Incidentally, a daughter he made to Otaki-san,
the Oine = 楠本イネ, became the first female doctor, gynecologist in the
Japanese Medical history.)
He must loved her so much, as he even taught his Parrot to repeat her
name “Otaki-san” —– and a funny story was that since then it became
a custom to teach a Parrot to call the name ”Otake-san” in Japan.
( Similar to a custom in Japan, a lots of dog has their name “Pochi”
—– originally it was copied from the call for a dog “Pooch” in
English or American.) 😀
nonBotanical research institutes in the world exchanges their collection
each other. When I was in my Uni’, my part-time work was taking
botanical photos and making the specimen in the Makino Herbarium＝
牧野植物標本館 (a part of the Science Dept’ )
One day, the Herbarium received a parcel from the Science Dept’ of
the Leiden University, Netherlands.
It was the very botanical specimen which Siebold had taken to
the Netherlands. And 110 years later, they were returned to Japan.
As I happened to have best dexterity, I was asked to stick those old
fragile specimen onto the card paper, then labelling them.
It was an extremely delicate work. Not only the specimen were
completely dry old plants, but the paper base is not solid board.
Any bending force to the base paper would crumble the specimen.
Hence the binding tape need to have some margin of gap to allow
the specimen to move, while securely holding it.
The specimen itself were nothing special —– they are quite
common (to Japanese eyes) plants, such as cherry blossoms etc.
(though, Hydrangea wasn’t included) but the matter was its
association with historical figure Siebold who taught the Japanese
herbalists to sort the plants in real scientific way first time.
Non
While making those specimen I’ve put a plank — I wrote my name
under the label with thin pencil. It is not visible though, if anybody
see through the label against the light, the name may be seen.
( This is the first time I revealed such mischief to the others.) 😀
Few years ago, I heard from a retired Professor of Makino Herbarium,
the portable specimen dryers powered by mobile electric generator
which I designed and made for the Ogasawara expedition ( I made its
metal work in the Technology Dept’s work shop) were still there and
nearly 40 years later they are still working !
— its funny to think the staff of the herbarium might be wondering
to see the name on the dryer’s label “Who the hell, this guy ?”
(A facility in a big institute show no personal name as a manufacturer)
And in the Japanese practice, the photos taken by the staff doesn’t
show the photographer’s name. So, my name only remains on member
list of the expedition and behind the labels of Siebold collection.
—– it’s a hidden joke. 😀
PS: The Hydrangea in the Photo above is rather primitive type
( I couldn’t find the exact name of it though) unlike the common
types, this flower showed the real flower in the centre of sepal.
The common horticultural variety has atrophied flower (in fact,
it is not a flower but just the sepals)
I rather like to see the flowers in its natural form than in
an artificially created “gorgeous” style.
*****
Hydrangea Otakusa / Makino / Ogasawara Expedition
Pok’s ZEN
Ten days ago I received an invitation to a private view of an art exhibition from a man whom I don’t know at all.
I was quite puzzled, how come ? ? ? (since my Email address is not public)
Exhibition was a contemporary art in context of dairy practice in Zen Buddhist’s culture —- What ?
Before go down to the puzzle of Zen art, I guessed that somebody my friend who knows of my Zen blog
might have suggested him to send an Email to me.
Any how, it’s best to see a man and ask.
Non
So, I took a journey to the exhibition and met a young artist, Chong-Boon Pok.
Obviously he is a Chinese but turned out to be from Malaysia and living in here about 10 years.
And he is a kind of [native] Zen Buddhist, who doesn’t need to know what the Zen is or its
history etc, but as he was grown up in its environment he is naturally doing it.
(even unaware of why —– it’s in his subconscious)
—– As he was saying in his Press release;
“ My studio practice operates within subjects, time and space using the everyday and engages
aspects of mindfulness,self, memories, social, cultural and symbolic form. My cultural upbringing and
life experiences are often revisited, examined and evidenced in my work.
The work embraces ideas of as-it-is-ness, nothingness, the impermanent nature of things, and the
interconnectedness of objects and people, all of which are relevant to Zen Buddhist discourses of everyday.”
non
And what he is showing are — in his words;
“ Devoting attentiveness to and contemplating the everyday is central to my art practice.
The everyday that I refer to is the trivial, ordinary and inconsequential objects and activities that
people tend to take for granted such as the cutlery we use for eating, something we are so familiar
with that we are less likely to give a second thought when we encountered them. Besides
assembling everyday objects into sculptural forms and installations, part of my work involves
using food and cooking to perform and interact with people visiting my exhibition.”
non
Like a round piece in the photo above ( can be enlarged with click on the photo) it was made out of
drink-can’s pull-ring —– thousand of them. So as the other pieces, they are made out of really
ordinary objects —– but with the thousands of repeated works.
Some may think, it might have done by dreadful swet-shop like endless work or even it might have done by
the hired worker —– wrong. It was all done by the artist himself.
And some may think, it is a kind of play devoting to the God —– wrong again.
Except the first few line of the work where the artist needed to find the best adjustment, following work
all through up to the finishing line, it was done almost automatic = just the repeating movement of the fingers.
There was nothing else in his mind = so-called Mindfulness, though, in fact, there was nothing.
Hence Mind of No-Mind = the true reflection of the Nothingness of the existence.
—– in deed, those repeating work is the Buddhist’s practice = by which the one can reach to
the state of Mushin (Mind of No-Mind ).
non
But we shouldn’t forget, that the Practice is just the practice to get the state of the mind, Mushin.
Mushin itself is not a goal. It is just a state of the mind. What is the goal ? —– Life, that’s all.
But the Life without unnecessary worries or useless delusions hence without pitfall.
What else anyone needs to have ?
More than handful of gold ? Or surrounded by 100 of virgins ? —— ? ? ? What to do with those virgins ?
Do you want to be a rapist or dirty old man ? —– in fact, all those dirty idea negates the goodness or virtue of
the Mushine, since it against the Rules of the Dharma.
One’s life is to make other life happier. This is what all about the meaning of the Life.
( Running big company employing thousands of staffs and selling the products all over the world
—– in effects, supporting those who working for him, and appreciated by the people who bought the products,
in the same time, making money and able to supports his own family —– this is the Life.
(well, billions of variations there)
non
So, unmistakably, the artist, Pok succeeded in this task —– by his work in Mushin, made
the people smile and made their eyes open “ A, Ha ~ ~ ~” and making people feel Happy.
He should be rewarded by the Dharma.
Non
His exhibition [ Contemplating the Everyday ] continues until 8th July, 11am~5pm
@ Central House Building / Metropolitan University —– Near Oldgate East Station , London
(it is opposite of the Whitechapel Gallery / Habib Bank on the corner / entrance is over the Bank office)
—– < www.thegroundweshare.co.uk.blogspot.com >
It’s worthwhile to pay a visit 🙂
—–
Order in Disorder (2)
Before the Buddhism evolved into Mahayana, the followers try to understand the existences in each
definition, in order, such as described in the Abidharma Kosa, and tried to fix the rules, so that,
in effect, made the person into the orderly ideal TYPE.
Then, the Buddhists realized that there is no such things like an orderly type nor
orderly existences —– no order is the order.
Like the nature, even a Hurricane or a Tsunami are also a part of the Dharma, not mention a Death.
Try to impose an ideal TYPE or the imagined ORDER and branding anything else are evil, is
the human invention, and such thinking is nothing but the delusion.
In contrast to [see the Dharma as it is ], — [try to impose the idea over the Dharma ] is
the fundamental difference between Mahayana and Hinayana.
Accept the Dharma as it is, accept the human as human not an ideal TYPE, was
the starting point of the Mahayana Buddhism.
non
From his earliest period, Buddha’s teachings consists of the Four Noble Truth, in which
Buddha defined that the Life is suffering, getting ill and getting old then to die —– far from any
ideal TYPE of the life. —– but this was what Buddha did find.
And it took 500 years for the followers to realize what it’s really meant.
Still, if the situation of the life is confined only to this,
Buddha wouldn’t have taught his enlightened wisdom of —– how to deal with
this apparently hopeless situation.
The Buddha’s answer was, against this disorderly situation (Samsara), to live the life
in Mushin (which can be acquired through the practice) would open the way to live without
fear or negative thought, and away from any negative effect of ego and the delusion.
—– therefore lead to the peaceful Nirvana.
non
Only the rules what Buddha found was the Rule of the Karma though, as he also explained the
constantly changing nature of the Dharma (which include ourself), this Rule still having unknowable
hence, no-order again.
Yet still, strangely you might think, this uncertainty still retains the overall direction of the Karma.
(Which is the direction of the Dharma) —– situation constantly changes, occurrences seemed random,
still we pick up what the one should pick up = on the end the one goes to certain direction.
Only the matter is, to pick up right one. —– To do this, its need to have clear eyes
and absolutely calmed, exposed sensory. —– here, the Buddhist’s practice comes in.
non
To the absolutely opened eyes and the mind of no-mind = Mushin, even a minute sign of
something happening will be seen. And as the mind is open, usually an out of scope kind
of irrelevant matter (which can be crucial to one’s life) may also be seen.
Stereotype, self-imposed casting always limiting one’s perception and cause wrong thinking.
But, creative, progressive idea and the direction is over this barrier —– why you find this ? why you ?
is the indication of [ because you were assigned to do this] —– this is what the direction mean.
To the outsider, the nature / the Dharma looks No-Order though, to the open mind = Mushin, it looks no
problem —– since he could see the direction and be in contended as in the right direction. He stays calm.
Non
– – – “ Oh, C’mon, can’t you see, the World is disintegrating”
“Yes I can see, its true. But because of that, somebody has been assigned to work hard and dealing with it.
So, if he asks your help. Help him. If not, don’t interfere him, or worrying about it yourself.
If the Dharma in deed had the intention for the World to sink,
the Dharma didn’t assign him to solve the problem”
Put faith on the Dharma. 🙂
___/\___
—
PS : It may look nicer to shout against the Nuclear Power or multi-national Capitalists etc. while pretending
to be a conscience of Planet Earth though, I don’t think it is not necessary a typical Buddhist’s attitude,
unless the one was born to be a campaigner. Because, the Buddhism is not stand on the mouth but practice.
Before open the mouth, better stop wasting energy, electricity etc, stop buying bottled water, fizzy drink,
give up the car etc etc. Those practices may be in your hand but, —– ? ? ? how many people in the world
can stop the Nuke ? —– the drive to change the policy of some country to give up Nuke was not by the
campaign, but by an accident in Japan which costed hundreds of billions of money. Money speaks louder.
In emotion, everybody feel ” What a hell, Japanese government is doing (or not doing !)” though, it need to
think what an emotional shout can affect the actual policy there —– yet, on the Election, they vote to the
well-known TV characters or comedian —– ? ? ? (What’s going on there)
—
Anyhow, no-one’s conscience or emotion would give a halt to earthquake or tsunami 😀
(To the Planet Earth, it was a small wobble to release a tension (so, it was a rational adjustment. Not a
disorderly passion ) though, for us, minute human being, it was a devastating quake) we are utterly powerless.)
—– but this is what the nature / Dharma is.
non
Order in Disorder (1)
Reflecting back my own life, I myself often amazed, or even bemused,
how I’ve been coming through chancy life. I wouldn’t say I was anything casual or irresponsible,
because if there was anything due, I did my bargain in my best. But beside this, I put even more effort for
something else which is not necessary I was expected to do. —– but in the hind sight, I’m wondering
whether it was my choice or just happened to be there, and I just picked it up ?
—
When I was small, my interest was the Nature, insect or plant kind. But it was not my choice.
Soon after the war ended, Tokyo was a burnt down city, not much other than a wild field to go around and
no sports facility or game kind there. (My hobby of electronics was definitely my choice. And to get the
components, I needed to take a journey to Akihabara where ex-Korean war junk was sold — and those
mechanical-electronical components such as variable condenser, vacuum bulb’s intricate, futuristic
structure fascinated me ! )
—
For me to turn my eyes to human life and its psyche was happened when one of the (bad) boy in the
secondary school incited me to read a book of the notorious suicidal novelist, Osamu Dazai.
(so, I became bad boy too —– and became a rebel )
And to start to go to mountain other than for chasing the insects was, simply the class teacher organized an
out of school activity club and I joined it. (Since I was familiar with walking on the hill or in the woods)
And this activity continued while getting heavier and heavier even to winter rock climbing level. (Its mean,
I did this, one of the physically, mentally hardest training from 12 years to 27 years, up to 1/3rd of the year
in the mountain)
non
For me to take the subject of Industrial Sociology in my Uni’ was also a sheer coincidence.
A Professor of Industrial Sociology asked me to help his project, and I got involved deeper, that’s all.
But I personally learned from him, how to observe and analyse the man and its society.
(Visualize somebody’s life and give an insight “If I were the man in there, how do I feel
and behave”—– this approach gave me great insight, and the way to see the human life
—– instead of imposing the view or criteria of observation, not to take superficial
observation of one’s behaviour, but to see the situation from the person’s psyche and his
stance, was the crucial attitude I learned from him)
—
And while in my Uni’ I spent most of the time (well, while I was not in the mountain) in the Herbalium in
the Science dept’ despite I was studying sociology. This Makino Herbalium is one of the largest in Japan
having millions of botanical specimen and I was working there, taking photo of plant or making specimen.
It was my part-time work to pay for the Uni’ and to go to mountain or skiing.
While there, I was asked to join 3 expeditions to help botanists as a botanical photographer and an expert of
jungle walking 🙂 —– in fact for those reason I remained in my Uni’ altogether 7 years.
(with annoyance of the administrator, who shouted me “Are you still here ?” 😀 )
———- but I might have made a mistake to become a photographer 😀
( But if I were not a photographer, I didn’t come and to live here —– it was a necessary
element in the course of my life —– like a Butterfly Effect / minute change may cause
the drastic difference in the end result —– therefore, there is no regret )
( To deal with close-up photography, it is necessary to improvise or even specially design the equipments.
Working in a part of the Science Dept’, I could access the engineering machine in the Technology Dept’ and
having the knowledges of electronics lead me to design even special camera. It happened, as it happened.
—– was that natural consequence or just a lucky coincidence —– it’s a good question 🙂 )
non
Then I left Japan. And while staying in England as a photojournalist, suddenly the awkward court case was
started which I had no choice. I had to deal with the case as a Litigant in Person while learning English Law
overnight —– and I was forced to give up photographic business. Court case really consume time though,
in the other hand, if next hearing is months away —- suddenly, too much time but nothing to do.
So that, I got plenty time for reading and thinking —– about Zen. Then, suddenly “ Alas,
now I know, all through my life, I was given the hardest training to become a Zen monk”.
I’ve learned Nature. Then my scope was expanded to human existence while dealing with sociology and
working in the mountain as a voluntary keeper, seeing the people in their edge of the life. Hence, farther
into the spiritual fundamental aspects of humanity.
(but didn’t learn how to deal with funeral , so, don’t ask me to conduct a funeral 😀 )
(Since, the Court case was caused by a woman’s explotitation of my immigration status, I was quarified to decrear
” Woman is the cause of nothing but the trouble” hence I quit to deal with woman. Literally became a monk 😀 )
Non
Looks utterly chancy life ––— though, on the end, it converged into one direction.
And yet another coincidence, I happen to start this Zen blogging.
Before I left Japan, I was told by my mother who was a psychic, and while she was reading my palm line
“Since you got mission, you wouldn’t be fallen before your task was accomplished. Therefore I wouldn’t
worrying about you at all” —– I don’t know the reason why I don’t get ill (I still have no registered Doctor
while staying in this country 35 years), or in the mountain, I had falls on the rock 3 times though never
injured. And I’ve broken 3 skis but never broken any bone 😀
—– It’s hard to tell, whether all of those are just the sheer coincidences, and I was just lucky
—– or something else ? —– there seems to be no order or rational connection, everything
were just occurred, yet still, in the hind sight, there was a certain direction.
( If A hasn’t been there, encountering B wouldn’t be happened, then at the B, conveniently C
happened —– and so on, and lead to Z on the end = this is the life. )
—?— is this the hidden order ? —– Or the Dharma’s intention ?
___/\___
( To be continued to the next post 🙂 )
—
Bodhi-Tree / Bodai-ju
You believe or not, this is the tree what Japanese believes as the Boddhi-Tree.
My parents believed and explained to me, “This is the tree which Buddha said to have enlightened while sitting under this tree. Therefore it got the name BODAI-Ju. Since, a flower blooms as if it is standing in a palm.”
Yes, it looks uniquely strange flower. So, I believed its story. Anyhow, I was a small boy —– no argument 🙂
non
Not only a boy, everybody in Japan believed that this is the Boddhi Tree, hence a German song composed by Franz Schubert about this particular tree and its title [Der Lindenbaum] was translated into Japanese as [ BODAI-Ju ] — of cause, in this case, the tree was a tree known as a Lime tree in the west.
—– (Strangely, this [Bodai-ju] has another name which has Ainu tribe origin [Shina-no-ki] and from its shape of the false leaf under a flower, the another name was [Hera-no-ki] —– so, the name [Bodai-ju] was only after the time when Japanese got Buddhism)
Non
When the Buddhism was brought to Japan, the India [Tenjiku] was in the another planet, even to the Chinese monks who travelled over there and studied Buddhism, it was a distance needed to take years of journey.
Hence, to read the scriptures was just a guess work, let alone to distinguish what was the historical truth or even chronological order among the jumbled scriptures.
Therefore, to have mistaken Lime tree as to the Boddhi tree was not a big crime 🙂
(I haven’t found what Chinese people were understanding about Boddhi Tree, yet. So, any Chinese reader who knows about it, please leave a comment herein after)
In comparison, we now can have amazing amount of informations and even a photo of a real Boddhi Tree ( Ficus religiosa ) while sitting in a room thousands of miles away from India —– still, we are not sure,
whether we are any wiser than a monk thousand years ago. —– yet still, the reason why we can get the same understanding of the teachings is, Buddhism is not based on the knowledges but on its practice. Like riding a bicycle —– no one can explain how to ride it, but by the practice you can get to know how by yourself.
( So, there is no problem whether it was [Boddhi tree] or [Bodai-ju] to get enlightenment 😀 )
___/\___
non
Whose LIFE is it ?
In the Buddhism, to think “ This is my Life” might be the most arrogant notion.
—– In the truth, we might be here by the will of somebody else,
Buddha or Dharma whoever over there.
Its mean we are here to fulfil his will or intention. —– in other words, on the surfice, we are
believing that “ I have chosen my direction. It was my decision” though, in fact it was given, and
we just have taken its opportunity in its occurrence. ( Remember, you didn’t chose to born —– you
have just become aware you are here —– when you were 8~10 years old 🙂 )
It was not accident. —– It was predestined direction.
Non
This is what the selflessness really mean in its deepest meanings.
( What really exists is not you, but the Dharma —– so, the words “Dharma in you” may be
misguiding —– YOU were not separate entity or counter notion from the beginning )
And this might be the real meaning to be the life to be the Bodhisattva.
The life is, not one’s life but the Life of the Dharma.
___/\___
non
TOY and ELECTRONICS
A while ago I was introduced to a guy who needs to have some helps for his electronic project.
This guy Richard has been running his shop-sign design business near the work shop of the
Open Wifi Networking people / OWN, and he was introduced me through this group.
As he wanted to expand his design to LED light sign-board, but without having enough knowledges of
electronics. ( —– good boy. I like this kind of people. Keen to study and challenge new field.)
(Any how, I myself started a hobby of electronics from scratch
without having any formal education or training)
He had started to make sign-board using a kit bought from China —– and having mountain of
problems, the power supply, heat-up, etc etc. (May be it worked in China though, this country got
much more strict Safety regulation and the customers are more fussy, and so on)
Basically, the Chinese design was rather cleverly simplified, using less components —– would work
just within the limit and under an ideal condition.
Though, the trouble of bespoke designs are, they are not always the same design, and the number
of LEDs on the board are not necessary the same number.
So, I suggested the modification and the change of the components, power supply etc etc, in fact
quite a lots of works needed to make them perfect 🙂
non
On the beginning, he tried to pay for my help. I told him “My help is free. And even if he want to pay,
he can’t afford my formal charge” “One day, if I need, I may need to ask your help”
“So, just glad to receive a help from others, and give a help when he saw if others needed”
non
——- Then, he found the Chinese toys using LEDs and showed me if they can be used to control the
electronic signal in the sign-board.
Modification or adaptation of electronic circuit is much easier than to make a tandem bicycle out of
two broken bicycles (which needs to have a lots of cutting and welding —– a messy business)
As a matter of fact, I’ve been doing many of those kind of adaptation.
A video clip of my rotating LED disco costume in Youtube was made out of a Chinese toy too.
When I saw the complicated lighting pattern of 5 LEDs in the small toy, I’ve got the idea to utilize it
(then, I made more than 10 design and the prototypes —– and one end-up as a fancy disco gadget 😀 )
If I design and make the same from scratch, by using gate ICs or a micro-controller IC, it would become
quite a size and impossible to rotates, let alone to mount it on a disco costume.
Since Chinese manufacturer designed and made it as a cheap toy, expecting to sell millions, they made
all the controlling circuit and the memory in one custom IC, everything is in a thumb nail sized board
—– so that, I’ve bought 20 of them 50 pence each 🙂 —– what a bargain 😀
Most of those ICs in the toys which execute a pre-programmed
routine is having a digital memory and its execution speed is
clocked by an internal RC clock, and its frequency is
supply voltage dependent, its mean if we change it, it could
slow down the speed.
The toys, Richard found was rapidly flashing RGB LEDs disco
pendant kind. Those electronic circuit can be modified to flash
the letters on a sign-board by adding higher current transistor,
and can have more effective speed or giving more interesting
random movement as well.
And by using much higher supply voltage, it can light up lot more number of LEDs —– the variations are
endless —– after all, they are so cheap, try this and that —– any faliuer wouldn’t cost you much.
Try to analyse and modify the circuit is a kind of game and a fun. —– and I made user friendly, ready to
use small board for him (and his assistants) to make sign-board.
—– rest of work is for him / he is the designer. I was just an adviser.
It was an interesting occasion to see a person rapidly learning and succeeding.
This is the Zen at work. (for me and for him)
Let the things to come and happen.—– In Buddhist’s view, it is not an accident.
It’s happened as it should be.
Be flexible in the brain / in the way of thinking, and to the occurence in the life,
and above all, just do what required there in its best.
Hence, I was happy and he was happy too.
The day and the life in total would be quite fruits-full. ( with a lots of fun as well 🙂 )
___/\___
—
JAPANESE Psyche
There was the interesting exchange of the mails about the quality of the Japanese politician and their Psyche.
And the Japanese Psyche in general. (I may repeat this in English soon)
—-
日本の政治家の資質低下について，はたと気がついたのですが，どうもその原因は理念とか本人の器といった
高貴な問題ではなく，むしろ本人や党の台所事情ではと見えたのですがいかが？
かつての自民－社会対立の頃にはそれぞれが，企業－労組という強力かつ安定した資金源があり，金はないが
名将の器という人物が党の応援を得て当選し頭角を現す可能性があった。
ところが経済の混迷，それに引きずられて政党政治の混迷が起り，上記したような，
それなりに安定していた政治資金システムも崩壊してしまった。
言ってみれば 政治景観は，野武士ならまだしも，夜盗，かっぱらいだけがとにかく金を作って
生き残れるといふ焼け跡化してしまったのです。怪しげな利権のつながりで金をせびって来られる夜盗の頭目が
寄って来るかっぱらいを集め新党を作ったり他の徒党との取引に明け暮れる
－－－こりゃロクでもない連中ばかりになるといふのは当然でしょう。
（ミもフタもなさすぎますか？ ハッハッハ）
———————–
> それでもなんとか世の中が回ってる。沈みながら、ではあるにしても。
というのが日本の民への賛嘆ではあるのですが
—
日本人に染み付いた儒教仏教の美德は，今や世界中に認められた歴史的遺産で
元ネタである筈の中国人をすら驚愕させているのです。
未曾有の災害，その後の原発事故，為政者の無策に直面しても略奪はおろか暴動，反政府 運動も起らない。
［君，君たらずとも，臣，臣たれ］［己れの分をわきまえよ］で,ひたすら己れの分である所の職務を全うする。
全ての職務が平常心を持って完遂されれば，つまり全ての歯車が正常に回れば，
全体としてシステムは昨日と同様に作動する。メデタシメデタシ。
（逆に言えば昨日と同じで，新事態となるとお手上げ）
－－－つまり，日本人はこの［己れの分］を全うする為に，ひたすら滅私奉公。
ところがこの滅私といふのは無私とは程遠く，［分］というのは縄張りに外ならない。
縄張りに入って来るヨソ者を排撃するだけでなく，大きな縄張りを持った者ヘのネタミ，妨害は執拗にやる。
「このMLは俺が作った」のテですよ。
——
－－－で，この［分］というのが日本人の場合，極度に狭い。もう卑小と言える狭さ。
知ったような顔で知識はあるが（なんたって世界ーの就学率，英語教育だけでも１０年）
しかし，その知識も，己れの［分］以外は「おこがましくって」と無視。
何しろ［月毎のおこずかい］を女房からいただき家政経済にすら疎い程ですから。
そうして，個である事の最後のトリデをオタクとかネットのポルノに見つける。
ネットは情報空間，コミニュケーション領域を異状な程に拡大した筈なのですが
良く見てみると，実はそうした卑小な密室にこもった人間同志が同類と交っているだけで，当人の視野や
思考領域が拡がっている訳ではなく，多少でも違ったコトを言う者が居ると完璧に無視されるか袋叩きに合う。
この異常な程の世界の狭さは大企業のトップでも同じで「それは現場に聞いてくれ」となる。
－－－で，日産もソニーもトップは外人に任せるコトになった。
－－－ムムム？－－－ひょっとしたら，官僚や政府の要職には英人米人をやとったら？
—–
縄張りと面子の調整で［和］に到逹するのが日本教の理念ですが，何しろ出発点，土台となる視野が
あまりにも狭いから，そもそも自分の鼻の頭を見るのが精一杯。
自分を客観視して位置を見定められないし，まして方向など言わずもがな。
大変な滅私奉公をやりながらとにかくシステムを回し続ける忍従は賞賛に値すると言えますが，
同時にその卑小な世界，縄張りにしがみつく頑迷さ，傲慢さもすごい。
（で，この縄張り意識（自己存在のより処）を失うと，コロっと自殺してしまう）
－－－滅私が無私に成長するとは限らない事の典形です。惜しい。
（まァ，褝家でも本当に開かれた目を持った視野の広い人物は希ですから）
—-
で，何か改善策はあるのか？－－－「ワトソン君，良い質問だ」（Good question !）
目前に在る対象にのみ反応し，それ以外の事象への想念を，雑念妄念として排除するのが褝なのですが
（つまり己れの手にある問題にのみ集中しそれを完遂する－－－振かかって来る火の粉は払わねばならぬが，
燃えている家の火を消すのは火消しの役目！！！）と言う［己れの分をわきまえた］行動様式は実に
３００年５００年に渡って叩き込まれている以上に，全システムがこの理念で動いているのです。
本物かどうか抜きに ［専門家としてテレビに］ 出て来た人間の言った事なら鼻くそでも鵜吞みにするが，
それ以外はどんな正論でも聞く耳を持たない。
（従って，戦争意識はー回の玉音放送でピタリと終息してしまった）
—
実は日本人自身，何かおかしいとは気になっているのです。
だからこそ，限りなく出版される「日本人論」を買い続け，ー方あらゆる占い，血液形だ風水だと読みまくり，
己れは何者か，何処に立っているのかといふのを［お告げ］の中に見出そうとする。
ファッションの撰択すら，TV，メディアで確定されたタイプに限る。
セクハラとかPCといった社会理念，法制度すら［先進文化国家］で確立定着した片カナとなると
すぐ飛つくが日本独自の因習は完全に黙殺される。（今でも舶来崇拝！）
あくまで［与えられた分］の中に収まろうとする訳です。
つまり自分の判断には自信が無いから，自分で撰択し自己規定できない。従って周囲の人間に対しても
既製のレッテルを貼るだけで理解したような気分になっている。（さらに悪い事に，このレッテルが
次々と発明されて増え続け，それを的確に使い，かつ気持悪い程に馬鹿丁寧な言い回しができないと
文化的，知的にとり残された馬鹿とのレッテルを貼られ片付けられる。つまりこの文章も「まァ，限られた，
ごくー部のヒトであるのではと想像いたしますが」とか書いておかないと，僕もネトウヨのレッテルを貼られて
袋叩きに会うかも）この思考の硬直化はもうファッショのー歩手前です。オッ恐ろしかァ。
－－ミュータントとか新人類と呼ばれる若者が出て来た時，日本人も少しは変わるのかと思ったのですが，
それからさらに３０年，世界は激変してしまった中でも，全く変っていないのです。
－－－つまり僕ごときが今更何か言っても何の足しにもならない。僕は自然観察から出発して社会学，
人間観察に入った者で，予言者になる事も神がかりを演じる事もできないのです。
－－－それでも多少の期待を込めて敢えて書けば，ようやく盛上って来た原発廃棄ヘ向けての署名運動の
ようなもの，その大義に加わっていく事で己れの殻を破り新しい，未知の世界に目を開く事，
ひょっとしたら全く無馱になるかも知れない事に己れをかり立てる－－－つまり無償の行為＝無私というものを
実践するきっかけになるのでは？ そうした実践経験の中から，新しい人間像が生れて来るのを期待したい。
－－－－－
Yoshizen
—-
Yoshizen's Blog 
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