Poems
Whether you call these as
poems or else, often words just pop up and flow by themselves. Even though some 'poems' were
not necessarily brought in such a manner, many may fit to that
category. I also see some have heavier
taste than others - even philosophical.
Still, I can say that these 'poems' were once alive when I expressed
what was there. Enjoy your life's
journey and let us listen to the words coming from deep inside! FYI, I post these at the club at yahoo: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/searchingfortheox
Have a good day, good life!! – Kio Suzaki
A Life in Resonance with Dhamma
Death of a Monk
(Contribution by Eryu)
A Little Flower on
the Roadside
Writing my white
book - alone at home
* 2,003
It is as it is (2)
As I listen to the
stereo..
My body moves on its own…
Covered by the vibration,
All cells of my body share the happiness.
My mind is transparent
while the whole world vibrates
in happiness.
Yes, Right, in such a way…
As birds sing,
Everyone dances.
The tribe men from Amazon,
and those in Africa.
People may comment
to see me being like this,
"He must be demented!"
But, it's OK.
It is because I found the answer
to that question of "So what?"
It is simply…
everything is as it is.
A Life in
Resonance with Dhamma
As if
a butterfly shows up from somewhere when flowers start to bloom,
when
birds sing their song, I find my body covered with Dhamma Piti*.
Yes,
there is something here to point that
the
wisdom of nature is unfathomable.
As
much as women putting a make-up to become attractive,
or
anyone trying to win the sports game or win in philosophical debate,
or
being attracted to make money or to become famous,
there
is something similar in all of these orientations.
That
is the sense of oneness that everyone seeks for,
to
find at the core of us the pleasure of resonating with the infinite.
The
same is true for sex, isn’t it? To grasp that moment to discover the
infinite,
we
want to have our body and mind melted in the ecstasy.
Then,
we find the comedies and tragedies performed all around.
So,
stop now and ask what is really going on!
What
if we do not know that
seeking for happiness is…not finding one?
“How sad it is to search for IT afar…It is
like in the middle of water…
yet
crying out in thirst,” so Hakuin said.
But look! I hear the sound of wind chime… chirping of the
birds ….
And,
the guitar of Segovia continuing while the cool breeze passes through the room.
Without
seeking, but realizing what’s going on…
what
if we live with the sharpened senses
at all
of our mind-body cells and DNAs,
and
discover the vibration of the universe?
* Piti: emotion of joy,
delight, zest, exuberance
(7/15/03)
A Joy of Life
For
no reason, but perhaps a sound may trigger it.
Perhaps
a butterfly in the air,
The innocent flower in the sun…
Perhaps,
Segovia’s guitar..
These
bring joy to me, with reason but no apparent reason.
It
is a joy of life
For
the life to experience life as it is.
I
feel all through my body…
From the top of my head to the bottom of my sole…
And throughout my whole body.
Covered
by the shivering sense,
All
cells of my body breathe the breath of universe
Interconnected
with each other
to the end of the universe,
vibrating and expressing as they are meant.
With
tears, I remember someone once said,
This
world is nirvana as it is.
Whatever
that may mean,
It is my cells that know it,
And expressing what it is as it is.
So,
may I say simply…have a good day, and a good life!
(7/11/03)
Picture of the Past
My
brother in Japan sent me a picture of our old house.
Among
those is the one overlooking the garden,
speaking to me with the language of silence.
Seeing
this picture, my old days come back immediately,
beyond the time and space, and my comprehension,
creating a moment where all my movements halt.
Is
this the sense of being with the ground where I came from?
Revisiting
the past like this opens up a moment
to know how “I” was configured.
In
this picture is a traditional stone lantern,
moss covered rocks,
and red autumn leaves from the nearby maple tree.
The
pine tree has been growing on the rock for many years
With
the branches that are bent in a very familiar fashion.
Its
minute detail is something I know since my childhood days.
One
winter morning, these branches were covered by the
snow.
So, I unloaded the snow with the bloom,
to save the tree them from losing its branches.
Myriad
memories like this are burnt into my brain.
Although
this garden does not exist any more,
Seeing
this picture is as if I am facing my old self in the mirror.
In
this emptiness spread in my mind,
where emotions stir up and try to find the way out with no avail,
I
see me positioned in the paradox.
On
one hand, I see me caught up in the memories of the past
which vividly exist in my mind without any doubt,
Yet,
I know that such is but an illusion – here and now.
Where
I was, where I am, what has happened, so the time went
by,
Left
in my hand is this picture talking in silence
what this whole thing is all about.
*
See this picture at: http://www.oocities.org/suzakico/ichikawastonelantern_IMG.gif
(It was taken by my brother right before he remodeled the
house we grew up in. This view is from
the veranda, which was widely open to the garden in this traditionally built
house. Although this spot does not exist
any more, I have in me that sense of immediacy to the nature, birds, insects,
and all.)
Miraculous Event
Thinking to have more money,
win the debate, or catch a fish to be happy,
we may live our whole life to achieve something.
As in playing any game,
however,
we may end up in winning or losing in the process.
Sometimes we may feel elated,
or sometimes not.
Or, we may move from one game (i.e., thinking) to the
next continuously. Being
occupied to live like this, we may even forget
that we are playing the game --- of ephemeral nature.
Such life may be compared to
chasing a blue bird till the end of time.
But, I hear something pointing that delusion is
nirvana.
When we realize that the heaven is found right here and now,
what a miraculous event that may be, wouldn’t you
‘think’?
* I hear a bird singing out
in the field, as if saying, “yep, yep, Sadhu, sadhu”
Expressing Life
I found a tiny leaf in the
vase,
When I was
to replace the flowers to new ones.
Bright and shining,
A leaf was floating on the
water by himself.
“Here, I am.” So, the leaf talked
to me,
“doing
my best to express my life.”
Yes, that is true. Whether in good or bad,
Everything is expressing
their life best in nature.
In human life,
After all, it is all the
same.
Whether seen as good or bad,
we do our best…
Or, at least so we think – given the conditions.
Given the conditions and the
background,
We acquired skill to express
what we think is the best.
Some are more wholesome than others.
Some are more harmonious than
others.
Mastery,
mastery…
As this small leaf told me a
story of every one doing the best,
This is the world of Buddha
nature and mini-company,
Interpenetrating and
expressing, the Life is abundant everywhere.
- 5/29/03
Zen
Thought
1) Zen has something to do with everything.
2) Zen has everything to do with
everything.
3) Zen is everything to do with everything.
(Note: First one: Zen and something
has a relationship. Second: Zen and
everything is still separate.
So...third, and finally subject and object are found as one - not two.) – 5/28/03
Living
Under the Bridge
If we are lucky to have the
life’s hardship like those who went through this path,
We may finally realize that
such is an opportunity to open the eye of wisdom.
In a way, it is as if going
through fastening, less we have, more we appreciate.
So, as a wise man pointed out, Man’s extremity is God’s
opportunity.
After devastation as in that
critical moment that happens in Zen,
we may find that living life is about getting to know
the absolute affirmation of LIFE.
Instead of fighting, we may
finally learn to have the supple and flexible mind.
Instead of being
self-occupied, we may finally discover the wisdom and compassion.
Or, as in the Shop Floor Management I talked about,
We may learn to see the world
with fresh eyes – from the new perspective.
Also, as in the lean principle
of Toyota that came from experiencing the hardship,
We may appreciate what we
have and make the most of it.
Our eyes, ears, and all
senses may be honed,
And we may find the reality of what it is.
Or, by knowing what we don’t have,
Find what we ultimately have
in not having at all.
And… if we find that LIFE, by
total surrender of our selves,
That is what is meant by living under the bridge.
And that is when we hear the most amazing story of the
flowers,
that is born out of the deserted soil.
* Good luck on your journey
to live from the heart!! (On the occasion
of hearing the friend’s divorce and the liquidation of his company. The title, living under the bridge, came from
the book of Daisetz Suzuki. I could not
locate the story but it was about someone living under the bridge as homeless but
with genuine heart and wisdom. I shared
this story with this friend several years ago.)
Nasturtium
Nature gives us a surprise,
If we are
open to detect the miracle of nature.
I saw nasturtium flowers this
morning.
Yet, it never fails to give
me a sense of adoration.
The one near the entry hall
especially attracted to me.
So, I took a picture.
Talking to me with its silent
voice,
Communicating
the riddle of the universe in the sun.
Backyard is full of
nasturtium flowers as well.
As if they are saying, “It is
so wonderful to be alive,”
expressing the emotion as Picasso does in his painting.
Or, as birds sing songs for no reason but to express
life.
It is as if telling us to use
eyes, ears, skin, nose, tongue, and mind
To
experience the wonder of LIFE.
It may be called as “Buddha
nature” if we were to name it,
Pointing
the heaven on earth in each of that moment.
“You must be joking!” so
someone may say.
“The world is full of
suffering and misery.”
“How can you be like that in
the middle of this mess?”
But, I wonder why not to throw away the burden at least
every now and then?
There is a danger of
enriching our life,
Like having too much,
Less we have and more
vulnerable we are,
We may realize what is really
taking place.
My eyes, etc. are not good as
compared to my younger days.
Yet, do I not appreciate more
because of that?
As we age and time is
shortened to appreciate things,
We may become sensitive to
appreciate the energy of life.
“Be aware of impermanence,”
so the Buddha taught.
More we are aware of passing
time,
More we make the most of our
being.
When we reach the point of
nothingness, infinite potential is revealed.
If you are full stomach, how
can you further enjoy food?
So, empty our self to live
the life as it is meant.
And, be aware of touching the life’s activities.
As we are
all one after all.
Is
our life not a poem?
A
continuous expression of poem?
Us
being the participant, writer, and the audience at the same time?
Haiku from New
Zealand
Evening
rain,
Master's
words come alive
In the
candlelit hut (3/2/03)
Mosquitoes,
rain, and the sound of the river,
I laugh
at the movement of my thought
In this
remote hut (3/3/03)
Rain
continues to tap on the roof,
A
fisherman is in the hut,
Cricket's
singing in the field (3/3/03)
Lake in
the morning dusk,
A lone
gall flies into the mist.
Bellbirds
sing in the forest (3/10/03)
(* More
on New Zealand's Bellbird, see for example:
www.nzbirds.com/Korimako.html
)
(The
sound of bellbird, listen at:
http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/audio/bellbird.ram
referred
from; http://www.nwf.org/internationalwildlife/2001/tiri.html
--
There
may be a better record elsewhere on the net…)
On the
riverbed,
Stand a
lone willow tree in breeze.
Are you
meditating? (3/22/03)
A Moment…(Haiku)
Sun
sets in the west,
Full
moon arises from the East,
A sharp
sound of crow!
Coming back home,
To float in the air,
after being hit by the lightening.
Nothingness,
Words lost their meaning,
In the
eternal silence.
* Reflection from the experiences at
the 10-day meditation retreat (1/17/03):
Mindlessness
to Mindfulness
Mindlessness is like staying
home – away from delusion.
Our sense of organs is as it
should be, and everything is as it is.
We do not know what to plan,
expect or how to judge,
Yet, it is the home with
peace and the sense of light-heartedness.
We may not find time, pressure,
goal, or responsibility.
In the midst of absoluteness,
there is nothing….but everything.
Some call this mushin or no-mind.
It is the cornerstone of Zen.
While we may plan for life or
reflect the past to live,
Let us also be at home to
find everything as it is.
I used to have a sailboat
named, “mindless thought.”
Well then, what may be the
meaning of “mindless life”?
Also, what is living mindfully compared to living mindless?
Does mindless turn into
mindful as if coming to zero turn into infinite?
It is like from lost in thoughts,
to find the home, and to reinitiate the life,
Or, letting go, to reconstruct the life’s process and to
be mindful.
Confused adults need to turn
into a baby to clarify the mission of life.
As trees keeps finding the
path in accomplishing the life’s mission
after broken brunches, lack of sun, drought or flood,
redefining our journey of our life is to be done if we are to stay
on Course.
Delusion
Delusion is a trick of our own
mind,
it is a state when our minds are caught up by themselves.
But if we are aware that we
are in delusion,
that is the gate for us to be liberated from delusion.
Greed, fear, aversion, craving,
and anger,
the trap is everywhere to be found.
The slower in detecting their
signs,
the harder it gets to eradicate the errors.
This enemy can attack our
mind’s weakness,
generating waste, and consuming our life energy.
No matter how disguised they
may be, however,
we can defeat this enemy with awareness and equanimity.
By developing the sense to
find how our minds act,
we can deal with the situation like a master swordsman.
Although some traps are less
obvious than others,
with skills honed, we can deal with them.
Having gone through many of
these,
I get
caught in delusion every so often.
It is like a game of hide and
seek,
So, may we practice shila-samadhi-prajna to continue our journey?
* 2,002
Winter
Rain
Winter rain
storm,
My rabbit found the home,
Under the table
Making a house
for the rabbit to stay warm…
Oh! Rain leaks into my house
The sound of rain,
Having fixed the leak,
I found a book of Zen
My son is studying
My wife is decorating the
house
Rain has stopped
After the rain,
Dew drops are hanging on the leaves,
Birds chirp while cats listen
(12/16/02)
Meditation
- Zazen
Meditation is to know who I
really am…
and to experience what is beyond and/or within.
Morning and evening, I sit
quietly
- experiencing the mystery of
“life.”
Noticing my mind’s play,
I may see various thoughts
pass by.
Or, I may be brought into a convoluted state
- when
I am unaware of what is going on.
Like a stream flowing out of
a fountain,
thoughts may emerge out of my unconsciousness.
Yet, they drift away like clouds
in the sky,
vanishing the traces only for nothingness to return.
An image may appear in a
deeper samadhi
as if I am there in that exact moment of the past.
Suddenly popping up for a fraction
of a second,
yet the darkness returns immediately after.
This happens when my mind is
empty,
or I am paying attention to the bodily sensation.
As if going through the
Penrose’s brain experiment,*
some neurons must be firing in the unconscious part of my
brain.
When all of my body cells are activated,
the mind is liberated from its self-generated
constraints.**
Energy wave may penetrate
throughout my whole body,
as experience is experiencing itself in pure vibration.
There is no me, no values, no
paradox nor conflict.
All are as they are in the
state of as-it-isness.
In its mysterious form, life
is directly experienced
- in
the unknown, and in its indescribable state.
Call it the eternal home,
or, the blissful moment where the moment is infinite.
Tears may run down for no special
reason,
perhaps as an expression of the universe itself.
After reflecting like this on
my meditative state,
I realize that there is nothing
missing from way back when…
Even before the
beginning-less time,
it is as it is; and I am that I am.
Funny thing is; I often find
cats and rabbits meditating.
Birds and trees are also engaged
in vipassana or zazen.
With no words, it is as if
they are speaking the secret of life:
“Be awake and live as we are
meant to live!”***
------
* I recall it
was Penrose who did the experiment by putting the electrode to various parts of
the human brain. The subject
experimented reported that it was as if he/she relived the past moment of life
as if it was vividly new and real.
** Perhaps, Einstein’s words,
“imagination is more important than knowledge” correspond to this state.
*** We do not have to sit…
just do what we are to do……and when we notice that we have drifted off, just come
back…to regain the way….but not to be used by the conditioned mind. It is to live … Yuiga
Dokuson (above heaven, below heaven, I am that I
am.).
Thoughts
Thoughts are like clouds
Seeing them come and drift
away
Be centered where we are
Corporate world
I thought of the business
world while trimming the rose bushes this morning.
By trimming and letting the
energy to flow smoothly, the rose bush grows.
This trimming is a human act,
but should be driven by following the nature's way.
The same is true in
“managing” a business. Here, to “Manage” is not to
manage.
Leaving the waste in the
system is like blocking the energy of the organization.
It is everybody’s role to
eliminate the waste and make the organization to flourish.
Yet who can tell what to do if
we do not have the eyes to see what is going on.
Our hurdle is not be unaware that we are unaware, and not realizing the
interdependence clearly.
Use the brain and listen to
the heart, do unto others as others do unto you….
The rule of the universe is simple
in its core yet if we let our brains to take over, things get complicated
easily.
It is as if searching for
release harder and harder we bind ourselves more and more.
So, may we master the art of
living and practicing IT in everything we do?
(8/17/02 After
spending about three weeks with a start-up company, e2e loans, inc.)
Hide and Seek
If I seek for it, I will not
find it.
When I think I find it, I often lose it.
So, I have reflected my past and studied when and how I
lose it.
A typical case
is when I try to accomplish something given the
external stimuli/object.
There, the object of interest
may separate me away from the grounded state
As if clouds generated from
the mountain, it lives its own life until I notice the error.
Occasionally, it may be like
a storm – typically not wild yet unsettling.
Such an ambiguous unsettled
state can last for a few hours or days.
When the storm passes, fresh
air and the sound of birds return.
Another case is like a
passing cloud, which typically lasts only a few seconds.
In such a case, my mind’s
reaction to the stimuli is sudden and more noticeable.
Maintaining the awareness and
equanimity, the reaction quickly evaporates.
Overall, the process is summarized as in the following phrase;
To realize the delusion is
enlightenment.
To search for enlightenment
(or to satisfy the desire of self) is delusion.
Saying this
differently, it
is to use the brain, listen to the heart, and live with the mission.
This is like playing the
catch between the brain and the heart.
When the heart is realized as the master, everything falls into its place.
It is interesting to compare
this to the process of a tree growing.
The longer cycle of
realization may be strategic, and shorter cycle is more
tactical.
With realization, the path is found.
In human lives, however,
there are many variables with their interactive nature.
So, if we are to live in the
complex world, finding the path can be quite challenging.
Still, when we practice the
principle way, the path reveals itself – sooner or later.
Then, what should we do when
we are unaware that we are unaware?
To gain wisdom, diligently
practice awareness and equanimity; this is catch-22.
Mastery is to walk on the
path by practicing the principle way.
* If
we know what a tree is doing, we may find our questions answered right
there. Yet, continuously applying the
lesson in our life and to walk on the path remains to
be our life’s koan, does it not?
Have a good day, good life!
Kio
It is as it is
when our brain is tired,
stop thinking and take a rest
when carrying a luggage,
throw away the unneeded
when feeling a pain,
observe and learn the lesson
when everything is well,
remember impermanence
when “I” is in the way,
learn to dissolve its false sense
being aware of the Way
is to realize everything as it is
Quiet morning
Quiet morning,
No wind is in the mountain
Have a cup of tea
The sun is shining through
the window
Baby rabbit is back in the
cage
Cats must be taking a nap
While the world keeps turning
When the fire is gone,
There is silence left behind
Stars in the dark sky
Have you met a guy?
Have you met a guy who questions without asking questions?
Answers
without answering?
Being adult yet remaining as
child?
Feeling sad
yet calm inside?
Feeling
fear yet not to fear?
Feeling
angry yet without anger?
Being in
conflict yet not in conflict?
Who is he?
What does he do in this
world?
From New Zealand (Haiku)
In the clear water,
A large brown takes a nymph
in silence
Flying into the sky,
A mayfly hatch goes on,
This sunny afternoon
Turning around,
Trees and flowers were
watching
this lone fisherman
Heavenly valley,
Rivers run, and birds sing
In eternity
Return of Pikachu
Pikachu, our rabbit, had spent the night at an unknown place.
It was late in the evening
when I realized that gate was open.
She ran for the bushes
because of the gardener to whom I cannot complain.
It was too dark and I could
not find her back anywhere around
She is a rabbit with very
tame and gentle temperament.
She used to sleep on top of
my lap upside down while I work on my computer.
She was originally a gift to
my son from my wife a few years ago.
Yet, he lost the interest in
her, so I started to take care of her.
My son and wife have a cat
named Romeo and Simon.
So, giving a rabbit to me, they thought was a good idea
anyway.
Sometime later, they got a
guinea pig and I started to take care of him as well
as they are kept in the same cage to share the same food
anyway.
Squeak is the name of this
guinea pig, named after his squeaking noise.
All visiting kids enjoy
Squeak swimming around and around in the jacuzzi.
Also, funny is to find Squeak
sitting on top of Pikachu to have their quiet time.
They spend time in their cage
as if they are mother and child.
Although Pikachu
had ran away before, she never ran away throughout the
night.
There are coyotes around and
my wife thought that she does not have much chance.
Feeling vulnerable, I walked
around and called her name in the surrounding area.
Yet, there was no sign of her
in her favorite hiding spots.
Then, this morning as I was
working, I heard a tiny noise of something moving outside.
Jumped up from my chair, I
rushed out of the door to see if it was Pikachu.
She was outside of my office
with her floppy ear still wet with the morning dews.
With innocent look, she
looked at me in the corner of her big brown eyes.
Pikachu! Pikachu! I called her name
with happiness filling up the air.
Seeing her hopping around, I
brought her favorite food and sat to watch her eating.
Such was a return of Pikachu - a special moment for me and her friend Squeak.
They are together in the
cage, having their quiet time in this autumn afternoon.
Death of a Monk (Haiku)
Death of a Monk
Birds sing and squirrels run
This quiet morning.
Death of a Monk
(Contribution by Eryu)
Seeing you, walking barefoot
through the grass that way
turning the sensations of dew
into a dance on a far island
The bright spring flowers
rustling against your robe
painting streaks of pollen
into bright crayon splashes.
Whilst on your mountain
precious peacefulness remains
for the crows only visit briefly
yet the stream flows onward
- Eryu
(Thanks, Eryu. I take you read my piece from 1999, Meeting a
Man in the Basement. Thank you.)
* 2,001
Stars, Tree, etc.
(Haiku)
A bright shooting star,
In the dark western sky,
Lightening
in my mind.
A tree in the meadow,
Practicing his vipassana,
I am with you!
A bud on the branch,
Is it your new birth?
Bon voyage!
Bon Voyage,
Arising and passing away,
Following
the way.
Dharma talk,
A bird sings from outside,
"Sadhu,
Sadhu!"
(From Vipassana
retreat)
Nintendo Life
Before playing the Nintendo
game, the life was peaceful and uneventful.
After playing the game, the
previous life started to look dull.
The game brought excitement I
did not have before.
There was a change,
stimulation, fun, and thrill.
The change was something I
was not aware but happened gradually.
I started to forget the
previous life and I became occupied in this new way.
Perhaps, one can call it as
addiction. Like TVs, computers, cars, or
anything like that.
The boundary of the game and
my life was lost and the game started to overtake my life.
Of course, there is an
analogy between Nintendo and the play in our conscious mind.
Well, in case of conscious
mind, it may be seen as more real.
Because it is
connected to getting real money, house, girl friend, fame, etc. etc.
While we put the value to
them, are they really real?
We put different values for
each item depending on one's background.
It may be
seen as nature's way to make choices to benefit from - but in the dream.
So, shall we create more
games, cars, and computers to gain benefit in using them?
Yes, yes, yes, for our
pleasure and happiness….or, is it?
It is fine to play these game, if we just remember that the tools should not
use us.
Cars, computers, and Nintendo
are not our life by themselves.
Let us use time, space and constraints of life in living our life.
Yes is No, A is Z, good is
bad, and all is as it is.
So, know that elbow does not
bend outward,
But use the elbow freely.
And, when nothing works,
Remember that there is still
something working freely!
It is not
just a pure Nintendo life we live in.
It is a
life of that something that is
eternally alive.
So, play the game as much as
you like,
But let that something, the real master of the game, to
express the magic of life.
The Moment
Is it the moment of
ecstasy?
Or, is it the moment when the energy flows without
obstruction?
Is it the quiet mind like a
mirror to reflect everything?
Or, is it the moment of enlightenment when mind, heart
and body become one?
Even in the middle of what we
think as an undeniable human existence,
We can arrive at that moment
where the eternal, absolute, or God is
All the questions are lost in
that moment,
It is just the magical state
of pure being.
When a man saw the blue globe
from the space, he sensed God in that moment.
When a man shed tears and
realized that the sins are forgiven, he was in that
moment.
As a man went for a walk and
found that flowers were talking, he was in that moment.
In fact, everything is alive,
vividly expressing itself in that moment.
So human
mind (A) and the moment (B) have a very interesting relationship.
If A without B, it will lead
to a trouble if not instantly.
If B without A at all time,
we are like an animal, which could be quite interesting.
Then, if we have A and B well
coordinated, that is what Buddha calls the middle way.
Our confined and reactive
mind may throw a shadow for us to lose that moment.
But if we stay in that moment, we immediately see what
our mind is doing as it is.
There is a
interplay of wisdom and compassion in this genuine state.
It is because there is no
humanness to stir up this mirror mind.
By letting go and calmly
observing what is going on, we arrive at this moment.
But we have to let go of what our caught-up self is doing
to see what is really going on.
Or, we can be attentive to our inattention, once we are
in that moment.
Yet, this is a catch-22,
because if we are unaware how do we you know we are
unaware?
But, don't give up if we cannot find the moment or lose
that moment after having one.
Because we are
ultimately one with that moment no matter what we do.
It is just that we do not see
it. That is all.
Yet, funny thing is that as
soon as we realize this, we are in that moment.
As soon as we think we are
there, however, we may lose being there.
Because if we think we are
there, we may be more likely caught up in that
thought.
It is like
if we think we are enlightened, that means we are deluded.
The enlightened person does
not know if he is enlightened as Dogen said.
By the way, another case of being the moment is when we
are one with the task/mission,
This is
found when we are open to the pure potentiality while activating all we
have.
Contrasting this, we find delusion
has quite opposite characteristics.
All our
resources are not utilized, as if
preventing the genuine energy to flow.
As baby starts to walk, or to
smile back to the parents faces,
It is the moment, that the
LIFE is expressing itself.
When they cry, they are
"CRYING" as a way of expression.
The baby is but one with that
CRYING. There, the act, thought and
meaning are one.
In reflecting these ideas
together, I realize that:
1) there
is the moment to be quiet and observe
2) there
is the moment to arrive at an insight,
and 3) there is the moment to devote ourselves in the
action.
As we are with the moment,
our eyes of wisdom will guide our life.
And the compassion from our heart will activate all to
promote LIFE.
Each cells of our body can be
in that state as much as all human organization can be.
To realize such life is a
life well lived.
Moment of Sunrise
When we are busy, we pass by
many things without noticing.
This is unavoidable, but the
sunrise is the moment I do not want to miss.
From where I live, I see the
morning sun hitting the mountain in the west.
It is a show of less than 30
minutes before the sky turns into a usual Mediterranean blue.
This morning, it started with
the quietude and a few gray clouds in the sky.
The clouds then got the sun,
and the red color gently pushed the gray away.
I saw a few crows on the top
of tall thin cedar trees, waiting for the day's routine.
On the roadside were white
roses flowering, waiting for some to appreciate their beauty.
The top of the mountain gets the
first blessing of sunlight.
Rocks warm up and shrubs
extend their brunches from the sleep of the previous night.
A few birds chirp and their
sound penetrates through the morning air.
Yet, there is no sign of any
movement in sight.
The sun
hitting the mountain and trees down below in the shade…
display a movement that suggest the creating moment of LIFE.
The fountain of energy is
overflowing this whole valley
as the color of LIFE starts to spread over the darkness
of night.
All shades of colors show up
as more trees and leaves starts to enjoy the sun.
Where were these myriad of
colors originated from?
The
movement, power, expression, the energy….
It is this
joy of LIFE that this morning sun brings to the world.
Meaning of Success
What a title this is!
But… In
the middle of going through the world's tragedy and our life,
And in the middle of
evening's crickets singing,
I felt like writing what
success is all about - and/or what it can be…
To me, success is what you
find your self just to be.
It is not something other
people will define it for you,
If so, our life becomes the
slave of other's opinion.
Success is much more precious
than simply following someone's idea.
Success is
found in realizing us being one with the heart.
Clear as sky and nothing to
block,
Nothing to be
imposed upon, nor no position to take,
Yet, being
able to live as the heart desires.
Being able to see the various
points of view,
But not holding anything rigid, opinion, or values.
Our life can be lived as the
expression of our heart,
even if there are constraints which our mind may
construct.
So peel off the filters and
dissolve the rigid frame of mind,
If A then B, or if C then D,
yet, A can be X and C and D may be Z
If we realize the magical
world of this original self,
We find the life jumping
around and expressing its pure potentiality
Success is there in being
with the heart.
Even if we lose it, just
notice it and just let it orient by itself.
In the tears and suffering of
our life's passage,
We may find us being one with
the song of the universe.
(9-19-01)
A Little Flower on the
Roadside
I am a little flower on the
roadside,
When the sun is out, my body
expands.
I express what I can in this
universe,
And to connect to what is out there.
In the ground are worms
living next to my roots,
And occasional shower fulfills my thirst.
Appreciating the life as it
comes,
I express the best as I can.
Now and then, I notice
something is going on,
Like the grass next door got
uprooted,
Or, neighboring soil was dug up for a new construction.
Yet, we all do our best in
expressing what we can.
What is interesting is in the
knowing however,
That such skill makes humans
to be unique and different.
But, if I know more than enough, something withers in me.
It makes me worry about
things than me simply expressing myself.
Perhaps, knowing and worrying
are only for humans,
As they build skyscrapers and
information highway.
They master many subjects to
make their living,
And to create a great nation and philosophy that they all
aspire.
But, for me, I am just a little flower on the roadside,
I cannot talk, spell, read or speculate.
But, you know what?
I am yet
connected to the heart that makes me to express who I am.
So, when you have time to take a look at me closely,
Let me tell you my story in
total silence.
Then, you may understand what
I mean,
To know is not to know.
(May compassion and wisdom prevail!) 9-14-01
(On 9-11-01
we had a tragedy in New York's World Trade Center)
Evening Walk
After a day's work, I went
for a late evening walk.
Just few steps out, I was
surrounded by the sound of crickets.
Flowers, grass, and trees also greeted me in the dark.
And, down below was a murmuring sound of stream.
As I
felt the nature was so close to me this evening,
I thought it funny that men
work hard to progress in this world.
Do this and do that, so we
wonder around to get things done.
Yet, look, there is nothing
missing in the nature to start with.
In this short evening walk, I
found that I was one with all.
Even though the crickets and
flowers may be seen as different
from those I heard and saw at my mother's funeral,
they are yet the same as everything is as it is meant to
be
My mother passed away about
this time of the year few years ago.
But the sound of the crickets reminded me that she is
eternally alive.
The flowers and everything in
nature do not push themselves out to show their pride,
they quietly express what compassion and wisdom are all
about.
Sunrise
As if
it is alive,
The sun rises quietly every
morning.
First, dark red at the top
of the mountain,
And stillness of night at the foothill.
A moment later, the trees
shine in bright orange,
With
fresh liveliness and full excitement.
Dark shadows remain here
and there
Where the
sunlight is yet to reach.
But, in the quietness of
the morning air,
There is the movement of
life to express itself.
No words, no emotion, and
in its stillness,
There is that fullness that
is there as it is.
Already, the sun is moving
up high,
And, the sky indicates the delicate movement of air.
The red rocks are warming
up,
And moistures in the shrubs are gradually evaporating.
In this quiet movement of
morning sunrise,
The observer is absorbed
and became one with the observed.
Cricket
As the summer passes by, I
hear more and more crickets in the evening.
It reminds me of a fall
season when my mother passed away.
In the garden of my parents' home back in Japan,
I heard so many crickets the
night before her funeral.
So, I wrote, "Wrapped by the sound of cricket, the
flowers of Hagi."
She liked Hagi
flower in the garden - a small purple and delicate flower of fall.
She was a nature-loving
person, and I remember her gentle eyes with that quiet smile.
Last night, as I was to go to
sleep, I also was wrapped by the sounds of cricket.
I felt that the sound was
coming from the core of the universe.
As it vibrates the air in the
field, I found my body cells vibrated in unison.
To die is not to die. It is to live in the eternal life.
Listen! The sound of cricket! There, we find the LIFE as it is!
As my body cells responded to
this nature's symphony,
There was nothing missing in
this absolute world of eternity.
(8/13/01)
Cricket (Haiku)
Wrapped by
the sound of cricket, the flowers of Hagi.
(Jp. Koorogino Koeni Tsutsu mare, Hagi no hana)
In the sound
of crickets' singing, the core of universe.
My body
cells and crickets in the field, dancing in unison.
Quiet Mind
So many times
I was in delusion that I cannot count.
But there were restful periods and the moments when my
life expressed itself.
Whatever the reason is, I now
find myself in the quiet time with quiet mind.
I do not have any idea how
long this may last. So,
I just go for a ride.
Blyth said to know Zen is not to fear to fear.
I do not fear that this quiet
time may end.
It is just that this state of
mind has a unique quality of total quietude.
I am just mindfully observing
how this calm mind passes through the storm.
I see me observing without
any judgment.
Words pop up but they are
just words,
Many words do not connect to
images as if they are now disconnected as useless.
So, the mind sees things and reflects things but has an
ability to just let go.
It is a sense of something
died - perhaps my false sense of self, I do not know.
I wonder what matters any
more than just to "be."
There is
something in the core of my being that does the job.
And, it is totally OK to let it do the job. So, the mind is
quiet.
I find indifferent to many
things in life.
But this is not a living
death as I still breath, walk, talk, and write.
Breathing breathe
by itself as opposed for me to breathe.
My sitting
sit itself without anyone sitting but just that.
If this is indifference,
perhaps it is OK to call as such.
Whatever the name, it is the
total calm state that I find happening.
My mind seems to give up
responding to things of no value.
I wonder what the value is,
but perhaps this is also unneeded for me to know.
Following my mind's reaction
has been quite unneeded anyway.
So, perhaps I finally gave up in trying to do things.
I do not feel like I am dead;
Instead, I am calm and .. well, actively calm.
I do things of need in my
daily life, otherwise, I find myself in a meditative state.
Perhaps, this is the sense of
something fallen off from my mind and body.
Many human values and
judgment and the list of things to do are of no merit.
Funny, but I don't find that "self" actively working any
more.
Yet, it may come back any
time to cause trouble. So, just be
aware.
In the air is
the vibration, light, sound and spirit.
My mind and body is in the
state of emptiness.
May be, just may be, I am
finally accepting things as they really are.
I do not find any need to do
anything, to seek anything causing strain.
What is more important than
living in this spiritual home?
My hand is relaxed, and so
are my body and mind.
They are dead but they are
alive, they are not dead and they are not alive.
They are in the state of
"whatever" they are.
So, things will come and things will pass away.
I just go for a ride, and witness and experience whatever there is.
In this moment to moment of
total silence, I will let the past die.
And let my mission lead my life, and let things happen as
they should happen.
(7/29/01)
Leaves in the Sun
Wind moves the soft rose
leaves in the sun,
Light dances around and the
life is abundant.
A long strand of spider web
is shining like a silk,
Moving in
the wind, as if telling me a story of its magical world.
Kenji could not go to the
summer program,
As he broke
his leg while playing.
Yet, he is at peace in the
living room,
where we put the mattress for him.
Outside is a dance of light,
Inside is a quiet boy reading
his book.
Birds chirps, and wind chime
makes sound,
Here is the eternity, away
from the constrained adults' world.
(7/22/01)
We are the masters
Whatever we do, we are the
masters in what we do.
This is also my idea of
mini-company.
Looking back at life at a
time when we pass away,
what will have been painted on the canvas of our life?
Deliberately thinking,
but letting go of self to let the insight to come to us,
we move on step at a time.
More
hurdles, and winding road, up hills and down hills.
Lessons in life are often
hard to digest,
but because of that the fruit is sweet as well.
I thought of the phrase,
"May all being happy!"
I heard Daisez
described as a selfless man.
Do the deliberate thinking,
do the best possible efforts in finding the way,
and do the work we are meant to do.
Then, let us wish a good
journey for everyone!
Mountains
Working on the computer,
Under the electric room
light,
Mountains
overlooking me through the window.
Synonyms
Find Tranquillity
See things as
they are
Experience things
as they are
Lose all attachments
Cease grasping
Be Free
Rapture
Bliss
Happiness
The life is a
miracle
Writing my white book -
alone at home
While my wife and son are in
Ireland, I am here at home alone.
Everyday, I water plants,
feed the cats, rabbit, and guinea pig.
After I pick up the mail, my
major chores are over.
I write my "white
book" from the first thing in the morning.
Perhaps, ten or twelve hours
a day, I sit at my desk.
Then, my mind and heart keep
on dancing around.
The sun is bright, and the
birds keep chirping.
I do little exercise to get
my body in shape.
Then, I may have few
meditations during the day as well.
So, this summer is not like our usual summer
when our family is together to spend the time in Ireland.
My son will then travel to
the East to attend the summer program alone.
In the meantime, I can work
on this white book for six weeks.
The words flow quite
naturally in most cases,
And I find it amazing, how things are being fit together.
I do not know what happens
when the book is finished.
But, it does not matter as it is just as it should be.
For what I think it
meaningful, I simply work on the book and on myself.
There is no more difference which is which any more.
The air is sweet, and I do
not need much more.
It is just the burning of my LIFE, that is what it is.
I do not seek for
socializing, watching TVs nor reading newspaper.
Most of these things do not
bring much interest to me any more.
There may be occasions, when
I meet people and share ideas.
If that happens, it is
fine. And, if
it does not, that is fine as well.
Of course, the book may not be published as well.
But, does it matter after all, anyway?
If I do things I like, and be
sincere in doing it,
is there anything more I can expect out of my life?
The answer is everywhere,
even in the sound of crow.
Birds, cats, or few sentences
in the books, I can communicate ideas all across.
As an artist devotes his life
in his work,
let me just do what seems desirable and right while I
can.
If there is such a moment for
me to reread these lines in the future,
I wonder if I smile at myself and my life in general.
Well, leave such a mindless
thought alone, let me go back to my work again!
(Just for a note here, my
wife and son did not leave me for good (??!!). I guess everyone in my family is pretty much independent, and self-managing - each behaving like a
mini-company. It is Zenki:
the full expression of potential - hopefully!
So, let that be!!! …and whatever the case is. I just hope that my wife does not express
full of herself in spending, that is all. Oh, well.) -
6/21/01
Going for a Ride
Whenever I feel right,
I just go for a ride.
Since I carry nothing with me,
I feel very light and carefree.
In fact, there is no
"me" but pure awareness.
When I go for a ride on time,
There is no time any more.
No past, no
future, but there is just being.
Everything is fresh and
living as it is.
When I hear the bird chirps,
instantly, I become the bird.
The sound passes through me,
and echoes through the universe.
When the wind chime makes a
sound,
I am the one who is
vibrating.
And, the whole world vibrates,
for all to express the life.
When I am the world,
The whole world sings the
song of life.
There, everything is going
for a ride
to explore the unknown.
"When do you go for a
ride like these?"
So, some one may ask to me.
Then, I may just ask back,
"Have you listen to a bird, yet?"
(5/29/01)
Connecting with the
Universe
Remember
the ants moving on the ground, and flies hitting on the window?
Those are some of the
memories of my childhood.
When I hear the song of a
bird and feel the warm sun in the calm morning,
such memories flash back to me.
But I wonder if those are the moments forever lost to
grown-ups
to be quietly in the moment to connect to the universe?
No, no, that is not so, as it
has never left us from the beginningless past.
It is only to be re-discovered with our heart in the center.
Remember, it is just us who are losing the universe,
because "we" are nothing but the creation of our
mind.
At least, this is what the
sound of chime is conveying its message to me,
if I care to listen to the story with my whole body.
May we then find Love when
nothing was missing,
as the connection was everywhere and everything
surrounded us then?
Do you think Love was there
because our parents took care of us?
I think it is because we were
one with the infinite - as it is now.
The Song of a Bird
When I hear the song of a
bird,
I notice that the vibration
flew across the whole universe.
Sensing that wave passing
through my body and mind,
I notice that I am that bird,
that voice, that creation.
When we notice
that sound is the voice of God,
do we not notice that Nothing is missing in this world
as it is?
- Funny thing is that a moment later, when I
pondered if I can record this beautiful song of this bird,
perhaps to share with others, the bird flew away. (This reminds me of the story of a woodcutter
catching "Satori".)
- When Picasso said, "The important thing
is to do, and nothing else; be what it may." he might referred for us to
live like this bird. A
wholesome expression of life!
Picasso also said, "Everyone wants to understand art. Why not try to understand the song of a
bird?"
**** The song of California Thrasher
(similar sound that I hear near my house in the summer time):
http://enature.com/fieldguide/showSpeciesIMG.asp?imageID=17522
Ears of Grass (Haiku)
Ears of grass,
besides our campground
speaking in silence
Southsea island,
Trade wind clean up the air
Shade of trees
* Recently, I had a
backpacking trip with boy scouts and a family holiday to a South sea
island. During the morning walk off from
the campground, I found grass on the hill.
They looked as if they were gathering for a meeting - ears of grass
pointing to various directions as if they were quietly talking with each other. On the South-sea island,
I thought people there do not need words and concepts to live their basic life.
(April,
01)
Ribbon…
Who was the
ribbon or what was the ribbon?
Tail of bufferlo is outside of the shoji door.
Pretty ribbons may find the good use of ribbons.
So, let us play with ribbons, someone says.
Is it hamlet who said, words, words, words?
We play with words, or words play with us?
Let me say that life is a poem.
But what do we do with the poem, if there is no word?
* This is in response to UOZ
#3644:
<<Once there was a
dormitory full of men, a room full of beds with lots of men in it. Maybe they were monks. One of the
monks couldn't sleep, so his neighbor asked him what was the matter. The man said "Oh! I'm afraid
to fall asleep, for in the morning I might not know who I am!"
"No worries," said the neighbor, and he tied
a red ribbon to the poor man's toe.
"Now you will know who you are," said the
neighbor.
The man fell asleep, happy and confident and no longer
afraid.
The neighbor got up and untied the ribbon, and took it and tied it to another mans toe accross the aisle.
Do you think the man knew who he was in the morning?>>
Very good pointing. The question is; who was the
ribbon?
Life as a Poem
I thought for some time that
life is a struggle.
or, at least, I thought it is a problem-solving process.
And, I even enjoy it as if I play a game…
Then, I thought, why is life
not a poem?
There is that conceptual
viewpoint of life…
that is measurable, and we learn and plan things.
But don't we then lose Life that is beyond…
that is precious, and inexpressible with logic alone?
If we see life as a poem
beyond logic,
Would it not bring Life to
our life?
There is that question, which
is unanswerable
solely by our conventional logic.
Writing things like this is a
luxury of mind,
so one may think…and hurry on his own way.
Yet, may I not to forget to
find the flowers at the roadside,
Smelling, touching, feeling,
and listening to the world?
Listening to a Lemon
As I turned my eyes to see
through the window,
I saw a ripe lemon hanging on
the brunch.
Moving with the swing of the
brunch in the wind,
This round-shaped lemon is
reflecting the sun.
He is a happy lemon, I
thought.
Oblivious to the world
disaster,
It expresses what it is to
express,
doing what it can with what it has.
Are you a
lemon or am I a lemon?
We are the expression of life
as we are.
Sun, wind,
storm, and draught…
Let us do our duty in life.
Expression of Life
As wind blows, wind chime
makes sound.
As flowers bloom, butterflies
appear.
Birds make the nest; spiders
make the web.
Then, what is for a man to
express his life?
If flowers are an expression
for roses,
what is it that we are a master of?
If painting
is for Picasso, and science for Einstein.
What do we express in what we
do?
We are not the amateurs in
this life.
Carefully seeing through the
disturbance,
we should know IT if we listen to our heart.
May we then express what our
life is all about?
Children
Children….you are fully
alive! You are life itself.
Oblivious to sorrow,
suffering, and uncomforted sense,
Your life simply jumps
around.
Even though burden of life
may overwhelm adults,
you are eternally free, as your eyes and smile may
attest.
Then, when you are asleep,
life is found in its purest form.
Even though
grown-ups may not understand you.
You are always one with your
act,
one with ants, butterflies and clouds in the sky.
So, teach adults who you are.
And let adults know what they have forgotten,
so that they can live their life without carrying the
heavy luggage.
(Mar. '01)
Stream
Today, I went to the stream
nearby my house
I carried my chair to sit on
under the tree, facing the sun.
Spring is here, the sky is
high.
In the gentle breeze and the
sound of ripple,
the water flows as if it continues endlessly.
Reflecting the sun here and
there,
and showing stones and sands below,
this water reminds me of the story of Siddharda.
It was Hesse,
who wrote that story
Young man, sitting at the
stream,
pondering his life, and searching for the truth.
Time, place
and people may change.
Yet, there is always someone
looking at the water,
being one with what is flowing from eternal present.
(Mar.
'01)
Life
Everything vibrates
as if the life is expressing itself.
Life is everywhere.
May we listen to trees,
clouds, streams
and stones singing the song of nature?
May we be one with all?
And express what we are to express?
(Mar. 01)
Vibrations…
Nature,
Vibrations,
Creation,
Orgasms, and
Inspiration
Bring me back to that state
of Love!
Bumblebees (Haiku)
After the rain,
Scent of nectar filling the
air,
Bumblebees are back
(In New Zealand - Feb. 2,001)
* 2,000
To Odile...
Do you know, Odile?
I just realize you brought
LOVE in my life.
And that is LOVE in the truest sense.
I have discussed things here,
there, and on the net.
But more often than not, it was intellectual.
The open, casual,
unconstrained atmosphere of innocent child,
Even with the image of little
pendulum play, you shared with me.
More I clear things up, more
I like it.
BTW, this is not a love
letter, but is a LOVE letter, you know…
This comes from nowhere
(Divine) and expresses out as it pleases.
This is because it is but the
ultimate LOVE expressed from Divine.
Well, I could be wrong, so my
little mind may still say.
But does it matter after all?
LOVE cannot be wrong when
generated from the heart.
As I feel
it in my body just like exciting child cannot withstand but to jump around.
Yes, this is the energy of
life.
It is touching and wanting to
express.
Oh
ridiculous… so some people may still say.
But are they not the grown-ups,
unable to explore the world like a little child?
Fun, joy, care, play, jump,
leap, and explore the world….
Don't lose that sense and light in your eyes, so Saint de Exupery may say.
Yes, yes….So, my little
precious child inside of me responds
Wonderful
world, o wonderful…
Now, go out and play my
little boy!
(Fall, '00)
Sycamore Leaves (Haiku)
Sycamore leaves,
Fallen on the trail,
The autumn is back
First autumn rain,
Wet leaves on the trail
Reflecting the sun
Evening walk,
The sun shines through the
leaves,
The cricket's sound
(Haiku, Fall, '00)
In the Lull….
There is that moment when the
life jumps around….
When I hear Beetles and my
body swings by itself,
When I cast a fly and find me
one with that act of fly fishing,
Or, feeling one with the boat when I sail with
everything in harmony.
As baby smiles back to the
mother's smile,
As two butterflies dance
around in the air,
As meditator find him in that state.
Or, as scientists become one with the problem…
Only those who are there can
tell.
Only those who have the
experience can share.
What is that? Point the finger!
If you say a word, it is too
late.
Have a Cup of Tea
Yesterday, I visited Mary's
home.
She showed me around the garden.
This morning, I sat in the sun.
I saw cloud moving and heard wind in the trees.
Birds are singing now,
And my knees do not hurt any more.
- Summer in Ireland
('00)
Baby Rabbits
My wife found baby rabbits
hopping around the lawn.
Last year, we had three. And so is this year.
Perhaps, still two weeks old,
they explore the world with full vigor.
Looking at these rabbits,
smile visits us from somewhere.
Every Monday, I fish at
Patty's lake with few friends.
Last year, there was a swan
family of seven; this year, none.
Perhaps, the fox chased them away.
My fishing friends are all
well,
except Albert who stopped drinking due to his liver problem.
Sea trout fishing is still a
bit slow at River Slaney.
I am not fishing as much as I
did last year,
Yet, fond memories flash back
in silence.
The other day, I saw an otter
popping up his head.
Looking at me for a while and
went back to his business.
Was it yesterday when I took
kids to the beach? Or,
was it two days ago?
Am I losing the sense of
time?
Or, the meaning of time is lost?
There, my son was playing
with the wave,
Just like an otter popping in
and out.
Today, it is hazy and there
is no wind.
That reminds me of a poem I
composed last year.
Now, all I hear is the
singing of birds and flies hitting the window.
My wife went out for shopping
in Waterford,
My son is reading quietly in
his bed.
(In Ireland, 7/5/00)
* 1999
Meeting a Man in the Basement
I met a man who claims to
live in the basement
Yet, for a visitor like me,
his temple looked more like a heaven
Alone in this temple, he
takes care of the garden
If he can help neighbors in
any way, he offers the help with open hands
Away from the civilization
which lays down below,
Occasional visitors bring
their human world to this sanctuary
The door to the temple is
always open to anyone,
Offering a resting place for
the troubled mind
Besides this temple is a
small stream flowing,
Bringing the pleasant noise
while the fresh wind may climb up the mountain
The stone garden was made with rocks found nearby
And if the moon is out tonight, the granite pieces will
shine like stars in the sky
Before settling to this place
however, he wandered around to find a home for his mind
But now, he even plays with his computer to connect to the
world afar
Man travels, explores, and
searches for the meaning
Only to find that the answer
lies just under his feet – basement, that is
(After the visit to Eddy's
temple near Osaka, 11/99)
Our Journey of
Transcendence
Beyond our feeling of good
and bad,
beyond our mistakes for growth, and learning,
beyond logic and human will,
our life energy expresses through us.
While our consciousness helps
us to compare things,
to make judgment to make our next step,
there is something that we need to be aware
that we are the masters of our own destiny.
Learning that everything is
non-substantial and transitory,
and not to give away to greed, anger, and foolishness,
we may continue the journey of our life,
undisturbed by changing circumstances.
With the clear eye of wisdom,
we will see through things in their own nature.
With the warm heart of
compassion,
we will transmit the care to all beings.
Some may call this a total
bullshit,
but may we find the truth in it?
The life of all being is a
process of transcendence,
So, may we continue our
journey as it is meant to be?
When the Master Appears
When the
master appears…
Is it not when a master singer sings a song from his heart,
- instead of singing
from the score?
Is it not when a master
painter wants people to understand the song of a bird,
- instead of for them
to understand the art?
Is it not when leaders
touch the spirit of people with his spirit,
- instead of giving
the task to them?
Is it
not when zen monks work on
koan from his breathing,
- instead of his mind?
Is it
not when a writer communicate from his inner voice,
- instead of relying
on his words and concept libraries?
Is it
not when we walk with our feet,
- instead of trying to
figure out how many inches this way and that way, etc.?
Is it
not when we find the state of oneness
- instead of separated
self?
Is it
not when inspiration or solution comes up by itself,
- instead of searching
for them?
Is it
not when tools and user of tools become one in accomplishing the mission,
- instead of being
used by tool?
Is it
not when self is forgotten to realize that we had the
answer to start with,
- instead of searching
it elsewhere?
Is it
not when we are totally vulnerable beyond any hope,
yet have faith,
- instead of behaving
as if we know the answer?
Vulnerable!
When we are vulnerable and
weak,
that is when we are tested on our faith.
I have been there many times
in my life,
as often as perhaps many others around.
What is the strength of human
anyway,
but in the weakness is always the answer.
With little I learned from
Zen,
Cul-de-sac is the true
starting point of Zen.
Or should we say instead,
that it is a true starting point of life?
Eating bread with tears in
our eyes,
our stripped-off self may finally start to live its life.
Why do we
need to go through this, we may ask.
But, isn’t the life a process of struggle and try to go
beyond?
- Struggle with moment of peace in between,
while we are to accomplish our mission on earth.
So, figure out the mission
clearly,
when we are totally lost, bewildered, or depressed.
Identify where all of us came
from,
and let us courageously sail into the wind.
A friend of mine asked me to
write a book,
called it a “Green Book” after my other books.
Green is the color of hope,
he says,
and I am struggling to work on it now.
I say, touch the core of our
existence!
identify its meaning and take initiative!
be the master of our own universe!
and learn, grow and have fun!
So, are the points of my idea
of mini-company,
that is to be the master of our own universe.
Ask “So what?” constantly to
find the meaning,
and courageously move on to find our destiny.
Then, I say that there will
be a moment
when we feel vulnerable and cannot find the answer.
But, that is when we need to convince ourselves
That this
is the right point to go through in our life.
I believe that one of the key
points is to learn
that the solution exists within ourselves.
No matter how vulnerable we
may feel,
Let us find our way in this
journey.
(Fall, '99)
Autumn Leaves
With the wind of the coming
winter,
the leaves on the ground show us a colorful scene of
dancing.
They make a rattling sound of
laughs,
as they talk with each other about the past days of
summer.
It was this and it was that,
it was good, and they nodded all together.
Then, I picked up a big
sycamore leaf,
and saw how he completed his mission.
Reflecting the sun, and
leaning against the bush,
he was resting himself to his total rest.
Then, he spoke to me with his
scratchy voice,
“What do you think? Is it not good after all?”
In the crisp air of the
autumn afternoon,
I smiled back to him, “Yes, indeed,
it is very good.”
(Fall, '99)
Wind and a Man’s Life
-
Wind blows
whether I hear it or not
-
I was like that
wind at one time
-
Then, I was in
the womb of my mother
-
When I was a
little baby, I just cried
-
Then, warm milk
was fed to me
-
I drank it, it
was good
-
I slept when I
felt like sleeping
-
I was as I
was
-
The world was
full of mystery so I explored
-
Yet, there were
no explorer, I or the world
-
I played as I
felt like it just being one with everything out there
-
I wanted to walk,
talk, touch, smell, hear and see
-
Sun, bird,
clouds, bugs, plants, they were all out there
-
Something I touch
was soft, others were sticky
-
Some were
pleasant, others were not so
-
And, I did not
have the concept of time or I
-
Then, someone
called.
-
I saw a smile and
learned my name.
-
Gradually,
something started to change
-
I started to
learn the cause and effect
-
As I touch a hot
plate, my finger hurt.
-
My mother scolded
me when I did something that did not suit her wish
-
When I did
something good, she gave me a hug
-
Still, I did not
know the concept of where, or who I am
-
I saw people and
animals doing many things and I wanted to try the same
-
Learning took
time, and my fun and exploration started to have meaning
-
To live in this
world well, I learned tools
-
From naming
things, or 2+2, to if A then B, there were rules that I needed to know
-
Just like new
leaves harden over time, my mind developed structure
-
My likes and
dislikes also became clearer as I experienced more
-
Now I see
everything has meaning even though that was not the case before
-
I was away from
the garden of Eden, but I did not even recognize that
-
I met friends, I
got degree, I got job, and I got married
-
I earned money, I
raised child, I traveled around the world, and I saw many things
-
I drank
champagne, and did things that are supposed to be wonderful
-
I read books, and
kept on driving my life
-
But again and
again, was the question I raised
-
A simple question
but got my attention
-
Whatever I did ,
the question followed
-
The question was,
“So what?”
-
On one hand is
spontaneity, and just do it
-
On the other was
so what
-
In between was
supposed to be a meaning
-
I could not
figure out the proper answer
-
So, I started to
cut all I have and tried my best to answer that question
-
Now, I hear the
sound of wind, again
-
And the answer is
in the sound of wind as it has been
-
As I was that
wind myself some time back
-
Then, someone
asked, “So what?”
-
Wind said, “Where
you ask that question is the answer.”
-
“So, live
accordingly. And carefully listen to him
as you listen to me”
-
If the one asking
question has the answer, who is he?
-
He is that he is
-
And I am that he
is as much as the wind is that he is
-
So know who he
is, you are, and all are
-
Then permanency
is in all transient state of things, and so is good as it is
(Ireland, 8/99)