<<From Me>>
Consciousness and Unconsciousness
After my meeting with Prof.W a few days ago, I went back to some of Suzuki’s books, again. Then, I noticed that whether correct or not, Mushin, or Munen is translated as unconsciousness. Ushin is then consciousness. This is from D. Suzuki’s book, Third series of Essays in Zen Buddhism.(also Vol.5 Daisetz Zenshu)
According to p23-44 of this book, there are a lot of discussion on the subject related to what we went through, e.g., second floor, basement as well as their relationship. Here, Mushin is used by Boddhidharma, and Munen by Hui-nebg, Shen-hui. Hui-hai uses them as synonyms. (p41).
Also, on p.35, Suzuki says, "Even "the Unconscious" may not be the appropriate term." So, from Chinese, to Japanese, to English, the meaning of these terms may have shifted from its original intention. Nevertheless, we still need to use words to communicate.
In any case, a point I noted is also from p.35:
"Munen, the Unconscious, according to Hui-neng, is the name not only for ultimate reality but for the state of consciousness in which the ultimate presents itself. As long as our individual consciousness remains served from Reality which is at its back, its strivings are ego-centered consciously or unconsciously, and the outcome is a feeling of loneliness and pain."
"Consciousness must be made somehow to relate to the Unconscious, if it is not; and if it is, the relation must be realized, and this realization is known as Munen, literally, a state of "thoughtlessness."
There are few important point as explained by Hui-neng(Eno) on p35-36. Starting with.. "What is the Unconsciousness? It is to see all things as they are and not to become attached to anything; it is to be present in all places and yet not become attached anywhere; it is to remain for ever in the purity of self-nature…."
I do not have time to post all here now. Perhaps, I can come back sometime later.
Eddy, you may not be interested in the detail or the history of how Zen was developed and ideas shared in the past. Actually, I am not so much either. Yet, my interest on the subject led me here and had the discussion with you just few weeks ago. As I am getting into these areas in my book writing, I am hopeful that some clarity can be gained down the road.
The question of "So what?" keeps me moving in these murky fields. (So that is where the ping pong ball came form…)
PS little addition on book reading FYI;
In 6th century, Yeka(Huike in Chinese), the second patriarch of Zen after Bodhidharma, has given a sermon, about being careful to abide with facts and not ideas, "It is like a poor man counting up day and night treasures which do not belong to him, while he has not a cent to his name. So much with learning. Again, for a while you may read books, but be careful to set them aside as soon as possible. If you do not quit them, you will get into the habit of learning letters only." - p21 D. Suzuki third series
Picasso said something similar. Hanging the painting on the wall is the same as killing the painting! (Check this from Picasso - In his Words)
<<From me>>
Let us Die to Live
From the little pause we have had in Zenhell recently, I sense Edgar may be considering to kill the club, again. His creative juice is searching ways to express his inner desire.
Like Picasso, what is the use of painting to hang on the wall? It is dead to hang painting on the wall, he says. The painting is dead as soon as it is finished. There is nothing like finishing the work, etc. etc. The same is true with this kind of club. Kill it! And, recreate it and to move on.
I do not need to guess what may be happening in his inner world and make any interpretation about it. Yet, as I see Zen being nothing short of creativity, I hope Edgar be the Picasso of the club here- as much as everyone may be as well in his own "club" – no matter what.
Uninspiring, uninspiring, boring, tired, not feel right, depressed, disconnected, lethargic, etc. I am sure Picasso, Cervantes, et.al. have been there. We all need to die to live. More we die, more we live.
Frog jump into the water, and he comes up easily with his momentum.
If we need oxygen, perhaps we should not search for it, but to die first.
One zen monk said after serious sickness to find the sweetness of fresh air that he did not appreciate before.
Take care!
===
<<From me>>
Oxygen!
When we breathe, there are moments where there is no breathing. This happens in between each exhale and inhale. As I understand, when we die, we inhale the last air and then pass away. So we may be dying quite often as we live in each breathing - in a way.
Somewhere I read about paying attention on the moment of that stopping of in and out flow of air – as a way to get to the state of thinking of non-thinking, or zero-base mind state as I call.
Buddha, and others like sitting, and meditating.
To die to live, to be totally holistic, to be in oneness,
To touch the source of creativity, and even to be one with X
State where nothing is cared
And everything cared.
State where human desire is gone
To go back to the zero-base.
Is there anything more?
No! There are no questions there any more.
Someone noted "defy description."
So, when breathe, just breathe.
Do we hear the sound of silence?
Who is listening??
===
<<From Eddy>>
Howdy Kio-sama,
No, I haven't been thinking of killing this club lately. A glance at the page-view count indicates that it seems to be doing fine. Moreover, the ratio of our page-view count per member seems to be far higher than any other Buddhist club in this forum. Perhaps this is due more to you lately? I have no intention of killing Zen Hell.
When I stated that I felt uninspired / uncreative, I meant to say that I'm not currently in the (creative) writing mood. That comes & goes at random, and I expect it will strike again soon enough. Instead, lately, I've been thoroughly engrossed in reading & studying (Japanese). For me at least, it is more of a meditative state than a creative one. I've been reading all night lately. Even my girlfriends are annoyed that I haven't been returning their calls. Alas, dictionaries make exquisite lovers.
And speaking of dictionaries. A recent post of yours--or was it email?--inspired me to look up several entries. Allow me to share a particularly entertaining passage in the next post. Education, enlightenment, subtle humor--all under a single entry. Yup, Edgar loves his dictionaries.
And finally, regarding our barely ongoing "debate" over whether Zen is concerned with the sub-conscious or unconscious mind. Under such entries, not one of my dictionaries, philosophical manuals or encyclopedias makes any mention of Zen or Buddhism. Though you have found such subjects in your Zen readings to support your argument, I still believe the sub-conscious & unconscious mind are of little importance in Zen. Furthermore, since I cannot bring myself to suffer the reading of Zen texts to support my assertion, I hope you do not mind winning this argument.
Your pal in Hell,
Edgar
==
optimism and pessimism
The term 'optimism' is first used in English in 1759, in reference to the work of Leibniz. The term 'pessimism' is recorded as first used by Coleridge in 1795. The best-known and certainly the starkest expression of pessimism is from the Greek dramatist Sophocles: 'Not to be born is best, but having seen the light, the next best is to go whence once came as soon as may be' (Oedipus at Colonus). Optimistic philosophies include Platonism, with the ruling place assigned to the form of the good, Aristotelianism, with its sense of the harmony of nature and the attainability of ends, Epicureanism, which denies the evil of death, and Stoicism, which denies the evil of pain as well. Christianity can come in either flavour: philosophers have mostly been concerned with the optimistic project of reconciling divine excellence with apparent evil. The most famous result of this exercise (theodicy) was the panglossian vision of Leibniz, satirized by Voltaire in Candide. However, Christianity also offers a pessimistic version, with the stress falling on sin, the Fall, the likelihood of predetermined damnation, and the propriety of anguish and guilt. The Eastern religion that is most closely identified with pessimism is Buddhism, where the eightfold path is a training in the renunciation of desire and complete withdrawal from the world. This attitude is again expressed by Schopenhauer, and becomes common in the 20th century. Other elements in a philosophy may be affected by the optimistic or pessimistic temperament, such as susceptibility to scepticism (pessimistic) or realism (optimistic). See also apathy, tender and tough-minded.
From The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy
==
<<From Me>>
Dictionaries
<<winning>>
I lost that word, winning, in my dictionary for some time, luckily. Or, how else can I say but truth is always the winner. As I reflect myself honestly (if such thing is humanly possible) however, I still know I have element of "wanting to win" type of feeling left within me even when I do not notice it as such consciously. I simply have to know better that I easily "lose" when human desires take place over my(?) dedication to live fully and truthfully. (Of course win, lose, good, bad, jealousy, etc. are all part of the connected value system in human world)
<<unconsciousness and consciousness>>
I am sort of given up on this debate for now. I brought my view here, tied to Yako Zen already. However, I am continuing to work on this point in my manuscript. So, there may be few more balls coming back to this direction sometime. (Manuscript posted in my home page is updated every 3-4 weeks)
The point I am, just to give an update on this, is tied to my recent post of "let us die to live." There, death of ego, and into oneness – representing to go back to the zero-base mind state, or mushin or to live in basement, unconsciousness, enlightened state, or heaven (hell) is fine, especially to find such state truly exist. We need to die to live, e.g., a frog analogy.
In Pureland sect, they talk about Kanjo-eko. You go there, to Higan, Nirvana, and then come back to help people – and/or to conduct the true mission of Bosatsu. Or, it can be said, "Heaven is there but nothing there to be noted. No suffering is like no joy as well, or the total boredom, or the death. So, no use of staying more than enough." So, come back to this world for bring out the meaning again. In Zen circle, for some reason, I sense much less emphasis on this point. (You even point out; no Higan, no boat, no why?! BTW, I hope you do not tell me that this is a joke, even if everything may be seen as joke in basement)
When coming back, seeing the true worth of things out in this world, this person, now having gone to the heaven and death, can do at his will and God’s will to what is to be done, perhaps tying to H-universe, the true H-value, the true meaning. So, he is dead and alive at the same time. No winning, no losing, but as there are resources, or neuron networks, called conscious and unconscious mind, to bring out the most to the world (Zenki) following the laws of nature, or X, he finds way to express that potential using his talent. He, then is the master, awakened man (even though he may have chosen not to be enlightened. Yet, in fact, that may even be the true enlightened state for any human to be in.)
Whether he is in management, art, fly-fishing, go game, religion, stock trading, farmer, craft, etc., etc., he is the master of that universe, knowing the "values" of things – intuitively, expressing what he can – dying every now and then. (Hannya’s logic of immediate denial here is: value is no value, therefore the Value!) But Kanjo-eko, or Bosatsu’s wish is the compassion for ultimately all living beings, thus, much broader, deeper, infinite, coming from the core, the X.
Tied to this is the point where Dogen says in Genjo Koan, 1)"to forget our self is to be proven by the laws of nature" and 2) "proven by the laws of nature is to let our and other’s body and mind to be fallen off." Here, 1) may be seen as oneness, or self = universe state, or death of self state, while 2) is connected to create something out of the dead stuff that is in line to the mission of universe and for that reason, … "fallen off." So, it makes sense to others, i.e., "Aha!," and whole universe may go up to a higher state as it is meant to be, i.e., the expression of X!, Bussho.
<<dictionaries>>
From our first encounter, I saw quite a difference between our tastes. (Laugh Eddy…laugh..) One is that you are so well versed in linguistic skills while I am not. I have no interest in reading dictionaries for one. And often I needed to use dictionaries just to get the idea from your post. As you felt my manuscript uninspiring, I feel the same in reading dictionaries. (no offense of course- as we have been as open as anybody can. Tears Eddy…tears..)
I mentioned passages crossing from early on, also comparing some similarities and dissimilarities between us. The catch ball here makes me stimulated to do some checks and balances. So, at least, I thought about what may be interesting about dictionaries. On one hand as Picasso may say, what are collected in there are dead words. Or, they may be seen as tools to be used to create something.
Yet, being able to read these and play there in basement must also require a great mind, understand the subtleties, feel the expressions of human kind in various manners. So, it appears that your liking on dictionaries is like my liking on fly-fishing, games of Go, or may I say, Butsudo. There is no purpose in it, but just be, do, or play in samadhi. They are basement activities where purpose and means are the same. No harm, no benefit in such activity, or Mukudoku, as Boddhidarma said.
But what if I still raise the question: "So what?" in this case, too. The core of the matter here unfortunately or fortunately is "what do we do with all the data base after having these dictionaries, and knowledge in our brain?" (Let us think that that is the question not by us, but by God.) But the answer – if there is such a thing in basement – may be, "Nothing!" I can understand this as I catch trout and release them. So, no harm done or no benefit to the society – except our H-individual, or personal happiness of Zenki – perhaps more like sleeping to be refreshed the next morning. It is like there are mountains to climb, fish to catch, dictionary to read, bed to sleep, and a crazy guy to write a book about mind – all in sort of samadhi – sort of refreshment for our mental health.
So, there is no so what. This is the end of so what. Case closed! Let the basement be the basement. Let there be samadhi, playfulness, openness, where time and space ceased to exist, and just be in Jizai, free, Jinen-Honi, as-it-isness…… This is one view.
Yet, one argument may be that this mental health, free mind memories, refreshed, oxygenated, hard disk after defragmentation is done and scan disk is run (a computer analogy of brain), life energy charged, refreshed open mind just like that of babies, in a way, full of potential, creative mind, ready to be connected, to explore more, ….etc. etc., then…….so what? Eternal so what? The point is that human has brain, X the laws of universe is in there, or we may say God programmed that. What do we do from there? In other words, we go back to babies, "unborn" state as Bankei may say. Then what? Babies grow up. Correct? They do not stay there in that state. They try to use the fresh mind for more creation so the chain of events of creation will continue.
Remember the point you mentioned about something got burned into your mind’s hard drive and you tried to erase it by doing samu work and trimming goya matsu, etc. after my posts on Yako Zen and Chigyo Goitsu, some time ago? It may be something to do with the operating system of – if I may say - your mind program, i.e., the need for the principle way to be clarified there. There is pain for growth, creation. But the zero-base mind, baby’s mind, samadhi state, non-thinking state without cause and effect, etc. is the state that is most suited to do that as we witness how babies grow.
The difference, this time, is that we know why we may be going through this process so we can be babies and adults at the same time. Thus, we can explain it – more or less. (This tied with Dogen’s quote I mentioned above as well as the whole point of Yako Zen, and Chigyo goitsu.) OK, Furyu Monji, Kyoge Betsuden, truth cannot be expressed by words and there are ways to transmit the teaching without sutras. But Buddha expressed his teaching in his life itself. There are many others who did the same, too. And "this expression" is the question asked for each of us to come up with in our life. In other words, what is the mission in life for each of us? What are that we are expressing?
The other argument is that of oneness not necessarily with words, fish, or mountains- but oneness related to compassion, i.e., oneness with people’s suffering. And therefore the action related to that in our life. This is again the issue of principles. Or, I may ask differently, i.e., "What may be coming out of oneness?" Instinct, inspiration, or something is telling about something, the voice of God, expression of life energy….perhaps connected to Go-program or compassion, wish to live truthfully…Or shouldn’t there be such thing as oneness with God to realize what we need to do in our life and live accordingly? Why not? Is it not the Mission in life? Is it not ultimate so what?
If oneness is a state of Zenki and if there is subject to be one with, then, what about oneness to everything where everything talks to us, teaches the secret of universe? And, whereever we are, and whenever, we are one as master….X is functioning.. also telling us to keep moving forward. I think there is a Big Koan for us to solve in that sense. It is a Koan of So what in life.
Or we should see the "values" of everything more clearly if we are enlightened and got in touch with truth so that we know who we are, the strengths, weaknesses, what we can or cannot do, potential contribution in relation to the H-universe, H-society, and what to do to live accordingly. If I pick Byojo-Zedo Koan, Everyday mind is Tao, as an example here, it is when everything is clear…and therefore know what to do in our life, and in our relationship to nature, society, friends, company, etc.… as we wish. In Joshu’s case who got Satori from this Mondo with Nanzen, he kept on training another 30 years to have the marrow, the essence, and to live accordingly.
So, if I may, may I ask what is your answer to "So what – in your life?" question? Can we ask that? (You do not need to answer to me, however.) In fact, if there is anyone who happened to read this post, I would like to ask this, too. I asked that question to thousands of people in my management consulting practices focused on "so what" – in their work but not so much in their lives, however. Yet, fundamentally, it is the same thing. Enlightened or unenlightened, basement or second floor, as persons given earth on this planet with one in trillion to the trillionth chance of probability, I feel we owe to whoever or whatever created us an answer to that question. Otherwise, the end does not meet.
The words in dictionary need to live! Painting need not be merely hung on the wall! So, let them die to make them alive, renewed, and move on!! Zazen is nothing short of that of dying and renewing as I see. Eddy san, you mentioned that you have lost "why" ages ago and feel eternally thankful to Zen for that. Again, I ask, "Then, what?" If Joshu worked another 30 years to deepen his Satori, what about you? What about us? Whether there is such thing called Satori or not is a different issue here. It is a matter of us being the human being.
Dear Eddy san, you mentioned about not reading Zen books but only once in ten years. You says Daisetz is like Encyclopedia. Clearly, every body has his universe. I respect that. But, here is another mystery. Which is… what do you see is dead and what do you see is alive? And what do you do with the dead thing?
Also, if you like, you can address what you mean by "defying description" tied to this point as well - as you put that as subtitle of this club. (unless you want to leave it as Koan)
****Encyclopedia****
The moon is still overlooking the world,
never saying a single word.
Encyclopedia is sitting on the bookshelf
wishing some one to make it alive.
There are those who died in what now became as Encyclopedia
There were many lives lived in that process of creation.
So, let me ask, "So what?"
And let me further ask, "What do we do?"
BTW, about the optimism and pessimism, I have my own way of seeing these as well as some comments on Buddhism, eight noble paths, etc. For now, as my manuscript is my answer to "So what - in my life," I will try to address those there. But in short, I may just point out, "Above heaven, and below heaven, I am that I am." (Tenjo tenge- yuiga dokuson) – what is funny is that that is basement.
==
Optimism, So what, and Prof. W.
Along with Eddy san’s post on optimism and pessimism from Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy and my point on eternal "So what?," here is a quotes from Prof.W’s paper relating to this point of discussion.
Last page of Prof. W’s paper points out, "Life is but a dream, and that’s a fact." This line struck me for a while. I then took it as dream is nothing, illusion. Shiki soku zeku, all existence is nothing. Here, ku, nothingness, is at the same time X, Bussho or Buddha nature. And X or Buddha nature is in everything. (Kusoku zeshiki, Shitsuu bussho)
Prof. W. then went on, "But if you believe in the holy miracle of that dream, …, and if you enter it and come to know it from the inside out, you are sure to bring me and everyone else into a state of grace, however defined, that will spread compassion and forbearance throughout the world."
BTW, I noticed that Prof. W is also a president of optimist society in his region. And I see a possible link there with regard to the "dream" as he points to "religious optimism" by William James.
His last paragraph reads; "My advice to all of us is to do whatever we have to do to make this world our monastery, and everything in it our teacher. If that is not what William James meant by "religious optimism," through which passionately loyal religious persons everywhere would learn to "use" their faith without caring in the end what it taught in details or even if the details were true, I don’t know what it is."
Tied to my previous post, may I ask, "Is this the expression of Prof. W’s answer to "So what?" question? Is this "dream," or an expression of his life’s mission?" I am curious to find it out.
<<From Edgar- selection>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>Eddy san, you mentioned that you have lost "why" ages ago and feel eternally thankful to Zen for that. Again, I ask, "Then, what?"
And I reply: Then, nothing.
>>If Joshu worked another 30 years to deepen his Satori, what about you?
I deepen nothing. Nor do I shallow it. I merely strut my meat-suit across the irregular surface of our fat, fair planet.
>>What about us?
As far as I know, the essential message in virtually all forms of Buddhism is that existence is an illusion, a dream. If so, shall I then perpetuate the illusion by pretending to "save" others? Granted, some people do (teach). But some don't. ...And which of these two groups has more Buddha-nature? In my case, I generally prefer *not* to explicitly second-guess the ultimate nature of the universe. Instead--silly me--I prefer goofing around with the toys of the universe.
>>Whether there is such thing called Satori or not is a different issue here. It is a matter of us being the human being.
Well said!
>>Eddy san, you mentioned about not reading Zen books but only once in ten years. You say Daisetz is like Encyclopedia. Clearly, every body has his universe. I respect that. But, here is another mystery. Which is… what do you see is dead and what do you see is alive? And what do you do with the dead thing?
Kiosan, I can see no mystery in these questions.
>>Also, if you like, you can address what you mean by "defying description" tied to this point as well - as you put that as subtitle of this club. (unless you want to leave it as Koan)
Only amateur Zennists unwittingly humiliate themselves by creating koans. Shucks, even Christians no longer attempt to add new chapters of the Bible. (Well, not since Joseph Smith "found" the Book of Mormon in 1830.) "Defying description" is no koan. Rather, it as a challenge. (One I haven't fulfilled myself here lately--sincere apologies!) Combined with my founding statement, it is rudely designed to frighten away Zen parrots. If I don't even pay to read professionally written books on Zen, why would I want to read Zen shit for free? Everybody else is welcome, however. Take FireIncarnate, for example. Fine woman. Never once did she bore me with a word about Zen or Buddhism.
To defy description is to create something new. Mind you, it doesn't have to be something great. A mere something new will do. Kio succeeds by pestering folks with his trademark "So what?" Kio's Picasso succeeds with his quote about not killing pictures by hanging them on the wall. Moreover, every Picasso I've ever seen defies description. Our dear old Pablo defied so much that, along with Braque, he was later credited with developing analytical Cubism. But what may I say about myself, Edgar Hell? All pompous modesty & humble egotism aside, I've posted Busted Diary, a 10,000 word unfinished, unpublished & unsubmitted essay on the bloody miserable process one must go through to be a Zen abbot. Hah! Has anyone out there seen anything like it before? I hereby defy all readers to locate one single book that deals extensively with the subject. Or how about a book that deals with the daily lives of common Zen abbots? Well...?
Till Zen Hell freezes over,
Edgar-upon-Sofa
==
<<From Me>>
Daisetz and Prof. W
Here is a copy of my e-mail to Prof. W following my visit to his class:
===========
Back from our converstaion on Daisetz, I could locate the info. I summarized some time ago Re: his book writing activities (see the table below). I still find this interesting that he did majority of his writing at the later time of his life. Perhaps, it was like a distilling processs, or developing some fundamental principles that took place at his earlier age and deepening his life experiences, before he started to write so many books - with integrative viewpoints. After sometime, it became perhaps very natural, as he says, like his pen dancing around the paper, expressing the truth of universe.. or something like that.
No. of books written by Daisetz
Age.......…..-42.........42-72......72+........Total
English..........4............16.........11......…….31
Japanese........4........... 38..........65..............107
========= ==== ====== ====== ======
Total..........…..8....…....54..........76..........138
%.........……....6............39..........55..........100
Personaly, I wrote four management books (2 in English, 1 in Japanese, 1 in French(coauthored)), last one more than five years ago. English ones are translated into ten or so languages. Now, I have made a major shift in my life to devote the rest of my life to "this stuff," i.e., the subject of, "living truthfully." I feel I am just scratching the surface - going through lots of struggle. My principled way to look at this stuff are under development with shakey ground. Whether I may write like Daisetz with certain principles, I have no idea. I will do my best.
When someone writes a book, I often feel that that may be because of his weakeness in that field. It is because he is to confirm the foundation by writing something of interest and to do the check and balance along the way. From my past experience, I found that the understanding deepened and became more like a part of body tissues in that writing process. It is a struggle, but is a great struggle to clear up the mist as well. For the book I am writing on right now, I felt I may not finish until I die because of its scope and nature. Yet, I am happy that I can work on it even if nobody cares to read at the end. Because, as we talked about it today, it is about trusting mind, and what I can do about it.
Well, I thank you again that you invited me to the class, tea, lunch, and more discussion that followed. Please pass my regards to Carol, and Hanachan.
Sincerely,
Kio Suzaki
Moon and Questions
Dancing with Moon
Dancing with Sun
Playing with This
Playing with That
No questions asked
Painting the Terror
Writing for cause
Trying this
Trying that
Questions asked
==
Masters of Life
We are the masters of our life even if we are called fool, abused by others, do not have anything, and no matter what happen to us. We are the masters when we are not complaining, not getting angry, not being regretful, and yet keeping the awakened mind with eternal smile. We are the masters of our universe as we see that all things we face in our life are nothing but illusion.
Whether we notice it or not, there is a test going on constantly to see if we get this point clearly. The setting is a play, a dream going on and created by us in this world. To die in that dream is to live as a human. To notice the illusion is to be in touch with the truth. It is like hide and seek. It is a magical play of the whole universe where we are the main actors in it. There, we gain, we lose, and we reflect. We try, we see the result, and we reflect. We meet devils, we meet inner peace, and our life goes on.
Suddenly, we may notice that the wind chime is making its sound, the fallen leaves on the ground is bringing rattling sound, and we hear the wind blowing out there. We think it is the sound of wind even if wind itself does not have any sound at all. While wind cannot be seen but by flying leaves in the air, and it cannot be heard but by it making noise of leaves in the trees, we know that it is the wind. When we see that the wind representing truth and the truth are expressed through us, at that moment, we start to see how the game of hide and seek is being played in this world.
In illusion is the truth. In victim and slave is the master. In tiny world of one man’s life is the whole universe represented. To know that we are the masters is a main part of this game even though we may not be aware of this point. One of the magic here is that there are peoples who lived their life as masters, even as masters of the universe. They noticed the rattles of five senses and found that they are nothing but illusion. They found the truth and realized how the games are played.
Some of them shared this finding with others in reducing the suffering of people. Others expressed this in poems, painting, or even in management practices. When people saw the work, many felt the magic in it and wanted to be associated with it. Yet, few realized that actually it is the wind doing the job. Bottom line is that we are nothing but the media to carry out the job. But when we notice this, look the magic again! We are the masters, and we are the wind itself at the same time!
==
Not realizing this, there was a fellow traveler of life once asked a question, "Where is the wind?" He studied books, traveled around the world but could not find it anywhere even though he saw the sign of it. He heard the sound, he saw the glimpse of it, but not grabbed the wind itself. He felt he was close, but still could not find the wind. While in his travel, he also found that ruins were facade, paintings were not alive, books were collection of dead words.
What finally dawned on him was that wind could not be found but only through some means. What was there to cause things to happen was what he was looking for. He was the creator; he was the truth, he was the infinite potential, and he was the wind. The fact of the matter was that wind needed means to express himself but wind itself is not the means. In other words, the wind itself is the truth and that the truth cannot be expressed by itself. But funny thing is that expression of truth was everywhere, including he, himself, being one of them!
Of all the magic, he now realized that the wind is with him all the time. He just needed to notice this. When he recognized this, yet, another magic unfolded. Suddenly, he became one with us. We are separated, and we are not any more. We are slaves, but we are the masters at the same time. "How can this be possible?" he thought. But the truth of the matter is that we now see everyone as master and everything in nature as master, expressing the truth as the way they are. And as masters, we have all possibilities and freedom to the point that there is nothing that we should be free from.
WOW Sugoi yo
(I noticed that Prof. w. had "sugoi yo" on his license plate)
==
Tomorrow, I am to leave for a trip around the world for 3-4 weeks. During this trip, I plan to meet people in Japan’s Buddhist circle, including Edgar! On the business end, I am to give few seminars. Funny thing is that my seminar is now very much related to Buddhism even though the main issue is business and how company can best utilize the talent of people. The root is one.
I thought I would share my home page here for anyone who is interested in my work on the subject of searching for the truth, Zen, Buddhism, etc.
This is the URL for my home page:
http://www.oocities.org/CapeCanaveral/Campus/4178/index.html
The encounter with people in a club like this has stimulated me to be more open, and sincere about my journey. If there is anyone who is willing to share "any" feedback with me, I would very much appreciate it.
Obviously, we are on the different stages of the passages in our life. And, because of different background, some ideas may or may not be easily communicated. Furthermore, some contents may be viewed quite incorrect. I am curious to see if this process of sharing on the internet may help facilitate our mutual leaning. I will welcome any feedback here or addressed to me by e-mail (suzakico@yahoo.com).
Good luck on your journey!
<<From Me>> ---Nov. 99
Just got back from around-the-world trip. Thank you so much for the time at your temple!! I will be a bit busy this month (trip to Mexico and Europe) but I may summarize few points before long.
Here are few highlights anyway:
- Meeting with Edgar in Hell
Actually it was heaven I found him living! (Even though it may have been like hell before...) Discussion till 2-4 AM was a nice kick off to begin my trip in Japan.
- Zen temple in Kobe
Meeting with Roshi and two monks, samu with Obachan, daily routines, Zazen, etc.
- Kyoto
Meeting with JS and 1+ hour of phone discussion with Mihoko san (who helped DT Suzuki in his late years)
- Mr. Nakayama
Visit at his 86 years' birthday. As usual, an endless discussion with him.
- Itabashi Roshi
Hours with this dynamic head of Soto Sect.
A wonderful time over all....
"Man is thinking reed but his great works are done when he is not calculating and thinking. "Childlikeness" has to be restored with long years of training in the art of self-forgetfulness. When this is attained, man thinks yet he does not think. He thinks like showers coming down from the sky; he thinks like the waves rolling on the ocean; he thinks like the stars illuminating the nightly heavens; he thinks like the green foliage shooting forth in the relaxing spring breeze. Indeed, he is the showers, the ocean, the stars, the foliage."
- By D.T.Suzuki's preface for "Zen in the art of Archery" by A. Herrigel
The river is still flowing,
the stars are still shining,
and the crows are still crying,
...all over
Sugoine...
<<From Eddy>>
Greetings Kiosama,
Yes, it was a pleasure having you here for our Festival of Blab. Do come again sometime; my temple is always open--especially to such charming fellows such as yourself.
Even crazy Asada-san misses you! She's been dropping by frequently since you left--goddamnit!!! She told me that you were not her type. Congratulations. As you can guess, she usually "HATES" everybody (except me). That you are merely not her type should be a compliment. She dropped by early this morning as well. I heard her talking to her dog while sitting on my balcony. At least the dog is still alive. Anyway, she's being such a pain that I'll just have to politely tell her not to come around anymore.
Have you seen Prof. W. since you've been back? I sent him a thank you note for his Buddhist seminar notes. Wish I could attend. Instead, I've got my garden to attend to.
Abbot Boonsan is coming by this afternoon--this time he's bringing a fellow from Asahi Shimbun who wants to talk to me. Makes me nervous. I see no advantage in becoming well known. As you now know, nothing would destroy the atmosphere of my Zen hermitage more than a lot of people showing up.
>>>
The river is still flowing,
the stars are still shining,
and the crows are still crying,
...all over
Sugoine...
>>>
Loved your poem. You've captured the essence of my location, and my intention.
Except the crows aren't really "crying"
They're *laughing*
Honto ni sugoi ne!
Your pal,
Edless on the mountain
<<From Me>>
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 climbs up the mountain
The stone garden was made with rocks collected 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
==
D.T. Suzuki -- Conversation with Mihoko_san
Mihoko Okamura helped Daisetz T. Suzuki in many ways during his last 15 years of his life. (Suzuki lived to almost 96 years of age.) Among topics I talked with Mihoko san in our last conversation, we both felt that "An Introduction of Zen Buddhism" is his master piece if not the master piece of all Zen books written by all Roshi’s. Of course, she may be biased as she lived with Daisetz and traveled everywhere with him to help him. I may be also biased as I found his works and him as a person as most appealing as genuine human being.
What was funny is that we were re-reading this book when we talked the last time, by coincidence. I recommend this book for anyone. In spite of the fact that the title denotes as "introduction" to Zen, this book should be read and be studied fully – if not lived with. If you do read, you may find clarity and creative energy of Daisetz coming through these pages. Koans are tough but may make us to work on these over years to come.
Here are few points of our conversation:
- Satori, enlightenment, is the same as "letting go"
- "When I say good morning and you respond good morning, there is Zen and Satori. So why it can be difficult, Mihoko san -- get that?" was a comment from Daisetz at one occasion
- Daisetz tried in his entire life to share the importance to live in truth through Zen with his works.
- Under a great doubt is a great Satori. Koan is a way to get this doubt and may help Zen people to work his way even after Satori to be free-er (and not be attached to the experience of Satori)
- To think to work with Koan is the only way may be a digression.
- Daisetz felt unfair in his early life when he lost father and the family was very poor.
- If one has no doubt in life, that is a problem by perhaps living like a robot, programmed way of living that is.
- After Satori is a continued work to be free
- When Hisamatsu, a Zen master, says I have no Bonno, and when Daisetz says, I have full of Bonno, they mean the same thing even though they sound different in conventional mind.
- Zen is free from dualistic views as shown above.
- Satori is a personal experience. One big Satori as Hisamatsu says and big and small ones as Hakuin says may be seen as same depending on one’s view.
- Satori is like touching live wire in our brain, and live creatively, truthful. Nothing is more important than that.
- Even though people going through strict exercise at Zen temples may be limited, Daisetz had to work to make people aware of the potentials that cannot be reached by conventional wisdom.
- Eckhart and Eno(6th Part.) may be a case pointing that Zazen may not be needed – even though it may offer a short cut.
- Shakyamuni, however, brought vairous ways of teaching depending on the people. To be caught up in certain doctrine may be contrary to his teaching
- To have great doubt is the first step to live truthfully.
- After Satori, analysis may be carried out to explain the experience so that the "understanding" may be put in use in conducting our life.
- Daisetz considered bringing the awareness and purpose of Zen is the first step for Westerners.
- He shared Zen and Shinshu/Myoko-nin as approaches to go beyond such awareness.
- Daisetz’s books are built on rigorous intellectual work while in his personal life, he showed his genuine human act.
- He sensed some "impurity" in Dogen’s Sho-bo-gen-zo.
Here are few points to be checked further with Mihoko_san next time:
- Did Daisetz often carry Rinzai roku as the main book of reference?
- What is his opinion about Joshu?
- Did he study Suppanipata, Dammapada, etc? What is his opinion on these?
- Future of Zen, and other approaches….
- Point on Kegon sutra
- Zazen, breathing – Daisetz working hard yet very quiet…..(Zenki..)
- Blyth, his death – any knowledge?
- Lecture notes, records in Columbia Univ. etc?
<<From Eddy>>
Salutations Kio,
And thank you for your fine tribute. Your poetry is very nice.
You should see my place now. Much has changed already. As you know, I've never liked the design of my house. Yesterday, I took a pick-ax to the closet (oshi-ire) in the middle of the house. It took me ten hours to knock down the walls & pull down the ceiling. Of course I've got dust everywhere, but now I have direct sunlight!
The destruction was easy--rebuilding will be the challenge, especially since I have no experience in carpentry. Very intimidating. I expect it'll take me all month to figure it out. But in the end, my bedroom/office, a dark six tatami room (basement?) will turn into a 10 1/2 tatami room with lots of direct sunlight. I'm currently looking into one-way glass--so I can always enjoy the view of my gardens (without people looking into my rooms). A professional will be fitting the new glass door across the front of room later.
Sorry for such a sloppy post. I'm too exhausted to be creative. Anyway, nice to have you back online.
With dust all over the place,
Eddy
<<From Me>>
A Case of Koshiro Tamaki
Prof. Tamaki was a very well known professor of Buddhism at Tokyo University along with his books and speeches. A paper called "My Quest for the Dharma" was submitted by him as his posthumous work for the symposium on "Footsteps to Enlightenment" to be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 1999. (He passed away in January 1999) It captures a rare story of one man’s life devoted for his enlightenment.
Here are my summaries from his paper, focusing on his life’s journey:
(Note: *** mark denotes turning event in his life as I found from the paper.)
The above is my compilation of information. Even though Mr. Tamaki’s meaning of terms like samadhi of the Buddha are not explained here in detail, this summary of his journey in life should bring a reference to those who vow to live according to the Way.
Also, about the state of enlightenment, for comparison;
Yet, these words may mean the same state of mind but expressed differently by each person. As Zen saying goes, Bonno is by itself Enlightenment – a typical contradictory expression of Zen, thus the expression of these people may point the same thing. Nevertheless, Mr. Tamaki’s description of his mental state indicates different state compared to these two people except for his last years of his life. (This, to me at least, appears to be quite surprising.)
Another issue that may become apparent is that:
==
Visit to Hosshinji web site
For information, This is one of the Soto Zen temple's web site with "interesting" information in English. Itabashi Roshi referred me to meet Harada Roshi there in the future - I may try in next April. ( http://www.semui.co.jp/hosshinji )
BTW, I am curious to attend the symposium on Nov. 13th on "Zen, Nenbutsu and the Dharma." I met Prof. W yesterday to exchange ideas about his paper. I am to meet Mr. Nishimura, a speaker, tomorrow evening when he flies in from Japan. It is called as international "academic" symposium. But we will see how it goes and will report back to you when it is over.
I hear the cricket in my backyard...
the autumn is around
after the rain, the air is crisp and clear
Let me know if Edgar Hell presents his paper some day.
(I still laugh about your post at the club Ox. Me o shiro kuro sasete irunja naikana, Minna majime mitai dakara.... Late Mr. Howard may be happy to see your editting!)
Have a good job in the hell! I am cutting few tree brunches here at my house.
Kio
<<From Eddy>>
Greetings Kiosama,
I wish I could be there for the symposium. The list of speakers looks delicious.
>>I met Prof. W yesterday to exchange ideas about his paper.
What! And no mention of his former student Edgar Hell! Did you give Prof W. some of my Zenly sketches? (Or did you sell them & keep the huge sums of money for yourself?)
>>It is called as international "academic" symposium. But we will see how it goes and will report back to you when it is over.
Please and thank you.
>> I hear the cricket in my backyard...
the autumn is around
after the rain, the air is crisp and clear
Let me know if Edgar Hell presents his paper some day.<<
I will. In the meantime, I'm content to present my face--*to share* my face--to the world every day.
>>(I still laugh about your post at the club Ox. Me o shiro kuro sasete irunja naikana, Minna majime mitai dakara.... Late Mr. Howard may be happy to see your editing!)
I found Mr. Howard's quotes rather stimulating--thanks for posting them. It was enough to make me get off my great Zen couch. And speaking of my Zen couch, it's now in the room you slept in, along with all of my furniture. Alas, rebuilding the other part of the house will take another 3 weeks. I'm gaining confidence in my carpentry skills...the neighbors are also helping a great deal--they've also called in some of their professional friends to work for free. And, most importantly, I'm thinking in the future that I would like to rebuild my hondo (ceremony hall) by myself...plus a few volunteers. Why not? Fact is, I don't know a single priest or abbot in Japan that his built--or even worked on--his own temple. Moreover, last year the abbot of a parent temple of mine spent one million dollars to erect a new *concrete* building. (Payment done in one installment & with no loan!) Small wonder Japanese people are so suspicious of Buddhist temples.
Your Buddy in Hell!
Edgar
<<From Me>>
>>What! And no mention of his former student Edgar Hell! Did you give Prof W. some of my Zenly sketches? (Or did you sell them & keep the huge sums of money for yourself?)
Sorry for not updating this and that. My mother-in-law has gone through surgery and have been in ITC for the last few days. I am therefore doing my wife's duty of taking care of our son, laundry, supermarket, etc. among other things.
In any case, yes, I met Prof. W actually twice since my return, going over his paper, making comments, planning for the symposium, etc. (He mentioned to me this morning over the phone that he took my advice to do "management" presentation to the group – orienting the symposium with the emphasis of "So what?" -- obviously. So, we will see how it goes tomorrow.)
I went over on detail with him and Wendy Egyoku (who is now heading LA Zen Center and was in Seattle doing sanzen with Prof. W.) about your heavenly hell in detail over lunch. (Prof. W invited Egyoku san and myself to his class on 16th when Egyoku san presented the way of Zazen to the class. Egyku san did not recognize your name from the time in Seattle, though.)
BTW, One of Egyoku_san’s comment on your situation was, contrasting her job of looking after 140 or so people at ZCLA, a question of the work as Bottisatva. Perhaps, her mind went through the fact that you have no danka while she has tons of issues to take care. Naturally, I might have misrepresented your situation by my twisted/accurate(?) impression as shown in my poem I posted a few days ago. Prof. W was just smiling to listen to the flow of conversation. Possibly, however, he may visit you next May on the way back from his planned trip to India, etc.
As for the sketches, news paper article of yourself on Naigai Journal, and your pictures, I handed these out to him on 14th. He was eager to see your picture and seemed to be very happy that you are doing well there! As for your sketches you gave to me, they have found the spots on both end of my desk – little up above. I like them a lot and hope you pursue the idea we discussed on producing a sketch book – seriously and playfully. (So, I have here a D.T. Suzuki’s picture looking at me always with his mysterious look from the right, Calligraphy of Itabashi Roshi; "Yume" or Dream in front, and two of your sketches on both sides. Only your sketch is genuine - not copies like others btw.)
Finally, related to Egyoku san’s comment on Bottisatva and our debate, as well as on the topic of the symposium on Zen, Nenbutsu and the Dharma, a resolution of a kind is:
<<From Eddy>>
Howdy Kio,
>>...your sketches you gave to me, they have found the spots on both end of my desk – little up above. I like them a lot...
I am extremely pleased that my artistic scribblings have found a place upon your altar of thought and creativity.
>>...hope you pursue the idea we discussed on producing a sketch book – seriously and playfully.
I believe your suggestion to be an excellent one. I expect I will attempt some form of literary pursuit in the future. Thanks for the ideas & encouragement.
And speaking of literary pursuits & encouragement, I hereby encourage you--*dare you!*--to share the following post with Wendy roshi & Prof. W. Actually, knowing you as I do, I believe you will enjoy the task!
Read it and weep!
Edgar Hell
==
Thanks Kio, for the very educational California Dharma Report. Sheesh! It's the sort of thing that makes me want to flee my own temple to spend a few nights shedding pounds in a love hotel. From the admittedly limited information you've kindly passed on to me, I'd bet a month's worth of donations that a single night with even a low ranking concubine would be more enlightening than listening to Buddhist cliches over lunch & cappuccino with our doctrinaire emeritus & Zen CEO Wendy roshi.
>BTW, One of Egyoku_san’s comment on your situation was, contrasting her job of looking after 140 or so people at ZCLA, a question of the work as Bottisatva. Perhaps, her mind went through the fact that you have no danka while she has tons of issues to take care. Naturally, I might have misrepresented your situation by my twisted/accurate(?) impression as shown in my poem I posted a few days ago. Prof. W was just smiling to listen to the flow of conversation.
Ah...so much stimulating information in one little paragraph! And no, I don't believe you "might have misrepresented your situation by my twisted/accurate(?) impression." I trust your explanations were quite accurate (thank you!) perhaps another reason Prof. W. just smiles?
Wendy-Egyoku-roshi sounds like quite the character! She actually referred to herself--however obliquely--as a bodhisattva? LA cute. (Now you know why I've spent nearly all my Zen time in Japan rather than in America.) Moreover, as evidence, she counts her disciples & duties? Lovely. Sounds to me like just another common mendicant indulging in religious suffering--trawling for public respect no doubt. Kindly stand back while I yawn.
And only a Western Zenist would compare & rank by the number of disciples--a.k.a. spiritual dependents? Know what my fellow Japanese priests & masters inevitably say when I tell them I have no danka (temple supporters)? "Lucky you! You're a free man! Temple supporters can be so noisy & demanding (rusai) at times." Obviously certified-in-America Wendy hasn't spent much time in Japan. If she had she would know that I could easily surpass her list of 140 spiritual dependents in a single month. How? By simply placing an ad in a newspaper offering discount cemetery plots. As you well know, Kio, the land behind my temple alone is worth more than one million US dollars. (Not to mention the other larger undeveloped plots in my domain.) But alas, your cranky Edgar prefers bowing to his weeds over being bowed to by temple supporters, disciples, dollars...whatever.
>>Finally, related to Egyoku san’s comment on Bottisatva and our debate...a resolution of a kind is: Each person has his or her own peculiar characteristics – tied to Karma.
Oops! Here comes another one--*Yaaaaaaawn!* (Dreadfully sorry.) Allow me to clarify your last sentence: Each person has his or her own peculiar characteristics – tied to a pink unicorn.
Is it any wonder that educated & intelligent people tend to mock religion altogether? And with good reason, I might add. Or even with simple reason. Must we really sell our brains to save our souls? For what is creed but a plague fibs, a millennial cancer of intellect, a thought virus spreading across centuries of conversation. Is the universe really so frighteningly cold & indifferent that we must spend our days weaving, reweaving & gleaning the security blanket to protect us from discomfort?
==
Let's look at it from another angle. While Buddhists chatter away about karma, reincarnation, bodhisattva's & the other shore, Christians babble on about Immaculate Conception, resurrection, walking on water, burning bushes, et cetera. Fine. But how is this *any different* from, say, ufologists proclaiming sightings of little green men, intergalactic travel, human abductions & interstellar intercourse? (Actually, silly as it seems, this last category will surely be indisputably proven before either Buddhists or Christians can even proffer the slightest bit of independently verifiable evidence to support their own comforting cosmic claims!)
Is it not possible, Edgar asks, to simply accept great men as great men--without posthumously tinkering with the details of their parentage, (re-)births or (after-)deaths? Is it not possible, Edgar asks, to simply accept...to simply *value* the days of our lives as nothing more than the days of our lives--without expostulating meaning, divining cosmic design or assigning special, esoteric significance to ourselves? Is it not possible, Edgar asks, to simply attain the ever-present--without trying to wear, bear or share the hair shirt or any of its countless physical & metaphysical variations?
Think of it as Eddy's challenge.
Your man in the basement,
Edgar Hell
==
Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
Albert Einstein
<<From Me>>
Well, I don’t know what you have been eating lately, Eddy. But the cosmic energy coming from the basement in the Far East is certainly received even with my often-defunct antenna.
Having said that, I have to point out that I needed to find my Webster to look for such words like "ufologist." Silly me, I thought it was your spelling mistake according to my Word software so I rechecked the "corrected" word, "urologists," and looked it up in the Webster.
Anyway, after referring to my Webster several times(BTW, when this happens, it means Eddy is going full blast and I need to be careful not to miss his often *aimless* aim.), and using my intuitive sense more than anything else, the vibration is still felt and my body is shaking after the "challenge" was placed in such a manner….
On top of that, what a comment from Einstein!! Actually, this is precisely the point I was using in my recent seminar in El Paso on Shop Floor Management -except that I forgot where I got the idea, so I improvised to:
"Only with right brain, we will be lost. Only with left brain, there is no meaning. So, somehow, we need to "Connect" these!!"
Or,
"Only with intuition (soul), there is no direction. Only with intellect (brain), there is no meaning."
So….find the third eye! (Where is this third eye, Eddy??? It sounds like you want to go back to the garden of Eden --- unless you are already there as I wonder and do not want to touch but preserve in your sanctuary…. What do we do with the tools, e.g., words, intellect, etc.? Throw away??? Or shall we say, "Only with soul, there is nothing. And only with brain, there is nothing."?)
(BTW, The point of this quote in my seminar was: People at the shop floor will be lost their meaning to come to work but only for the money if they simply follow the direction of the management. Instead, people at the shop floor and management need to appreciate the creativity and the initiative every person has for his or her life to be meaningful. Therefore, we need to find a way to express the initiative, life energy of the people at the shop floor so that their destiny is that of a human, but not of a robot. -- So Eddy, what is the relationship between the shop floor and basement? Nothing??? Also, as a man in the sanctuary found him as a master of his universe, then. "So what?" Nothing???)
If you refer back to my post on Yakozen, there is a connection here. (Remember the catch ball between you and me in those good old days we had here?) I think it is somewhat ironic that you referred to this quote! No wonder there are basement and second floor! Alas, where is the eye of prajna to see both at the same time – transcending the particulars?
In any case, this post was meant to be a quick response to your post (even though this is not my usual style). But, let me chew on it. In the mean time, I post the following Report from the symposium.
Weeping for the kind challenge given…
Kio
==
Symposium on Zen, Nembutsu, and the Dahma
This symposium helped me to develop a different dimension on my passage tied to Butsudo. As I thanked to Prof. Webb on the way back in his car, it was a great event in terms of contents and contacts. The night before, I had four hour discussion with Roshi Nishimura, and I attended the symposium the next day (AM with selected people, PM with 200 or so public people). Here are few points of learning:
Even though I certainly cannot cover all, one point I took home was the following image. It is the image of a tree with many "branches" which correspond to different sects, different practices, and different passages taken by various people. Depending on the view point, for example, one can characterize Mahayana or Hinayana, self powered or other powered, Soto or Rinzai, Nembutsu with creating image of Tathagata(Nyorai) inside of or outside of ourselves, etc., not to mention Hindu, Christian, or Islam as simply different branches of a tree (if not, trees). (If they are seen as different trees, still the ground is the same, anyway.)
If I see the objectives of Butsdo are to live truthfully (i.e., be happy or reduce suffering) and help others to live truthfully, the key points may be:
A thought virus, attacking on spirituality…
Kio