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July 28, 2010 |
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Kai-Chin
Open your pillow; Going to sleep
In Eiheiji, the word Kai-Chin; the two Kanjis(chinese character) mean "Open" and "Pillow", is used for saying going to sleep.
At the end of the day, we go to sleep and rest ourselves, and that was Called to open our pillows. Our ancestors had amazing senses for even expressing such a daily habit.
Eating, going to the toilet, taking a bath and sleeping. They are all part of Zazen.
One SIMPLE thing I found out living in Eiheiji, is if you want to wake up early in the morning, you have to go to bed early at night.
Wake up with the morning sun, be grateful for day which has just started, and when the sun sets, let us calm dawn and rest both body and mind.
Going though daily habits with beautiful manners, may be the reason "Unsui" can be vivid and happy every day.
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July 28, 2010 |
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Ryo-Bow
-Forget Both
Yesterday I was in Osaka and I happened to use the escalator.
What!? Why is everyone standing on the right?
I was surprised for a moment. In Tokyo, the rule is to keep to the left and let people who are hurrying walk by on the right.
Being in a place which is only few hours distance by train, completely changes some rules of the society.
Right or Left, Good or Bad, Right or Wrong.
That is nothing more than a small judgment, that someone in the past perhaps decided by flipping a coin.
When you use an escalator, you don't have to hurry and get ahead of the person in front of you.
Just pay attention to the person behind you, let them go ahead if needed.
Arguing over an issue that doesn't have an answer is not significant.
Isn't it better to forget "Which" is "Right", and freely enjoy the present?
 
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July 27, 2010 |
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「吾唯知足」
Ware Tada Taru wo Shiru;
-Knowing Satisfaction
In Buddhism, there is an word "Chi-Soku(知足)" which means knowing how to be satisfied. If people were living in the woods, leading a life style which has harmony with nature, it is hard to imagine getting caught in your own desire.
Well, how is it in the City?
As you know, feeling satisfied is very "difficult" here. Information which comes from money or from the Internet is just a signal that is controlled inside your mind. It is something completely different from what you feel with the senses of your body.
It doesn't mean it is all bad, but unlike the information which your body tells you with it's senses, predictable signals from your mind have no limitation.
Dreaming to have annual income of million dollars, the moment you achieve it, your are dreaming of 10 million.
What makes people truly happy? It seams that the time has come to take this issue seriously.
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July 23, 2010 |
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「脚下照顧」
Kyakka-Shyouko
In Eiheiji, we especially take care of our feet.
If the back of tabi(japanese white sox) was dirty, we wold get in big trouble.
Also, when someone's shoes are not arranged neatly, we fix it for them. But when we do so, it is important to do it very naturally and not to make it noticeable.
So everyone could be happy when they take their next action, such as putting on their shoes.
That will become a message to yourself in the future.
"illumination from Our Feet"
Arranging our shoes neatly, we bring harmony to our minds,
When our minds are harmonious, we arrange shoes neatly.
If we arrange shoes neatly when we take them off,
Our minds won't be disturbed when we put them on.
If someone leaves shose in disarray,
Let us silently set them to order.
Such an act surely will bring harmony
To the minds of people around the world.
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July 20, 2010 |
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Zen Words 0720
Gyo-Jyu-Za-Ga
The style of Zazen in Eiheiji, is called Gyo-Jyu-Za-Ga.
These 4 characters represent "To go", "to stay", "to sit" or "to sleep", therefor every moment in your life should be the same as when you are doing Zazen.
Zazen is a state that your body, breathing and mind becoming one. No mater what you are doing, whether it is eating, shopping or working, if you are in that state it will make it Zazen.
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July 20, 2010 |
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There is an word "oneness".
In Zen words, perhaps we say "一如(Ichi-nyo)".
If there was a fight between our right and left hand, it is hard to imagine getting hurt.
That is because we know each other's pain.
When we release tension from our body, we realize that everything is a part of us. |
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July 20, 2010 |
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Hoho-Kore-Dojyo
Where you are becomes your Dojo(important practice place)
When I was training in Eiheiji; a Zen temple of Sotoshyu, there was a senior monk who's movements were beautiful, no mater when i see him.
I asked him why. "It is to recall your determination as many times a day. We are here to devote our selves to Buddhism," he replied.
When someone is great, it doesn't mean that they are great to begin with. Thinking that you are always at the starting line to where you are heading, makes the difference.
Every step you make is in a Dojo. Where ever you go you are heading to where the Fance is.
( Seigaku )
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July 15, 2010 |
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放てば手に満てり Hanate ba Te ni Miteri
Release and let it come
In this world you are told that being successful, earning as much money as you can, winning your future is the glory of life. Zen interprets life by a completely different way. Releasing as much as you can is the style of Zen.
When you try to grab something it will run away from you. It is when you let go that you will truly be fulfilled.
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June 28, 2010 |
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Shinjin-Ichinyo
There are some days that you just can't get yourself going.
Even there is nothing especially different from usual you feel stuck for some reason. Actually, whenever that is happening, some place in your body is not flowing. In a Zen temple, it is said that your body and mind is one ; Shinjin-Ichinyo
In Japanese, when you say "to be in good health both physically and mentally," the order of the two words are mind→body. But in a Zen temple, the word for body (the two words have the same sound ; shin) comes first. body→mind;Shin-Jin
it's written in chinese character as "調身(Cho-Shin)調息(Cho-Soku)調身(Cho-Shin)"
Cho-Shin;Balancing your body
Cho-Soku ;Balancing your breathing
Cho-Shin ;Balancing your mind
If you try to control your mind, it is someting you can't see or touch. Instead of strugling with something invisible, remember the word Shinjin-Ichinyo and pay attention to your body.Tuning your body will tune your breathing. When your breathing is tuned the mind will follow naturally. |
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May 30, 2010 |
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to the right, to the left
as the balance shifts back and forth, so does my heart:
between duty and compassion, selflessness and desire.
Harder than treading a blade's glistening edge;
how difficult it is to travel the middle way!
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