Tao Te Ching Chapter 77-12 Secret of superiority

Today's Tao

He doesn't want to show off his superiority. (Ch.77)


A: "Master Bonbon, I am better than others, right? I've just sent 1,000 holographic video game consoles to poor children in Japan."

B: "Shut up, idiot! Cash is always better than toys. If you had donated the same amount of cash to our organization, you could have been a 'chosen disciple of the week' instead of a generous idiot!"


Tell me honestly.

Would you like to be a mystic Taoist superior to the rest of the population?

Or, would you like to be a "chosen" Zen disciple selected by a mighty master?

If so, I'm afraid to tell you: "No, you cannot!".

Why?

Because everything is one.

It is impossible to distinguish one from another.

So, how can you be better than others!


«Related Articles»
-Bend a bow 77-1
-Suppress doubt? 77-2
-Raise Hossho? 77-3
-No excess / Why does history repeat? 77-4
-Lack and Supply 77-5
-Nirvana / Reduced excess and Supplied lack 77-6
-Man's self 77-7
-Rich man's excess 77-8
-Love and Excess 77-9
-Attachment 77-10
-After life / Task successfully accomplished 77-11
-Secret of superiority 77-12
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 77


Lao Tzu answers your question!



☞The two "Japanese" video game manufacturers, Sega and Taito, were not founded by Japanese. / Sega, which was called "Standard Games" at the moment of the company's birth. It was founded in Hawaii in 1940. Later, they changed the name to "Service and Games". The two initial alphabets of "Service" and "Games" were put together. It made Sega. Sega created Sonic the hedge hog. / Taito corporation was founded by a Russian. His name was Michael Kogan. He was born in Odessa, escaped the Russian Revolution and, after having lived in Manchuria and Tenshin (Tianjin), China, settled in Tokyo. In 1950, he founded Taito Yoko 太東洋行. Taito Corporation is known to have created Space Invader video games.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 77-9 Love & Excess

Today's Tao

Who can have excess and give it to the world under the sky? Only those with Tao can. (Ch.77)


You should avoid excess.

It's even better if you reduce and reduce everything till you have nothing left. (☞See Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching Chapter 48 / Reduce and reduce)

"The world under the sky" is your hologram, remember?

So, be generous to the rest of your holographic world.


A: "Master Bonbon, I want to help poor children in Japan. What should I do?"

B: "Send the latest Nintendo 7DS video game consoles. Some may have lost theirs. Others have old consoles, on which they cannot play holographic games."


Whether you give something to someone materially or not, you are sending Love to the world.

Send Love as generously as you get completely detached from your holographic world.

Then, you will remember that you are always one with Tao.

Only you can send Love.

No one else.


«Related Articles»
-Bend a bow 77-1
-Suppress doubt? 77-2
-Raise Hossho? 77-3
-No excess / Why does history repeat? 77-4
-Lack and Supply 77-5
-Nirvana / Reduced excess and Supplied lack 77-6
-Man's self 77-7
-Rich man's excess 77-8
-Love and Excess 77-9
-Attachment 77-10
-After life / Task successfully accomplished 77-11
-Secret of superiority 77-12
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 77
-Tao by Matsumoto / "Do nothing" Corporation. "Ninten 任天" of Nintendo means "to trust Heaven and do nothing".


Lao Tzu answers your question!



Nin 任 means "to give responsibility to someone". If you add kyo 侠, Ninkyo 任侠 signifies "gallantry", which sometimes implies a gangster. Ten 天 means "Heaven or sky" like the spanish word "cielo". If you add ka 下, Tenka signifies "under the sky", which is normally a synonym of "the whole world". Do 堂 means "a hall, a shrine, or a temple". If you add Ninten 任天, Nintendo 任天堂 means "the temple of doing nothing" or "the hall of trusting Heaven", which can be used outside Japan as the name of the video game consoles they sell. Nintendo has been contributing their creative toys to our good memories of childhood in the country for many decades. Therefore, it is impossible for the Japanese boys and the men who once were boys to use the company's name only as the name of the video games.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 76-8 Karoshi / Snapped branch

Today's Tao

A strong branch of a tree will surely be snapped. (Ch.76)


Don't work too hard.

Do you know a Japanese expression "Karoshi 過労死"?

It means "death from overwork".

Diligent, industrious, tireless.

All these adjectives once had the status as a national motto in post-war Japan.

The Japanese worked hard, as hard as possible until their lives were suddenly "snapped".

They had worked a lot to buy a Toyota Corolla or a Sony Walkman.

Then, they realized they had got no time to use it.

Some were lucky enough to listen to the music with a Walkman in the train.

Others were too tired to stay awake even while standing there.

Most car owners simply enjoyed washing theirs.

A day trip?

Out of question!

Lao Tzu's «Tao Te Ching» has been one of the "must read" study materials for more than one thousand years in Japan.

Did we really learn what Lao Tzu is saying in the book?

Do you?


«Related Articles»
-Soft life 76-1
-Hard end 76-2
-Fragile life 76-3
-Dry end 76-4
-Mujoseppo = non-living preach / Hard and Strong 76-5
-Soft and weak men 76-6
-Strong army, no win 76-7
-Karoshi / Snapped branch 76-8
-Hossho stays low 76-9
-Hoben gate / Soft and Weak 76-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 76


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (8) / -Dark Depth 玄 [gen]- Let's see how they translate 玄之又玄衆妙之門 in Chapter 1. / "the mystery of mysteries; the door through which have issued, on to the scene of the universe, all of the marvels which it contains." On the left, «Tao-Te-Ching» translated by Derek Bryce and Leon Wieger. / "The secret of secrets, the gate of all mysteries." On the right, «Tao Te Ching: The Taoism of Lao Tzu Explained» translated by Stefan Stenudd.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 73-9 Tao = Net

Today's Tao

Heaven's net is vast. Its mesh is not fine, but it doesn't lose any. (Ch.73)


天網恢々疏にして失せず [tenmo kaikai so ni shite shissezu]

In Japan, this is one of the best known sentences in Tao Te Ching.

What is "Heaven's net"?

It is the net of Tao's energy, which covers everything in your hologram.

In Chapter 11, Lao Tzu said: "30 spokes share one hub". (☞See 30 spokes 11-1)

In Chapter 28: "When the uncarved block scatters, it becomes vessels". (☞See Vessels 28-13)

Can you picture the images?

All of them are metaphors in order to explain the relation between Tao and a hologram, the projector and the projected.

In Buddhism, it is symbolized by the infinite light of Amida Butsu (Amitāba Buddha).

What is the infinite light, then?

It is the movement of Tao and true You.

And this is the light that projects your holographic world in the 360 degree movie theater, so to speak.

The content of the film is not important.

The light of the projector is.


«Related Articles»
-Act without living 73-1
-Live without acting 73-2
-Merit 73-3
-Hatred 73-4
-Heaven's Tao wins 73-5
-Response 73-6
-I shin den shin / No call 73-7
-Plan 73-8
-Tao = Net 73-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 73


Tao answers your question!



☞On the left, «The Promise of Amida Buddha: Honen's Path to Bliss». Honen is the teacher of Shinran. Amida Buddha is the pillar of Jodo Shin Shu / Pure Land Shin School of Buddhism. / On the right, «Living in Amida's Universal Vow: Essays on Shin Buddhism» is edited by Alfred Bloom and has some articles by him and Daisetz Suzuki among others. Later in his life, Suzuki, the author of «Zen and Japanese Culture», got interested in Jodo Buddhism as Zen Master Ikkyu did.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 73-7 I shin den shin / No call

Today's Tao

It doesn't call any, but they come somehow. (Ch.73)


You don't call them.

You don't even say anything.

But they will respond.

They will even come to you somehow.

It sounds like the ultimate form of non-verbal communication such as Hara gei, the belly art.

In the domain of art in Japan, particularly martial art, non-verbal communication is a must.

We call it 以心伝心 [i shin den shin], which means "by heart, transmit heart".

This is a Kanreisu (=a bar or a spring) to better understand Zen.

This Kanji / Chinese character 心 [shin] is often translated as heart or mind.

Like the English word "heart", it also signifies "the center".

The word 心 [shin] suggests the center of the mechanism.

By the mechanism, transmit the mechanism.

In this Tao/hologram mechanism, everything comes about by itself, 自然 [ji nen].


«Related Articles»
-Act without living 73-1
-Live without acting 73-2
-Merit 73-3
-Hatred 73-4
-Heaven's Tao wins 73-5
-Response 73-6
-I shin den shin / No call 73-7
-Plan 73-8
-Tao = Net 73-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 73


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (11) / "Whether we hear news reports of good economic times or bad, whether we make a lot of money or a little, many or us feel something is missing in our lives." On the left, «The Tao of Abundance: Eight Ancient Principles for Living Abundantly in the 21st Century» written by Laurence G. Boldt. / "'What is Montessori?' As educators, we are asked that question often by parents, other teachers, and people on the street." On the right, «The Tao of Montessori: Reflections on Compassionate Teaching» written by Catherine McTamaney. / The abundance of love is the basis of education. Do you agree?

Tao Te Ching Chapter 67-10 Be vast

Today's Tao

I don't waste any, so I can be vast. (Ch.67)


You are vast because true You are Tao.

No matter what you do, you are not wasting Tao's energy.

You (=Tao) receive the energy through the world, which is your hologram.


In Zen Buddhism, they say:

"尽十方界是自己光明

[jin jippo kai kore jiko no komyo / jin juppo kai kore jiko no komyo]

Ten nooks and crannies of the whole world are your light".

(Komyo 光明, «Shobogenzo»)


You are as vast as the world.

You may not like this world.

You might think that you refuse to accept it.

But it is not possible because you are the world.


«Related Articles»
-Idiot 67-1
-Parents 67-2
-Ordinary? 67-3
-3 treasures 67-4
-Protect the treasures 67-5
-Send Love 67-6
-Don't waste holograms 67-7
-Not the first 67-8
-Be brave 67-9
-Be vast 67-10
-Leader of the vessel 67-11
-Stuck in life 67-12
-Love, win, defense 67-13
-Heaven, Love, Tao 67-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 67


Tao answers your question!



☞«Koshihikari コシヒカリ» means the light of Niigata. It is the one of the best rice brands in Japan. «Genmai 玄米» is a Japanese expression for unpolished rice. It literally means black rice. The Kanji / Chinese character 玄 [gen] is also used to express Dark Depth, that is, Tao.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 67-8 Not the first

Today's Tao

The third one is to try not to be the first under the sky. (Ch.67)


The third treasure is "to try not to be the first".

You don't have to be the best.

Don't try to be the number one.

You don't have to control the world "under the sky".

Because you are "the only respectable being" as the baby Buddha said. (☞See Ordinary? 67-3)

Because you are the one who projects the world, which is your hologram.

Try not to be the first.

Lower yourself. (☞See Verbally 66-2)

This is the way you activate Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [genpi].

If you try to do nothing, you will see the world changing naturally.


«Related Articles»
-Idiot 67-1
-Parents 67-2
-Ordinary? 67-3
-3 treasures 67-4
-Protect the treasures 67-5
-Send Love 67-6
-Don't waste holograms 67-7
-Not the first 67-8
-Be brave 67-9
-Be vast 67-10
-Leader of the vessel 67-11
-Stuck in life 67-12
-Love, win, defense 67-13
-Heaven, Love, Tao 67-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 67


Tao answers your question!



☞On the left, it is "Ichiban 一番" in Kanji / Chinese characters. On the right, «Sapporo Ichiban» Miso taste. "Ichi" means one; "Ban", number. "Ichiban" means Number One. The Ramen is the best instant noodles from Sapporo, the name of the product claims. Sapporo is one of the heartlands of Ramen noodles in Japan. Unlike other noodles distributed internationally, the taste of «Sapporo Ichiban Miso Ramen» is not adapted to the consumers abroad. It tastes like typical and "authentic" instant Ramen noodles in their place of birth.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 65-8 Return to Tao

Today's Tao

You return to Tao with things. (Ch.65)


There are two key functions here.

1. "Return".

The word indicates the energy cycle.

This cycle is Tao, therefore, true You.

Everything returns to Tao.

This is Big Natural Flow, that is to say, Tao's perfect integration 大順 [taijun]. (☞See Chuang Tzu's teachings 42-8)


2. "With things".

The word "things" suggests a hologram.

The key is the preposition "with".

This implies a hologram's function as a catalyst.


Your mind and body are part of your hologram along with mountains, rivers, flowers, and stars, in short, with all other elements of what you see (and you cannot see).

All of them return to the neutral state of Tao (=the state before your hologram is projected, =Bumo misho izen).

What we call "one life" is the emission and return of a hologram.

But, remember there is no time in Tao.

The moment something begins, it ends.

The moment something ends, it begins.

No life, no end of life.

不生不滅 [fusho fumetsu].


«Related Articles»
-Ignorant 65-1
-Too intelligent 65-2
-Harmful intelligence 65-3
-Not by intelligence 65-4
-Rules of Tao 65-5
-Miracle rule 65-6
-Miracle attainment 65-7
-Return to Tao 65-8
-Perfect integration 65-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 65


Tao answers your question!



☞There was a band called "Japan". There is a band called "Tokio Hotel". A few decades ago, it seemed that Japan had abandoned being "Japan" and was transforming all its territory into "Tokyo". All the provincial areas wanted to be as sophisticated as Tokyo, and the country was on the verge of a successful transition from "lost Japan" to "Greater Tokyo". Old soldiers did not disappear easily, and now it seems that the pendulum has changed its direction completely. The fastest aging industrialized nation is creating a bigger and bigger mass of post-comsumers. The younger Japanese haven't got cash to spend for sure, but they are still happy because spending money is no longer "sexy" there.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 54-12 Bodhidharma from the West / See the country

Today's Tao

See the country through the country. (Ch.54)


See Tao through your own country.


"But I want to learn more about Tao and Zen. I cannot do it in my country. They don't even sell a proper kimono to wear for meditation. I've got to go to Japan or China!"


Is the grass always greener on the other side?

No, it isn't.

The grass is always the same green wherever you go.


Here, we have a famous koan:

"What is the meaning of Daruma / Bodhidharma coming over from the West?

如何是祖師西来意"


Dharma 法 signifies manifestation.

Tao or Zen manifests itself through your hologram.

In other words, Daruma came over to tell us:

"Everything you see is part of one hologram whether you are in the West or in the East".


«Related Articles»
-Well built 54-1
-Embrace 54-2
-Descendants 54-3
-Body 54-4
-Family 54-5
-Village 54-6
-Country 54-7
-World 54-8
-See the body 54-9
-See the family 54-10
-See the village 54-11
-Bodhidharma from the West / See the country 54-12
-Jin juppo kai / See the world 54-13
-Why telepathy? 54-14
-Because of Satori 54-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 54
-A thousand league travel 64-9


Tao answers your question!



☞We have three famous Kitaro. One is Kitaro Nishida. Another is Kitaro the musician. The other is Ge Ge Ge no Kitaro. If you are an intellectual living outside Japan, you may learn these names in this order. If you are a kid in Japan, the other way round. 西田幾多郎、喜多郎、ゲゲゲの鬼太郎。In Kanji / Chinese characters, it is easy to distinguish one from another.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 52-8 Strength

Today's Tao

Defending the soft is called strength. (Ch.52)


A: "Master Bonbon, I want to be strong. What can I do? Is exercise enough? Or, do I have to buy a Mandala sheet from Japan and meditate for thirty years?"

B: "Give our organization money, and we will send you strong steroids."


In this context "defend" means "be with", or "be in the condition of".

Therefore, Lao Tzu wants to say:

"When you are soft, you are strong."

It is like water.

Something soft is very close to Tao.

If you are like Tao, you are strong.


«Related Articles»
-Constant "beginning" 52-1
-Mother of the world 52-2
-Attain the mother 52-3
-Defend the mother 52-4
-Closed holes 52-5
-Opened holes 52-6
-See the small 52-7
-Strength 52-8
-The light 52-9
-Enlightenment 52-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 52


Tao answers your question!



☞Have you heard of an expression "Genki juice"? Its precise origin is unknown, but it is sure that few Japanese use this expression. It seems that English-speaking people living in Japan may have invented it. "Genki" is one of the first Japanese words one will learn after he has settled there from abroad. The word "Ki" or "Qi", which means energy, is fairly well know all over the world these days. Nevertheless, in Japanese "Ki" sounds relatively official or too specific, and they prefer a more casual expression such as "Genki". "Genki juice" means energizing drinks; notably, Yakult (Tafu man), Oronamin C, Yunker, Lipovitan D and Vita C among others. Red Bull is not common yet. A Yakult lady is a woman who distribute the product to a household or an office.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 48-2 Reduce and reduce / video

Today's Tao

You reduce and reduce it.

Eventually, you reach the state of doing nothing. (Ch. 48)

Japan stories

Some things change. Other things remain the same.

Please look at the photo. I shot it in the parking lots of a supermarket in my hometown Chiba, Japan. The place was a rice paddy when I was a child.

Can you see what the boy is looking at? Those are Yakitori. Yaki mesa "to grill" and Tori "a bird". If you speak about its meaning etymologically, the word should be used only for grilled chicken on a bamboo skewer. But these days the term is employed to describe any meat on a skewer as the contradiction in the photo shows: on the red lantern it says "Yakitori", but most of the photos with prices are inviting you to buy «pork» on a skewer.

Although the image has integrated into a Japanese landscape, a van like this is not at all an authentic Yatai, which is a sort of ricksha with a kitchen facility. The chef would pull the cart, spraying the nice smell in the neighborhood. It was hard to resist.

Well, the smell hasn't change much. All the skewered meats being grilled tickle the inside of our nostrils from the distance.

Visit Japan and taste it!



To read the text of Today's Tao sentence, please visit Reduce and reduce 48-2.


Tao answers your question!

Tao Te Ching Chapter 43-4 Without words

Today's Tao

Teaching without words and the benefit of no action are almost the best under the sky. (Ch.43)


Teaching without words is the way we transmit our traditional knowledge in art and spirituality in Japan.

You cannot convey your thoughts with words.

In other words, you can convey your thoughts without words.

In fact, everything is shared by all because others are part of your hologram.

So are your thoughts and words.

From the beginning, thoughts do not belong to you exclusively.

Neither do your actions.


«Related Articles»
-The softest 43-1
-No space 43-2
-Valuable no-action 43-3
-Without words 43-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 43


Tao answers your question!



☞Without words. Today, I just want you to listen to Mr John Kaizan Neptune's «Words Can't Go There». Taste the sound of the Shakuhachi flute.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 39-11 Gods rest

Today's Tao

If gods were not spiritual, they might rest. (Ch.39)


Everything is a god.

You are a god, too.

In Shintoism in Japan, we express it as "yaoyorozu no kami gami 八百万の神々 (=eight million gods)".

All the objects, all the living beings, even words and thoughts, of course, your own self; all of them are gods.

Your so-called reality is a collection of gods. You must respect every aspect of it.

Don't waste your food because it is a god.

Chew it completely and receive its life with respect.

Don't throw away your ball point pen before you finish all the ink inside.

For the ink is also a god like you.

Everything is the manifestation of Tao.

Don't let the Tao/hologram cycle rest.


Shintoism@wiki


«Related Articles»
-Attain One 39-1
-Heaven 39-2
-Earth 39-3
-Gods 39-4
-Filled valley 39-5
-Hologram's birth 39-6
-Hologram's master 39-7
-One = Tao 39-8
-Heaven torn apart 39-9
-Earth unstable 39-10
-Gods rest 39-11
-Inexhaustible valley 39-12
-Ruined 39-13
-Lords and Kings = Masters 39-14
-Noble = Mean 39-15
-High = Low 39-16
-Lords and Kings = Less virtue 39-17
-Mean = Root 39-18
-No honor 39-19
-No jade 39-20
-Like stone 39-21
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 39


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.39 text / Next video


-Hibari Misora is a Judy Garland of Japan. She sings a song of Asakusa with La (The). Asakusa deserves the article "The". The neighborhood is very special.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 23-8 Attainment loss

Today's Tao

Those who act according to the loss of its attainment are one with the loss of its attainment. (Ch.23)


"Shittoku 失得(徳)." The loss of attainment.

"Mayoi 迷い", in Zen Buddhism in Japan, which means "being lost".

When you are lost, do not panic.

It is absolutely all right.

You can lose your attainment of Tao, while being one with Tao.

You can be in Mayoi while you are in Satori.

What can we do, then?

Your attitude is supposed to be:

"Uh, uh. Here comes Mayoi. Welcome, Mayoi. I am happy to be lost and confused."

And accept it.


«Related Articles»
-Say no words 23-1
-High wind II 23-2
-Downpour 23-3
-Heaven's responsibility 23-4
-Man's responsibility 23-5
-According to Tao 23-6
-Satori = Attainment 23-7
-Attainment loss 23-8
-Bonno soku bodai 23-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 23


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.23 text / Next video


-Is it really possible to translate a Haiku or a Tanka into English? Why not? If you can translate Baseball into Japanese, translating a Haiku is a piece of cake. Shiki Masaoka, one of the greatest poets of modern Haiku and Tanka, is the one who translated the game of baseball into Japanese. Without Shiki, no Ichiro.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 23-2 High wind II

Today's Tao

Therefore, a noisy high wind doesn't last all morning. (Ch.23)


Nature gives us a very good example.

A noisy high wing doesn't last long, even all morning.

It is about a Nine Days' wonder. We all know it.

In Japan, we say:

hito no uwasa mo sichi juu go nichi 人の噂も七十五日.

Literally it means "people's rumor lasts only for seventy five days".

Nine days and 75 days!

Certainly, the Japanese have learned Lao Tzu's patience for more than one thousand years.


«Related Articles»
-Say no words 23-1
-High wind II 23-2
-Downpour 23-3
-Heaven's responsibility 23-4
-Man's responsibility 23-5
-According to Tao 23-6
-Satori = Attainment 23-7
-Attainment loss 23-8
-Bonno soku bodai 23-9
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 23


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.23 text / Next video


-Without Ishiro Honda, we would not have had Godzilla. He was the one who directed the very first Gojira black and white. He was a magician of cinema who made the impossible possible. He was a friend of Akira Kurosawa. To the eyes of the Japanese kids in 60', the name of Ishiro Honda was more brilliant than that of his worldly known friend.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 22-9 Righteousness

Today's Tao

He doesn't think he is right. So, his righteousness is visible. (Ch.22)


"You are wrong!"

"I am right!"

"When you eat Sushi, you must not put your ginger between the rice and the fish."

"I know what I'm doing. This is the authentic way!"


You don't have to convince anyone, do you?

Do you still want your righteousness to be recognized?

All right. Use Dark Depth Female technique.

Don't think you are right.

What does it mean by being right, anyway?

There is neither right nor wrong in Tao.


Naoto Matsumoto adds:

We always need innovation and open-mindedness, but, if you put the ginger between the rice and the fish at a high class Sushi establishment in Japan, chances are that they will ask you to leave unless your Japanese friend explain to the Sushi chef that you are an important political figure from Timbuktu.

In a Tokyo-style Sushi bar, ginger is served to erase the aftertaste between a piece of Sushi and another.

At a belt-conveyer Sushi bar, they are less strict, and almost all reasonable bad manners are accepted, including belching and slurping the soup. Nevertheless, talking too loud and sprinkling saliva on the small dishes on the belt-conveyer is considered offensive. Besides, please do not forget that, once you have taken a dish with sushi from the belt-conveyer, you are not allowed to bring it back on it. It is not a question of manners, but it is a question of hygiene.


«Related Articles»
-Twisted 22-1
-Bent 22-2
-Hollow 22-3
-Before parents' birth 22-4
-Shinran / Jodo Buddhism 22-5
-Not "more" 22-6
-Canon 22-7
-Clearly seen 22-8
-Righteousness 22-9
-No bragging 22-10
-No boasting 22-11
-Aikido 22-12
-Empty words 22-13
-Return it! 22-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 22


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.22 text / Next video

Tao Te Ching Chapter 16-9 Satori / video

Today's Tao

Learning constancy is called enlightenment. (Ch.16)


Japan stories


Satori = Enlightenment? What is Satori, really?

The word has been confusing the Japanese mind for ages.

Most Japanese didn't give a hoot about Satori before because they were pesants and Shintoist-Buddhists (of a non-Zen school).

In principle, Zen buddhists were samurais, soldier-bureaucrats who occupied merely a fraction of Japanese population.

After the end of Tokugawa Shogun era, all the people became legally equal, and everyone wanted to behave like a samurai.

It was cool to meditate squatting in an exotic fashion and think about something abstract like Satori.

Well, what does it mean by Satori?

Linguistically, the word doesn't have a Chinese origin, which is quite rare since most of conceptual terms were imported from China in the middle age.

"Sa" means "that". "Tori" "take"

Please look at the photo above. Can you recognise four Kanji characters on the square wooden plate?

香取神宮 ka-tori-jin-gu

This is the name for one of the oldest Shinto shrines in Japan.

The second one from the top 取 is the Kanji for "tori / take".

So, Satori means "Take that".

Is it just a coincidence that it resembles Lao Tzu's «throw away that one and take this one.» (Chapter12 / Five Colours)?


Tao answers your question!



To read the text of Today's Tao, please see Tao Te Ching Chapter 16-9 Satori.


Keep on squatting, my friend!

Satori is life itself.

Of course, you can accept and love your life while meditating.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 12-6 Belly

Today's Tao

That's why the sage does the belly but doesn't do the eye. (Ch.12)


You should concentrate on Hara, the belly.

Then, no colours, no sounds, no tastes can fool you.

No superficial thing can fool you.

About the art of the belly, Hara gei, check Tao by Matsumoto / Chapter 3 Hara gei the belly art.

It is interesting especially if you are a businessman in Japan.



Naoto Matsumoto adds:

Though it is useful, this is simply a physical technique like a Kyogen actor's laughter.

We must be aware of it.

Both of them have a certain result in terms of influencing your mind.

Nevertheless, we have to remember that both our body and mind are part of the hologram.

The desire to control our mind physically itself is part of it like the mountains, rivers, and lands, as Master Dogen says.



«Related Articles»
-Five colours 12-1
-Five notes 12-2
-Five tastes 12-3
-Riding and hunting 12-4
-Coins 12-5
-Belly 12-6
-Not that one, but this one 12-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 12
-Tao by Matsumoto / No absolute truth If you are interested in teaching English in Japan, read this funny story in Tokyo.


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-The Unspoken Way Haragei: Silence in Japanese Business and Society by Michihiro Matsumoto (Paperback - Sep 1988) @Amazon

Family restaurant Juraku

We have posted two new pages at Asakusa Underground:
and .
The former is about a brief analysis on how the Japanese imported and assimilated the consept of a roadside diner.
The later is about cheap sweets in Japan.

Besides, to improve SEO, I wrote an article on our site itself.
By using the words like travel, guide, tokyo, and Japan, we hope that they will place us at a much better position in the search engine.
Lte's see what will happen.

Jeff-san

Jeff lives somewhere in Japan, probably, somewhere in Shikoku, one of the main island in Japanese archipelagos.

I wonder how it is to be an expatriate in Japan.

Having spent more than half of my life outside Japan, I came to think that Japan is a theme park for adults.

A little like a Disneyland solely for fairly wealthy adults.

Why, adults only?

Because you need to have a certain level of understanding about the civilization to fully enjoy it. 

Besides, to do it, you need to have an ample budget.

Though our site Asakusa Underground advocates backpacking in Japan, I suspect that it would give you one dimensional idea about the country.

After all, you should spend a night or two at a fairly luxurious ryokan hotel in an onsen hot spring resort to experience a truly Japanese experience, and it is not cheap.

Jeff-san knows it well, and he and his Japanese colleagues will tell you how you invest your travel budget wisely.

But the best way to enjoy the Adult Only theme park is live there like him.