Tao Te Ching Chapter 77-3 Raise Hossho?

Today's Tao

It raises a low one. (Ch.77)


"A low one" suggests Tao.

So, Tao raises Tao?

That's it.

That's what the famous circle of Zen masters stands for.

If you add the two points of holograms in the middle, here is the Yin Yang circle.

Tao hides itself inside every hologram.

This is called Hossho 法性, the nature of manifestation.

Tao raises Tao hidden in everything.

So, it is natural that the holograms copy the characteristics of Tao's cycle.

You could say that your holographic life exists to teach you how Tao's mechanism works.


«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 answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (13) / -Do nothing (treat things without interference) - Let's see how they translate 是以聖人処無為之事 行不言之教 in Chapter 2. / "That being so, the sage serves without acting, and teaches without speaking." On the left, «Tao-Te-Ching» translated by Derek Bryce and Leon Wieger. / "Therefore the Sage acts by doing nothing and teaches without speaking." On the right, «Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching» translated by Keith Seddon.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 76-9 Hossho stays low

Today's Tao

The strong and big stays low. (Ch.76)


What is the strongest and biggest of all?

Certainly, it is Tao.

Do you remember Tao's nickname is Big? (☞See Big 25-9)

Like water, Tao look for a lower place, which you cannot see. (☞See Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching Chapter 8 / Be like Water)

In a sense, Tao remains in the shadow of every phenomenon.


Zen Master Dogen puts it this way:

"It puts its body into storage, and the shadow is more exposed."

(Mitsugo 密語, «Shobogenzo»)


Zen Master Ikkyu uses the metaphor of Tao (=Buddha, =Zen) being in the shadow of everything in his «Yama Uba».

Yama Uba, the old woman in the mountains, helps everyone in his shadow.

He doesn't know what she is doing.

You don't know what Tao is doing in your shadow.

When you commit a mistake, it is not your fault. Tao is just sending you Love (=Tao).

In Buddhism, it is called Hossho 法性, the nature of manifestation.


«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 (9) / -Dark Depth 玄 [gen]- Let's see how they translate 玄之又玄衆妙之門 in Chapter 1. / "Indeed, it is the mystery of mysteries. It is the door of all spirituality." On the left, «The Teachings of Lao-Tzu: The Tao-Te Ching» translated by Paul Carus. / "This being so is profound, mysterious, and dark: The threshold to all secrets. (This translation seems to correspond to the Kanji / Chinese characters 同謂之玄玄之又玄衆妙之門.)" On the right, «Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching» translated by Keith Seddon.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 68-7 Limit of space and time

Today's Tao

This is called matching the limit of space and time. (Ch.68)


Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [gen pi] is the attitude of lowering yourself and being submissive in order to be one with Tao, or to remember that true You are Tao.

By not competing, you can attain Tao easily.

It is called Dark Depth Attainment 玄徳 [gen toku].

Using Tariki 他力 / Other-power works well, too.

All of them are the same as matching the limit of space and time.

Space and time are parameters to interpret in-coming information and form a holographic image.

"Matching the limit of time and space" means "understanding that time and space exist only in the hologram".

The limit of time and space is your hologram.

Besides, it is worth mentioning that Zen Master Dogen implies the projection of a hologram with time and space is the true miracle. (Jinzu 神通, «Shobogenzo»)


«Related Articles»
-True samurai 68-1
-True warrior 68-2
-True winner 68-3
-Lower than people 68-4
-No competition 68-5
-Aikido and Tariki / Other people's power 68-6
-Limit of space and time 68-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 68


Tao answers your question!



☞In the old days, Japan was called Zipangu. This map does not belong to the period, but it will give you some taste of an adventure in the Middle Ages. ☞Pokemon and Picachu represent modern Zipangu's alchemy.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 68-6 Aikido & Tariki / Other people's power

Today's Tao

This is called the use of other people's power. (Ch.68)


Use other people's power by lowering yourself without competing.

Two points.


1.

This is the idea of Aikido.

Don't compete.

Synchronize the energy.

Use the opponent's power.


2.

When you look at this from the Buddhists' point of view, this is Tariki / Other-power.

You are not in charge of your own salvation, but Amida Butsu / Amitābha Buddha will take care of it.

This Tariki / Other-power is a useful tool.

Thanks to the presence of Amida, who is the mighty force outside you, you can reduce your resistance.


«Related Articles»
-True samurai 68-1
-True warrior 68-2
-True winner 68-3
-Lower than people 68-4
-No competition 68-5
-Aikido and Tariki / Other people's power 68-6
-Limit of space and time 68-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 68
-Aikido 22-12


Tao answers your question!



☞The moment you have understood Tariki = Jiriki, you don't need any names to grasp the secret of Life. The moment you have accepted Aikido = Life, you don't need to fight. ☞Japanese novelist Hiroyuki Itsuki confesses his childhood experience of escape. Morihei Ueshiba was one of the great masters of Aikido.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 68-4 Lower than people

Today's Tao

One who uses people well puts himself lower than them. (Ch.68)


"Hai, hai, hai. Yes, yes, yes."

Have you ever seen a Japanese saying "hai, hai, hai" while bowing?

And did you laugh?

All right. You laughed. Totally understandable.

Then, did you think about Lao Tzu and Tao Te Ching?

No?

It's a pity.

You missed a fantastic living example of Dark Depth Female 玄牝 [gen pi].

The Japanese word "hai" does not necessarily mean: "Yes. I agree with you".

It means: "Yes. I understand what you are saying, I am lower than you, and I respect you as a part of sacred nature".

In short, "I accept you and the rest".

"People" here means your hologram.

By lowering yourself and activating Dark Depth Female, you can "use" your hologram.


«Related Articles»
-True samurai 68-1
-True warrior 68-2
-True winner 68-3
-Lower than people 68-4
-No competition 68-5
-Aikido and Tariki / Other people's power 68-6
-Limit of space and time 68-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 68


Tao answers your question!



☞Recently the Japanese have become more and more introversive. Some things change on the superficial level. Other things hardly change. The Japanese might be heading towards the closure of the country as once they did some 400 years ago. You never know. If you want to do some business in Japan, more than ever you need a good preparation with up-to-date materials. Check Paul Norbury's «Japan - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs and Culture» and John Alston and Isao Takei's «Japanese Business Culture and Practice: A Guide to Twenty-First Century Japanese Business».

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 66-2 Verbally

Today's Tao

Hence, if you want to be above people, lower yourself below them verbally. (Ch.66)


Lower yourself as if you were water.

Water doesn't argue.

Water doesn't try to convince others.

If you are in a difficult situation, don't move, or dispute. (☞See No hurry 17-6)

Accept what others are saying.

Remember "Advance = Retreat". (☞See Advance = Retreat 40-7)

When the process reaches the lowest bottom, it will start going up.

"People" are part of your hologram, a dewdrop reflecting the moon.

Don't forget that you are the moon above them.


«Related Articles»
-100 valleys 66-1
-Verbally 66-2
-Physically 66-3
-Never heavy 66-4
-Harmless 66-5
-Support 66-6
-Don't compete 66-7
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 66


Tao answers your question!



☞William Somerset Maugham, the author of «Moon and Sixpence», wrote «The Razor's Edge», in which there is an american man who goes to India to obtain Truth. Strangely, this successful author of best-selling novels introduces readers to oriental philosophies in a very capitalist way.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 61-5 By stillness

Today's Tao

By stillness, she gets lower. (Ch.61)


Here I repeat Chuang Tzu's teachings.

"Don't move until you are forced to."

Please read and watch Tao by Matsumoto video blog / No hurry 17-6.


Lao Tzu says in Chapter 37:

"Don't desire and be still, and the world under the sky will stabilize itself".

(☞See Be still 37-5)


These are not asking you to fight to sit still.

No, not at all.

They are asking you to accept the hologram, or the world, in front of you as it is.

By stillness, by accepting all, the female gets passive.

Stillness means "going back to the root".

(☞See Stillness 16-6)


«Related Articles»
-Satori = Reality 61-1
-Intercourse 61-2
-Female of the world 61-3
-Female beats male 61-4
-By stillness 61-5
-Under small 61-6
-Under big 61-7
-By going down 61-8
-Gather and Raise 61-9
-Work on people 61-10
-Go down 61-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 61


Tao answers your question!



☞Judo means "Soft Tao". The expression "Yawara no michi / The way of being soft" has become outdated, and its original idea seems to have been abandoned in the modern competition of the sport. Thanks to some girl practitioners, we can see a few remaining lights of this spirit. Please look at the colors and expressions of this manga «Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl» on the left. It is ironical that it will tell you more about the softness of Judo than the Judo matches in the Olympic Games. ☞On the right, it is a book on «The Hand Arts of Danzan-Ryu Jujutsu».

Tao Te Ching Chapter 61-1 Satori = Reality

Today's Tao

A big country is the lower reaches of the river. (Ch.61)


"A big country" here means "to be one with Tao".

"But, wait a minute! You said: 'A country' means one's hologram, didn't you?", you might want to ask me.

Yes, I did.

Being in the hologram is being one with Tao, or being in the state of Satori.

"What? It means that the hologram, the so-called reality, or the world in front of us is Satori, doesn't it?"

Yes, it does.

Living in this world is the Satori.

Many people say some teachings of Taoism and Zen Buddhism are contradictory and incomprehensible.

Why?

Because of this.

They don't want to accept that this very reality is the state of Satori.

It is not something you obtain after long painful hard work.

At "the lower reaches of " a river, which means your hologram, your life, or this world, you are one with Tao.


«Related Articles»
-Satori = Reality 61-1
-Intercourse 61-2
-Female of the world 61-3
-Female beats male 61-4
-By stillness 61-5
-Under small 61-6
-Under big 61-7
-By going down 61-8
-Gather and Raise 61-9
-Work on people 61-10
-Go down 61-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 61


Tao answers your question!



☞You never know. One day we might consider «Transformers» as national treasures of Japan. At least, the name of the company that invented the group of toy robots is a nice one. The Japanese word "Takara 宝" signifies "treasure". Now Takara corporation is consolidated with Tomy. The Japanese word "tomi 富" means "wealth". No one can deny the future possibility of the Transformers being as much cherished as «Japanese Treasures» like a  Netsuke, a carved ornament suspended from the sash of a kimono.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 45-7 Poor speech

Today's Tao

Big's speech seems poor. (Ch.45)


A: "Master Bonbon, why are you so serious all the time? "

B: "I am talking something sacred. I have to be serious. Otherwise, people will not believe it."


No, Master Bonbon, if you are talking about true Tao, people have to laugh at you.


Lao Tzu says in Chapter 40:

"When a low man hears about Tao, he laughs out loud.

If he doesn't laugh, it is not worth being Tao."

(Laughable Tao 40-3 and If not laughable 40-4, respectively)


When you talk about Tao, don't try to convince others because your speech must sound very poor.


«Related Articles»
-Completion 45-1
-Never tired 45-2
-Full = Empty 45-3
-No exhaustion 45-4
-Straight = Winging 45-5
-Capable = Incapable 45-6
-Poor speech 45-7
-Tozan Ryokai / Cold 45-8
-Heat 45-9
-Clear and Still 45-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 45


Tao answers your question!



☞Making a speech is not exactly part of Japanese tradition. The more you talk, the less important you are. Ishin denshin 以心伝心: by your heart you can transmit your heart, is our traditional way. You can watch the two good Japanese films in the post-Kurosawa era concerning the departure of one's beloved, and see how Japanese handle the situation with the minimum of speech. Silence is still golden in the modern Jipangu which Marco Polo thought was rich in gold.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-4 If not laughable

Today's Tao

If he doesn't laugh, it is not worth being Tao. (Ch.40)


Have you laughed out loud today?

Uh, uh, you have been serious, right?

If you are too serious, you may have to ask yourself whether you are talking about something true.

Lao Tzu says, "If they don't laugh at you, you are not talking about true Tao".

Please don't underestimate the power of laughter.

When the lowest and basest man laughs at you like a Japanese Kyogen actor, you should remember that water stays in a lower place because it is close to Tao.

Then, his nasty laughter may have another signification.

Ha, ha, ha, ha.

Laughter and truth go hand in hand.


«Related Articles»
-High samurai 40-1
-Samurai in doubt 40-2
-Laughable Tao 40-3
-If not laughable 40-4
-Chien yen? 40-5
-Evident = Vague 40-6
-Advance = Retreat 40-7
-Smooth = Tangled 40-8
-Highest attainment = Valley 40-9
-Lacking 40-10
-Lazy 40-11
-Changing 40-12
-White = Black 40-13
-Square without corners 40-14
-No completion 40-15
-No voice 40-16
-No form 40-17
-Hidden with no name 40-18
-Generosity 40-19
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 40
-Poor Speech 45-7


Tao answers your question!



-Go and visit Kokuritsu Nogakudo (National Noh Theatre). This is one of the must-see places in Tokyo. Normally Noh performances take place along with Kyogen, a traditional farce. You may have to fight against the temptation of falling asleeep during the Noh play. But, don't worry about Kyogen. It is fairly representational and not too difficult to understand what they are doing on the stage. Even if you don't comprehend it at all, just laugh out loud when the Japanese audience do.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-3 Laughable Tao

Today's Tao

When a low man hears about Tao, he laughs out loud. (Ch.40)


This is encouraging, isn't it?

Even more than 2500 years ago, people were not so innocent.

Certainly, when Lao Tzu talked about Tao, some of them laughed at him.

He called them "low". His little ego might have been hurt.

But, when people laugh at us, we know a better way to handle the situation, right?

We say "Thank you for laughing".

People laughing at you are your holograms testing if you truly believe in Tao. We can interpret it this way.

Or, as Lao Tzu will tell us in tomorrow's episode, if they don't laugh, you are not talking about true Tao.

Something or someone lower is much closer to Tao.

Truth must be funny.


«Related Articles»
-High samurai 40-1
-Samurai in doubt 40-2
-Laughable Tao 40-3
-If not laughable 40-4
-Chien yen? 40-5
-Evident = Vague 40-6
-Advance = Retreat 40-7
-Smooth = Tangled 40-8
-Highest attainment = Valley 40-9
-Lacking 40-10
-Lazy 40-11
-Changing 40-12
-White = Black 40-13
-Square without corners 40-14
-No completion 40-15
-No voice 40-16
-No form 40-17
-Hidden with no name 40-18
-Generosity 40-19
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 40
-Poor Speech 45-7


Tao answers your question!



-Don't underestimate them. Although this dog and that cat live in the world of cartoons, they can tell us about life. A laughable Tao is the true Tao. You still prefer serious analyses of Tao Te Ching? If so, Snoopy and Doraemon the gadget cat will laugh at you.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 39-16 High = Low

Today's Tao

The high make the low their basis. (Ch.39)


Lao Tzu says in Chapter 2:

"Highness and lowness need each other".

One should not tell something high from something low.

Don't judge.

They are both part of your hologram.

If you cannot help judging something and getting upset, what can you do?

Well, sometimes we cannot help it, can we?

Then, don't try to suppress your feelings. Don't try to blame yourself for being an imperfect Taoist.

Don't worry. Your feelings are part of your hologram. Just accept them with respect no matter how despicable or snobbish they are.

No judgement is the basis of Taoism, including no judgement on yourself.


«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
-No lowness 2-5


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.39 text / Next video


-Everything is floating. Why do we want our life to be secure? Uki-kusa, floating weeds, are our friends, or, to be precise, the metaphor of our own being. Film director Yasujiro Ozu tells us about a story of a traveling theatre company. They travel like water weeds. Young Ayako Wakao is simply too beautiful to miss.

Tao Te Ching Chapter 38-2 The lowest attainment

Today's Tao

The lowest attainment is trying not to lose attainment. That's why there is no attainment. (Ch.38)


A: "Oh, my god, Master Bonbon. I'm losing my Satori. What can I do?"

B: "Fight and control yourself. Stick to your Satori."


Master Bonbon, you must be joking.

Don't be obsessed with Satori.

This is the worst attitude.

If you try to do something in order to attain Satori, you will never get it.

Just remember that you are already in the state of Satori or enlightenment.

You are looking outside in order to get what you have already got.

You see? This is a mental short circuit.


«Related Articles»
-The highest attainment 38-1
-The lowest attainment 38-2
-No trace of act 38-3
-Mercy 38-4
-The highest righteousness 38-5
-Politeness 38-6
-Lost Tao 38-7
-Lost attainment 38-8
-Lost mercy 38-9
-Lost righteousness 38-10
-Disorder 38-11
-Foreknowledge 38-12
-Thick and Thin 38-13
-Tao's Flower 38-14
-Leave it 38-15
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 38


Tao answers your question!



Previous video / Ch.38 text / Next video


-A cat doesn't need Satori. This is a teaching of life. Life is surely prayers. Natsume Soseki's cat is complicated enough to look for Satori.

No lowness Video

Today's Tao

Highness and lowness need each other. [Ch.2]


If you feel unfamiliar with my own interpretation of holography, please see What's a Hologram?.

To read the text of Today's Tao, see No lowness.

These flags in the photo are offered for Yakushi Nyorai, one form of Buddha's transformations.


«Related Articles»
- No judgement
- Everything and nothing
- No easiness
- No shortness
- No lowness
- Intended or accidental
- Before and after
- No interference
- No explanation
- No possession
- Don't rely
- Don't stay
- Don't go away
- Tao by Matsumoto / Chapter2


Everyday a new entree!