Showing posts with label painted rice-cake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label painted rice-cake. Show all posts

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 80-7 Hunger & Food


Today's Tao

Make them appreciate the taste of their food. (Ch.80)


When one is hungry, he doesn't think about the Global Warming, not even banking crises.

His primary concern is how he can fill his stomach, we naturally think.

What is hunger?

What is the stomach, really?

Probably, you might not want to hear the answer, not to mention accept it.

Hunger and the stomach are part of the hologram you project.

Please remember the story of Jesus and the multiplied bread.


Zen Master Dogen gives us a clue to understand this biblical anecdote.

He writes:

"If it is not a painted rice-cake, it must not be a remedy to satisfy hunger."

画餅にあらざれば充飢の薬なし

(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)


It means that, since our stomach is part of the hologram, nothing but holographic food can fill up the holographic stomach. (☞See below for the list of the articles related to "Gabyo 画餅/ a painted rice-cake")

All the miracles have every right to take place because anything can be projected in your hologram.

Appreciate today's food because it is the miracle.


«The list of the articles related to "Gabyo / a painted rice-cake"» ⎯ Life = miracle = hologram = catalyst
-Painted rice-cake / Empty granary 53-5
-Miracle Attainment 65-7
-Don't waste holograms 67-7
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4


«Other Related Articles»
-Small country 80-1
-"110 vessels" 80-2
-Don't travel 80-3
-Boats and Cars 80-4
-Armor and Arms 80-5
-Tie the rope 80-6
-Hunger and Food 80-7
-Face transmission / Menju / Beauty 80-8
-Out-Tao (Heresy) Seniya / Gedo Senni / Settled 80-9
-Enjoy your customs 80-10
-Neighbors 80-11
-Moonlight and Dewdrops / Dogs and Roosters 80-12
-Life without intervention 80-13
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 80


Lao Tzu answers your question!



«Recommended Books 4» You might have read them when you were younger. You might have been impressed. Then, you might have forgotten them. Later, you might have tried not to mention the names of the books because you had read some criticism ridiculing them. Nevertheless, the names of some old books deserve to be mentioned. For there are always new comers to the field: Some young ones who were not even born when the books were published, or some less young ones who were not able to read the books because their English was not good enough at that time and the translations in their mother tongue were not available. Lao Tzu says that, when you talk about Tao, people have to laugh at you. Here, «Tao by Matsumoto» proudly recommends Gary Zukav's «Dancing Wu Li Masters» and Fritjof Capra's «The Tao of Physics». They are worth re-reading, too.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 75-4 Value life?


Today's Tao

Surely, those who do nothing by living are better than those who value life. (Ch.75)


You respect your life as a painted rice-cake, that is to say, a hologram and catalyst.

Perfect!


You value your life a little.

All right.


You value your life a lot and try to achieve the maximum in there.

Lao Tzu might say: "Oh, my god! Surely, you have got a problem".


If you try to control your life, you will certainly be stuck in there.

No act in Life is better than doing nothing.

That's what Lao Tzu is saying.

Besides, we have to learn that, no matter what we do, we are doing nothing in our hologram, which we call Life.

Remember?

No matter what we do, we are sending Love.

Likewise, no matter what they do, they are sending Love to you.

All right?


«Related Articles»
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 75


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (18) / "Part 1 Taoism and Zen: The Historical Connections". On the left, «The Tao of Zen» written by Ray Grigg. / On the right, «Tao Te Ching: Zen Teachings on the Taoist Classic» written by Tao Tzu and Takuan Soho. The Zen master in the Samurai period, Takuan, is one of the best known historical personalities in modern Japan. Nevertheless, don't say "Give me Takuan, please." if you want to buy a book written by the master. You might end up with buying a yellow pickled radish. The master's name is better known in Japan for his gastronomic invention than for his Zen philosophy.

Friday, May 27, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 75-3 Plenty of life?


Today's Tao

People think lightly of ending life because they demand plenty of life. That's why they think lightly of ending life. (Ch.75)


Life is just a hologram. It is just a painted rice-cake.

It exists as a catalyst to stimulate you to emit more Love (=Tao).

To satisfy your hunger for life, all you can do is to send more Love.

Or rather, we have to learn that, whatever we do, we are always sending Love.


That's why Tozan Ryokai 洞山良价 [Tung-shan Liang-chieh / Dongshan Liangjie] said:

"I am always doing this desperately."

(聯燈會要 [rento eyo] Book 20 / Dogen quoted this in his «Shobogenzo» as shown yesterday)


If everyone is sending Love, "No one can ever do anything evil. Everyone is doing the right thing", right?

"A painted rice-cake / Gabyo 画餅", a hologram, or life is a catalyst.

It is you who satisfy your hunger by sending Love.

Whether you still want a life of plenty or plenty of life, your life is asking you to do the same thing.

Send Love.

Respect your life, or your sweet piece of painted rice-cake.


«Related Articles»
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 75


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (17) / "Taoism is the original meditation, religion and philosophy of the Chinese." On the left, «TAO of Letting Go: Meditation for Modern Living» written by Bruce Frantzis. / "If you want to be rich, stop chasing after the things of the world. Go inside. What you will find will stop you dead and you will want no more." On the right, «The Tao of Contemplation: Re-Sourcing the Inner Life» written by Jasmin Lee Cori. / Life is the best meditation of all. If we are always living this life desperately like Tozan Ryokai, do we really need a cushion for meditation? Nevertheless, of course, Tao does not exclude meditation if you wish.


See you next Monday. Have a nice weekend.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 75-2 King & Zen Master Dogen


Today's Tao

It's difficult to govern people because their king does something. That's why it's difficult to govern them. (Ch.75)


Zen Master Kyogen Chikan 香厳智閑 [Hsing-yen Chih-hsien / Xiangyan Zhixian] said:

"a painted rice-cake cannot satisfy hunger."


Of course, not. We cannot eat the picture of a rice-cake... Wait a minute!


Master Dogen said:

"If it is not a painted rice-cake, it must not be a remedy to satisfy hunger."

(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)

Didn't he? (☞See Painted rice-cake / Empty granary 53-5)


Can a painted rice-cake satisfy hunger?

Or, can it not?


Dogen answers the question with some key phrases in Zen.

"A painted rice-cake cannot satisfy hunger" is like saying:

"No one can ever do anything evil. Everyone is doing the right thing. (Don't do anything evil. Practice all the good things.) 諸悪莫作、衆善奉行 [shoaku makusa, shuzen bugyo]",

"Where on earth did this «what on earth» thing come from? 是什麼物恁麼来 [ze inmo butsu inmo rai]",

and

"I am always doing this desperately. 吾れ常に是に於いて切なり [ware tsuneni koreni oite setsu nari]".

(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)


Did you get Master Dogen's teachings?

You are the king in your hologram.

If you do something, everything is difficult.

If you do nothing, everything is easy.


[Note]
"I am always doing this desperately." 吾れ常に是に於いて切なり / 吾常於此切 [ware tsuneni koreni oite setsu nari], originally mentioned by Tozan Ryokai (807-869) 洞山良价 [Tung-shan Liang-chieh / Dongshan Liangjie].


«Related Articles»
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 75


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (16) / "I have often been described as outgoing, aggressive, impulsive, intimidating, gregarious, courageous, and daring." On the left, «The Tao of Tango» written by Johanna Siegmann. / "'What have you got?' The old man asked me around his cigar. 'A banjo' I replied." On the right, «The How and the Tao of Old Time Banjo» written by Patrick Costello. / "C'mon. Tao has nothing to do with Tango or Banjo!", you might say. But, wait a minute. Remember? Tao is everywhere, even around the banjo or the legs of your Tango partner.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 75-1 Tax & Starve


Today's Tao

People starve because their king taxes them too much. That's why they starve. (Ch.75)


A: "Right on, Lao Tzu! People are starving because the king taxes us too much! You, too, Master Bonbon. You are asking us too much money. We've got no money left! We've got no bread to eat!"

B: "Don't ask a religious organization to feed you. You, people, are the ones who feed us. Besides, if you don't have bread, eat pancakes or French brioche."


Neither pancakes nor brioche will satisfy their hunger.


Zen Master Dogen would give them the pictures of «a painted rice-cake / Gabyo 画餅».

"If it is not a painted rice-cake, it must not be a remedy to satisfy hunger."

(Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)


That is to say, if it is not a hologram, it cannot be a catalyst to stimulate you.

It is just asking you to send more Love.

So are taxes and starvation.


«Related Articles»
-Tax and Starve 75-1
-King and Zen Master Dogen 75-2
-Plenty of life? 75-3
-Value life? 75-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 75


Tao answers your question!



☞«Tao of ****» The first line comparison (15) / "Today, we may be standing the most important crossroads of the history of humanity, and indeed of the Earth itself." On the left, «The Tao of Liberation: Exploring the Ecology of Transformation (Ecology and Justice)» written by Mark Hathaway and Leonardo Boff. The book is introduced by Fritjof Capra, who is the author of good ol' «The Tao of Physics: An exploration of the Parallels between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism» on the right. / Forget about the academics' criticism against this odd old soldier in physics. The book is worth reading again. It was available even in Japanese.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 67-7 Don't waste holograms


Today's Tao

The second one is not to waste any. (Ch.67)


The second treasure is "not to waste" any in your hologram.

Don't waste any because everything is the manifestation of Tao.

It is a catalyst asking you to emit more Tao (=Love).

Accept all with gratitude whether they are good or bad, and you will not waste any.

For example, chew everything well.

You are eating someone else's life whether it is an animal or a plant.

Assimilate its energy into your body with respect.

Not only food but everything is Master Dogen's "painted rice-cake / Gabyo 画餅", which stimulates you to fill Tao's mechanism with the energy of Love (=Tao).


«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!



☞The word "rice-cake" is misleading. It is used to express both the cake made of rice and the traditional Japanese Mochi rice cake. These are Japanese Mochi. The ones on the left are non-sweetened authentic cake for festivities. On the right, they are modern sweets invented relatively recently.

Monday, March 7, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 65-7 Miracle Attainment


Today's Tao

Dark Depth Attainment is deep and far! (Ch.65)


Dark Depth Attainment is everyday life.

It is nothing magical.

That's exactly why it is deep and far.

Dark Depth, which is Tao, reaches the deepest bottom, the farthest place, and everywhere.

Every moment of life is a miracle.

Your hologram is the miracle.


Zen Master Dogen would say:

"If it is not a painted rice-cake, you cannot eat it."

(☞See Painted rice-cake / Empty granary 53-5 A painted rice-cake: 画餅 [gabyo / gabei])


If it is not a miracle, we cannot eat it.

Eating food is a miracle.

Going to the bathroom is a miracle.

Your body is a hologram and miracle.

It is the closest manifestation of Buddha's love.

That's why Dogen insists on keeping our bodies clean. (Senjo 洗浄 and Senmen 洗面, «Shobogenzo»)


«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!



☞Masaru Emoto is an advocated of water's healing power. Water is a miracle, of course, because everything in our life is a miracle. Everything is projected in our hologram. Certainly, all the miracles are projected in our mind. If you need a particular help from water's memory, don't ignore Emoto's works.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 53-5 Painted rice-cake / Empty granary


Today's Tao

The granary is totally empty. (Ch.53)


Don't judge anyone even if some people are starving.


A Zen master (香厳智閑 [Kyogen Chikan / Hsing-yen Chih-hsien / Xiangyan Zhixian]) said:

"A painted rice-cake does not satisfy hunger."


On the other hand, Master Dogen concludes the chapter of Gabyo 画餅 / a painted rice-cake in Shobogenzo 正法眼蔵, saying:

"If it is not a painted rice-cake, it must not be a remedy to satisfy hunger."


Hunger and a painted rice-cake are part of your hologram.

They exist to stimulate you to emit more fundamental energy (=Tao, =Love).

Just thank the empty granary.


«Related Articles»
-No intelligence 53-1
-Flat Tao 53-2
-Clean court 53-3
-Wild field 53-4
-Painted rice cake / Empty granary 53-5
-Too much money 53-6
-Thief's luxury 53-7
-Hologram is not Tao 53-8
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 53


Tao answers your question!



☞The battle of Sekigahara / Sekigahara no Tatakai was the last of the big battles before the arrival of 230 years' peace in Japan. It took place in 1600. Miyamoto Musashi, an artist and samurai, is supposed to have written «The Book of Five Rings / Gorin no Sho» about 1645. Ihara Saikaku, a playwrite and son of a wealthy merchant, wrote «Five Women Who Loved Love / Koshoku Gonin Onna» in 1685. It took half a century for the Japanese to think that the art of battle is more important than real battles. It took another half century to think that the art of loving is more important that of battle.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Tao Te Ching Chapter 15-12 Restructured World


Today's Tao

Who can move it and gradually have it give birth while it is at rest? (Ch.15)


Tao gives birth to all, and no one can force it to do so.

You cannot touch Tao.

But you can touch things in your hologram projected in the "head".

Our brains need a restructured world (=a hologram) to comprehend what we are seeing and doing.

In other words, you can touch only illusions.


Dogen says:

If it is not a picture of cake, it cannot fill a hungry man's stomach. [it is not a medicine to satisfy hunger.] (Gabyo 画餅, «Shobogenzo»)


Naoto Matsumoto says:

Only holographic cake can fill the holographic stomach of a hungry man.


«Related Articles»
-Dark Depth 15-1
-How profound! 15-2
-Mr I-know-Tao? 15-3
-Take time 15-4
-Hesitant 15-5
-Solemn 15-6
-Disintegrating 15-7
-Thick 15-8
-Empty 15-9
-Muddy water 15-10
-Muddy but clear 15-11
-Restructured World 15-12
-Break your mirror 15-13
-Break your face 15-14
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 15
-How do I know? 57-4


Tao answers your question!



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