Showing posts with label good. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 81-2 Good one


Today's Tao

A good one doesn't talk. One who talks is not good. (Ch.81)


The good one is Tao.

Tao doesn't talk because conversations only take place in a hologram.

Tao is not a hologram.

A hologram is a manifestation of Tao.

What is "good", and what is "evil"?

Jodo / Pure Land Buddhists Honen 法然 and Shinran 親鸞 told us «The Doctrine of Evil Persons as the Object of Salvation / Akunin shoki setsu 悪人正機説».

In Buddhism, Shoki 正機 signifies "the people qualified for salvation".

Sho 正, like the Sho of «Shobogenzo 正法眼蔵», means "authentic".

This Ki 機 here is not the same as Ki 気 of energy.

This Ki 機 means "a mechanism".

The two masters were telling us:

"Evil people are part of the authentic mechanism".

This mechanism is Shin 心, the Tao/hologram mechanism that stimulates us to emit more Love (=Tao).

There is neither good nor evil in Tao.

As Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishida explains in his «A Study of Good», being good is learning that true You are Tao. (☞See No favoritism 79-4)

You don't need to judge any.


«Related Articles»
-Beautiful words 81-1
-Good one 81-2
-Not knowledgeable 81-3
-Accumulate not 81-4
-Act of others 81-5
-Richer detachment 81-6
-Tao in Heaven 81-7
-Sage's Tao 81-8
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 81
-Non-good 49-4
-Goodness 49-5


Lao Tzu answers your question!



«Recommended Books 12» Kitaro Nishida and Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki were good friends. They were friends from high school. They met each other at Ishikawa-ken Senmon Gakko. The school later changed its name to Dai 4 Koto Gakko, which literally means "the forth high school". It was one of the most prestige high schools in Japan before WW2. The school was closed in 1950. Its tradition was spiritually inherited by Kanazawa University. Nishida was part of the founding members of Koa Kogyo University, now called Chiba Institute of Technology. «An Inquiry into the good» on the left is the same book as «A Study of Good». The book shines as the beacon of modern Japanese philosophy. Kitaro Nishida was an excellent thinker and black sheep where many people say "A good one doesn't 'think'. One who 'thinks' is not good".

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 79-4 No favoritism


Today's Tao

Heaven's Tao has no favoritism. It is always on the side of a good person. (Ch.79)


"Heaven" means your hologram as the word "sky" does.

So, Heaven's Tao signifies Tao's energy inside all the beings in the hologram.

In other words, it is Hossho 法性, the nature of manifestation. (☞See Hossho stays low 76-9)

Tao does not judge.

It seems that the limited capacity of human beings judge.

Tao's energy inside your hologram has no favoritism.

There is neither good nor bad in Tao.

Then, what does "a good person" mean?

"A good person" means you.

True You are Tao.

Therefore, only you can sustain the Tao/hologram mechanism, Shin 心.


Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishida 西田幾多郎 (1870 - 1945) says:

"Practically speaking, we have only one true Good, which is to find out the true Self. That's all."

(translated by Naoto Matsumoto; Book III, Chapter 13, The Perfect Good Action, «A Study of the Good 善の研究» ☞See A study of the Good 49-3 and Goodness 49-5)


[Note]
What is the true Self?
"It is the true body of the cosmos", Nishida answers. (Ditto)
The true body of the cosmos is the Tao/hologram mechanism, Shin 心.


«Related Articles»
-Remaining grudge 79-1
-Good grudge 79-2
-Contract without payment 79-3
-No favoritism 79-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 79


Lao Tzu answers your question!



☞«An Inquiry into the Good» and «A Study of the Good» are the same book. Kitaro Nishida 西田幾多郎 first wrote this book in order to teach his high school students. The Japanese title is «Zen no Kenkyu 善の研究». Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki 鈴木大拙, the author of many important books on Zen in English, was Nishida's close friend. They met each other at a high school in Kanazawa, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan. High school education is no longer available exclusively for the elite these days while its level is not so academically "high" as the name declares.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 79-2 Good grudge


Today's Tao

How can you call it good? (Ch.79)


You have successfully suppressed your "big grudge".

You are happy about the power of your will.

Then, you notice that a tiny "remaining grudge" is creeping into your heart.

"How can you call it good?"

Lao Tzu describes the situation with a rhetorical question.

He is saying that, if you are bothered because of the fact that you are not able to erase your "remaining grudge", it is not good.

Since your own self does not belong to you, your own feelings do not belong to you, either.

Your grudge is like the clouds in the sky.

The best attitude to face any bitter feelings like a grudge is to accept them while saying:

"Welcome, my grudge. Enjoy staying with me."


«Related Articles»
-Remaining grudge 79-1
-Good grudge 79-2
-Contract without payment 79-3
-No favoritism 79-4
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 79


Lao Tzu answers your question!



☞«Tao Te Ching» Key word comparison (30) / - Dark Depth Female [genpi / xuan pin / hsuan pin] 玄牝 - 玄 [gen / xuan / hsuan] means Dark Depth. 牝 [pi (hin) / pin], Female. This is one of the most important words in Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching. Mr Michael P. Garofalo has done an excellent research and comparison of the various translations. (http://www.egreenway.com/qigong/vstccs2.htm) Thanks to him, we can see easily how they translate 谷神不死, 是謂玄牝 in Chapter 6 / Valley God. / "The valley spirit never dies; It is the woman, primal mother." On the left, «Tao Te Ching, 25th-Anniversary Edition (English and Mandarin Chinese Edition)» translated by Jane English and Gia-Fu Feng. / "The spirit of emptiness is immortal. It is called the Great Mother" On the right, «Tao Te Ching: Book of the Way» translated by J. H. McDonald.

Monday, July 11, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 78-8 State filth


Today's Tao

That's why the sage says, "Those who accept the filth of the country are called the master of the state. (Ch.78)


"We used to have great statesmen, but look who we have now. We have only politicians, filthy politicians!"

Do you feel like saying this kind of remarks once in a while?

If so, please ask yourself two questions.

First, what is a state?

A state is just a backdrop of your hologram.

It is smaller than a TV set. (☞See Country 54-7 and Small = Big 63-4)

Second, what is being filthy?

You mean "being evil"?

There is neither good nor evil in Tao.

Please think about Honen and Shinran's «The Doctrine of Evil persons as the Object of Salvation / Akunin shoki sets 悪人正機説». (☞See Akunin shoki sets / Feel safe 62-3)

In Today's Tao sentence, Lao Tzu wanted to tell us:

"Accept even the 'filth' of your hologram, and you will remember that you are the 'master' and creator of your hologram".


«Related Articles»
-Water summary 78-1
-Water's attack 78-2
-No change 78-3
-Be weak 78-4
-Be soft 78-5
-Everyone = You 78-6
-No one acts 78-7
-State filth 78-8
-Bad omens 78-9
-Contradiction 78-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 78


Lao Tzu answers your problem!



-Honen 法然 (1133 - 1212), a Japanese Buddhist priest, is the founder of Jodo shu 浄土宗 "The Pure Land School". On the left, «The Promise of Amida Buddha: Honen's Path to Bliss» translated by Joji Atone. On the right, «Honen The Buddhist Saint: Essential Writings and Official Biography (Spiritual Masters: East and West)» edited by Joseph A. Fitzgerald with a foreword by Clark Strand and an introduction by Alfred Bloom. / -Shinran 親鸞 (1173 - 1263), a Japanese Buddhist monk, is the founder of Jodo Shinshu 浄土真宗 "True Pure Land School" and was a pupil of Honen. «The Essential Shinran: A Buddhist Path of True Entrusting» was edited by Alfred Bloom. With a foreword by Ruben Havito.

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.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 67-4 3 treasures


Today's Tao

I have got three treasures. (Ch.67)


To be one with Tao, or to remember that true You are Tao, you have got three useful ways.


1. Send Love.

2. Don't waste any.

3. Don't try to be the first. / Try not to be the first.


First, you receive and send Love, which is the fundamental energy Tao.

Second, you should respect all the elements in your hologram.

All of them, the seemingly good and the seemingly bad alike, exist to stimulate you as catalysts.

So, don't waste them.

Third, you don't need to try to be "the first" because you are "the only respectable being". (☞See Ordinary? 67-3)

These three ways will be discussed one by one later.


«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!



☞Jizo (Ksitigarbha) has an important role in Japan's everyday life. For example, this Japanese "Enka (country)" singer Koji Fukushima sings «Furusato Jizo / Jizo in my home village». "I wanna go home. I miss my Jizo."

Friday, March 4, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 65-4 Not by intelligence


Today's Tao

Not governing a country by intelligence does it good. (Ch.65)


"Be stupid!"

"Don't be intelligent!"

That's what Lao Tzu is saying.

If you prefer less vulgar expressions, you can say:

"Be like dust." (☞See Kanshiketsu / Like dust 56-7)

and

"Be like water". (☞See Tao Te Ching Chapter 8 Be like water)

Without intelligence, or without material wealth, it is easier to regard the world as a catalyst.

While someone is praising you by saying "you are intelligent" or if your own self is convinced that you are smarter than others, it is difficult to accept that the Self does not belong to you personally.

That's why intelligence is a hindrance.

Intelligence doesn't exist.

It is an interpretation of some information.

Neither does your own self.

It is a name for a "small" part of your hologram.


«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!



☞I don't know if it is the same with you. But when a Japanese person hear the expressions like "Kita e iku 北へ行く/ going for the north" and "Kita no kuni 北の国 / a northern country", they provoke a particular emotion in him. Surely the northern parts of Japan have never been like Tokyo or Kyoto, but exactly because of this the act of going or living there has a special signification to the person. It is like a surfer going to the Southern Pacific on the hunt for big waves. If you are a novelist from the north, you are an heir of a rich oral tradition.You deserve some respect as a surfer from Hawaii or Tahiti does. Saigyo was a 12th-century poet / Buddhist monk, probably born in the Kyoto area, and traveled the north of Japan twice. Osamu Dazai, the author of this modern classic «No Longer Human / Ningen Shikkaku», was born in the northern tip of Japan's main island, Honshu, and became a successful novelist and ladies' man in Tokyo.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 62-6 Don't abandon


Today's Tao

How can you abandon someone because he is no good. (Ch.62)


A: "Master Bonbon, I am sorry. I cannot contribute donation this month. It's horrible. Stock prices don't go up. You don't abandon me, do you?"

B: "I am afraid I have to abandon you. Love lasts as long as money endures."


Don't worry.

Nobody can abandon you, nor can you abandon anyone.

Though someone seems to have abandoned you at the level of your hologram, he didn't in reality.

Because he is an extended part of your own self.

The extended part of your own self, or yourself beyond your control, is called 他己 [tako] in Zen Buddhism.

This 他己 [tako] and 自己 [jiko], yourself under your control, are part of the same hologram. (☞See also Tao by Matsumoto / Chapter 7 / No self)

Therefore, it is useless to judge.

Therefore, there is neither "good" nor "no good".


«Related Articles»
-Hidden Tao 62-1
-Treasure 62-2
-Akunin shoki setsu / Feel safe 62-3
-Adorned words 62-4
-Adorned acts 62-5
-Don't abandon 62-6
-An emperor enthroned 62-7
-Why Taoism? 62-8
-Guilty? 62-9
-Highly appreciated 62-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 62


Tao answers your question!



☞Jiko / yourself under your control and Tako / yourself beyond your control are useful concepts used in Zen Buddhism. You can find these expressions in Genjo Koan Chapter of Dogen's «Shobogenzo», for example. If you find it too absurd, it might be worth checking Kitaro Nishida's «An Inquiry into Good». Although Nishida was a close friend of Daisetz Suzuki, he was rather a philosopher than a Zen priest. Nishida is another bridge between the East and the West. In the book, Part II Chapter 10 The Sole Reality and Part III Chapter 27 Perfect Good Conduct are interesting and helpful as preparatory reading material.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 62-3 Akunin shoki setsu / Feel safe


Today's Tao

It's the place where not so good people feel safe. (Ch.62)


Tao is the place where everyone feels safe, even a not-so-good person.

Why?


Shinran 親鸞 answered:

「善人なおもて往生をとぐ、いはんや悪人をや」

[zennin naomote ojo o togu, iwan-ya akunin o ya]

"Even good people will become Buddha, not to mention evil people".

(«Tannisho 歎異抄», Chapter 3)


This summarizes the idea of Shinran and Honen's Akunin shoki setsu 悪人正機説: the Doctrine of Evil Persons as the Object of Salvation.

It sounds like bad people have a better chance of salvation, doesn't it?

Some people have thought so.

But, please remember there is neither good nor evil in Tao.

Don't impose judgment on Tao.

Besides, salvation is "right here right now".

True You are Tao, so you are the one who saves all by sustaining the circulation of Tao's energy.


«Related Articles»
-Hidden Tao 62-1
-Treasure 62-2
-Akunin shoki setsu / Feel safe 62-3
-Adorned words 62-4
-Adorned acts 62-5
-Don't abandon 62-6
-An emperor enthroned 62-7
-Why Taoism? 62-8
-Guilty? 62-9
-Highly appreciated 62-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 62
-State filth 78-8 That's why the sage says, "Those who accept the filth of the country are called the master of the state". «Akunin shoki setsu 悪人正機説: the Doctrine of Evil Persons as the Object of Salvation» is also discussed here.

-Shinran@wiki
-Honen@wiki


Tao answers your question!



☞Let's review Dogen and Shinran roughly and vulgarly.
✒Japanese Soto Zen Buddhism - Dogen - «Shobogenzo» - Jiriki / Self-power.
✒Jodo Shin Buddhism - Shinran - «Tannisho» by Yuien - Tariki / Other-power.
☞You can find Shinran's Akunin shoki setzu in «Tannisho», which is not so abstract as Dogen's «Shobogenzo». If you still need some modern help, Hiroyuki Itsuki's «Tariki» will be handy.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 62-2 Treasure


Today's Tao

It's the treasure of good people. (Ch.62)


Very often I quote Zen Master Dogen's «Shobogenzo 正法眼蔵».

"Shobo 正法" means authentic manifestation (=right teachings); "gen 眼", an eye; "zo 蔵", a storage.

This eye storage should be interpreted as a hologram.

Then, what kind of treasure do we store in the hologram, which is the world in front of you.

Of course, it is Tao (=Love, =Zen, =Buddha).

If you believe it, your belief is Tao's manifestation.

If you doubt it, your doubt is Tao's manifestation, too.

Don't worry.


«Related Articles»
-Hidden Tao 62-1
-Treasure 62-2
-Akunin shoki setsu / Feel safe 62-3
-Adorned words 62-4
-Adorned acts 62-5
-Don't abandon 62-6
-An emperor enthroned 62-7
-Why Taoism? 62-8
-Guilty? 62-9
-Highly appreciated 62-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 62


Tao answers your question!



☞What makes Master Dogen so different from other Japanese Buddhists? Among other extraordinary capacities, his ability in speaking and understanding Chinese is worth mentioning. That's why I ask you to read «Shobogenzo» in Japanese. He often quotes a Chinese text and uses its syntax to make the meaning clear. How can you express this bilingual style in one Indo-European language? Nevertheless, I am aware that I am asking you too much. I cannot ask you to learn Japanese first before you set off for your adventure in the world of Zen Buddhism. So, please take Dogen's writing style into account when you choose an English translation. If it is too clear and flawless, think twice before you take it to the checkout counter.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Tao Te Ching Chapter 62-1 Hidden Tao


Today's Tao

Something called Tao is hidden at the bottom of everything. (Ch.62)


Everything is your hologram, that is to say, an illusion.

Having said that, this does not mean at all that the hologram is ignorable.

On the contrary, it has to be cherished.

Everything in your world, which is your hologram, contains the fundamental energy Tao.

Whether it is qualified as good or bad, at the very bottom of anything, Tao hides itself, waiting to be received.

Be nice to Tao.

Be nice to the world in front of you.

Be nice to your own self.


«Related Articles»
-Hidden Tao 62-1
-Treasure 62-2
-Akunin shoki setsu / Feel safe 62-3
-Adorned words 62-4
-Adorned acts 62-5
-Don't abandon 62-6
-An emperor enthroned 62-7
-Why Taoism? 62-8
-Guilty? 62-9
-Highly appreciated 62-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 62


Tao answers your question!



☞While Genshin and Honen worshipped the pictures and statues of Amida, the objects of Shinran's worship were written characters. There were three sets: 南無阿弥陀仏 [namu amida butsu], 南無不可思議光如来 [namu fukashigi ko nyurai], 帰命尽十方無碍光如来 [kimei jinjippokai muge ko nyorai]. The last of the three contains the word "muge 無碍 ko 光", which means "Infinite light", "undisturbed light", and "the light that lights up everything". Rennyo is the second founder of Jodo Shin shu / Pure Land Shin school. Daisetz Suzuki was not only a Zen specialist, but wrote about Shin Buddhism and Amida Butsu / Amitabha Buddha.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 58-6 Criterion?


Today's Tao

There is no criterion? (Ch.58)


If you don't judge, you don't need any criterion.

Or, you are the criterion because you are the one who projects your hologram.


Zen Master Dogen says:

"Good and evil, cause and result will make you create Buddha."

(Shoakumakusa 諸悪莫作, «Shobogenzo»)

「善悪因果をして修行せしむ」


Good, evil, cause, and result;

everything takes place in your hologram.

And the hologram is there to stimulate you to emit more love.

Do you still get enormous pleasure when you impose your criterion upon others?


«Related Articles»
-Dark Government 58-1
-Brilliant government 58-2
-Fortune = Misfortune 58-3
-Misfortune = Fortune 58-4
-Eternal cycle 58-5
-Criterion? 58-6
-Odd criterion 58-7
-Spooky 58-8
-Confused about time? 58-9
-Don't tear it! 58-10
-Kyoka (crazy song) hurts 58-11
-Straight = Bent 58-12
-Amida (Amitābha) shines 58-13
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 58


Tao answers your question!



☞Sen no Rikyu 千利休 did not invent Tea Ceremony, but profoundly reinvented this practice. We have various ways to call this art of living: «Cha do / Sa do», Tao of tea; «Cha no yu», the boiling water of tea; «Wabi Cha», Tea of wabi, the word "wabi" defies the translation, but it literally means "loneliness in nature". Attention! The three expressions here do not necessarily indicate the identical Tea Ceremony.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 49-5 Goodness


Today's Tao

I attain goodness. (Ch.49)


What is goodness?


Let's ask again the author of "A Study of the Good", Kitaro Nishida.

He answers:

"It is to find out the true Self".

Don't we ask him how, do we?

His answer is:

"By eliminating your false self."

In Christianity, it is called reincarnation.

In Buddhism, it is called Kensho 見性, seeing into one's nature, says Nishida.


How can we eliminate our false self?

Simple.

You do nothing.

Because you don't have the false self from the beginning.

It is just part of your hologram.


«Related Articles»
-No heart 49-1
-People's heart 49-2
-A study of the Good 49-3
-Non-good 49-4
-Goodness 49-5
-Tariki / faithful 49-6
-Not faithful 49-7
-Faith 49-8
-Have no heart 49-9
-Inmo and No mind 49-10
-Close ears and eyes 49-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 49


Tao answers your question!



☞A quotation from Kitaro Nichida's «An Inquiry into the Good / A Study of the Good»: "According to Aurelius Augustinus (St. Augustine), something bad does not exist in the world, and the nature which God created is all good, but the lack of the true nature is bad." (Book III, Chapter XIII, A perfectly good deed)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 49-4 Non-good


Today's Tao

I think something not good is good, too. (Ch.49)


Good is good.

Non-good is good, too. That is to say, evil is good, too.


Shinran said:

"Even good people will become Buddha, not to mention evil people".

(«Tannisho», Chapter 3)

「善人なおもて往生をとぐ、いはんや悪人をや」

This is Akunin shoki setsu (The Doctrine of Evil Persons as the Object of Salvation / becoming Buddha).


Dogen wrote:

"It is not that something evil does not exist. Just do nothing. It is not that something evil exists. Just do nothing."

(Shoakumakusa 諸悪莫作, «Shobogenzo»)

「諸悪なきにあらず、莫作なるのみなり。諸悪あるにあらず、莫作なるのみなり」


To Lao Tzu it was much clearer.

If you don't judge, there is neither good nor evil.


«Related Articles»
-No heart 49-1
-People's heart 49-2
-A study of the Good 49-3
-Non-good 49-4
-Goodness 49-5
-Tariki / faithful 49-6
-Not faithful 49-7
-Faith 49-8
-Have no heart 49-9
-Inmo and No mind 49-10
-Close ears and eyes 49-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 49
-No good man 27-9
-No bad man 27-10
-Lost completely 27-11
-No arrogance 30-8


Tao answers your question



☞Don't do any extra effort. Just thank everything for taking place. Instead of helping yourself by effort, let Tariki / Other Power help you. Tannisho is supposed to have written in the thirteenth century by Yuien, a disciple of Shinran, who himself was Honen's. Honen is the founder of Japanese Pure Land school Buddhism / Jodo shu Buddhism. Shinran is the founder of Jodo Shin shu (the true school of Pure Land) Buddhism. Shinran is contemporary to Dogen, the founder of Japanese Soto shu Zen Buddhism.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 49-3 A Study of the Good


Today's Tao

I think something good is good. (Ch.49)


What is the good?

Let's ask a good friend, a high school mate of the well-know Zen scholar Daisetz Suzuki.

He is Japanese philosopher Kitaro Nishida, the author of «A Study of the Good».

He says:

"We have only one true good, which is to find out the true Self."

(Book III Chapter 13, «A Study of the Good»)


Watch out.

Nishida is not talking about a self that comes and goes.

He is talking about the true You.

The readers of Today's Tao surely know what it is.


Kitaro Nishida@wiki


«Related Articles»
-No heart 49-1
-People's heart 49-2
-A study of the Good 49-3
-Non-good 49-4
-Goodness 49-5
-Tariki / faithful 49-6
-Not faithful 49-7
-Faith 49-8
-Have no heart 49-9
-Inmo and No mind 49-10
-Close ears and eyes 49-11
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 49


Tao answers your question!



☞«A Study of the Good» and «An Inquiry into the Good» are the same book. They are the translation of «Zen no Kenkyu» originally written in Japanese by Kitaro Nishida. Kitaro Nishida might probably be the only Japanese philosopher whose works are fairly available in other languages than Japanese. He was a classmate of Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki at a high school in Kanazawa, Japan. The dynamic duo's contribution to the English-speaking Zen community is immeasurable. When you get confused with an oriental philosophy, ask Kitaro or Daisetz.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 42-6 No good


Today's Tao

What people don't like are surely "orphan", "less virtue", and "no good". And kings and lords use them to call themselves. (Ch.42)


"What? Lao Tzu says everything is in harmony? Look! Open your eyes and see what is happening in this world! It's horrible! Is it in harmony? Lao Tzu must be kidding."

Who has to open his eyes?

Look around you.

Not what is going on on TV.

Then, stop judging.

"Kings and lords" here mean you, the master who projects your hologram, which is the world.

Be humble.

You don't have to impose a short-sighted and one-sided virtue on "your" perfectly harmonious world.


«Related Articles»
-One's birth 42-1
-Two's birth 42-2
-Three's birth 42-3
-Birth of everything 42-4
-Yin =Yang 42-5
-No good 42-6
-Lose = Gain 42-7
-Chuang Tzu's teachings 42-8
-Father of Teachings 1 42-9
-Father of Teachings 2 42-10
-Tao by Matsumoto / Tao Te Ching / Chapter 42


Tao answers your question!



-Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you honestly: "Tokyo is not Japan". Not to mention Akihabara, a Mecca of Manga comics and Otaku culture. Some ethnologists imply that Japan has had a parallel civilization hidden in the deep forests. Whether the theory is true or not, if you have lived in the countryside of Japan for a while, you may have to admit the presence of forests in the archipelago is not ignorable. You share local superstitions of ghosts and spirits living in the forest, with inhabitants of the land of robots. If you don't have a chance to live there, I recommend you these two books. Excellent artistic works with plenty of mythical tales. I am glad that they have been translated in English.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 40-8 Smooth = Tangled


Today's Tao

Smooth Tao seems tangled. (Ch.40)


Something that seems to be smooth and simple is, in fact, more uneven and tangled.

Our ecosystem is a good example.

We, insolent human beings, think we know all.

Then, we touch Nature and destroy it, and don't know what to do afterwards.

We need a modern Lao Tzu right now to stop us from making stupid mistakes.

Luckily, we have one. He is late Masanobu Fukuoka.

He teaches us an agriculture of doing nothing.

Don't worry. Something seemingly tangled is in fact simple, too.


«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


Tao answers your question!



-"We've gotta do something to change the world!" Wrong, absolutely wrong! We have to do nothing to change the world. Late Masanobu Fukuoka, an agriculturist and botanist, has transformed deserts into green fields by doing nothing. It is about time we learned that, every time we act on something directly, we disturb the natural course of change. A truly courageous man knows how to do nothing. Please allow me to feel proud of sharing the same nationality as this late exceptional human being. You never know. One day Fukuoka might be compared with Dogen or Lady Murasaki.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Tao Te Ching Chapter 39-17 Lords & Kings = Less virtue


Today's Tao

That's why lords and kings call themselves "orphans", "less virtue", and "no good". (Ch.39)


A: "Master Bonbon, I have a question."

B: "Excuse me, but what did you call me?"

A: "«Master Bonbon», Master Bonbon."

B: "You are wrong, idiot. You have to address me as «Your Serene Holiness Master Bonbon»."


Master Bonbon, you have to learn how to be humble first.

Don't brag that you are the master of your hologram.

Nevertheless, you don't have to belittle yourself by calling yourself «less virtue» or «no good».

If you don't judge, neither virtue nor good exists.

How about calling yourself «Big Clumsy»?

Not too haughty. Not too humble.

It is a good name, Dr Daisetz Suzuki.


«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


-Daisetz Suzuki, a Zen Buddhist, got more interested in Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shin Shu (Pure Land Shin school) as he got older. So did Ikkyu. Shusaku Endo, a Christian novelist, was more criticized for being too Buddhist-like as he got older. When we leave this floating world, we would like to be a good friend of the gatekeeper to the other side of the River.