MZC HERE-NOW

 

0 = ∞　Zeroness Is Boundless Bounty!

 

We are all karma-born and -bound, possessing the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion and living the triple paths (steps) of delusion, karma, and suffering. The delusion of self divides others, desiring others, resulting in suffering (dissatisfaction).

 

We act as karma-machines, driven by karma imbued with the triple poisons in self-survival strife since life started four billion years ago. Karma (action, habit, heredity) continues to reinforce the triple paths in time, space, scale, speed, and synergy.

 

Stilling this process lies in stilling the triple actions of our bodies, mouths, and minds (body, breathing, brain). The Buddha found that through still sitting, karma can be stilled; we can settle in nirvana (no wind, of karma), see the Dharma, and serve and save all from suffering.

 

Sitting meditation (za-zen) is the core practice of it. Zen leads to suññatā / śūnyatā (zeroness, of karma, self, life-death, etc.), which leads to boundless bounty; we can witness the Dharma world, like the Indra-net, in freedom and fulness, the wholly wholesome way and world.

 

April 19, 2024 C.E.

 

Note:

1. Earth Day (April 22, 2024 C.E.) is a step closer to eco from ego, Dharma from karma, holiness (wholly wholesomeness) from sin (separated sickness), unity from division, etc. which can open the door to friendship (cf. Friend: Mitra, Mithra, Metteyya, Maitreya, Miroku, Mazda, Massiah, et al) of all, the common ideal of universal religions (cf. Buddhist four limitlessnesses or Brahma-vihāra, pure/supreme-abode of friendship, compassion, joy, and equanimity/emancipation/letting go: upekhā)
2. The two refuges of self and Dharma are for the self to become Dharma, making oneself into boundless bounty as mentioned “I (Buddha seeing the morning star) with all beings on earth simultaneously attain the Way,” “In (possessing) nothing is (the storage of) the inexhaustible,” “in the falling away of the body and mind, realization of the universal truth,” “the entire world in ten directions in a clear crystal ball,” which is“the storage of light,” “the Buddha body,” “the Dharma body,” “the true human body,” etc.
3. Karma is instilled with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of ego / mei: I / my). The Buddha said that all living beings are karma-birthed, -heirs, -owners, -machines, and -refuged. He clarified that there is no self-substance with self-sameness (permanent) and self-sovereignty (wishful) entities due to the Dharma (Truth / Law) of all dharmas (phenomena), Dependent Co-origination. We as karma-machines must change to the Dharma-refuged in order to change the world in suffering to that in holiness (wholly wholesome: harmonious, healthy, and happy).
4. Dharma means 1. form (from d-harm: phenomenon) and 2. norm (from d-h-arm: norm: law operating through phenomena: ethic), and 3. the teaching of the law of all phenomena, that is, Dependent Co-origination (originally awakened on the origination of perception/consciousness depending on the sense organs and objects, but later applied to all phenomena, cf. note 5). This law is similar to the law of causality, now used by sciences, but deeper and wider, applied beyond objects – more on subjects and symbols – ideas, etc.).
5. “The Dharma (Norm/Law/Truth/Ethic) of all dharmas (forms/phenomena/ truths/ethics)” is Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all phenomena are interdependently co-originated on limitless causes and conditions (similar to the Law of Causality, but deeper and wider – beyond conventions, conceptions, objects, etc.). This means that we are interrelated with other beings (other species, elements, stars, etc.), and relatives to each other, and that we must therefore live together harmoniously and strive to make a wholly wholesome world to become harmonious, health, and happy.
6. The Indra-net, whose crystal balls on its knots reflect each other mutually and limitlessly in space and time, illustrates the Dharma of Dependent Co-origination well, showing that all phenomena are interdependently co-originated and co-originating among themselves. One (person or thing) is interconnected with others (persons or things) by elements (air, water, light, magnetism, chemicals, particles, sounds, colors, etc.), molecules, microorganisms, communications (words, arts, media, internet, etc.), actions (of viruses, plants, animals, humans, stars, etc.), etc. inside and outside, in space and time limitlessly.
7. The life system is in a limitlessly interdependent and interrelated system throughout limitless space and time. If we can acknowledge and activate it, we can function as limitless life, light, liberation, and love, like the crystal balls of the Indra-net, making it holy (wholly wholesome), harmonious, healthy, and happy, calm and clear, collectively and continuously.
8. Za-zen (sitting meditation) orders and stills body, breath, and brain (bodily, verbal, and mental) karmas. The Four Zen Stages illustrate the stilling process of mental (intellectual, emotional, and volitional) karmas, stilling contemplation/investigation, joy, and comfort, resulting in the reaching of equanimity (upekhā/upekṣā, lit. discarding), nirvana.

Please refer to parts 4 (nirvana) and 5 (zen) of “Why Buddhism Now”:

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9. Samādhi is essential to go beyond karma (especially its Triple Poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion) and settle in nirvana (by sitting still, stilling karma, settling in nirvana, seeing the Dharma/dharmas/Dharma world, and serving and saving all), in which true meditation and its prognosis (paññā/prajñā) can function.
10. The solution of the global problematique, interrelated global problems such as global warming, mass extinction, nationalism, war, nuke, dictatorship, dogma, discrimination, prolusion, poverty, requires the global ethic (issued by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1993 with more than seven thousand people from all religions and from all over the world attending), which is based on the Five Precepts (and the fundamental common elements in the Ten Precepts, the Ten Commandments, etc.).

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0 = ∞ 空性は無限の豊驍である!

 

私達は皆、貪瞋痴三毒を所有し、惑業苦の三道（歩）を生きている、業生者、業縛者である。我の愚痴は他を分離し、他を貪り、苦（不満）の結果になる。

 

私達は、生命発生40億年以来、自己生存闘争での三毒の浸潤した業に駆られて、業機械として行動する。業（行動、習慣、遺伝）は時空、規模、速度、相乗効果中に強化され続ける。

 

この過程を静めるのは、身口意（身息脳）三業を静めることにある。仏陀は静坐を通じて業が静まることを発見した；私達は涅槃（無風、業の）に安住し、法を見、一切に奉仕し、一切を苦から救うことが出来る。

 

坐禅は禅の核心である。禅は空性（業、我、生死などのゼロであること）に導くが、これは無限の豊驍に導く；私達は自由と十全の中に帝釈網のような法界、全体健全な方法、世界を直証できる。

 

2024共通年4月20日

 

註：

 

１．地球日（2024共通年4月22日）はエゴからエコ、業から法、罪（分離病患）から聖（全体健全）、分割から統合などへの一歩接近であるが、これは普遍宗教の共通理想である一切友情（参考：トモ：Mitra, Mithra, Metteyya, Maitreya, Miroku, Mazda, Massiah, et al）への扉を開く（参考：仏教の慈：Maitrī:友情、悲、喜、捨：upekkhā/upekṣā:平静/解脱/放棄の四無量：四梵住：純粋/崇高住）。

２．自洲法洲の二洲は、「（仏陀が明星を見て）我と大地有情同事成道」、「無一物中無尽蔵」、「心身脱落現成公按」、「尽十方一顆明珠」、でありそれが「光明蔵」、「仏身」、「法身」、「真実人身」などであると言われるように自己を無限豊驍にして、自が法に成る為である。

３．業は貪瞋（エゴ/メイ：我/我所の）痴の三毒が植え込まれている。ブッダ（覚者）は一切衆生は業—誕生者、—相続者、—所有者、—機械、—依拠者であると言った。彼は、諸法（現象）の法（真理/倫理）である縁起の故に自己同一（永住）と自己主宰（意欲通り）の実態をもった自己物質は存在しないことを明らかにした。業—機械である私達は、苦しむ世界を聖（全体健全：調和、健康、幸福）なる世界に変える為には、法₋依拠者にならなければならない。

４．法（dharma）は 形態（form： d-harmより: 現象：真理)、２．規則（norm： d-h-armより:現象中の規則：倫理)、３．諸法の法、縁起（元来は感覚器官と感覚対象に依る知覚・意識の発生に覚醒したが後に一切現象に適用されたもの。註5参照）。この法則は、現今諸科学に用いられる、因果律と同様であるが、もっと深く広い－客体を越えて主体と観念などの象徴に適用される。

５．諸法（形態・現象）の法（規則・法則・真理・倫理）は縁起（因縁生起）、即ち、一切現象は無量の直接原因と間接条件により相依生起するということである（因果則に似ているがさらに深く広い－世俗、観念、対象などを超える）。これは私達が他者（多種、要素、星宿など）と相依関係にあることを意味し、相互に相対的であり、私達が調和、健康、幸福になる為には共に調和して生き、全体健全な世界を作る努力をしなければならないことを意味する。

６．帝釈網は、その結び目にある水晶の珠が時空中に相互に無限に反映し合うが、一切現象が共に生起し生起させる縁起の法を例示しています。一（人又は物）は（気・水・光・磁力・化学物質、素粒子・音・色等）の要素、分子、微生物、（言葉、芸術、メディア、インターネット等）の通信、（ウィルス、植物、動物、人間、星等）の行動などに依り内外、時空に無限に他（諸人又は諸物）と結びついている。

７．私達の生命組織は無限の時空を通じて縁起と関連の組織です。もし私達がそれを認知し実行するなら、私達は、帝釈網の水晶の珠のように、それを集団的に継続的に、聖（全体健全）なる調和、健康、幸福で、静かに明らかに、無限の生命、光明、自由、愛情として機能出来る。

８．坐禅（静坐瞑想）は身体・呼吸・頭脳（身口意）業を整え静止する。四禅は、尋求、伺候、喜悦、安楽を静め平静 (upekhā/upekṣā, 字義は捨離)・涅槃に到達する結果の心的（知性・感情・意欲）業を静止する過程を表示している。

「今何故仏教か？」の４（涅槃）と５（禅）を参照：

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９．定（Samādhi）は業（特にその貪瞋痴の三毒）を超え、（静坐、止業、住涅槃、観法/諸法/法界、一切奉仕・救済し）涅槃に安住するのに必須であり、この中で本当の瞑想とその般若の智慧（paññā/prajñā）が働くことが出来る。

１０．地球問題群、地球温暖化、大量絶滅、国家主義、戦争、核、ドクサイ、独断、差別、汚染、貧困の様な相互関連した地球諸問題、は（1993年シカゴで世界中から諸宗教の七千人を超える人々が集まった世界宗教会議により発出された宣言）地球倫理を必要とするが、これは（不殺、不盗、不偽、不淫、不飲酒の）五戒（と仏教他の十戒の基本的共通要素）に基づいている。インターアクション協議会は世界人務宣言の草案を作り国連が発出するように提出したが今に至るも棚上げされたままである。

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Flower Festival

 

April 8 is celebrated as the Flower Festival or Buddha’s Birthday, called Bathing Buddha Meeting (灌仏会), in northern Buddhist countries (Vesak in southern Buddhist countries). People gather to bathe the baby Buddha with sweet tea to celebrate him as the future awakening being (bodhisattva) and the awakened one (buddha) to save all from suffering.

 

Siddhatta Gotama saw the suffering of aging, sickness, and death and strove to solve it by sitting still (za-zen), settling in nirvana (no wind, of karma), seeing the Dharma (Law of Dependent Co-origination), and serving and saving all. He found that our suffering comes from our karma, imbued with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion.

 

He found the solution in stilling karma (of the body, mouth, and mind), reaching nirvana and awakening in the Dharma. He practiced zazen as the fundamental practice to attain nirvana / awakening / prognosis and advised that all attain the same. He devoted his whole life to sharing his awakened way with all to become awakened and to save all from the destruction of the world.

 

He foresaw the destruction of the world and prognosticated the triple learnings, the four holy truths, the eight holy ways, etc., as practical ways for all to become awakened (buddha) and strive as bodhisattvas to save themselves and the world in holy (wholly wholesome) harmony, health, and happiness. As the doomsday clock is ticking to zero, we all must practice these ways of all and for all.

 

April 5, 2024 C.E.

 

Note:

1. Karma is instilled with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of ego/mei: I/my). The Buddha said that all living beings are karma-birthed, -heirs, -owners, -machines, and -refuged. He clarified that there is no self-substance with self-sameness (permanent) and self-sovereignty (wishful) entities due to the Dharma (Truth/Law) of all dharmas (phenomena), Dependent Co-origination. We as karma-machines must change to the Dharma-refuged in order to change the world in suffering to one in holiness (wholly wholesome: harmonious, healthy, and happy).

2. Zazen (still sitting meditation) stills karma (of the body, mouth, and mind), removing the five coverings of lust-desire, covetousness-malevolence, sloth-drowsiness, agitation-worry, and doubt, the four defilements of lust, becoming, view, and nescience, stilling intellection, emotion, and volition to reach zero (emptiness, emancipation, neutral, no-thingness, nirvana) state, where one for the first time wakes up from the long night of nescience (no witness, of nirvana) to see the selfless truth/ethic (Dharma/dharma). It un-conditions our karma and reconditions our new actions to function freely and fully with all. It orders the body, breathing, and brain into the best condition, becoming holy (wholly wholesome: all – self/other healthy), harmonious, healthy, and happy.

3. Nirvana means no wind (of karma imbued with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion), where one can for the first time witness the Dharma world and become awakened from the long night of nescience to the Dharma of all dharmas in calm, clear, controlled, and careful conditions, then prognosticate problems and sufferings in the Four Holy Truths and the Eight Holy Ways.

4. Dharma means 1. form (from d-harm: phenomenon) and 2. norm (from d-h-arm: norm: law operating through phenomena: ethic), and 3. the teaching of the law of all phenomena, that is, Dependent Co-origination (originally awakened on the origination of perception/consciousness depending on the sense organs and objects, but later applied to all phenomena, cf. note 5). This law is similar to the law of causality, now used by sciences, but deeper and wider, applied beyond objects – more on subjects and symbols – ideas, etc.).

5. “The Dharma (Norm/Law/Truth/Ethic) of all dharmas (forms/phenomena/ truths/ethics)” is Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all phenomena are interdependently co-originated on limitless causes and conditions (similar to the Law of Causality, but deeper and wider – beyond conventions, conceptions, objects, etc.). This means that we are interrelated with other beings (other species, elements, stars, etc.), and relatives to each other, and that we must therefore live together harmoniously and strive to make a wholly wholesome world to become harmonious, healthy, and happy.

6. The practice of zen (jhāna/dhyāna: meditation), the key and core practice of za-zen, sitting meditation, is to still karma, settle in nirvana, see the Dharma, and serve and save all. This process is categorized in the Four Zen Stages and the Eight Concentration (samādhi) Stages (actually Four Zen Stages plus Four Concentration Stages combined, going together).

7. The Triple Poisons are desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of a self-same, self-sovereign self). The “Triple Only” are only me, only now, and only money (short-sighted views and actions, which make the wider world worse), which can be cured by the Triple Learnings of morality, concentration, and prognosis.

8. The four holy truths are those of suffering (duk-kha, wrong-going, going against wishes), the cause of it (identified as craving: taṅhā/tṛṣṇā, lit. thirst, as drinking seawater), the cessation of it (identified as nirvana: no-wind, cf. nivāte padīpa: lamplight in no-wind), and the way for it (identified as the eight holy ways).

9. The eight holy (ariya/ārya) ways (ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga/ ārya-aṣṭāṅga-mārga) are right view (sammā‑diṭṭhi/ samyag-dṛṣṭi), right thinking (sammā-saṅkappa/ samyak-saṃkalpa), right speech (sammā-vācā/ samyag-vāc), right action (sammā-kammanta/ samyak-karmānta), right livelihood (sammā-ājīva/ samyag-ājīva), right striving (sammā-vāyāma/ samyag-vyāyāma), right mindfulness (sammā-sati/ samyak-smṛti), and right concentration (sammā-samādhi/ samyak-samādhi).

 

花祭り

 

四月八日は北方仏教諸国では花祭り即ち灌仏会と呼ばれる仏誕生日南方仏教諸国ではヴェーサック）として祝われている。人々は集まって彼を一切を苦から救う将来の菩薩、仏として祝う為に赤子の仏陀に甘茶をかける。

 

シダッタ・ゴータマは老病死の苦を見て静坐（坐禅）し、涅槃（無風、業の）に安住し、法（縁起の法）を見、一切に奉仕し救う事で解決する為に精進した。彼は私達の苦は貪瞋痴の三毒を持つ業から来ることを見出した。

 

彼は世界の破滅を予見して、一切が聖（全体健全）なる調和、健康、幸福に目覚め（buddha）、菩薩として精進するように三学、四聖諦、八聖道などを実際的方法として処方した。世界終末時計がゼロ秒に向かって時を刻んでいる時に、私達皆が皆の皆の為のこれらの方法を実践しなければならない。

 

2024共通年4月6日

 

註：

１．業は貪瞋（エゴ/メイ：我/我所の）痴の三毒が植え込まれている。ブッダ（覚者）は一切衆生は業—誕生者、—相続者、—所有者、—機械、—依拠者であると言った。彼は、諸法（現象）の法（真理/倫理）である縁起の故に自己同一（永住）と自己主宰（意欲通り）の実態をもった自己物質は存在しないことを明らかにした。業—機械である私達は、苦しむ世界を聖（全体健全：調和、健康、幸福）なる世界に変える為には、法₋依拠者にならなければならない。

２．坐禅（静坐瞑想）は（身口意の）業を静め、貪欲・欲求、吝嗇・悪意、怠惰・眠気、動揺・心配、疑念の五蓋、貪欲、同定、見解、無明の四漏を除き、観念、感情、意志を静めてゼロ（空、解脱、中立、無、涅槃）状態に達するが、そこで初めて無明（無経験、涅槃の）長夜から目覚めて、無私のDharma/dharma（法則・現象:倫理・真理)を見る。それは業の束縛を離れ、一切と自由・十全に機能する新しい行為に再構成する。それは身体・呼吸・頭脳を最善状態にして聖（全体健全：全部―自他共に健全）な調和、健康、幸福にするように整える。

３．涅槃は（貪瞋痴で染汚した業の）無風を意味するが、そこで人は静謐・明澄・統制・注意状態で法界を直証し諸法の法に初めて無明長夜から目覚めて、問題と苦に対する四聖諦、八聖道で般若（の知恵：処方）を得る。

４．法（dharma）は 形態（form： d-harmより: 現象：真理)、２．規則（norm： d-h-armより:現象中の規則：倫理)、３．諸法の法、縁起（元来は感覚器官と感覚対象に依る知覚・意識の発生に覚醒したが後に一切現象に適用されたもの。註5参照）。この法則は、現今諸科学に用いられる、因果律と同様であるが、もっと深く広い－客体を越えて主体と観念などの象徴に適用される。

５．諸法（形態・現象）の法（規則・法則・真理・倫理）は縁起（因縁生起）、即ち、一切現象は無量の直接原因と間接条件により相依生起するということである（因果則に似ているがさらに深く広い－世俗、観念、対象などを超える）。これは私達が他者（多種、要素、星宿など）と相依関係にあることを意味し、相互に相対的であり、私達が調和、健康、幸福になる為には共に調和して生き、全体健全な世界を作る努力をしなければならないことを意味する。

６．禅（jhāna/dhyāna: 瞑想)、鍵となり核となる坐禅の実践、は業を静め、涅槃に安住し、法を見、一切に奉仕し救済する。この過程は四禅と八定（samādhi）である（実際には四禅と四定は一緒で結合している）。

７．三毒は貪瞋痴（自己同一、自己主宰の我という愚痴）である。三だけは今だけ、金だけで自分だけということであり（短見・短絡行動で、より広い世界を悪化させる）が、戒定慧の三学はこれらを治癒できる。

８．四聖諦（catur-ārya-satya/cattāri ariya-saccāni）は苦 (duk-kha, 上手く行かない：不満), その原因 (欲：taṅhā/tṛṣṇā, 字義：海水でも飲む渇愛), その滅 (涅槃: 無風、業の, cf. nivāte padīpa: 無風の灯明), とその道程 (八聖道).　聖（ariya/ārya) は全体健全（全体が健全：調和、健康、幸福）であること。

９．八聖 道 (ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga/ ārya-aṣṭāṅga-mārga) は正見 (sammā‑diṭṭhi/ samyag-dṛṣṭi), 正思 (sammā-saṅkappa/ samyak-saṃkalpa), 正語 (sammā-vācā/ samyag-vāc), 正行 (sammā-kammanta/ samyak-karmānta), 正業 (sammā-ājīva/ samyag-ājīva), 正精進 (sammā-vāyāma/ samyag-vyāyāma), 正念 (sammā-sati/ samyak-smṛti), 正定 (sammā-samādhi/ samyak-samādhi)。

 

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Flower Festival decoration at Zuioji, Niihama, Shikoku, Japan

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Baby Buddha and sweet tea

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Steps to Zuioji Entrance

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Zuioji Entrance and the Great Bell Tower above it

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Millions of cherry blossom petals in the Dragon Pond in front of the Entrance

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Zuioji Hatto (Dharma Hall)

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Zuioji Front Garden viewong the Entrance and Corridors

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(Above pictures were taken by Garyo, who stayed there eight years ago except the 2nd one)

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Equinox Is Equanimity, Nirvana

 

Equinox (equal in day and night, chill and heat) is celebrated as equanimity, nirvana, called higan, yonder shore, in Japan, with offerings of rice cakes to deceased ancestors, and with practice of the Six Paramitas, Perfections, of donation, morality, patience, striving, concentration, and prognosis over six days, three days before and after it.

 

Nirvana is no wind of karma (cf. stock phrase of nivāte padīpa, lamp-light in no wind, illuminating the world in a calm and clear state), renouncing the karma that tosses us up and down, merging into the Dharma world, witnessing the Dharma (Norm) of all dharmas (forms) in a calm, clear, controlled, careful state.

 

It is the Four Limitlessnesses, or Brahma (Supreme/Pure)-abodes, of friendship, compassion, joy, and equanimity, i.e., limitless love, light, liberation, and life and holy (wholly wholesome) harmony, health, happiness, and home. Equanimity in the original is upekhā, renunciation or throwing away of all.

 

Nirvana is described in many ways: the falling away of body and mind, the pail bottom broken away, shedding (snake) skin, the genuine human body, a clear crystal ball, the entire world in ten directions as a clear crystal ball, the Pure-land, the Dharma body, amata/amṛta (ambrosia, lit. immortality), the eight Nos, a hundred negations, etc.

 

March 21, 2024 C.E.

 

Notes:

1. Dharma means 1. form (from d-harm: phenomenon), 2. norm (from d-h-arm: norm: law operating through phenomena: ethic), and 3. the teaching of the law of all phenomena, that is, Dependent Co-origination (originally awakened on the origination of perception/consciousness depending on the sense organs and their objects, but later applied to all phenomena, cf. note 5). This law is similar to the law of causality, now used by sciences, but deeper and wider, applied beyond objects – more on subjects and symbols – ideas, etc.).

 

2. “The Dharma (Norm/Law/Truth/Ethic) of all dharmas (forms/phenomena/ truths/ethics)” is Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all phenomena are interdependently co-originated on limitless causes and conditions (similar to the Law of Causality, but deeper and wider – beyond conventions, conceptions, objects, etc.). This means that we are interrelated with other beings (other species, elements, stars, etc.), and relatives to each other, and that we must therefore live together harmoniously and strive to make a wholly wholesome world become harmonious, healthy, and happy.

 

3. Samādhi is essential to go beyond karma (especially its Triple Poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion) and settle in nirvana (by sitting still, stilling karma, settling in nirvana, seeing the Dharma/dharmas/Dharma world, and serving and saving all), in which true meditation and its prognosis (paññā/prajñā) can function.

 

4. Karma is instilled with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of ego/mei: I/my). The Buddha said that all living beings are karma-birthed, -heirs, -owners, -machines, and -refuged. He clarified that there is no self-substance with self-sameness (permanent) and self-sovereignty (wishful) entities due to the Dharma (Truth/Law) of all dharmas (phenomena), Dependent Co-origination. We as karma-machines must change to the Dharma-refuged in order to change the world in suffering to one in holiness (wholly wholesome: harmonious, healthy, and happy).

 

5. Nescience (avijjā/avidyā) means no witness of nirvana (no wind, of karma) and the world in it (cf. Latin video) due to our being karma-machines, like a mouse continuously running on a treadwheel, not stopping to sit still, settle in nirvana, and see the Dharma, serving and saving all.

 

6. Nirvana means no wind (of karma imbued with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion), where one can for the first time witness the Dharma world and become awakened from the long night of nescience to the Dharma of all dharmas in calm, clear, controlled, and careful conditions, then prognosticate problems and sufferings in the Four Holy Truths and the Eight Holy Ways.

 

 

彼岸は平静、涅槃

 

彼岸（昼夜、寒暖の均等）は日本では彼岸と呼ばれて平静、涅槃として祝われ亡くなった先祖へ牡丹餅・お萩をそなえ、その前後六日間は布施、戒律、忍辱、精進、禅定、般若（知恵：処方）の六波羅蜜を実践します。

 

涅槃（nir-vāṇa）は業の無風（ni=vāte padīpa：無風の灯火が平穏で明澄な状態で世界を照らすという常套句を参照）で、私達を上下に動揺させる業を放棄し、平穏、明澄、統御、注意の状態で法界に円融し、諸法の法を直証します。

 

それは慈・悲・喜・捨（放棄）の四無量あるいは四梵（至高・清浄）住、即ち無量愛、無量光、無量自由、無量寿であり、聖（全体健全）な調和、健康、幸福、家庭です。平静の原語はupekhāで一切を放棄・捨離することです。

 

涅槃は多くの方法で表現されています：心身脱落、打破漆桶底、脱（蛇）皮（蝉脱）、真実人体、一顆明珠、尽十方界一顆明珠、浄土、法身、甘露（amata/amṛta：ambrosia神饌、字義は不死）、八不、百非など。

 

2024共通年3月21日

 

註：

１．法（dharma）は 形態（form： d-harmより: 現象：真理)、２．規則（norm： d-h-armより:現象中の規則：倫理)、３．諸法の法、縁起（元来は感覚器官と感覚対象に依る知覚・意識の発生に覚醒したが後に一切現象に適用されたもの。註5参照）。この法則は、現今諸科学に用いられる、因果律と同様であるが、もっと深く広い－客体を越えて主体と観念などの象徴に適用される。

２．諸法（形態・現象）の法（規則・法則・真理・倫理）は縁起（因縁生起）、即ち、一切現象は無量の直接原因と間接条件により相依生起するということである（因果則に似ているがさらに深く広い－世俗、観念、対象などを超える）。これは私達が他者（多種、要素、星宿など）と相依関係にあることを意味し、相互に相対的であり、私達が調和、健康、幸福になる為には共に調和して生き、全体健全な世界を作る努力をしなければならないことを意味する。

３．業は貪瞋（エゴ/メイ：我/我所の）痴の三毒が植え込まれている。ブッダ（覚者）は一切衆生は業—誕生者、—相続者、—所有者、—機械、—依拠者であると言った。彼は、諸法（現象）の法（真理/倫理）である縁起の故に自己同一（永住）と自己主宰（意欲通り）の実態をもった自己物質は存在しないことを明らかにした。業—機械である私達は、苦しむ世界を聖（全体健全：調和、健康、幸福）なる世界に変える為には、法₋依拠者にならなければならない。

４．定（Samādhi）は業（特にその貪瞋痴の三毒）を超え、（静坐、止業、住涅槃、観法/諸法/法界、一切奉仕・救済し）涅槃に安住するのに必須であり、この中で本当の瞑想とその般若の智慧（paññā/prajñā）が働くことが出来る。

５．無明（無確証: avijjā/avidyā)）は、私達が、鼠が踏み車を踏み続けるように、業機械として止まらず、静坐せず、涅槃に安住せず、法を見ず、一切に奉仕、救済しない為に涅槃（無風、業の）とその中に在る世界を直証（参照：ラテン語video）しないということである。

６．涅槃は（貪瞋痴で染汚した業の）無風を意味するが、そこで人は静謐・明澄・統制・注意状態で法界を直証し諸法の法に初めて無明長夜から目覚めて、問題と苦に対する四聖諦、八聖道で般若（の知恵：処方）を得る。

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Zen Is Zero State

 

Meditation (of Ātman: Self) has been identified in the old Upanishads as the Fourth (Catrīya/trīya) State beyond the states of awake, dreaming, and dreamless. Zen meditation, however, is Zero State, beyond these four states that are bound by karma, by stilling karma (the Triple Poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion, and the Two Roots of craving and nescience: no witness of nirvana).

 

Zen meditation stills the triple actions of the body, mouth, and mind bound by karma setting them in the best states. One settles in nirvana, sees the Dharma of all dharmas (Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all phenomena are dependently co-originated on limitless causes and conditions), and serves and saves all with the prognosis of the Four Holy Truths and the Eight Holy Ways.

 

It facilitates freedom from karmic bondages and freedom of the triple actions of body, mouth, and mind in calm, clear, careful condition. It is full function with all dharmas (forms/phenomena), in the Dharma (norm/ law/ truth) world in Dependent Co-origination. It is the fair and friendly function with all in holy (wholly wholesome) harmony, health, and happiness.

 

It endows limitless life, light, liberation, and love for anyone, in any area, and in any era, regardless of age, gender, position, possession, etc., by constant cultivation and verification to attain nirvana/awakening. It frees karma since life started, and the complex causes and conditions beset anyone, in any place, at any time. We’d better work together to attain these.

 

March 15, 2024 C.E.

 

Note:

1. The fourth state is also called Tulya (Balanced).

Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turiya

 

2. Zen is to attain freedom from karma and freedom of dharma/Dharma in full function, returning to zero (suñña/śūnya), more awakened and wakeful than the wakeful state in karma, to  and reuniting with holiness (wholly wholesomeness) and limitlessness (cf. four limitlessnesses: friendship, compassion, joy, equanimity).

 

３．“The Dharma (Norm/Law/Truth/Ethic) of all dharmas (forms/phenomena/ truths/ethics)” is Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all phenomena are interdependently co-originated on limitless causes and conditions (similar to the Law of Causality, but deeper and wider – beyond conventions, conceptions, objects, etc.). This means that we are interrelated with other beings (other species, elements, stars, etc.), and relatives to each other, and that we must therefore live together harmoniously and strive to make a wholly wholesome world to become harmonious, health, and happy.

 

 

禅はゼロ状態

 

古いウパニシャッドでは(アートマン：自我)の瞑想は覚醒、夢眠・熟眠状態を超えた第四状態とされた。禅の瞑想はしかし業に束縛されたこれら四状態を超えて、業（貪・瞋・痴三毒、貪欲・無明：涅槃無確証の二根）を静めたゼロ状態である。

 

禅瞑想は業に束縛された身口意の三業を静めてそれを最善状態にする。人は涅槃に安住し、諸法の法（一切現象は無量の因縁に依り生起するという縁起）を見、四聖諦と八聖道の般若（知恵：処方）で一切に奉仕し救済する。

 

それは業縛から自由にし、静寂・明澄・注意状態にした身口意の三業を自由になるように資する。それは縁起の法（規範・法則・真理）界において諸法と共にある十全な機能である。それは聖（全体健全）なる調和・健康・幸福の中に一切と共なる公正で友愛の機能である。

 

それは常時の修証により涅槃・覚醒を得させて、年齢、性別、地位、所有などに関わりなく誰にもどの地域でもどの時代でも無量寿・光・自由・愛を恵む。それは誰にも時空に拘わらず複雑な因縁に置かれている生命が始まって以来の業から解放する。これらを達成するには共に働く方がより良い。

 

2024共通年3月15日

 

註：

１．第四状態はトゥリヤ（均衡）とも呼ばれる。

参考： https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turiya

２．禅はゼロ（suñña/śūnya：空）に帰り、業にある覚醒状態より更に目覚め覚醒しており、聖（全体健全）と無量（慈悲喜捨の四無量参照）と再結合する十全な活動である。

３．諸法（形態・現象）の法（規則・法則・真理・倫理）は縁起（因縁生起）、即ち、一切現象は無量の直接原因と間接条件により相依生起するということである（因果則に似ているがさらに深く広い－世俗、観念、対象などを超える）。これは私達が他者（多種、要素、星宿など）と相依関係にあることを意味し、相互に相対的であり、私達が調和、健康、幸福になる為には共に調和して生き、全体健全な世界を作る努力をしなければならないことを意味する。

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Flowers Blooming, the World Arisen!

 

Jimyo offered beautiful fresh flowers to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at our center; suddenly spring has arisen! We sat sittings, the Buddha world opened! Daffodils blooming, spring arrived.

 

Dependent Co-origination is the Dharma of all dharmas. When any change happening, the world changed. A clear crystal ball shining, the Indranet illumed as a ripple reaches a lake end.

 

One sitting, nirvana/awakening arisen. Six senses settling, the world settled, inward and outward, individually, socially, and ecologically, as the history of the world’s been changed in space and time.

 

One aspiring, life changed, one’s and others lives changed limitlessly. One continuing, effects settled, permeating, and perfecting peace and prognosis in holy (wholly wholesome) harmony, health, and happiness.

 

March 2, 2024 C.E.

 

華開世界起！

 

慈明が美しい新鮮な花をセンターの仏菩薩に備えたら突然春が現われた！私達が坐ったら仏世界が開けた！推薦が開いたら、春が来た。

 

縁起は諸法の法である。どんな変化が起きても、世界は変わる。透明な水晶珠が輝けば帝釈網は光る、一波が湖岸に届く様に。

 

一人が坐れば、涅槃・覚醒が起きる。六感が安定すれば世界が安定する、内的・外的、個人的・社会的・生態的に、時空の世界を歴史が変えた様に。

 

一人が志せば、自他の命を無限に変える。人が継続すれば、諸結果は聖（全体健全）な調和・健康・幸福の中に平和と智慧を浸透し完成する。

 

2024共通年3月2日

 

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All Must Avoid Annihilation!

 

The Doomsday Clock is ticking, at 90 seconds away from Doomsday. The global problematique of global warming, mass extinction, etc. is causing it. The most urgent problems among many are war and nuclear holocaust due to it. All who wage war and use nukes, or support them, are criminals against all beings.

 

The cause of doom are the Triple Poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion, and the Triple Only of only money, me, and now. The delusion of ego (individual, national, etc.), a short-sighted attachment to money, might, and matter, and an aversion to competitors are the culprits that will bring about destruction and doom.

 

“There is no way to peace. Peace is the way,” Gandhi said. “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies of the world would also change,” and “I try to make myself zero.” Waiting for the world or others to change won’t change the world. The Buddha said, “Rely on yourself, not others. Rely on the Dharma, not people.”

 

Dharma is beyond the karma that causes the Triple Poisons or Triple Only. The Dharma of all dharmas is Dependent Co-origination, which deems us to live together in peace, equality, and freedom. All must change to observe this universal truth and ethic shown in the Four Holy Truths, Eight Holy Ways, Global Ethic, etc.

 

February 22, 2024 C.E.

 

Note:

1. The solution of the global problematique, interrelated global problems such as global warming, mass extinction, nationalism, war, nuke, dictatorship, dogma, discrimination, prolusion, poverty, requires the global ethic (issued by the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1993 with more than seven thousand people from all religions and from all over the world attending), which is based on the Five Precepts (and the fundamental common elements in the Ten Precepts, the Ten Commandments, etc.).
2. The Triple Poisons are desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of a self-same, self-sovereign self). The “Triple Only” are only me, only now, and only money (short-sighted views and actions, which make the wider world worse) , which can be cured by the Triple Learnings of morality, concentration, and prognosis.
3. When asked by a reporter “what your secret was” to gain such power over the ruling British empire, Gandhi responded: “I try to make myself zero.” He was referring to his efforts to develop such a selfless love that each thought, word, and deed became the motivation improve the welfare and well-being of others, and not for his own gratification. ｎ
4. Dharma means 1. form (from d-harm: phenomenon) and 2. norm (from d-h-arm: norm: law operating through phenomena: ethic), and 3. the teaching of the law of all phenomena, that is, Dependent Co-origination (originally awakened on the origination of perception/consciousness depending on the sense organs and objects, but later applied to all phenomena, cf. note 5). This law is similar to the law of causality, now used by sciences, but deeper and wider, applied beyond objects – more on subjects and symbols – ideas, etc.).
5. “The Dharma (Norm/Law/Truth/Ethic) of all dharmas (forms/phenomena/ truths/ethics)” is Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all phenomena are interdependently co-originated on limitless causes and conditions (similar to the Law of Causality, but deeper and wider – beyond conventions, conceptions, objects, etc.). This means that we are interrelated with other beings (other species, elements, stars, etc.), and relatives to each other, and that we must therefore live together harmoniously and strive to make a wholly wholesome world to become harmonious, health, and happy.
6. Karma is instilled with the triple poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of ego/mei: I/my). The Buddha said that all living beings are karma-birthed, -heirs, -owners, -machines, and -refuged. He clarified that there is no self-substance with self-sameness (permanent) and self-sovereignty (wishful) entities due to the Dharma (Truth/Law) of all dharmas (phenomena), Dependent Co-origination. We as karma-machines must change to the Dharma-refuged in order to change the world in suffering to one in holiness (wholly wholesome: harmonious, healthy, and happy).
7. The four holy truths （catur-ārya-satya/cattāri ariya-saccāni）are that of suffering (duk-kha, wrong-going, going against wishes), cause of it (identified as craving: taṅhā/tṛṣṇā, lit. thirst, as drinking seawater), cessation of it (identified as nirvana: no-wind, cf. nivāte padīpa: lamplight in no-wind), and way for it (identified as the eight holy ways).
8. The eight holy (ariya/ārya) ways (ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga/ ārya-aṣṭāṅga-mārga) are right view (sammā‑diṭṭhi/ samyag-dṛṣṭi), right thinking (sammā-saṅkappa/ samyak-saṃkalpa), right speech (sammā-vācā/ samyag-vāc), right action (sammā-kammanta/ samyak-karmānta), right livelihood (sammā-ājīva/ samyag-ājīva), right striving (sammā-vāyāma/ samyag-vyāyāma), right mindfulness (sammā-sati/ samyak-smṛti), right concentration (sammā-samādhi/ samyak-samādhi)

 

皆が破滅を避けなければならない！

 

世界終末時計が終末から90秒前でカチカチ鳴っています。地球温暖化、大量絶滅等の地球問題群がそれを起こしています。多くのものの中で最も緊急な問題は戦争とそれにより起こされる核ホロコーストです。戦争を仕掛け核を用いる者は皆一切存在に対する犯罪者です。

 

終末の原因は貪瞋痴の三毒、金だけ、今だけ、自分だけの三だけです。エゴ（個人、国家などの）の愚痴、金、力、物の短見の執着、競争相手に対する嫌悪が破戒と終末をもたらす犯人です。

 

「平和への道は無い、平和が道だ」とガンジーは言いました、そして「私達が自らを変えることができれば、世界の趨勢も変わる」「私は自分をゼロにしようとする」と。世界や他者が変わるのを待っても世界は変わりません。ブッダは「自らに依り、他に依るな。法に依り、人に依るな」と言いました。

 

法は三毒や三だけを起こす業を超えています。諸法の法は縁起ですが、それは私達が平和、平等、自由にトモ生きしなければならないということです。皆がこの四聖諦、八聖道、地球倫理などで示された普遍的真理と倫理を生きなければなりません。

 

2024共通年2月22日

 

註：

１．地球問題群、地球温暖化、大量絶滅、国家主義、戦争、核、ドクサイ、独断、差別、汚染、貧困の様な相互関連した地球諸問題、は（1993年シカゴで世界中から諸宗教の七千人を超える人々が集まった世界宗教会議により発出された宣言）地球倫理を必要とするが、これは（不殺、不盗、不偽、不淫、不飲酒の）五戒（と仏教他の十戒の基本的共通要素）に基づいている。インターアクション協議会は世界人務宣言の草案を作り国連が発出するように提出したが今に至るも棚上げされたままである。

２．三毒は貪瞋痴（自己同一、自己主宰の我という愚痴）である。三だけは今だけ、金だけで自分だけということであり（短見・短絡行動で、より広い世界を悪化させる）が、戒定慧の三学はこれらを治癒できる。

３．支配している大英帝国を超える程の力を得る「あなたの秘密は何か」と記者に聞かれ、ガンジーは「私はゼロになろうとしている」と答えました。彼は、無私の愛がどの思考、言語、行動もの動機と成り、自分自身の満足ではなく他者の福祉を改善しようとする諸努力を指していたのです。(https://josephranseth.com/gandhi-didnt-say-be-the-change-you-want-to-see-in-the-world/)

４．法（dharma）は 形態（form： d-harmより: 現象：真理)、２．規則（norm： d-h-armより:現象中の規則：倫理)、３．諸法の法、縁起（元来は感覚器官と感覚対象に依る知覚・意識の発生に覚醒したが後に一切現象に適用されたもの。註5参照）。この法則は、現今諸科学に用いられる、因果律と同様であるが、もっと深く広い－客体を越えて主体と観念などの象徴に適用される。

５．諸法（形態・現象）の法（規則・法則・真理・倫理）は縁起（因縁生起）、即ち、一切現象は無量の直接原因と間接条件により相依生起するということである（因果則に似ているがさらに深く広い－世俗、観念、対象などを超える）。これは私達が他者（多種、要素、星宿など）と相依関係にあることを意味し、相互に相対的であり、私達が調和、健康、幸福になる為には共に調和して生き、全体健全な世界を作る努力をしなければならないことを意味する。

６．業は貪瞋（エゴ/メイ：我/我所の）痴の三毒が植え込まれている。ブッダ（覚者）は一切衆生は業—誕生者、—相続者、—所有者、—機械、—依拠者であると言った。彼は、諸法（現象）の法（真理/倫理）である縁起の故に自己同一（永住）と自己主宰（意欲通り）の実態をもった自己物質は存在しないことを明らかにした。業—機械である私達は、苦しむ世界を聖（全体健全：調和、健康、幸福）なる世界に変える為には、法₋依拠者にならなければならない。

７．四聖諦（catur-ārya-satya/cattāri ariya-saccāni）は苦 (duk-kha, 上手く行かない：不満), その原因 (欲：taṅhā/tṛṣṇā, 字義：海水でも飲む渇愛), その滅 (涅槃: 無風、業の, cf. nivāte padīpa: 無風の灯明), とその道程 (八聖道).　聖（ariya/ārya) は全体健全（全体が健全：調和、健康、幸福）であること。

８．八聖 道 (ariya-aṭṭhaṅgika-magga/ ārya-aṣṭāṅga-mārga) は正見 (sammā‑diṭṭhi/ samyag-dṛṣṭi), 正思 (sammā-saṅkappa/ samyak-saṃkalpa), 正語 (sammā-vācā/ samyag-vāc), 正行 (sammā-kammanta/ samyak-karmānta), 正業 (sammā-ājīva/ samyag-ājīva), 正精進 (sammā-vāyāma/ samyag-vyāyāma), 正念 (sammā-sati/ samyak-smṛti), 正定 (sammā-samādhi/ samyak-samādhi)

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https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/world/doomsday-clock-2024-climate-scn/index.html

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The purpose of my travel to Ecuador was to visit my family and spend time with Rio Amadeo, with whom I connected before mainly on a screen via What’s app. I was a stranger when I arrived and slowly, we became friends. Two days ago, we had a family celebration, a ritual of welcoming Rio Amadeo into the family and the world. Ecuador is a very Catholic country and the baptism is done in a traditional way. However, we changed it a bit and brought water from a “sacred” well in Austria.

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Church in Puembo

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Water from Mariazell, the most important pilgrimage site in Austria. My daughter and daughter in law were pregnant at the same time. Together, we did a welcoming ritual for the then unborn babies and collected water from the sacred well in Austria. This water was now used for the ceremony in Ecuador.

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The desserts for the family party were brought by both grandmothers of Rio Amadeo. This beautiful and also delicious cake with the two hummingbirds was provided by the Ecuadorian “abuela”. I made a typical Austrian Apfelstrudel.

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Grossmutti and Abuela in black and white outfits. I could not help but smile about this coincidence. It was a small family gathering. When we were all standing around with a glass of champagne, each of us said different wishes and blessings for Rio Amadeo. Most of it I did not understand (by not speaking Spanish), but I know that they were wishes for love, compassion, wisdom and joy in life.

 

Lorenz took one day off to hike with me on the 4,788-meter Corazón mountain, about 30 km southwest of Quito. It is an inactive volcano and a nature preserve. The access road to the entrance of the preserve is in terrible shape, but we managed it. We would have needed a permit in advance to enter, but Lorenz convinced the guard to register us directly at the gate. We paid the entrance fee there ($5, Ecuador has the same currency as the US). When we were waiting to get in, several “llamas” came and looked at us.

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Beside the guardian house there is a field with sheep. In the background, covered by fog, you see the twin mountains Los Ilinizas.

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Three little cute puppies constantly ran to their mother and wanted to drink.

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The small path up the mountain was leading us through high grass with sometimes small areas of moss and other ground covering plants.

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Very typical ground coverings

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At about 4,500 meters, there was just plain, open space with no high grass anymore. We were lucky that we could see the mountain top of Corazón for a short time. Unfortunately, the gate closed at 3pm and we could not walk up to the top. Maybe it was better anyway because I had to breath heavily on this altitude.

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Lorenz and I had picnic at the saddle. Suddenly, a gorgeous eagle landed beside us and wanted to have food too. This bird was not shy at all and surrounded us all the time. We were feeding it some bread.

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The sun peeked through the clouds for a short time.

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Like always, the colors of flowers blooming in high altitude are brilliant.

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On this altitude, we had to wear warm clothing.

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A clay wall farther down

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Heavy clouds and thunder announced the arrival of rain.

 

 

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When we were pretty much down in the valley, many herds of cows were driven either up or down the street to the next milking station which was being pulled by a tractor. Each cow carried a heavy udder. At one place we saw that the cows were standing in line, waiting to be freed of the heavy weight.

 

 

I know there are many mountains to climb and beautiful places and things to see, but this has to wait for a visit the next time. Thank you so much, my dear friends, for visiting with me this beautiful country.

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The indigenous people in Ecuador believe that the Earth (Mama Pacha) is a living being. Mountains and volcanos are living beings too, expressing emotions such as love, fury, pain and desire. Love affairs between the volcanos are told in legends, explaining eruptions, the creation of mountains and lakes. When I visited an art shop selling indigenous arts and crafts, two paintings were catching my attention. Both are telling stories of love and the intimate relationship between the human being and nature. The painter is a native from Tigua close to Quilotoa called Edison Ugsha.

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This painting expresses the best-known love story in Ecuador – the battle between Cotopaxi and the volcano Chimborazo over Mama Tungurahua, a female volcano. Cotopaxi to the right was the loser and Chimborazo married Tungurahua, who gave birth to the mountain Guagua Pichincha (you can see their union above).

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This is a story of a condor falling in love with a human being. He takes on some human features like arms and hands. His feet are like tree trunks. The woman loves the bird  deeply and transforms into a condor to celebrate their unity.

There is another love story about a lake on the mountain Quilotoa (4000m). The parents of the volcano Quilotoa (mountains Illiniza) were forbidding her to marry Cotopaxi.  Qilotoa  became so furious that she erupted. Out of her tears, the turquoise-colored lake was formed, the most beautiful lake in Ecuador. I visited this lake 10 years ago. Beauty formed out of pain – what a story of healing!

 

Friendship and love is important in the Ecuadorian culture. I was invited to join a group of about 15 local people to hike to the top of the mountain Ilaló (8136 feet). The group were mostly ladies who did more than 50 hikes together. When I first visited Ecuador ten years ago, hiking was not popular at all. This changed in the last few years. We saw many hikers and runners on the mountain. Somebody sold even refreshments and food on the top of the mountain.

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This cross is placed not on the top but near the parking lot where we left our cars.

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On the way up to the top

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Mais is the most popular crop here. Even high up on the mountain, there are sometimes tiny fields of corn.

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Abundance of blooming flowers

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I was feeding this goat with grass, which was all around. It still liked to eat out of my hand.

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Up this steep slope, my son carried Rio Amadeo on his back. It would have been dangerous and not even possible to hike when wet. It is slippery even when dry.

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My family with darling Rio Amadeo

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A bit farther down we all had lunch beside a tiny hut built by a friend of my son. Everybody brought home made food like ceviche, empanadas, chochos and tostado. Unfortunately, I took the photo pretty much at the end of the feast.

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Two weeks in Ecuador

 

Traveling is different when you are able to step directly into a culture by visiting friends or family. It is a privilege to be part of everyday life and see things from the inside. Right now, I am visiting my son Lorenz and his family in Puembo, a small town between Quito and the International Airport.

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The family of my son lives in a gated area in a park like setting with six charming houses. This photo is taken from his terrace showing the houses of two neighbors.

 

The guest room, where I am staying, has a direct view to the center of Quito (about 3500 meter). However, the city is spread over a wide, irregular terrain of valleys and mountains with deep gorges in between. A former railroad track called Chaquiñán runs through Puembo, now transformed into a bike and hiking trail. When I hiked just a little part of this trail, I saw an incredible social and material inequity.

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Whoever can afford it builds the houses in a gated area behind high walls. The wall in the photo above is unusual because it is overgrown by lush vegetation. The high end gated areas even have two gates, fortified like a medieval castle in Europe. The high walls are often  topped by a barbed wire or pieces of glass.

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A high wall of a less wealthy area with a barbed wire on the top and one of the many water canals beside it. These small water canals are everywhere, even in the garden of my son’s neighborhood. Right now, it is rainy season in Ecuador, however, I did not see or feel a single rain drop since I am here.

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These three boys were part of a big group playing beside a water channel. They had a lot of fun by throwing friends into the fast-flowing water. All three are soaking wet.

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Along the Chaquiñán, there are also long stretches of nature. I was impressed by this blue agave plant growing out of a vertical clay wall beside a powerful waterfall of roots.

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Housing shows the different income levels directly. Sometimes, there are only wooden, deteriorating huts standing beside new, unfinished cinderblock houses and everything looks chaotic. However, the beauty and abundance of nature is everywhere.

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A blooming shrub beside a wall

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Blooming hibiscus

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The income level and social status shows huge differences. However, nobody is hungry in Ecuador. The country is located at the equator and everything grows all year round. To my surprise, I saw lots of elderberry shrubs, some blossoming and some already bearing fruit. Elderberry grows also in Austria.

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Blooming Elderberry

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Bananas, granadillas and pine apples are delicious here.

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Beside abundant vegetation, the area is a paradise for animals. Beautiful, colorful birds live in trees and shrubs and sometimes, I see a gorgeous butterfly. This moth got lost in the house. I tried to rescue it, but it did not want to leave my hand.  I had to shake it to make it fly away into the night. The villages are full of cats and dogs. At least five dogs were running towards me when I passed several houses on the trail, barking and obviously disturbed by a stranger. The dogs are not aggressive and did not attack me.

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Today, Lorenz, Rio Amadeo and I went on a bike ride on the trail.

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A little cow grazing beside the path

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The rope was not attached to anything

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Six beautiful cocks in this little caged area. They are obviously raised for cock fights. Neither bullfights nor cockfights are illegal in Ecuador.

 

We biked to the center of Puembo, built in the colonial style. This plaza is very typical for South America. In the center is always a water fountain with walkways radiating to the street.

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The water fountain without water

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One of the radiating walkways leading to a church

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A charming balcony at the plaza

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There is no zoning in Ecuador. Drinks, vegetables, fruit other things for everyday life can be bought in many little shops. Many little restaurants are located at the plaza.

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Facade of the restaurant “El Floral”

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It is owned by a Swiss family and offers also European cookies and sweets, delicious bread and more. It is a treasure house for my family.

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.The Outer Shrine (Geku) in Ise City is also closely connected to the Imperial family. 500 years after the establishment of the Inner Shrine, emperor Yuryaku had a dream, where the goddess Amaterasu was asking him for food. He followed her request and built a shrine for the deity, Toyo’uke-no-Okami, who presides over the meals of the goddess Amaterasu and is the guardian of food, clothing, housing and industry.

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Purification basin before entering the sacred area of the shrine with our guide Hisako-san

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It is the harmony with nature which fascinated me most in the Inner and Outer shrines. Like this Torii you see in the photo, the construction is humble and in harmony with the natural environment. There is nothing much to see in these shrines except connectedness and deep reverence for life – isn’t that all we need?

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Even the brooms used to clean the gravel walkways from fallen leaves are made in the ancient way.

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This shrine is the dwelling place of the god of wind, Tsuchinomiya. The empty place beside the shrine is the location where the shrine will be rebuild in 2033.

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Shinto priests are all dressed in white. White stands for purity.

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Ancient, powerful Cedar Trees are growing in the shrine area.

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.Hisako-san and I in front of the empty space where the main sanctuary will be rebuilt.

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This is the entrance to the main sanctuary of Geku. Twice a day, priests offer food to Amaterasu and other kamis of the Jingu and pray for the well being of the Imperial family and the happiness of the entire world. For 1500 years, the ceremony of food offering is linked to strict rules and rituals and has not changed.

I was not allowed to take photos from inside the gate.

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In the early morning, I got up and rushed to the place our guide was pointing to where the food procession would enter the main sanctuary. First, two men dressed in a blue uniform walked with great dignity to the place where the Shinto priest above closed an area with a rope.

 

The preparation of sacred food (Shinsen) for Amaterasu and all the kamis residing in Naiku and Geku requires a strict ritual. Before preparing the food, the priest has to take a ritual bath and stay for one night in seclusion. In the early morning, the priest makes a fire with an ancient wooden device just as they did in old times. The fire is called “pure fire”.

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After a while, a small group of priests walked up a path, but I could not see them very well. (This photo is taken from the internet). Everything was done in silence. The group entered a wooden house behind a wooden fence.

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The only view I got from the sacred food offering was a short glimpse through an open gate. I saw the priests and the wooden food carriage, which they lifted up. They disappeared again behind the fence.

We left Ise by car and arrived in Tokyo in the evening The contrast could not have been bigger. In the lounge of a Department store in the Ginza district, we were greeted by a robot called Paprika.

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The robot, Paprika, was walking in the Lounge and came to us chirping, with flapping wings and rolling eyes, when we called his name.

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Ginza district in the evening

 

My friend Kato-san (I got to know her 8 years ago) invited me for a foot massage and we all went afterwards to a very special, local sea food restaurant. She also offered to take me to the Narita airport the next day, which is far away from Yuko’s house. We spent the last day together, visiting a special park at the Pacific Ocean, and I got to see the Narita temple again where I witnessed a fire ritual eight years ago. Yuko, Kato-san and a friend I had also met eight years ago brought me to the airport and helped me with my luggage, which was far too heavy. Unfortunately, I had to leave a lot of Sake behind.

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Kato-san, Yuko and I in front of the stupa of the Narita temple. I feel incredible grateful for their love and generosity. It was through their efforts and help that this pilgrimage became such a special experience.

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