MZC HERE-NOW

What should we do to save the world?

We were at 100 seconds before the end of the world according to the Doomsday Clock before Russia invaded Ukraine, but it has been shortened, as Putin has threatened to use nuclear weapons at his discretion. This war has been causing hundreds of thousands of people to be killed, tortured, raped, injured, displaced, orphaned, and starved, and the country’s infrastructure and the world’s economy and food distribution chain are in tatters. Global warming has been causing heatwaves, droughts, a rise in sea levels, and abnormal climates – more tornadoes, typhoons, flooding, land slides, and other adverse events. A mass extinction of species is eliminating familiar and beneficial animals and plants. The artificial, unidirectional pyramidal civilization is expanding the separation between rich and poor, creating dictators, arms races, refugees, crimes, etc. The biosphere is degraded, devastated, and doomed.

All of this has been caused by humans, who have developed skills and societies, sciences and technologies, and national and global networks that are causing nukes, wars, ecological problems, etc., which could lead to the doom of all, along with our eco systems. These problems are the result of human efforts to amass money, matter, and might, sacrificing all species and systems. The core culprit is their karma (actions, habits, and heredities), evolving into the Triple Poisons (desire, divisiveness, and delusion of ego). The primary problem is that people don’t even know this, much less know how to change it or actually work to change it. This is because karma has four billion years of history, attained and accumulated, augmented and authorized by all. This is the result of humans believing the current system to be the truth and the true way of living life by all, even with wars, nukes, arms races, conflicts, and terrorism by most people.

The Awakened One was awakened to the reality that this is only the conventional truth, and not the ultimate one. He was first awakened to the ultimate truth that there is no “self” as substance and sovereign, due to the Dharma of Dependent Co-origination. The fundamental delusion of “self” or “ego” is the cause of desire and divisiveness (delusion, bondage, discrimination, exploitation, and extermination being the five calamities), causing civilization (urbanization, since city states evolved to nation states) with walls for wars, colonialism, classes, slavery, etc., and leading to nukes, global warming, mass extinction of species, etc. He achieved his awakening by still sitting, stilling karma, seeing Dharma, serving and saving all. He defined all as karma-born, -heirs, -owners, -machines, and -refuged, and he shared a way out with all to attain nirvana and become awakened. He showed that anyone can do the same to attain nirvana/awakening and prognoses for anything.

Anyone can understand the truth and ethic he revealed and can activate it, first intellectually in that we see the Dharma of Dependent Co-origination, i.e., that all is related and relative, interrelated and interinfluenced like the Indra-net – and then we can work together to create peace, abolish nukes, avoid global warming, mass extinction of species, etc. We must follow his Five/Ten Precepts or a global ethic (first four of the Five Precepts employed as a global ethic: no killing, no stealing, no lying, and cooperation), which should be established as our universal human responsibilities, complementing our universal human rights. We must make a world organization for the equality of all, that prohibits wars, nukes, etc., and that enforces this beyond nations (which are fictitious bodies like other major actors: companies, media, religion, education) and nationalisms. Ideally we should practice still sitting, seeing Dharma, serving all as friends in need for completion.

June 17, 2022 C.E.

Note:

1. State systems from city states to nation states, representative of a pyramidal system, is a thousandth of human history (nation states are one tenth of state systems), almost a millionth of life history.
2. Human societies advanced from family, clan, tribal, racial, regional, national, and now to global. Almost all human activities have become global in economic, social, and cultural spheres, but politics lagged and is the largest remaining national, thus creating wars, nukes, dictators, discriminations, holocausts, persecutions, conflicts, terrorisms, refugees, etc.
3. Please refer to my paper, Paradigm Shift, for shifting the present artificial, unidirectional, pyramidal civilization for money, matter, and might with the five calamities as described above to a future fundamental, original, natural life Indra-net culture for life, heart, and harmony with the five blisses of awakening, freedom, equality, friendship, and peace:

 https://heiwasekai.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/%e3%80%8c%e6%9e%a0%e7%b5%84%e8%bb%a2%e6%8f%9b%e3%80%8d%ef%bc%9aparadigm-shift/?fbclid=IwAR2PEo9t4YwkwTSo4QRdVseqW08HeASD7orrenbOQLh181s72MAbV-WxkuM

4. The second Parliament of the World’s Religions, held in Chicago in 1993 with more than seven thousand religious people, issued “A Declaration of a Global Ethic” with four directives dedicated to the culture of no violence and respect for life, of solidarity and an equitable economic order, of tolerance and true living, of the equal partnership between women and men. It was reworded from the first four precepts of the Five Buddhist Precepts of no killing, no stealing, no lying, and no sexual misconduct. This was sent to the U.N. to publish as universal human responsibilities, but has since been shelved, as rights are more urgently needed. But, as Gandhi said, the Ganges of rights comes from the Himalaya of responsibilities, so the latter should come first.
   1. The Awakened One said that friends make all our life. Universal religions call the future savior “friend” (Mitra, Mithra, Mazda, Maitreya, Milu, Massiah, Messiah), but it is our potential to become “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” not waiting for others to save us, but we must save ourselves, as “Heaven helps those who help themselves.”

5. Flowers invite butterflies without minds,

   Butterflies visit flowers without minds,

   When flowers bloom, butterflies come,

   When butterflies come, flowers bloom,

   Neither I know people,

   Nor people know me,

   Following the heavenly law without knowing.

   Ryokan

私達は世界を救う為に何をすべきか？

ロシアのウクライナ侵略する前には世界終末時計によれば私達は世界の終わり百秒前にありましたが、プーチンが自らの思い通りに核兵器を使うと威嚇しているため、それは更に短くなりました。この戦争は何万人もの人々が殺され、拷問され、凌辱され、傷付き、居場所を追われ、孤児になり、飢餓に陥り、自国のインフラや世界の経済や食料配給が粉砕されて来ました。地球温暖化は熱波、旱魃、海面上昇や異常気象―増加する竜巻、台風、洪水、地滑りその他の不利事象―を惹起しています。生物種の大量絶滅は身近で有益な動植物を消滅させています。人工的で一方向的な金字塔文明は貧富の差を拡大し独裁者、軍拡競争、避難民、犯罪等を生んでいます。棲息圏は劣化し、荒廃し、破滅へ向かっています。

これら全ては人間により起こされたものですが、彼等は技術と社会、科学と技術、国家的と地球的網目組織を作り核、戦争、生態圏問題等を引き起こして来ましたが、これらは私達の生態組織と共に一切を破滅に導き得ます。これらの諸問題は人間の金・物・力の集積の努力の結果です。核心的犯行源は業（行動、習慣、遺伝）で、それが三毒（貪瞋痴）に発展したものです。第一の問題は人間がこれを知りさえしていないということであり、ましてやそれを如何にして変えるか、実際に変えるために活動することをしないということにあります。それは業が40億年の歴史を持ち、一切により達成され蓄積され、増加し権威付られて来たからです。これは人間が皆現在の組織は真実であり真の生活方法であると信じているからで、殆どの人にとっては戦争、核、軍拡競争、紛争、テロなどでさえ真実であるとされているのです。

覚者はこれは単に世俗諦（真理）過ぎず、究極諦ではないという現実に覚醒しました。彼は縁起の法により実体であり主宰である「自己」というものは無いという究極諦に最初に覚醒しました。「自己」即ち「エゴ」は根本的迷妄が欲望と差別の原因であり（その迷妄、束縛、差別、搾取、殺戮は五禍）戦争、植民主義、階級、奴隷制等の壁のある文明（＝都市化：城砦：都市国家から国民国家）を出来させ、地球温暖化、種の大量絶滅などに導いたのです。彼は静坐で業を静め、法を見、一切に奉仕・救済して覚醒を成就しました。彼は一切を業誕生者、業相続者、業所有者、業機械、業依拠者と定義し、それを出て涅槃を得て覚者となる方法を共有しました。彼は誰でも同様にして涅槃/覚醒を得て如何なるものに対しても般若（診断）智を達成することが出来ることを示しました。

誰でも彼が明白にした真理と倫理を理解し実践して、先ず知的に、縁起の法、即ち一切が相依相対し、帝釈網の（結び目の水晶が）関係・影響し合っていることを見てーそれから私達が平和を生み、核を廃棄し、地球温暖化、種の大量絶滅等を回避する為に共に働くことが出来るのです。私達は彼の五戒・十戒または地球倫理（五戒の最初の四つの不殺、不盗、不偽、協働を地球倫理として採用）に従い、私達の普遍（世界）人権（宣言）の補完として普遍人務（宣言）として確立されなければなりません。私達は皆が平等な世界組織を作り、戦争、核等を禁止し、それが諸国家（会社、メディア、宗教、教育などの主要行動体と同様に仮構体）と国家主義を超えてこれを強制するものにしなければなりません。理想的に、完成させるには私達は静坐、法観、一切奉仕救済を実践するべきです。

2022共通年6月17日

註：

1. 金字塔組織の代表である都市国家から国民国家までの国家組織は人類史の千分の一（国民国家は国家組織では十分の一）、生命史では殆ど百万分の一です。
2. 人間社会は家族、氏族、部族、種族、地区（集団）、国民（集団）から今や地球（集団）に進みました。経済、社会、文化領域での殆ど全ての人間活動は地球的になりましたが、政治は遅れて最大の国家（組織）で、それ故戦争、核、独裁者、差別、ホロコースト、迫害、紛争、テロ、避難民などを生んでいるのです。
3. 上述の五禍を伴う金・物・力を求める現在の人工的一方向金字塔文明から覚醒・自由・平等・友愛・平和の五福を伴う命・心・和の為の未来の根本的で本来の自然循環敵文化へ転換する私の論考、枠組転換、をご覧ください：https://heiwasekai.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/%e3%80%8c%e6%9e%a0%e7%b5%84%e8%bb%a2%e6%8f%9b%e3%80%8d%ef%bc%9aparadigm-shift/?fbclid=IwAR2PEo9t4YwkwTSo4QRdVseqW08HeASD7orrenbOQLh181s72MAbV-WxkuM
4. 1993年シカゴで七千人以上参加開催の第二回世界宗教会議は非暴力と生命尊重の文化への献身、一致団結と公正な経済秩序の文化への献身、寛容と真実の生活の文化への献身、の平等な権利と共同の文化への献身の四つの教令を持つ「地球倫理宣言」を発出しました。それは不殺、不盗、不偽、不邪淫の仏教の五戒の最初四戒を言い換えたものです。これは国連に普遍（世界）人務宣言として発布するようにと送られましたが、（世界人権宣言の）権利がより緊急に必要であるとして棚上げされています。しかしガンジーが「権利のガンジスは義務のヒマラヤに発する」というように、後者が優先されるべきなのです。
5. 覚者は「友達は私たちの人生の全てを為す」と言いました。普遍宗教は未来の救済主は友（Mitra, Mithra, Mazda, Maitreya, Milu, Massiah, Messiah)であると言っていますが、それは「必要の時の友こそ真の友」になる私達の可能性です、他者が私達を救うのを待つのではなく、「天は自ら助くる者達を助く」のですから自ら助けなければなりません。

      花無心招蝶
   蝶無心尋花                                                                    　花開時蝶来
   蝶来時花開
   吾亦不知人
   人亦不知吾
   不知従帝則

   　　　良寛

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J

沖縄「平和の礎」名前を読み上げる集い

      皆様

こんにちは。
ぜひ見ていただきたいサイトがあって、このマンガを描きました。
沖縄の「平和の礎」に刻まれている、さまざまな国籍の方々24万1632人のお名前を、
一人ひとりオンラインで読み上げる企画が、このいま、6月23日の「沖縄慰霊の日」まで
行われています。日本だけでなく外国からも「名前を読み上げたい」と申し込んだ約1500人の
方が、朝5時から深夜3時までお名前を読み上げ続けています。画面にはお名前、生年月日、
亡くなった場所、年齢が表示されます。赤ちゃん、子ども、お年寄り・・亡くなられた場所も
沖縄だけでなくフィリピンやサイパン、中国・・「山中」というのもあります。なぜそこで、
その方が命を奪われなければならなかったのか・・淡々と読み上げられるお名前の重み。
一人ひとりが生き、そして戦争で死んでいったという事実が、画面からほとばしってくる
ようです。マンガの中にもアドレスを入れていますが、下記のサイトからyoutubeで
「平和の礎　名前読み上げ」をライブで見ることができます。ぜひお聞きいただけたらと
思います。「名前」が発するいのちの響きを。
沖縄「平和の礎」名前を読み上げる集い
https://ishiji-yomiage.net/

西岡由香

  ー－－－－      

西岡さん、皆さん   youtubeを見ました。  「名前」が発するいのちの響きを。 

感じ取りました。  

このような企画を全く知りませんでした。  

西岡さんが得意の漫画で協力されていることは、 本当に素晴らしいことと思います。              

大塚卿之              

otsuka.shimoda@gmail.com         　

https://www.heiwasekai.org/http://www.wadashigemasa.com/

ー－－－－

由香さん、大塚さん、みなさん、  

由香さん、

何時も重要なニュースとそれに関する絵を

有難うございます。  

大塚さん、

読み進まれる一人一人の開花・結実すべき

人生が戦争という人種だけの悲劇により無

惨に断ち切られことを想うと残念・無念を

禁じ得ませんね。それぞれの姓に込められ

た思いも、名に込められた願いにも無限の

思いが感じられますが、ツル、カメ、チヨ、

マスなど鶴千年、亀万年、千代、満寿（増）

などが多く、出来るだけ生きて欲しいとの

親の思いの深さに驚かされています。

読み上げる人々にもそれぞれの繋がりと思

いがあることが伝わって来ますね。  

みなさん、

「国家と戦争の世紀」が終わり新世紀には

国家を超えた平和の世界へ進むと期待され

ていたのに、時代錯誤の妄想から領土拡大

で名前を残したいという狂気に凶器の侵略

戦争が起こされたことに人間の愚かさ蛮行

を痛切に思わずにはいられません。  

「国家の神話」妄信者、妄信悪用者達の大

量虐殺・拷問・凌辱・避難・破壊などを何

としても廃止し、独裁・侵略・戦争・核の

全廃をして世界終末を避ける「智慧人間」

であって欲しいと最近の「平和世界」「仏

教」「禅センター」のウェブサイトの載せ

た小論を添付しみなさんのご意見をお伺い

いたします：  

https://heiwasekai.wordpress.com/2022/06/10/%e5%a6%82%e4%bd%95%e3%81%ab%e3%81%97%e3%81%a6%e4%b8%96%e7%95%8c%e3%82%92%e7%a0%b4%e5%a3%8a%e3%81%8b%e3%82%89%e6%95%91%e3%81%86%e3%81%8b%ef%bc%9fhow-to-save-the-world-from-destruction/

https://heiwasekai.wordpress.com/2022/06/13/%e5%9b%bd%e5%ae%b6%e3%81%ae%e8%ab%b8%e8%8b%a6%e3%82%92%e5%a6%82%e4%bd%95%e3%81%ab%e3%81%97%e3%81%a6%e8%a7%a3%e6%b1%ba%e3%81%99%e3%82%8b%e3%81%8b%ef%bc%9f-how-to-solve-sufferings-of-the-state/  

本スレッドを転載・拡散させてもらいます。      

Rosan O. Yoshida 吉田収・魯参

www.heiwasekai.org

www.missourizencenter.org

www.global-ethics.org      

ー－－－－      

魯参さん、大塚さん、みなさま

こんにちは。

「平和の礎」名前を読み上げる集いのサイトを開いてくださってありがとう

ございます。いまこの瞬間も読み上げは続いています。

交替で読み上げる前に、それぞれ簡単な自己紹介をされるのですが、学校単位で

参加されていたり、ご自身が住む県出身の死没者を読み上げる方、「知的障がいの

ある息子に聞かせたい」と、親子で参加される方・・読み上げる方々の思いも

あわさって、聞く度に胸が熱くなります。

今からでもご覧いただけたら嬉しいです。

2024年6月 沖縄「平和の礎」名前を読み上げる集い

西岡由香

ー－－－－

由香さん、みなさん、  

サイド読み上げ者の紹介、読み上げを

聴かせてもらいました。様々な姓名が

ありそれぞれの人生があり、それが戦

争の為に絶たれたのですねー同地・同

姓は家族・親類でしょうが一家諸共も

あったのでしょうね。  

将軍や独裁者などの像が廃棄・破壊さ

れたりしていますが、このような記念

碑に取って代わられ平和の礎になって

欲しいものですね（私もここやひめゆ

りの塔、広島平和記念公園、記念館等

訪れましたが決して忘れることが出来

ないものです）。  

平和の礎：

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%B9%B3%E5%92%8C%E3%81%AE%E7%A4%8E#:~:text=%E9%AB%98%E3%81%951.5m%20%E5%85%A8%E9%95%B7,%E3%82%82%E3%81%AE%E3%81%A7%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%EF%BC%88%E5%BE%8C%E8%BF%B0%EF%BC%89%E3%80%82

  平和世界、地球倫理、仏教、禅センター

ウェブサイトに転載追加させて貰います。

Rosan O. Yoshida 吉田収・魯参

 

The Doomsday Clock is at 100 seconds before midnight, i.e., the doom of the world in 100 seconds. The utmost urgent problem is nuclear holocaust; nuclear warheads are now at hair-trigger alert, aimed at thousands of major cities, controlled by one man’s command, mishaps, etc. Wars of invasion, genocide, oppression, etc., are butchering, torturing, destroying infrastructure and trade, creating refugees, starvation, etc. Militarism sacrifices the solution to ecological, economic, social, and cultural problems.

 

The cause of this is the state system, from city to nation states, discriminating, exploiting, and exterminating outsiders by amassing money, matter, and might. This is due to the selfishness of egos, ego societies (states, media, companies, religions, educations: five fictitious bodies, but major actors). This is due to the delusion of ego, myths of the states, etc., mistake of mini-max and delusion of symbolism, as in mistaking ego greater than eco, delusion of selves, states as substance and sovereign.

 

The solution is stopping the fiction of symbolism of language, religion, state, etc. Ernst Cassirer defined humans as skillful symbol handlers, thus creating myths of the state, etc. The Buddha defined all beings as karma-born, -heirs, -owners, -machines, -refuged. If we understand them, we can be awakened from our delusion of the self, state, etc. and act in a new, truthful, ethical way of life and living, following the supramundane truth and global ethic, avoiding killing, stealing, lying, sacrificing others, living a holy life.

 

The way of solution lies in stopping min-max mistakes and stilling our karma and seeing the Dharma, serving and saving all. Stop selfishness, states sacrificing eco, life, life systems, etc. Still karma, see the Dharma of Dependent Co-origination, i.e., all related and relative, no absolute self, states, etc. Let all observe the global ethic, never allowing selves or states to violate them. Let us live in the holy (wholly wholesome) way and world as an integral part and parcel of the Indra-net, reflecting each other.

 

June 11, 2022 C.E.

 

Note:

1. Wars, colonialism, slavery, class, etc. started when humans started citadels, called civitas, polis, pura, bourg, etc., with walls of delusion, bondage, discrimination, exploitation, and extermination (five calamities of city states to nation states: mono-directional pyramidal civilization, urbanization, for money, matter, and might).

2. Mini-max mistakes are mistakes due to taking mini as max like ego as the most important/ greatest (than eco). All mistakes can be summarized in this from the major ones in space, time, and world (mundane as supra-mundane, etc. like mini as max).

3. Ernst Cassirer’s “An Essay on Man” is a good summary of his major work, Philosophy of Symbolic Forms. His The Myth of the State is a good work to see the problems of the state.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Cassirer

 

4. The greatest problem of humans is that humans themselves don’t even know that they are karma-machines, being caught by our own karma (actions, habits, heredities), much less no knowing of the solution to it and the actual practice of that solution.

 

 

国家の諸苦を如何にして解決するか？

 

世界終末時計は真夜中前100秒にある、即ち世界終末まで100秒ということである最も緊急の問題は核ホロコーストである、核弾頭が何千の主要都市を標的にして一人の命令、誤算などにより一触即発警戒態勢にある。侵略戦争、人種殲滅、弾圧などが惨殺、拷問、インフラ、貿易などを破壊し避難民、飢餓などを生み出す。軍事主義は環境、経済、社会、文化問題の解決を犠牲にしている。

 

この原因は金・物・力を集積して差別、搾取、殺戮する、都市国家から国民国家に至る、国家組織にある。これは我、我社会（国家、メディア、会社、宗教、教育の五仮構体乍ら主要行動体）の利己主義による。これはエゴをエコより偉大であるとし我、我国を実体であり主宰であるとする我、我国などの大小過誤、象徴主義の妄想による。

 

解決は言語、宗教、国家などのフィクションを止めることである。エルンスト・カッシラーは人間を象徴を巧妙に操り、そして国家の神話などを創始する者であると定義した。ブッダは一切衆生を業誕生者、業相続者、業所有者、業機械、業依拠者と定義した。もし我々が彼等を理解するなら、我、我国などの妄想から目覚め、超俗真理と地球倫理に従い、殺戮、窃盗、虚偽、他者犠牲を避け、聖なる生をを生きて、新しい真理、倫理にかなう生き方の人生を実践するであろう。

 

解決法は大小過誤を止めて、業を静め、法を見、一切に奉仕し救済することにある。自己中を止め、エコ、生命、生命系を犠牲にする国家を止めよ。業を静め、法、即ち、一切は相関相対であり、絶対的我も国家なもも無いという縁起の法を見よ。皆が、地球倫理を守り、如何なる我も我国もそれらを犯すことが無いようにしよう。相互に反映しあう（水晶の珠のように一切が反映しあう）帝釈網と全体一体であるように聖（全体健全）な方法と世界に生きよう。

 

2022共通年6月11日

 

註

• 戦争、植民、奴隷制、階級などは人が城砦、即ち（我）妄想、束縛、差別、搾取、殺戮（都市国家から国民国家：金・物・力を求める人工一方向金字塔文明の五禍）の壁のある城市（civitas, polis, pura, bourgなど）で始めた。

 

• 大小過誤は例えばエゴを（エコより）重大・偉大と小を大とする過誤。一切の過誤は主要な空間、時間、世界（世俗を超俗とする）小を大とする主要な過誤を総括している。

 

• エルンスト・カッシラーの「人間」（岩波書店刊）は彼の主著である「象徴形式の哲学の良い摘要である。彼の「国家の神話」は国家の問題を見るのに良い著作である。

 

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AB%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AB%E3%83%83%E3%82%B7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC

 

 

• 人間の最大の問題は自らが我々自身の業（行動、習慣、遺伝）の捕らわれている業機械であることさえ知らないことであるが、その解決方法を知らず、まして実践しないことが更に問題である。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Buddha’s decision to enter the world to save it from destruction, rather than enjoying his personal peace in the forest, is recorded in the Ariya-pariyesana Sutta, Holiness-search Scripture. This scripture describes his search for holiness, his attainment of liberation, and the launching of his life mission to save all beings, despite the world being sunken in ālaya, attachment, and the difficulty of understanding the Dharma of all dharmas, the Law of Dependent Co-origination.

It is clear that he sought holiness, a wholly wholesome way, and discovered the Dharma of all dharmas, but the world is under deep-seated clinging (karma: the Triple Poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion of ego), which would destroy the world; he therefore determined to dedicate his whole life to saving all beings, the whole world. He attained awakening, thus was called Buddha, in the Dharma, and he taught the Dharma, sharing it with all, creating Sangha, Community of all.

Dogen said that if not with all, it is neither the Awakened Way nor the Great Vehicle. If we truly understand the Dharma of all dharmas that we are all related and relative, we can be liberated from the Triple Poisons, especially their root, egocentricity. He also said, “The Zazen of even one person at one time mutually merges with all dharmas in profundity and perfectly penetrates all time.” Like him and the Buddha, we can become one with the whole world, like the Indra-net.

The Awakened Way has the Triple Treasures of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, not money, matter, and might; and the Triple Learnings of Morality, Concentration, and Prognosis to pacify the Triple Poisons; and the Quadruple Limitlessness or Brahma-vihara, Prime / Purity-abode, of friendship, compassion, joy, and renunciation. A friend (Mitra, Mithra, Maitreya, Mazda, Messiah, et al.) is actually everyone’s potential to become “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

Note:

1. Ariya (: Pali, ārya: Sanskrit) is a cognate of Greek hagia (English holy, from which Aryan, Iranian came). Rudolf Otto defined religion as holy. Religion came from the Latin religare (reunion). Thus we can define religion as reunion with holiness, a wholly (all) wholesome (harmonious, healthy, happy) way and world from sin (separation, selfish sickness, cf. asunder, sundry).

2. Ālaya means accumulation, as in Hima-ālaya, Snow-stored (mountain), and accumulated habit / heredity or karma (action, habit, heredity). Ālaya-viññāṇa (vijñāṇa), stored consciousness, is considered to be the eighth consciousness, deep-seated defiled consciousness.

 

3. Saham-pati, the Lord of the Shared or Common World, whom the Buddha described to the people, so they could understand easily, as the Lord who besought him to go into the world, is Brahma or Indra in Indian Mythology, but also the personification of the universal law of Dependent Co-origination, penetrating throughout the world. Sahā is often (mis)understood as forbearance (from sah, to forbear), but seems to come from Saha-loka, Shared-world, in contrast to Ātma-loka, Self-world. Sahampati, the Lord of the Pure Abode, is difficult to be considered as the Lord of the Forbearance or Suffering:

 

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198605607.001.0001/acref-9780198605607-e-1534

 

4. The Indra-net, which covers the whole world and has crystal balls on each of its knots, reflecting each other limitlessly, is an illustration of the Dharma of all dharmas, the Norm / Law of all forms / phenomena. If all understood and activated the Dharma, there would be no one to wage war, pollute the world, cause the demise of species, including themselves, and destroy the world, our life network, which is like the Indra-net.

 

5. If we become good friends (kalyāna-mitta, kalyāna-mitra), globally making the world like the Indra-net, we can solve all our problems and avoid all suffering. And we can make all harmonious, healthy, and happy in peace and awakening.

6. It is easily said and difficult to do. The Buddha said that it is as difficult to be born a human being as a blind turtle, living at the bottom of ocean, coming up to the surface, and accidentally sticking its head into the hole of a piece of driftwood, but even that much more difficult to meet the Awakened Way. It is easier to meet it, but hard to practice it. We, moving animals, want to move (fight for food, flight from enemies, etc.), and we consider sitting to be killing time, thus we live like mice running on treadwheels, never getting off of them. As the Buddha said, we are karma-born, -heirs, -owners, and -refuged for four billion years with heredity and evolution. Thus, it is difficult to still karma, and only practice makes perfect in taking refuge in good karma, avoiding bad karma. Dogen said that we can become one with the whole world in space and time when we do Zazen, which is the core practice of the Awakened Way to still karma and witness nirvana and awakening.

 

　　　Chiggala Sutta, The Hole Scripture:

　　　https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.048.than.html

 

7. Please refer to A Paradigm Shift from an artificial pyramid uni-directional civilization (urbanization, from civitas, city: citadel) for money, matter, and might in the five calamities (delusion, bondage, discrimination, exploitation, and extermination) to a natural cyclical life culture for life, heart, and harmony with the five blisses (awakening, freedom, equality, friendship, and peace):

 　https://heiwasekai.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/%e3%80%8c%e6%9e%a0%e7%b5%84%e8%bb%a2%e6%8f%9b%e3%80%8d%ef%bc%9aparadigm-shift/?fbclid=IwAR2PEo9t4YwkwTSo4QRdVseqW08HeASD7orrenbOQLh181s72MAbV-WxkuM

 

8. Ariya-pariyesana Sutta, Holy-search Scripture:

Text:

https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh198_Horner_The-Noble-Quest–Ariyapariyesana-Sutta.pdf

English translation: https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html

如何にして世界を破壊から救うか？

ブッダが森の中で個人的平安を楽しむよりも、世の中に出てその破滅を防ぐ決断は聖求経（アリヤ・パリイェーサナ・スッタ）に記録されています。この経は彼が聖を探求し、解脱を得て、世の中が執着に沈んでおり、諸法の法である縁起を理解するのは難しいにも拘わらず、一切衆生を救済するとうい自らの人生の使命に取り掛かったことを述べています。

彼が聖、全体健全の方法を追求し、諸法の法を発見しましたが、世間は根深い執着（業：貪、瞋、エゴの痴の三毒）の下にあり、それが世界の破滅になるだろうから、彼は一切衆生、全世界を救う為に自らの全生涯を奉げる決意をしました。彼は法の覚醒を得たのでブッダ（覚者）と呼ばれ、法を教え、それを一切と共有し、一切のサンガ（共同体）を創りました。

道元は、一切でなければ覚道でも大乗でもない、と言いました。もし私達が本当に一切が相依し相対であるという諸法の法を真に理解するならば三毒、特にそれらの根源である我中心から自由になるでしょう。彼はまた「一人一時の坐禅なりといへども諸法とあい冥し諸時とまどかに通ず」と言いました。彼やブッダと同様、私達も帝釈網の様に、全世界と一つになることが出来るのです。

覚道は、金物力ではなく、仏法僧の三宝を持ち、三毒を鎮静化する戒定慧の三学を持っています、そして慈悲喜捨の四無量あるいは四梵住、即ち最高/清浄住、を持っています。友（ミトラ、ミスラ、弥勒、マズダ、メシア等）は実際には「必要の時の友は真の友」になる誰でもの可能性です。

註

１．アリヤ（パーリ語、梵語ではアーリャ）はギリシャ語のハギア（英語のholyで、これからアーリヤン、イランが語が出来ました）。ルードルフ・オットーは宗教とは聖であるとしました。宗教（religion）はラテン語religareに由来します。したがって宗教は罪（sin＝separation, selfish sickness: 自己中病患、参考：asunder, sundry）から聖に再結合することである、と定義出来ます。

２．アーラヤはヒマ‐アーラヤ、雪貯蔵（山）の様に、累積を意味し、累積習慣・遺伝または業（行動、習慣、遺伝）を意味します。アーラヤ識（Ālaya-viññāṇa,‐vijñāṇa: 蔵識、阿頼耶識）は第八識、根深い染汚識と考えられています。

３．サハン‐パティは共有/共同社会の主とはインド神話ではブラフマンかインドラで、自分に世に出るように頼まれたと、ブッダが人々が判りやすいようにそう言ったもので、世界に貫徹する普遍法、縁起、を人格化したものです。サハーは（sah:堪忍する）で堪忍世界と（誤）解されているが、アートマ・ローカ（自己世界）に対するサハ・ローカ（共同世界）から来たものと思われます。清浄世界主が堪忍世界の主とは考えにくいのです：

https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198605607.001.0001/acref-9780198605607-e-1534

４．全世界を多い、その結び目に水晶の珠が付いてお互いに無限に反映し合う帝釈網は形態/現象の理法/法則である諸法の法の象形例示です。その法を皆が理解し行動するならば、戦争をしかけ、世界を汚染し、自らを含む諸生物種を絶滅させ、帝釈網の様な私達の生命網である世界を破壊する者は居ないでしょう。

５．もし私達が善友(kalyāna-mitta, kalyāna-mitra)になり地球的に世界を帝釈網のようにするならば、私達の一切の問題を解決し、一切苦を排除できるでしょう。そして私達は一切を平和と覚醒の中に調和、健康、幸福にすることが出来ます。

６．言うは易く行うは難し。ブッダは海底に住む盲亀が百年に一度大海の表面に浮かび上がり偶々浮いている一片の木の穴に首を突っ込む程に人間として生まれることは難しいが、更にもっと難しいのは覚道に遭うことだと言いました。それに遭うのは比較的易しいが、それを実践することは更に難しいのです。動物である私達は（食の為戦い、敵から逃げるなど）動きたく、坐ることは時間の浪費と思い、踏み車の中で走る鼠のように生活し、決してそれから抜け出そうとしません。ブッダが言ったように私達は四十億年の遺伝と新化の業生者、業相続者、業所有者、業依拠者です。こうして業を静めることは難しいのですが、悪業を避け善業に依拠するには実践のみ完成に導くのです。道元は、私達が坐禅をすれば時空全世界と一つになると、言いましたが、これが業を静め涅槃と覚醒を実体験する覚道の核心です。

Chiggala Sutta, 穴経：盲亀浮木の喩：

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.048.than.html

７．金・物・力の為の五禍（錯誤・束縛・差別・搾取・殺戮）の人工一方向金字塔文明から命・心・和の為の五福（覚醒・自由・平等・友愛・平和）の自然循環命帝網文化への枠組転換を参照ください：

https://heiwasekai.wordpress.com/2018/01/20/%e3%80%8c%e6%9e%a0%e7%b5%84%e8%bb%a2%e6%8f%9b%e3%80%8d%ef%bc%9aparadigm-shift/?fbclid=IwAR2PEo9t4YwkwTSo4QRdVseqW08HeASD7orrenbOQLh181s72MAbV-WxkuM

８．聖求経：Ariya-pariyesana Sutta:

Text:

https://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh198_Horner_The-Noble-Quest–Ariyapariyesana-Sutta.pdf

抜粋訳：

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%81%96%E6%B1%82%E7%B5%8C

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国家・核・戦争から生系・命・平和への枠組み転換を

The Navajo Indian tribe is the largest tribe in the US with nearly 400 000 people belonging to this nation. They live on their native land, as it was considered useless by former US government officials. As a nation, they are partially independent from the US with their own police force and their own rules – which have to be followed. Their land spans over areas of Arizona, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado. As a Christmas present, David organised a six day long tour in Northern Arizona with the emphasis on the Vermillion Cliffs and the area around Lake Powell. Most of it was on Navajo Land.

The trip from Phoenix to Page normally takes a bit over five hours – but we needed more than 9 hours. A severe forest fire north of Flagstaff forced us to take a detour. The navigator led us to an unmarked dirt road, which we followed for several miles. The road deteriorated continuously, leading into an area blanketed by black volcanic rocks. The snow capped mountains of San Francisco Peaks and the black smoke of the forest fire in the far distance together with the black volcanic rocks created a dramatic atmosphere.

Snow capped San Francisco Peaks in the distance

Clouds of dust indicated that a few cars were behind us.  At one point, a car which originally past us, came back, stopped with the driver shouting nervously: “You must turn around, the road becomes impassable!” We believed him and drove back to the main road which took us through Navajo and Hopi Land to Page. In Page, we heard that on the first day of the fire, a truck driver wanting to reach Page had to take a 40 miles long detour on dirt roads – we were lucky!

Nearly impassable dirt road covered with sharp lava rocks

When driving through Hopi land, we stopped at a private house selling Indian art. I especially loved the Kachina doll above – it represents the mother of all Kachina dolls. Kachinas are spirits who express the presence of life in all objects in the universe. According to Hopi belief, they are supernatural beings who visit the Hopi villages during the first half of the year and live on the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff the rest of the time.

When we arrived in Page, a town founded in 1957 by workers building the Glen Canyon Dam, we were welcomed by my sister in law and brother in law, Billie and Ron, and Billie’s brother Scott, who lives and works in Page. His knowledge of the area was extremely helpful!

Damned up Colorado River

Very close to Page near the Glen Canyon Dam, two iron bridges span over the Colorado River. The space underneath the bridge is the favorite place for Condors to rest. The Condors were successfully bread after nearly becoming extinct in the beginning of the 20th century. In 1904, only 22 Condors existed in California. Now the Vermillion Cliffs counts 111. All Condors are marked and registered. The breading success is especially remarkable because a female Condor only lays one egg every two years.

Navajo Bridge on the left side

Colorado River

Male Condor attracting a female

Successful attraction

With wings spreading wide

the Condor soars in the sky –

Vermillion Cliffs

Horseshoe Bend

Scott took us onto the Vermillion Cliffs where only a four wheel drive can go. He showed us foundations of former Pueblo settlements and Indian graves. Pieces of Indian pottery were scattered over the ground. He found little white stones with a specific pattern, probably carved by Indian boys learning to make arrowheads.

Scott’s truck on the Vermillion Cliffs plateau

Looking for arrowheads

I am fascinated by the crisp shadows on the red sand

 Many pieces of Indian pottery collected on rocks by former visitors

Interesting rock formation

Many bigger and smaller slot canyons can be found in the area of Page. Some of them are marked as official trails. We decided to hike the 9 mile long Wire Pass Trail to Buckskin Gulch. In order to preserve the nature and keep masses of tourists out, one has to acquire a parking permit the day before the hike.

Wire Pass trail to Buckskin Gulch

Climbing through the narrow canyon on ladders

Breathtaking!

Balancing on sometimes wiggling rocks over knee-deep water

Strange, white formation over a resting group of people

More stunning impressions with Billie walking in the front

Climbing up the slippery sandstone and having fun

Stone formation beside Highway 89A

Toadstool Hoodoo

Interesting circles on the bottom of the Hoodoo

I called this rock formation “Laughing Buddha”

Rock formation beside the road – I called it 3 sisters

When I lived in Arizona, I always wanted to visit Antelope Canyon in Northern Arizona (1993 – 1999). At this time, the slot canyons were not considered a major tourist attraction and one had to rappel into the canyons. Then a terrible tragedy made the news around the world. 11 international tourists where trapped and drowned by a flash flood in Lower Antelope Canyon on August 12, 1997. Now, the Lower and Upper Antelope Canyons are run by the Navajo nation who manage the access to the canyons and make sure that the Canyon is safe to enter.

We visited the Lower and the Upper Antelope Canyons, each time with different Navajo tour company. Wearing masks was required, as the Navajo suffered from a lot of Covid deaths. Both slot canyons are spectacular and the photos do not even remotely represent the beauty of colour, light and shade and especially the formations. It is very difficult to take good photos in the canyon, as the difference between the bright sky above and the darkness in the narrow canyon is extreme – so you only get a taste of the beauty.

The waves in the Navajo sandstone were formed by million of years of flooding.

Signs of past floods could be seen either on the ground or high above. The force of the water rushing through the narrows is unimaginable.

A powerful tree trunk at the bottom

A former wooden gate in between the narrow rock walls

Looking up to the sky where only a sliver of light can be seen

Sometimes the wind blows fine sand into the canyon and settles everywhere

Every corner is a miracle of the forces of water, wind and light 

Often the guide pointed out specific formations, like a bear or the head of Abraham Lincoln. The formation above is like a woman’s head.

Stairways lead into the canyon and later up again.

This narrow slot is the exit of the Lower Antelope Canyon

When returning to Phoenix, we took a little detour and visited the Grand Canyon. I had not been there for over 20 years.

A row of mailboxes, typical for the countryside in the West

Beside the road, a trading company where tourists can buy native American jewellery and other things of the Wild West.

 When we arrived at the Grand Canyon, we stopped at some viewpoints and looked down into the breathtaking canyon carved out by the Colorado River over millions of years.

Huge parking lots created for the masses of tourists visiting the Grand Canyon every year could not ruin the beauty of the canyon – but it was disappointing to see how mass tourism is changing the pristine character in some spots.

Today, April 8, is the Buddha’s birthday, called Flower Festival in Japan. On this day we bathe his baby figure with amacha, sweet tea, representing kanro, sweet dew, amrita, ambrosia of immortality, nirvana, and awakening, which he later attained. Any buddha, awakened one, can attain this by practicing Zazen, Sitting Meditation, culminating in nir–vāṇa, no-wind of karma containing the Triple Poisons of desire, divisiveness, and delusion (of self-same, self-sovereign self-substance).

The Buddha found that all living beings are karma-born, -heirs, -owners, -machines, and -refuged. Humans have evolved 4 billion years’ of heredity since life started, developing their brains and hands, languages and arts, sciences and technologies. They have now become the most dangerous animals and can terminate the global life system by nukes, wars, global warming, pollution, etc., as we witness the Russian war on Ukraine, the attacking of nuclear power plants, and the threat of using nuclear weapons.

War is the worst crime, negating the most important value for any living being, life, thus negating its life rights – freedom, autonomy, peace, equality, families, friendship, etc., and thus ignoring all values endowed by limitless time and space. This crime is committed by the sin (meaning “separation,” selfishness and sickness) of dictators and their puppets, and comes from the delusion of a separate self, ignoring all ancestors, relatives, animals, plants, the earth, the sun, air, etc.

The solution lies in sitting still, stilling karma, seeing the Dharma (of Dependent Co-origination of all dharmas, phenomena, on causes and conditions), serving and saving all, in unconditioned peace and unsurpassed awakening, replacing bad karmas with good ones. If everyone does so, the whole world can cooperate to concentrate on stopping wars, stopping idle talk according to the Buddha’s advice of first pulling out a poisoned arrow, and then creating a new wholly wholesome world.

The Buddha attained nirvana and awakening in the Dharma (Truth/Ethic), and devoted his whole life to saving the world from destruction, urged by Brahma (Dharma). Everyone has the duty to do so, making “vox populi vox dei.” Religion (Latin, religare) means reunion with holiness (wholly wholesomeness, making all harmonious, healthy, and happy) from sin.  Supramundane truth and prognosis transcend the “Mythology of State,” making the world of all beings without war, nuclear holocaust, global warming, etc.

Note1. There are legends that the Buddha, sitting under a dead tree, stopped the marching army of Viḍudhabha of Kosala to destroy his native country repeatedly, telling him, “The shade is superior to the others,” upon the latter’s question, “Why are you sitting under the dead tree, while there are a lot of big trees with abundant leaves?”

2. Ernst Cassirer defined humans as “symbolic animals” writing “Philosophy of Symbolic Form,” “An Essay on Man,” “The Myth of the State,” etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernst_Cassirer

今日四月八日は仏陀の誕生日で、日本では花祭りと呼ばれています。この日私達はその赤ん坊の像に甘露、不死、即ち涅槃と悟り、の神饌、を表す甘茶で沐浴させますが、それを後に達成したのです。誰でも坐禅により究極的に涅槃、即ち貪瞋痴（自己同一の自己主宰の、自己実体という無明）の三毒を含む業の無風、に達しそれを得ることが出来、仏陀、覚者、になれるのです。

仏陀は一切の生き物は業‐相続者、‐誕生者、‐所有者、‐機械、‐依拠者であることを発見しました。人間は生命誕生以来四十億年の遺伝で新化し、脳と手、言語と諸芸、科学と技術を発展させて来ました。彼らは今や最も危険な動物となり、原発の攻撃、原爆使用の威嚇などのロシアのウクライナへの戦争で目の当たりにしているように核、戦争、地球温暖化、汚染などで地球の生命系を終わらせることが出来ます。

戦争は生き物の最も重要な価値である生命否定し、それで生命の権利である自由、自治、平和、平等、家族、友人等を否定し、こうして無限の時間と空間の賜物である一切の価値を無視するのです。この犯罪は独裁者達とその操り人形達の罪（「分離」と言う意味で利己主義と疾患）によって犯され、一切の祖先、演者、動物、植物、地球、太陽、空気などを無視して、分離された自我という迷妄に由来しているのです。

その解決は静かに坐り、業を静め、（一切の法、現象、は原因と条件によって因縁生起するという）法を見て、悪業を善業に変えて条件付けられない平和（涅槃）とそれを超えることが出来ない覚醒（悟り）の内に、一切に奉仕し救済することでできます。誰もがそうすることで世界全体が、なによりも最初に毒矢を抜き、その後で新しい全体健全な世界を創造するべきであるという仏陀の忠告に従って戯論を止め、戦争を止めることに集中するよう協力することが出来ます。

仏陀は涅槃を達成して法（真理・倫理）に目覚め梵天（普遍法）に促されて世界を破滅から救うことにその一生を捧げました。誰でもが「民の声は神の声」を挙げてそうする義務があります。宗教（religionはラテン語の サイケ結合religareに由来）とは罪から聖（全体健全、一切を調和、健康、幸福にする）に再結合することです。超俗の真理と診断は「国家の神話」を超越して一切存在の世界を戦争、核のホロコースト、地球温暖化などの無い所にします。

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註　１．枯れ木の下に坐っていた仏陀にコーサラ国のヴィドゥダッタが故国を滅ぼす為に進軍して来たが、それを見て、”葉の茂った大木が沢山あるのに、どうして枯れ木の下に坐っているのですか」と尋ねたので、仏陀は「親族の陰は他の人にまさる」と言って繰り返し進軍を止めたという伝説があります。

2. エルンスト・アルフレッド・カッシラーは「象徴形式の哲学」、「人間」、「国家の神話」などを書いて、人間を「象徴の動物」と定義しました。

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AB%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B9%E3%83%88%E3%83%BB%E3%82%AB%E3%83%83%E3%82%B7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BC

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Photo taken by Rev. Shinko Daigen (Mr. Noriyuki Otsuka), Shimoda, Shizuoka, Japan

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Let’s All Raise “Vox Populi Vox Dei/Dharma!

1 From All:

https://chng.it/9kZwhfNN

2. 1 + Japanese Future

https://chng.it/wdK7YTPZ

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My 88-Temple-Hike in Shikoku

Though this hike was a secret wish deep in my heart for many years, I would not have thought that, one day, I would go this path alone. The country was foreign to me, I did not speak a single word of Japanese, and the 1,200 km route is very long. However, many different circumstances later, on March 1, 2016, I passed the temple gate of Ryōzenji (temple 1). I had dared to make the first step and was ready to take on the challenges of a 54-day hike.

When I prepared for the pilgrimage, I did not know that the 88-temple pilgrimage is based on Kukai or Kobo Daishi, who was born in Shikoku about 1 200 years ago. I was surprised to learn that the pilgrimage goes back to the time when Kukai still was alive and continued without interruption up to today. However, the most astonishing fact I found out that nearly all of the pilgrims today are bus pilgrims. Out of 200 000 pilgrims a year, only about 2000 take the hardship of walking the route.

For me, walking a pilgrimage is crucial. When walking in solitude, one can practice deep listening, which opens the heart to everything that is. It is a walk into the world of not knowing, which allows the world to come forward in every experience. One learns to trust in life. I think that a walking pilgrim is an adventurer ready to take risks. Taking risks and stepping out of the habitual life means to face one’s own vulnerability, which needs courage and endurance. By stepping out of the self-imposed limitations, it is possible to discover in depth the inner physical and mental landscape.

In general, by walking several days in solitude, the heart fills with joy and gratefulness. The beauty of the world steps forward and each moment becomes precious. The journey itself is the goal and not so much the sacred sites. However, in Shikoku, I experienced that doing the rituals at the temple sites became as important as the walk itself.

My first step through the temple gate of Ryōzenji was a step into a foreign world. I was wearing the typical pilgrim’s clothing – a white shirt without sleeves, a white pilgrim’s bag, the cone-shaped pilgrim’s hat and the pilgrim’s staff.  I had made the decision before the pilgrimage to respect and adapt to the Japanese culture and especially follow the rituals in the temples. I bowed before entering the gate and, when stepping over the wooden post [sic], I was careful not to touch the beam [sic]. After this I washed my hands and my mouth and followed the rules of washing. After the cleansing I went over to the big temple bell, pulled back the heavy wooden post [sic] and let it hit the bell – the sound announced my arrival to the main god of the temple. There was a vibration and I could feel the waves passing through my body like a shower of rain. (

The pilgrims’ protocol prescribes exactly each detail of the ritual that has to be performed in front of the main hall and the Daishido. In the beginning, I was completely overwhelmed; after all, most of it was foreign to me and I felt I was in the wrong place! At Jūrakuji (temple No. 7), my voice cracked when I was reciting the Heart sutra. I felt hopelessly lost and saw this as a sign not to follow the rituals anymore. At this moment, a pilgrim appeared next to me and began to recite the rest of the Heart sutra together with me. This event was a turning point in my pilgrimage. I felt better from day to day, the rituals became an important part of my trip and I began to really appreciate them.

Though I walked most of the path alone, I had big help from Tokyo. My friend Yuko Iwatani and her husband Shigeo, the former ambassador of Japan to Austria, took me to Ryōzenji and accompanied me until Shōsanji, temple No 12. Yuko gave me her old telephone, with which I could call her any time. A big help were the sentences in Japanese writing she sent me to the telephone. The most important sentence: “Could you please reserve an accommodation for me?” Yuko also established “Traude’s Support Group”. This group consisted of three friends whom I could contact any time. Though communication was difficult on the path, there were always possibilities to understand each other if needed.

But all this help could not prevent that I came into difficult situations again and again. One of my biggest fears was to get lost or go the wrong way. My guide was the pilgrim’s book with maps. However, I preferred to follow the markers. These markers were like good friends, nodding to me friendly and telling me: ” You are on the right path!” They gave me confidence. But sometimes these simple symbols were missing. So, one day, after a many-hours-long, lonesome mountain hike, I arrived at a crossroads without pilgrimage markers. Three wooden arrows with Japanese writing pointed in three different directions and I did not know where I was. Did I go the wrong way? Shortly before this, I climbed iron ladders over a nearly vertical rock. The feeling of deep insecurity grew in me, especially since I did not have any reception and could not reach Yuko. My heart started pounding when I was standing there, lost, when suddenly I heard a distant sweeping noise. I followed it and found a man who actually cleaned the path with a broom in the middle of the forest! I was in awe! He assured me I was on the right path.

They say that Kōbō Daishi is accompanying the pilgrim on this pilgrimage at all times. This is expressed through the sentence: “dōgyō ninin”. I could replace Kōbō Daishi with “Inner Trust in that what just is”. By trusting life, each moment was filled with vitality and joy despite difficulties and times of feeling lost, helpless, fearful or tired.

Aside from the 88 temples, I also visited many Shintō shrines and bangais, which are temples that do not belong to the group of 88 temples. I also stayed at the Zen temple Zuiōji in the prefect of Ehime. I have been a practitioner of Soto Zen for a long time. The recommendation to spend a few days there came from my Zen teacher, Rosan Yoshida Rōshi. Zuiōji was his training monastery. It is one of the most traditional Sōtō Zen training monasteries in Japan. As it happened, it was situated on my route and I obtained permission to practice there with the monks.

Heavy rain was falling when I entered the monastery district. The dense fog above the top of the trees mirrored my inner feelings. I had great doubts, if the decision to come here had been the right one. The straight lines of the big stone garden in front of the building with the green copper roof seemed to be threatening and unfriendly. I did not know where to go and followed a path that led me directly into the kitchen. There, the cook (tenzo) received me with a big smile and said: ” You must be Garyō-san. Welcome to Zuiōji!” These words chased away all my doubts. It was like coming home.

I stayed in Zuioji for 8 days, including Buddha’s birthday on April 8. Daikai-san (tenzo) was the only person who spoke English and also knew German. After showing me my room, he introduced me to the schedule and rules. He explained how to enter the sodo, how to walk, how to get on the tan (platform) for zazen, how to eat the traditional way of oryoki, where to change slippers, go barefoot or wear white socks, when to sit in seiza. He gave me the schedule of the day starting at 3:50 am in the morning and ending at 8:55 pm with zazen. Soon, I was overwhelmed and expressed my feelings to him. He answered “do not worry! I will be here to help!” And this was right! It was not only him who helped me but I felt the support of the whole community of monks. In addition, buildings, timing and rules support the practice of the Buddha mind and create a flow which feels like a strong current carrying one forward. I just had to follow this flow and do my best. It was very interesting that the greeting of the monks “otsukaresamadesu” (thank you for your effort) expressed the energy I felt in Zuioji. Despite my many mistakes, I felt included and part of the whole.

I especially appreciated meeting the over 90-year-old abbot Tsugen Narasaki Roshi, who was for me the living Dharma. When I left Zuioji to continue my pilgrimage, he suggested a goodbye photo in front of the white elephant placed before the hatto at Buddha’s birthday. I value this photo very much!

The Shikoku pilgrimage was a wonderful experience where I could witness the tremendous kindness of Japanese people, the beauty of the country and the richness of the culture. However, by walking I also saw huge problems in the countryside. Especially in the prefecture of Kochi, the countryside looked abandoned and full of poverty. I saw trash piled up beside the street, crammed into abandoned houses or broken-down cars. Still full furnished houses collapsed with nature taking over the site because nobody cared after the last resident died. Walking on many asphalt roads and especially through tunnels without a pedestrian walkway made the pilgrimage exhausting and sometimes dangerous. In addition, bus tourists often occupy the shukubos and a singular pilgrim does not have much chance to stay in the temple, which is a pity!

As pilgrimages by foot become more and more popular in Europe as well in the US, the old Japanese pilgrimage routes of Shikoku und Kumano Kodo have tremendous potential to attract people coming to Japan. The focus, however, needs to shift more towards people who walk than towards bus pilgrims.

I am very grateful that I could walk the pilgrimage and experience Japanese life and culture in such an authentic way! More information about the pilgrimage and my experiences can be found in my book. A shorter version of the path is on my blog:

Simplyjustwalking.com

Japanese version at the end of the following newsletter (former half: latter half will be posted later).

日本語翻訳は下をクリックして読んでください（最後の欄です、日本語後半は発行次第転載します）。

日墺協会会報2021_12

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The following picture was taken on March 16, 2022, two days before the full moon, from her window:

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Please use this for Yoshida’s presentation:

paradigm shift, karma to dharma