Unfinished Buddhist monk

'Freedom and Unchained Zazen'

Everyone has their own approach to zazen.
Their purposes vary too.

The Buddha's zazen.
Dōgen's zazen.
Zazen for health.
Zazen for training.
Zazen for observation.
Zazen as oneness with all things.

How wonderfully free and unfettered it is.
Brilliant🙂

Yet we leave the true final disposal of what came before, or of these new things themselves, to others, choosing not to look.

This isn't just about rubbish.
I felt compelled to pay more attention to the reality of each thing's final destination.

Furthermore, combustible waste is incinerated, but again, ash remains in the end.
It never truly becomes zero.

We tend to focus on newly created things as developments or evolutions.

'Initially attention, ultimately indifference'

The other day, I spoke with someone from the waste disposal company.
They explained that waste which cannot be recycled ultimately ends up being buried, and the volume is enormous.

Even though it was the result of both sets of actions, I justified only my present self.
This is not fair.

Such things can also happen in my relationship with something else.
I resolved to be more careful.

'Don't blame it all on something else'

The other day, I overslept terribly...
At the time, I blamed my actions from the night before.
I shielded my present self for not waking up then, placing all the blame squarely on my past self.

The sun seems to constantly release an immense amount of energy.
That heat reaches us and affects us.
And we take action.
That action then affects something else.
It looks like energy propagating.

Is the sun receiving energy from something else too?
It feels like something truly grand, doesn't it?🙂

'Where did that energy go?'

I suddenly wondered.

There are all sorts of energies, but where exactly does emitted energy go?
Does it simply vanish?
Or is it absorbed somewhere else entirely?
Or perhaps it doesn't emit at all, but circulates within itself?
I'm not quite sure.

It means you've gained a new viewpoint.
You can see a new world.

It's not a bad idea to cast despair aside and take a good, long look.

'When you feel empty'

Do you ever feel, in a fleeting moment, that everything is empty?
I feel that way sometimes too.

Often, we tend to take it negatively, but why not try taking it positively sometimes?

In a way, it's a shift in perspective.

'Assistance from others is absolutely essential' Part 2

However, we do not merely receive that help.
Each and every one of us also becomes a source of help to others.
It is not one-way.
It is two-way.
It is built upon mutual support and mutual aid🙂
※Should the balance be upset, it will collapse.

Breathing is only possible with the help of air.
Nutrition is only possible with the help of energy from others.
Everything is like this.

'Assistance from others is absolutely essential' Part 1

We sometimes think that we live alone.
From the perspective of personal life, it may appear so, but broadening our view reveals this is not the case.
We can only live with the help of others.

Even when holding opposing positions, I felt once again that if one takes the stage for discussion, a minimum level of respect for one's opponent is essential.

'Even if one uses polite language...'

The other day, I listened to a debate among politicians.
Though their language was polite, they seemed to be provoking each other.
Perhaps it's necessary for a debate, but at times they strayed from the discussion, and I wondered if it was appropriate.

'Even if you cannot reduce ten to zero, it still has meaning'

Even if we cannot reduce sorrow from ten to zero, might we not bring it down from ten to nine?
Even a small effect counts.
Small things, when accumulated, become great.

I believe the same holds true for other matters🙂

We must not pursue it excessively or become overly dependent on it.
For pleasure carries an intense addictiveness capable of derailing one's entire life...

Pleasure and displeasure are two sides of the same coin, like light and shadow.
I wish to embrace both.

'dependence'

Our actions and thoughts are governed by pleasure and displeasure.
Liking, happiness, pleasure, dislike, anger, despair.
Everyone desires to feel pleasure.

Yet life brings both good times and bad.
It cannot be solely about pleasure.

We mustn't forget that this balance is also different for each person.

'The balance of balance'

Vitamins are important.
Minerals are important too.
Nutrition is important.
That being said, consuming too much is not good either.
Nor is deficiency.
The right amount is best, after all.

This applies not only to nutrition, but to most things in life.

It's a good smile🙂

Simply understand that this is how the person thinks.

Please be mindful that if thoughts of negation towards the other person enter your mind, your perception may be drawn in that direction, leading you to make assumptions without justification

'When listening to someone speak'

When listening to someone speak, we all occasionally find ourselves thinking, 'That's not quite right' or 'That's mistaken'.
At such times, it is best to listen without passing judgement on whether it is good or bad.

A lazy, good-for-nothing person who makes no effort: "It's fine to be myself, just as I am."
↑ Do you think that's acceptable?

I need to be careful too😞

'Points to note regarding [Being Myself]'

It's fine to be yourself, but don't get stuck there.
Especially when it comes to aspects you recognise as flawed – leaving them untouched means no growth at all.

Of course, the daily life you lead remains the same in either case.
It is you yourself who determines your own happiness or unhappiness.

'Where to set the standard'

As with anything, the results vary greatly depending on where you set your standard.
This is especially true of happiness.
Set it high, and everyday life feels like suffering.
Set it low, and everyday life feels like happiness.

'My Wish'

Sorrow and hatred are painful things.
Surely no one wishes to live in suffering.
I wish to be gentle, calm, and happy.
I wish for everyone else to be gentle, calm, and happy too.

In my case, I found that path in Buddhism.
Therefore, I wish to convey that path to the best of my ability🙂

What must not be forgotten is that these teachings exist for the sake of [happiness].
The happiness of the individual
The happiness of others
The happiness of everyone
All happiness

'The Origin of Teaching'

The teachings of Zen
The teachings of Buddhism
The teachings of God
The teachings of our ancestors
The teachings of various religions
This world holds many different teachings.

Depending on how one perceives them, these teachings can become either good or evil.