My flaws

Once your technique gets to a certain level, the only thing that separates you from others is your quirks, or even flaws. （Natalie Portman)   技術がある一定のレベルまで達した後は、欠点すらも武器になり得る。 （ナタリー・ポートマン）  

When a physician asks a ZEN monk

“In Zen Buddhism, mind exists before the matter?” Professor Lichtenberg asks…

ART, what makes of… アートとは。

Does art have to be original? “this is, after all, what people love in art. The same is true of literary composition. While bearing resemblance to the original, it should have stylisation; this makes it art, and is what delights …

What language represent 言葉に支配される

But simplicity and plain expression do not seem to be truly characteristic of the language, which is surely one of the world’s vaguest yet most suggestive. (Donald Keene “Japanese Literature: An introduction for Western Readers”) Isn’t it exactly who we …

O-BON, the day to meet your departed. お盆

O-BON It is the week our deceased family members will return home to see us. I never really thought deep about it. But I wish I could be home, where my parents are, to welcome the souls of my Grand-dads …

just a simple cup of tea, yet…？ ただお茶を飲む、ということ

The TEA DRINKING that is known as cha-no-yu in Japan is not just drinking tea, but involves all activities leading to it, all the utensils used in it, the entire atmosphere surrounding the procedure, and last of all, what is …

Mastership of Mind / 技術とは

 That is what I call mastership. I actually would draw the parts that are not meant to stand out with much intent care, as if I am tanning leather with my brush. So that the parts I really want audience …

Religious ZEN (and Japanese) 禅という宗教

The Zen insights go far deeper into the source of life, where Zen is truly religious. By this I mean Zen is in close touch with Reality; indeed, Zen takes hold of it and lives it, and this is where …

Stones to tell / 導く石

What do these stones tell you? They tell you where to go… Really.

What’s really “Japanese?” 本当の「日本」って？

There used to a colour called “forgiven colour” more than a thousand years ago.　　　　（Lecture by Sachio Yoshioka)

「聴し（ゆるし）色」という色が平安時代に存在した。                                   （吉岡幸雄氏講演より）