2010 - Water under the bridge...Christmas Eve

Another year is almost done, times flys. The year of the Tiger is almost done, still a couple of months by the lunar calendar. It has been full of unexpected items, good and bad. The Bad not so bad, could have been worse. I'm working this year, not spirit filling work, but work. Grateful for that!

We got to travel, Hawaii, Japan, LA, and off to Calistoga for Christmas. LZ's plan, she found a great deal. So it will be good to get away. Brought a new boat with our retirement money, most of what was left of it. It will be a good investment, I still feel.

I'm just back in from walking a friend's dog, another lil mini job. It will help pay for the trip to Calistoga. That is how things are going , a little here and little there. Bits add up.
The walk was pretty nice, checking out the Christmas lights in the Hood. Some are way out there, some are modest. Very strong sense of nostalgia in thoughts of Christmas past. Different places different times. If "God be willing and the creek don't rise", this will be our next to the last Christmas in the states .

One thing that I was reminded of this year, expect more of yourself and less of others. I had a couple of people remind me how little value some put on their word. The guy who pleaded with me to lend him some money for a week , two at the most, so his kids could have some new clothes for school.  A year later I'm still waiting... or the ones who said I'll send you these pictures...still waiting @ 8 months...a small thing, but still one's word is one's word. That is all we can really control and have the power to live up to. When one can not be trusted for small things, how can one be trusted for large things...

635 days before leaving, I've pretty much given up hope on my graphic design career. With the economy as it is, my age, sigh, nothing is giving me hope for finding work. Well other than a new birth in Japan. Actually doing music again which is my first joy, plus some sailing instruction, ceramics, Martial Arts and Zen training. It could be a good life in my retirement years.

So for now it is all about hanging in there, with the thought it is all training. Overall it was a good year, the Japan trip was the highlight.  Even here was good, got to train with some heartful Kyudo people, my Kung Fu class is settled in with a few good students, good sailing contacts, two places to teach sailing through, a devoted wife, a second Christmas in a nice apt, many things to be thankful about.

Winter solstice has past, and a new cycle begins...shoot well...ganbarimasu...Yosh!

That long...

Wow so many changes since I last posted. I need to update, but not now. I have added a new count down for leaving the States and sailing off to Japan. I am Sooooo ready to leave here!

Anyway, I'll update later, things currently are  hmmmm a challenge...

yet still we move forward...yosh!

A tonjoubi moment of gratitude...

peaceful moment of gratitude

Reflecting on the past,

looking forward to the future

_/|\_

I'm Still here...

I like this new blog: Mu on:

Musings on Buddhism, Japan, Kyudo, Language, Life

First Kyudo World Cup 2010 - individual winners

The kindness of a stranger,
someone from the UK sent me this picture:

First Kyudo World Cup 2010 

Individual  Division Mudan - Sandan Winners

Gold medal - Merion Herbst - Switzerland

Silver medal - unknown - Switzerland

Bronze medal - G. (Fuu) Miyatani French - USA

Outstanding

Now that the outstandingly successful Nihon journey is complete it is time to set new goals.

Find a JOB
Upgrade Japanese skills
Get boat ready to sail overseas

Shocked

I wrote an article for BlackTokyo .com about myself and my study of Kyudo and other "asian" Arts. Lz sent the article to a Kyudo magazine in Japan. They want to publish it in the next issue...sweet!

This will help advertise my Eco - Sailing trip to Japan! Nice!

Arigato Suma!

_/|\_

3 days...

Getting ready, new string & wrapping, dotting the I's crossing the "t's"

1 week to lift off

This time next week, I'll be in the air!!! I started pre-packing yesterday...

This is how I'm shooting at 9 days

I have 5 days of practice with shooting ahead, plus some home study on kneeing and turning. I'm feeling ok. Ganbattimasu Fuu-san...yosh!

I checked my stats on this site and I'm surprised people are reading this misc notes blog.

Arigato!

20 days... from now

20 days from now, the big challenge , well; the big Kyudo challenge will be over...

Will I (want) go to Minnesota in 2011...?

Good Friday

Angels on high...

It is good Friday. I had an interview today as  I stated yesterday.  I thought it went well. Besides doing the graphics I would be doing some outside "sales" / promotion calls. Something way outside my comfort zone. In hard times that needs to be done, ne!  :-(
Survival. Other than that this could be a comfortable job. I'd be pretty much responsible for my work and job development.

We'll see what happens. They will decide next week what/who they will offer the job.
 LZ says I have a strong Guardian Angel who always comes through at the right time...
We have been blessed throughout this financial bummer.

.

Perhaps the storm is fading. It would be right on time as my EDD is fading.
Next week will tell if I get the call. Our Anniversary is next week, perhaps we will have two things to be thankful and celebrate about.

It would really make today a good Friday.

T - 11

I'm off to Nihon in 11 days. I feel as if I am for the most part ready. I do need Shugyo. I plan on some serious time this weekend a couple of all day sessions. Then next week finals! All this is building so slow, to be over in a flash...

When an archer is shooting for nothing he has all his skill.

If he shoots for a brass buckle he is already nervous.

If he shoots for a prize of gold he goes blind

or sees two targets

- he is out of his mind!

His skill has not changed. But the prize divides him. He cares.

He thinks more of winning than of shooting and the need to win

drains him of power.  

_________

I had plans for a day long practice session on Friday, however I got called for a job interview. My first graphic interview in a long time. I'm not really sure if I "want" the job. I will take it of course if offered. However  it is not "the" job I "want". As they say beggars can not be choosy. There is a saying about, God may not always give you want, but will give you want you need. I'm not feeling I will get it, though, but, because I'm not really feeling it, I will most likely get it. I'm nervous to get it, I'm nervous not to get it. Things work like that some time. Life is funny. It would be weird though. Two years ago I went to Japan and came back to get laid off. Now going again to come back to a job, would be weird. ne!

Target lust

8 Shots, 5 hits, blatant target lust... I must repent!

...or practice more (^_^)

@ 36 days

Do not focus on the center of the target. The sound of the arrow hitting the target should simultaneously hit the center of your being. That instant is a divine mystical experience... Awa Kenzo

Gratitude

 An old Thanksgiving post to our Chan group from my Chan sister. It is worth remembering anytime...


Thirteenth century German theologian and philosopher, Eckhart von Hochheim
(aka Meister Eckhart)*, said “If the only prayer you said in your whole
life was ‘thank you’,  that would suffice”.  Indeed, especially during
the Thanksgiving holiday, we gave thanks, and sent love and gifts to many
people around us.  It is a great thing to be thankful.   Medical researches
indicate that people with gratitude have lower risk of anxiety, stress,
heart disease, which leads to longevity. 



We are supported in countless ways through each moment of our life.  It is
easy to say “thank you” to your mom, your colleagues or those who make a
difference in your life.  But ‘gratitude’ goes beyond  deep
“appreciation” or a hearty  “thank you”.  



When you tab into the source of energy where we all emanate from, you will
awaken to the truth of this incredible interconnectedness  with ALL beings.
You will spontaneously be filled with joy and appreciation without
specifically naming what it is. 



To begin cultivating ‘gratitude’, it is foremost to learn to appreciate
who you are, and WHAT you have right NOW.   In today’s yoga and meditation
session at OM Sweet OM Studio in Claremont, I asked the class to focus on
the heart  chakhra, where our emotions and feelings reside, and let go of
grudges from the past, and extend forgiveness to those that have harmed us
intentionally and unintentionally, and offer apologies to those whom we have
harmed intentionally or unintentionally.    This is a major obstacle that
keeps us from ‘gratitude’.  I had a traumatized childhood, and held anger
towards my parents for many years.  It was not until I dealt with these
issues, and forgave my parents from the heart, and let go of the past, that
I am able to progress on my spiritual journey.  



The second obstacle to deal with is to let go of the trap of entitlement.
Maybe you say we pay for the garbage service, gratitude may not
spontaneously arise when the garbage is collected.  The truth is, regardless
of his job responsibility, you benefit from his work, and can meet them with
an expression of gratitude. 



Today we extend gratitude for the abundance on the table, not only for the
farmers, truck drivers, grocery clerk that brought it to the table, but also
for those who work so hard to secure the safety of this country so that we
do not have to live under the threat of terrorist attacks.

If you are alone on this particular occasion, extend gratitude for your
health and those that help you maintain good health, what you have, to those
that help shape who you are.   Identify 10 things or people that you are
grateful for, and extend gratitude to each of them.

It is that deep and spontaneous sense of gratitude towards everyone and
everything around you that ground us.  

To cultivate that spontaneous gratitude, you can start by observing the
inner self in meditation, and just reflect on your life.  When you are
connected to the never-changing presence that dwells in you, you
spontaneously appreciate what you have, and start to live a life of
contentment, which attracts more abundance into your life .  



* Note ----



“If we turn from the forms, produced by external circumstances, and go to
the root of things, we shall find that Sakyamuni and Meister Eckhart teach
the same thing; only that the former dared to express his ideas plainly and
positively, whereas Eckhart is obliged to clothe them in the garment of the
Christian myth, and to adapt his expressions thereto.”



                              – Schopenhauer, The World as Will and
Representation, Vol. II, Ch. XLVIII

Chu-Do

A moderate and equally balanced posture in which the bod's center of gravity is the most stable - this type of Dozukuri is most commonly used.

There is my answer right in Kyuhon pg 62

Kyudo; more than just shooting...

 Sounds  a lot like a Zen practice :

"Strict self-control and emotional stability are crucial to the
development of one's spirit and to the practice of kyudo.
But some are unwilling to adhere to the strict ceremonial
procedures that the practice of kyudo requires. These
people argue that any attempt at self-control stifles
creativity. Attitudes such as this, however, are usually
little more than an attempt to use unorthodox methods as
a cover for insufficient skill or knowledge. True creativity
is sister to the spirit and both are born of simplicity. They
are not a product of the intellect, but surface only when
the rational mind is quieted and the intuitive thought
process takes over. The guidelines and procedures
established for the practice of kyudo have been borrowed
from generations of past teachers, and are designed to put
the analytical mind to rest and allow the practitioner to
move into a state of consciousness known as mushin
(literally, no mind). And while some may associate a state
of no mind with unconsciousness or even death, it is in
truth a state where the remnants of thought are eliminated
and only pure thought remains.
It is important to mention here that kyudo, by itself, cannot
solve our problems nor add anything to our lives; at least
not in the beginning. Kyudo may look simple but it is
deceptively complex. Onuma sensei liked to tell us that
the practice of kyudo made him feel like "A blind turtle in
the middle of the ocean searching for a log." It is that
complexity, however, that makes kyudo such a rewarding
instrument for self-discovery. Its practice peels away the
protective layers of ego that we all hide behind and allows
our true nature to be revealed. It is then our responsibility
to examine the results and balance our character
accordingly. Perhaps the best way to explain the spirit of
kyudo is to put it in Onuma sensei's words: "When
shooting, sometimes we will hit the target but miss the
self. At other times we will miss the target but hit the self.
Our purpose, though, is to hit the target as the self and
hope that the sharp sound of arrow penetrating paper will
awaken us from the so-called 'dream of life' and give us
real insight into the ultimate state of being.""

Thank U Ebay

I've sold enough un-needed stuff to pay for my hotel week in Tokyo!! awww yeah, Whoot!...

Heaven & Earth

Heaven & earth is a big Human Being. A human being is a small heaven & earth. Buddha is a space. Space has no obstacles. It has freedom..Awa Kenzo, Kyudo Master

Sadness In kyudo

Sad when the spirit
It's shining so dim with egos
Shin Zen Bi
is lost in the shadows

Judgement

56 days more
practice breath, presence, knees, flow
one shot to judgment...

Raising Trip money - Kyudo items 4 sale

I am raising funds for my trip to Tokyo. Here are a few things I am selling
if interested drop me a line

 

  

2 black alum, ya, White feathers, purple wraps, 38.5 inches

30.00 ea in japan. buy for less here! much cheaper shipping!

NEW, too short for me.

 

Navy Blue Hakama, heavy silk, made japan, used, perfect condition,

vintage skirt. 36 in length

 

wagami tsurumaki new

  

Woman's wide Obi

Interested, make me an offer

Nerd rank

The Target

Hitting a target with an arrow is a small vehicle; attaining enlightenment with an arrow is a big Vehicle...Awa Kenzo



69 days to get in shape

Bummed

Sold two of my brothers items on ebay. AS IS!
One guy said it did not work.  or power up. ok, perhaps my error  - refund!

The other guy , nastly said it did not also. Yet I checked it before it was shipped! It worked! sigh...What is the right thing to do.

I wonder if the person I lent some money to help his kids, and he never paid back, has these conscience issues about doing the right thing. 6 months waiting...after his 1 week pay back  promise I do not think so.

maybe it is just me

Honor!

A man's word is a reflection of his character !

Yokatta

My EDD benefits will be extended!

Time Flys

Wow, I need to get crackn only some 88 days now to Tokyo.  A lot more practice and money is needed!

Banned!

OMG

Google banned my ad sense account. They said "your AdSense
account has posed a significant risk to our AdWords advertisers."

What the Fudge!?

Sigh.. I guess I do not need another blog then...didn't even get my 20.00,  sniff sniff boo hoo.

Maybe I'll keep it any way ... maybe not... Hmm I'll think about it

No balance day

OMG,

I tend to be too focused sometimes. I spent the WHOLE day in front of the computer. I'm working several  websites for some three projects. I needed to refresh my mind on doing CSS. Man oh man, it was hard ! I had to basically start from the beginning to figure out things.
So what am I working on you ask? You did ask right?

Two things are Kyudo basically, maybe you could call it Karma Kyudo or Dharma Kyudo, ( see my other site fro an explanation, That new word should really bug some). Anyway I am doing a website for my Current Sensei. He does not charge e for lesson so I feel I should do something for him or the Dojo however you want at look at it: www.renseikankyudojo.info

The other is for my former Sensei with Chickun-ha. She has broken away from the Zenko group and asked me to redo her site. I said ok. She helped me get my son started in Kyudo: www.gingkokyudojo.org
I should design some cool mon for her as well to go with the site.
something like this:

The last is for a photo-book company/business I am going into with Sisuk , my Tai Chi Mantis Coach. That is not finished or close to it, so I can say or put up any thing on it, least someone rip me off, hahaha

So that's the local news, here I sat all day other than going down-stairs to sign some papers to finally sell the condo on a short sale. Even that is not complete yet, but close close close!! whoohoo

I-ching # 58/16

OK, so lets see how this will work out. On Friday morning LZ gave me an ad. The Boat supply store, at the Marine Yard where I keep my boat was looking for store help. Cool I thought. I'll send them a resume.

Friday night I thought, hmm I'll do a reading on my chances of this.
The question: "How does it look me working at SVN?"

Reading:

58. Tui / The Joyous, Lake

  above TUI  THE JOYOUS, LAKE
  below TUI  THE JOYOUS, LAKE

This hexagram, like sun, is one of the eight 

formed by doubling of a trigram. 
The trigram Tui denotes the youngest daughter;

it is symbolized by the 
smiling lake, and its attribute is joyousness. 

Contrary to appearances, it is not 
the yielding quality of the top line that 

accounts for joy here. The attribute of 
the yielding or dark principle is not joy 

but melancholy. However, joy is 
indicated by the fact that there are two 

strong lines within, expressing 
themselves through the medium of gentleness.
  True joy, therefore, rests on firmness and 

strength within, manifesting itself 
outwardly as yielding and gentle.

 THE JUDGMENT

 THE JOYOUS. Success.
 Perseverance is favorable.

The joyous mood is infectious and therefore 

brings success. But joy must be 
based on steadfastness if it is not to 

degenerate into uncontrolled mirth. 
Truth and strength must dwell in the heart,

while gentleness reveals itself in 
social intercourse. In this way one assumes 

the right attitude toward God and 
man and achieves something. Under certain

conditions, intimidation 
without gentleness may achieve something 

momentarily, but not for all 
time. When, on the other hand, the hearts 

of men are won by friendliness, 
they are led to take all hardships upon 

themselves willingly, and if need be 
will not shun death itself, so great 

is the power of joy over men.

 THE IMAGE

 Lakes resting one on the other:
 The image of THE JOYOUS.
 Thus the superior man joins with his friends
 For discussion and practice.

A lake evaporates upward and thus gradually 

dries up; but when two lakes 
are joined they do not dry up so readily, 

for one replenishes the other. It is 
the same in the field of knowledge. Knowledge 

should be a refreshing and 
vitalizing force. It becomes so only through 

stimulating intercourse with 
congenial friends with whom one holds discussion 

and practices application 
of the truths of life. In this way learning 

becomes many-sided and takes on a 
cheerful lightness, whereas there is always 

something ponderous and one-
sided about the learning of the self-taught.

 THE LINES

 Nine at the beginning means:
 Contented joyousness. Good fortune.

A quiet, wordless, self-contained joy, desiring

nothing from without and 
resting content with everything, remains free of 

all egotistic likes and dislikes. 
In this freedom lies good fortune, because it 

harbors the quiet security of a 
heart fortified within itself.

 ° Nine in the second place means:
 Sincere joyousness. Good fortune.
 Remorse disappears.

We often find ourselves associating with

inferior people in whose company 
we are tempted by pleasures that are 

inappropriate for the superior man. To 
participate in such pleasures would 

certainly bring remorse, for a superior 
man can find no real satisfaction in 

low pleasures. When, recognizing this, a 
man does not permit his will to swerve, 

so that he does not find such ways 
agreeable, not even dubious companions 

will venture to proffer any base 
pleasures, because he would not enjoy them.

Thus every cause for regret is 
removed.


 ° Nine in the fifth place means:
 Sincerity toward disintegrating influences

is dangerous.

Dangerous elements approach even the far 

best of men. If a man permits 
himself to have anything to do with them, 

their disintegrating influence acts 
slowly but surely, and inevitable brings 

dangers in its train. But if he 
recognizes the situation and can comprehend 

the danger, he knows how to 
protect himself and remains unharmed.

( this one does not sound that good, 

I need to be be on guard)

16. Yü / Enthusiasm

  above  CHêN  THE AROUSING, THUNDER
  below  K'UN  THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH


The strong line in the fourth place, that

of the leading official, meets with 
response and obedience from all the other

lines, which are all weak. The 
attribute of the upper trigram, Chên, is

movement; the attributes of K'un, the 
lower, are obedience and devotion. This 

begins a movement that meets with 
devotion and therefore inspires enthusiasm,

carrying all with it. Of great 
importance, furthermore, is the law of

movement along the line of least 
resistance, which in this hexagram is 

enunciated as the law for natural events 
and for human life.

 THE JUDGMENT

 ENTHUSIASM. It furthers one to install 

helpers
 And to set armies marching.

(Hmmm I wonder does this mean I should hit 

up my student who works there to put in a

good word for me )

Soooo, Sat. morning I get a call to come 

in Tues for an intereview. Whoohoo, The 

first interview call in a year.

Even that is something to find JOY in, ne!

Ok, so lets see what's next. Sometimes I read 

what I want to see not what it fully says...

This will be interesting.

to be con't

out there

Water behind fog
Sometimes hidden from the eyes
Hope can be water...

Come into the light my children...

Judgement

When you judge people it does not define them, it defines you... Royal-san

___________

Great I like this.

However, it came to me, just my mind trying to balance things. I must have some Libra in me.

If you make the judgement that someone is judgmental, are you not judging? (^_^)

..I'm just saying

 hahaha

Just one of those things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm  (^_^)

Chicken or the egg?

Just messing around (^_^)

Kyudo - Martial art or Art form

Read this > What do you think?

Zen-Kyudo

Now this is interesting.

So much flap about Kyudo not being Zen practice, being Zen practice.

I and others say anything can be Zen practice. But that is another story...

Anyway, here is a link from Japan. that labels many any arts "Zen" federations


Japan Links

Tao Te Ching

In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart... Lao Tzu

On such a winter's night

Long John's ...check
Heavy Watch Cap...check
Wool socks and gloves...check

Weds night Kung Fu
it's on!

Cloudy gray

More than a color
It can seep into bone
No where to run...

holiday is over.

It bums me when...

People do not respond to emailed questions.
People say they are going to do something and do not.
People talk loud for no reason.
People cut you off ( talking, driving, in line).
People over explain things.

Not too bad a list a guess, Maybe I'll come up with some more later.
Anyhow, I guess I need to work on these attachments/expectations.

_/|\_

Feng Shui, Tai Chi, Sailing & Zen

Sometimes I feel I'm really connected to the Force, at one with the Tao to speak and am able to write something that is fairly deep ( maybe just over my head), at lest sensible from weird point of view. Here are some of the past things from the old site:
Feng Shui, Tai Chi, Sailing & Zen

It came to me whilst returning from Tai Chi practice today that the four are very similar. According to the Tao Te Ching and the teachings of Lao Tzu they are most likely the same or at least brothers/sisters of the same mother. I had the revelation before about Feng Shui and sailing but today came the Tai Chi awareness and it all clicked. Like when I became a vegetarian while walking through a supermarket in the meat section seeing all the dead animals, but that is another story I digress. I saw the Zen tie-in earlier also while thinking about this sailing instructor in Japan that is a "Zen" master he teaches his advance students sailing with some aspects of Zen philosophy. I thought, yeah, I can see that!
It all makes sense. I named my boat "Zen" which is "Chan" in Chinese by the way. Chan Buddhism ( Zen in Japanese ) was developed in the Shaolin Temple which is where my Kung Fu roots are. I am something like a 10th or 11th generation Sifu/Shrfu/Sensei in direct linage I forget which, it is just for reference. Anyway in Chinese the last boat was named Kuan Yin. Kuan Yin is the Chinese Deity who achieved enlightenment. However instead of going to the next "level" plane of being let's say, she chose to stay behind and help lead/direct people to receive enlightenment. She is often shown as riding a Sea Dragon. Since my first boat was more of my learning venture, I felt "Zen" was a good name for this one, having achieved some further "enlightenment" about sailing. It will also take me to "Nirvana" in this case meaning "Blue Water" kind of deep thoughts ne?!
Anyway, Feng Shui is the Chinese study of balancing energy in your environment ( which I am certified by the way to do if you need a reading ). Feng Shui means wind and water. So obviously right, wind /water = sailing. Sailing is finding that balance between wind energy and water and the effect it has on your boat equals = sailing. The better balance there is, the faster and more efficient you sail. You, the boat, the wind and the water are in harmony, you have good "Feng Shui"
Now this also translates to Tai Chi. Tai Chi is the balancing of yin and yang, wind/water, positive/negative. I'm not speaking just of Tai Chi Chuan, which is translated out loosly to Grand Balanced/Harmonious Fist. I'm speaking of just Tai Chi the essence. The Yin /Yang symbol you see with the black and white. Hmm I just thought of some racial signification , but I'll go into that later perhaps. So referring back to balancing of the elements we can see how Tai Chi, Feng Shui and Sailing are related. Sailing balancing the effect of wind power/energy on your sail causing a Yin reaction on your boat eg: moving. That in turn translates into a yang energy on the water which in turn turns Yin as the boat passes through the water. Tai Chi, the better you're in balance with yourself and your opponent the better fighter or healthier ( from a non-violent spiritual perspective ) you are.
In Tai Chi Chuan it is us who are the Yang energy moving through air, which turns into Yin when doing the solo form. On the other side when doing push hands with a partner or combat, we change from Yin to Yang energy depending on what we need to accomplish or avoid, as in pain. In sailing we need to be aware of the changes in the wind in order to remain in harmony with the elements and move forward. With Tai Chi Chuan the Yang energy coming at us may be very violent eg: punches and kicks. We need to adjust our energy to be more Yin to absorb/redirect this violence back into our attacker or ground this energy so as we are not hurt. In the Sailing world sailing this would be gales, high winds, storms, etc. That energy needs to be absorbed/redirected into the sails, grounded into the water so that we are not hurt or stopped and continue to move forward or at the least in the case of heaving-to at peace/centered in the storm.
All take understanding of changes in energy flow, "feeling" the environment. Balancing the energy of the environment to archive harmony/peace/a state of Zen/a great sail

10 way to make sailing part of yoru Zen practice

Kuan Yin is considered patron of sailors

This is an old post form my sailing blog. Since this blog is a mixed bag I thought I'd put it up here for those who do not read my sailing blog.
Chan is about living fully, it is also about knowing we are part of everything, mindful, alert, relaxed, prepared, adaptable, connected but not attached, centered, doing one's best with everything, tying a dock line, hosting a sail, tacking, cleaning the head, battening down the hatches, you get the idea. With mindful, being the key word, it is something every  good sailor should be anyway. Here is my short list:
1. Check the weather
2. Check the wind
3. Check the boat for anomalies
4, Check your bilge
5. Check your sails (before leaving)
6. Check the area around you ( at, leaving, & away from the dock)
7. Check your safety equipment
8. Be aware of everything
9. Do not think about having fun
10. Be fun

I-Ching : #5...Calculated waiting Prt II

What happens sometimes when one does a reading is you get what is called a changing trigram. Meaning it is in transit. Another way of looking at it is the first one tells the present condition, the second tells what may come about on the current path. How that comes about is via changing lines. Say you throw a head, head, head, 3 coins, that gives a change line from yin to yang. These lines also give one more depth to the question asked. Something more to meditate on.

So in my question I got #5 changing to #45 . The changing line are , from the bottom up,
1-4. So I would look at the reading for these lines to zero in in more detail advice.

THE LINES

Nine at the beginning means:
Waiting in the meadow.
IT furthers one to abide in what endures.
No blame.

The danger is not yet close. One is still waiting
on the open plain.
Conditions are still simple, yet there is a feeling
of something impending.
One must continue to lead a regular life as long
as possible. Only in this way
does one guard against a premature waste of strength,
keep free of blame and
error that would become a source of weakness later on.

Nine in the second place means:
Waiting on the sand.
There is some gossip.
The end brings good fortune.

The danger gradually comes closer. Sand is near
the bank of the river, and
the water means danger. Disagreements crop up.
General unrest can easily
develop in such times, and we lay the blame on
one another. He who stays
calm will succeed in making things go well in
the end. Slander will be
silenced if we do not gratify it with injured
retorts.

Nine in the third place means:
Waiting in the mud
Brings about the arrival of the enemy.

Mud is no place for waiting, since it is already
being washed by the water of
the stream. Instead of having gathered strength
to cross the stream at one try,
one has made a premature start that has got him
no farther than the muddy
bank. Such an unfavorable position invites enemies
from without, who
naturally take advantage of it. Caution and a sense
of the seriousness of the
situation are all that can keep one from injury.

Six in the fourth place means:
Waiting in blood.
Get out of the pit.

The situation is extremely dangerous. IT is of utmost
gravity now--a matter
of life and death. Bloodshed seems imminent. There is
no going forward or
backward; we are cut off as if in a pit. Now we must
simply stand fast and let
fate take its course. This composure, which keeps us
from aggravating the
trouble by anything we might do, is the only way of
getting out of the
dangerous pit.

_______

Something to take note of is different I-Ching book give different interpretations of the reading. Not even so much different but they are explained differently. One set of words makes more sense than another but they have the same general meaning.

Ten lastly one read the general reading of the final Trigram

45.  Ts'ui / Gathering Together [Massing]

above  TUI  THE JOYOUS, LAKE
below  K'UN  THE RECEPTIVE, EARTH

This hexagram is related in form and meaning to Pi,
HOLDING TOGETHER
(8). In the latter, water is over the earth; here a
lake is over the earth. But
since the lake is a place where water collects, the
idea of gathering together is
even more strongly expressed here than in the other
hexagram. The same
idea also arises from the fact that in the present
case it is two strong lines (the
fourth and the fifth) that bring about the gather
together, whereas in the
former case one strong line (the fifth) stands in
the midst of weak lines.

_______________________

of course there are those times when one goes huh?!
I do not get it
hahahaha.
One needs to have a good larf, then
meditate/pray more for clarity.

Sometimes another book is clearer
Such as this reading:
#5
Look for a time to take stock of what you have
and where you are going.
We are all a collection of gifts and deficits
and will act accordingly.
Be aware of the difficulties that you encounter
 without succumbing to them.
Be careful; danger is approaching.


_______sigh

What does mean? I see it as no rest,
find what you do well and develop it more,
you will need it. Do not be
seduced by the dark side. Well something
like that. more or less ,
I will need to meditate on it.

(^_^)

I-Ching : #5...Calculated waiting

I'm thinking one of the things I will keep track on here is my I-Ching readings. I do not do them that often however it will be a good way to keep a record and track of how correct they are. The I-Ching does not "tell" the future as such. It tells of the possible outcome given a certain set of behaviors as it were. I am still learning. The I-Ching is one of the oldest written books. When used with a clear mind and a connection to the "force" it can help one in making/maintaining the right choice, attitude. Any way it is entertaining experiment.

In the past I have yet to see it incorrect in it's assessments. I have however been incorrect in my interpretations. or...perhaps my perspective changed after the fact. It is however regardless interesting. It has in uses in the stock market for some, Feng Shui for others, war, love, business, whatever our human conditions.
The 64 trigrams cover all our earthly conditions. The I Ching has been used for more than 5000 years as an aid to making decisions, predicting the future, etc. So, if nothing else, it is a long-standing and popular source of wisdom and inspiration.

So for the New Year I did a reading with the question:

What is my best path for 2010.

One should not ask a yes or no question.

My Trigram is

5. Hsü / Waiting (Nourishment)

All beings have need of nourishment from above.
But the gift of food comes
in its own time, and for this one must wait.
This hexagram shows
the clouds in the heavens, giving rain to
refresh all that grows and to
provide mankind
with food and drink. The rain will come in
its own time. We cannot make it
come; we have to wait for it. The idea of
waiting is further suggested by the
attributes of the two trigrams--strength within,
 danger in from.
Strength in
the face of danger does not plunge ahead but
bides its time,
whereas weakness
in the face of danger grows agitated and
has not the patience to wait.

THE JUDGMENT

WAITING. If you are sincere,
You have light and success.
Perseverance brings good fortune.
It furthers one to cross the great water.

Waiting is not mere empty hoping. It has
the inner certainty of
reaching the
goal. Such certainty alone gives that light
which leads to success.
This leads
to the perseverance that brings good fortune
and bestows power
to cross the
great water. One is faced with a danger that
has to be overcome.
Weakness
and impatience can do nothing. Only a strong
man can stand up
to his fate,
for his inner security enables him to endure
to the end. This
strength shows
itself in uncompromising truthfulness
 [with himself]. It is only
when we
have the courage to face things exactly as
they are, without any
sort of self-
deception or illusion, that a light will
develop out of events,
by which the
path to success may be recognized. This
recognition must be
followed by
resolute and persevering action. For only
the man who goes to
meet his fate
resolutely is equipped to deal with it
adequately. Then he will
be able to cross
the great water--that is to say, he will
be capable of making
the necessary
decision and of surmounting the danger.

THE IMAGE

Clouds rise up to heaven:
The image of WAITING.
Thus the superior man eats and drinks,
Is joyous and of good cheer.

When clouds rise in the sky, it is a
sign that it will rain.
There is nothing to
do but to wait until after the rain
falls. It is the same in
life when destiny is at
work. We should not worry and seek to
shape the future by
interfering in
things before the time is ripe. We should
quietly fortify
the body with food
and drink and the mind with gladness and
 good cheer. Fate
comes when it
will, and thus we are ready.


_________________________

there is more to this, I will go into later.

so, to be cont'd

Nihon Style gohan

New Year's day was chilly
Japanese food warmed the soul
Helped put aside the knowledge
another year of growing old...

On a winter's day

All the leaves are brown
and the sky is gray
Oakland's dedicated do Taiji
on a winter's day

So it begins

Soft morning clouds
Water wet kisses the shore
Beauty needs no words

AKEMASHITE OMEDETOU GOZAIMASU!

New Tiger Year blooms
still the old Tiger rises
before the Sun shines


Happy New Year! Welcome to my new blog and the New Year. I'm not quite sure what will be here different from the other blogs maybe some verse, different photos, different thoughts. Why, well I have my rea$ons (^_^), you can help a brother out.
Lets see where it goes...

Douzo Yoroshiku