tokyoliving123

I wonder if I will ever really run out of ideas or topics to write about. It does seem as long as I am alive ideas will come to mind. I like this idea of living in the now to “find out”. I have a whole slew of mantras I say in the morning and evening as reminders all pointing to the moment: what is life asking of me now; If death alone is certain and time of death certain what should I do now? Yes to this moment; I vow to meet others on equal ground; Freedom is knowing I can go to a different window to experience and respond to life; Am I at ease; and the last one Let’s find out!

All of these are different ways of practice and bringing me back to the now. I wonder how many times per day I am brought back to it and how much I live in my thoughts without even realizing it? Each one of these sayings may point to the now, but offer up a practice in a slightly different manner.

What is life asking of me now? That is a question I sit with and being present the answer comes in time in that moment of readiness. The answer comes.

If death alone is certain, time of death uncertain, what should I do now? I am reminded of the word squander in this passage. Death is inevitable and we don’t know when that will be, so why allow oneself to get caught up in the pettiness of life, the self created dramas, emotional entanglements, and other things that we use to squander our life. I do, but far less it seems.

Yes to this moment. When I get an extreme feeling of emotion of some kind, one in which may just be a natural occurrence or one in which is self created, either way Yes to this moment informs me to breathe, and is a reminder that just like when I am sitting observe this phenomenon let it happen, don't grasp and let it pass. And inevitably it does.

On those days that it is an all day event, I say these over and over which is very much in line with Buddhist mantras reminding us that there are things that can be changed and others that happen outside of our grasping.

Is there ease? I have not used this much, but like all of these I know that there will come a time in which I will need this saying for my practice. Is there ease? A question that signals me to search within to determine where there is dis-ease, or suffering. And I may ask the question after that, what is life asking of me now to figure out the cause of the dis-ease. Maybe I am holding on to something or creating drama. Whatever the cause, scanning for dis-ease and asking the question are the practice.

Fear is funny. Yes I know how can one say the word fear and funny in a short sentence like that while at the same time making a bold claim. I just did and because by making that claim that fear is funny, I am saying that by not giving fear too much credence or rather to say if i say it is funny then I am not giving it too much strength or power.

Fear in the right context say in nature with a bear approaching is one thing. But in others like thinking of the future, that is just plain suffering, and if one were to hang out in that place it would paralyze you not to take any action. Or worse, you would suffer now for something you don’t know will even happen. By fearing the future you are implying you are some sort of fortune teller because you are thinking you know what will be. The reality is this is just not true. In this context I think fear is funny because we are not tellers of the future even though somewhere in our minds we think we are.

I know this part of the human condition, pre-loaded or some kind of residue from evolution where we needed to have a sense of fear in certain contexts, but it has seeped into the psyche causing unnecessary suffering by performing the delusional act of thinking we know the fortune. The kicker, nobody has ever died of this fear of the future.

One of the first tenets of writing I hear from so many writers is to find your voice. For years I wondered what that really meant. And then over time, maybe because I have gotten older and have had many life experiences, I realized exactly what that meant.

I believe life is a series of experiences that informs the way we see the world and how we think. I meditate in part so that I do not dig a rut in my brain and get stuck in the same thinking patterns behaviors and reactions. This is so that I can continue to be informed, or as some people put it learn. Presence in theory softens the brain, expands and enriches the experiences of life down to the minutiae. Another word I really have come to like, minutiae, precise details. I find that as I have gotten older, I have done my best to maintain softness, and malleability, oh another good word. I have cultivated an ability to appreciate the small things in life. Everything from the taste of the first morning cup of coffee, to the first moment meeting a friend I haven’t seen for a long time.

Of course, I enjoy the whole experience, but really isn’t experience just a series of combined moments. And if we can be awake to those moments, isn’t that what allows for the enjoyment and richness of life, rather than just the whole picture of that experience?

This begs the questions what does this have to do with finding a voice? Well if being present is being awake to moments and that in turn is the collection that is experience, this then informs what we want to say and how we want to say it within a context, which is never the same. Paying attention to the voice inside is that voice we all have. Unfortunately, most are unaware of it. On rare occasions there are a fortunate few that tap into and express the voice in a myriad of ways. This is what has come to be termed as “art”. Art is nothing more than someone who has tapped into the internal stream and tuned into a voice.

A writer’s voice is expressed in words. If you pay attention when you read the written word, you can get a sense of their voice and in many cases feel the collection of life experiences. Other times it is a certain perspective in the way they view the world told through the characters. Others have a way to paint pictures with words evoking feelings and images. But it is not just words.

Painters have a voice. We see it in the pictures. At various times in a painter’s career you can get a sense of what they are trying to say. Some have internal conflicts that need to get flushed out, which is done through their art. There tends to be reoccurring themes during certain periods of an artist’s lifetime. In my opinion the great artists of the centuries allowed the collection of experiences and change of voice over time to inform their pictures, which also changed over time.

I see this in so many forms of art. An actor chooses roles, or as they are fond of saying, “the role chooses me.” During the arc of their career the roles usually change over time just as the voice of the painter changes over time informing their choices. Although I haves seen many actors try and hold on to that voice and choose similar and familiar roles, when life is asking for them to make the transition. The result is they become caricatures of themselves. It’s tragic really.

Musicians have a voice whether classical or rock and everything in between. The way in which they play is being attuned to the voice. Of course, lyrics are the musician’s voice. But so is the instrument. You can feel a well-tuned in musician playing their instrument. It is what makes the greats great! Anyone can play an instrument if they practice enough, the difference is having a connection to the voice inside wanting to find expression. Perhaps this is part of the equation of being talented. Not only that of course, hard work, persistence and a little luck from the universe.

I had lunch the other day with two older Japanese guys that I see weekly at the gym. Both are retired and in their 70s. On occasion we plan a lunch or a night out. I know they seem to have pretty full lives with 2-4 times a week gym visits, golf, travel, family and most likely other things. I am inspired by their commitment to health and overall well-being during the latter half of their lives. I get the sense that they look forward to our outings because it is just something completely different than what they are accustomed to on a regular basis. Shaking up their routine is what I call it and something I like to do on a regular basis myself.

Of course, when we go out our conversations are always in Japanese. For me it is good as I get a chance to speak the language for an extended period of time, something I have not had the chance to do lately given my job, my son’s fluency in English and no longer taking private Japanese lessons. This time around I was a bit concerned that maybe my speaking and listening ability have gotten worse, but I soon found out it is pretty much the same, thankfully. I am able to hold a conversation no problem.

There is one thing I realized today, although I know it already, but I put it to use in this context – that is shaping the moment, or in this case the conversation. You see most people do not really pay attention to shaping a conversation and just go with the flow of what is being said. So given my limited Japanese ability to speak on difficult topics, I would throw out topics that I know I can hold a conversation, family, trips, food, exercise, on occasion Trump, but when they start to get into language levels that are beyond me I just time it and nod my head as if I understand. I do comprehend some of it, but usually less than 50% at that point.

If it starts to go way off on a vocabulary-like challenging tangent, I wait for silence to ensue and then lob out another topic that is easier, and off we go again. This strategy works well and makes for a pleasant afternoon of usually 2 hours or so. Nobody gets stressed out due to lack of understanding and no odd moments between one another. I do want to stress this is not about controlling the conversation, it is just putting it out there and letting it go where it will.

You see many people in the world are on some level asleep at the wheel I believe and are even unaware of not only the ability to shape the moment, but also that the moment is even being shaped. It is a little like what I wrote about in a prior piece titled “The Star Wars Principle,” in which I lay out a theory about what the force actually is, and is not as special as it is made out to be, or rather it is very much embellished for the sake of the storyline, movie and audience. In reality, it is all about being present in the moment and one of the things we can all do, but do not is shape the moment. This can be done on a one-on-one basis like I described during today’s lunch. But it can also be done on a larger and even grander scale if one has the know how, trust, mindfulness and skill.

It all starts when one is in relation to whatever context one finds oneself in. For example, if it is a classroom, it starts with the moment and how you enter the classroom, what mood or vibe if you will are you giving off, are you making eye contact, what words do you choose to use, how are you saying those words, what is your purpose for choosing your words, is it out of habit, are you mindful enough to have said the words based on how you want to shape the moment and set the tone for the class, and finally are the way in which the words spoken connected to your heart, that place of truth on the inside we have all come in contact with in one way or another?

I wonder if I will ever really run out of ideas or topics to write about. It does seem as long as I am alive ideas will come to mind. I like this idea of living in the now to “find out”. I have a whole slew of mantras I say in the morning and evening as reminders all pointing to the moment: what is life asking of me now, if death alone is certain and time of death certain what should I do now, yes to this moment, I vow to meet others on equal ground, freedom is knowing I can go to a different window to experience and respond to life, am I at ease and the last let’s find out!

All of these are different ways of practice and bringing me back to the now. I wonder how many times per day I am brought back to it and how much I live in my thoughts without even realizing it? Each one of these sayings may point to the now, but offer up a practice in a slightly different manner. What is life asking of me now? That is a question I sit with and being present the answer comes in time in that moment of readiness. What is life asking of me now I will often say to myself again. The answer comes. If death alone is certain, time of death uncertain, what should I do now? I am reminded of the word squander in this passage. Death is inevitable and we don’t know when that will be, so why allow oneself to get caught up in the pettiness of life, the self created dramas, emotional entanglements, and other things that we use to squander our life. I do, but far less it seems. Yes to this moment. When I get an extreme feeling of emotion of some kind, one in which may just be a natural occurrence or one in which is self created, either way Yes to this moment informs me to breathe, and is a reminder that just like when I am sitting observe this phenomenon let it happen, don't grasp and let it pass. And inevitably it does. On occasion it may last longer than what I expect, but it eventually does pass.

On those days that it is an all day event, I say it over and over along with my other saying the serenity prayer. This prayer is very much in line with the Buddhist mantras reminding us that there are things that can be changed and others that happen outside of our grasping. Is my mind at ease or is there ease. I have not used this much, but like all of these I know that there will come a time in which I will need this saying for my practice. Is there ease? A question that signals me to search within to determine where there is dis-ease, or suffering. And I may ask the question after that, what is life asking of me now to figure out the cause of the dis-ease. Maybe I am holding on to something or creating drama. Whatever the cause, scanning for dis-ease and asking the question are the practice.

Do we just delude ourselves on a daily basis? How much of what we actually do has any meaning to life at all? And yet we must do it. Are the choices we make just another way to reinforce who we think we are? Who do I think I am? Is there I in this equation? So many questions and yet even as I reread these questions I think how contrived they feel.

I really begin to feel that there is no I and that it is being in relation to the world and people that really creates experience. And to think that there is something that exists inside is really not it. We just make moment-to-moment choices, grab those things to help reinforce who we think we are. But that is not to say there is anything wrong with it. I think that is part of the human condition.

I may be writing in such a manner that feels like judgment, but in fact is really more just an observance and acknowledgment of something that is very much a part of life. I look around and observe people, letting the feeling and notice the little things in people, and you can see just how much of their character shines through. Everything from the way they walk, look on their face, clothing choices, etc. And if it is someone I know the way in which they speak, the choice of words, mannerisms etc.

Most people do not notice these kinds of things as they are all caught up in their own world on the inside or outside, me included at times. We all do this, get caught up in our thoughts as we walk, multi-task...

I had lunch today with two older Japanese guys that I see weekly at the gym. Both are retired and in their 70s. On occasion we plan a lunch or a night out. I know they do not have too much to do, although they seem to have pretty full lives with not only 2-4 times a week gym visits, but also golf, travel, family and most likely other things. No matter what I am inspired by their commitment to health and overall well-being during the latter half of their lives’. I get the sense that they look forward to our outings because it is just something completely different than what they are accustomed to on a regular basis. Shaking up their routine is what I call it and something I like to do on a regular basis myself.

Of course when we go out our conversations are always in Japanese. For me it is good as I get a chance to speak the language for an extended period of time, something I have not had the chance to do lately given my job, my son’s fluency in English and no longer taking private Japanese lessons. This time around I was a bit concerned that maybe my speaking and listening ability have gotten worse, but I soon found out it is pretty much the same, thankfully. I am able to hold a conversation no problem.

I coined a phrase, “The Star Wars Principle.” No really I did. I googled it and sure enough nobody has used it. Sure I know what you are thinking, some obsessed fan. Well truth be told, I am not a fan and in fact I have only seen the first three many moons ago.

The reason why I came up with this is because I have been pondering for quite some time the idea of the phrase made famous by the franchise, “The Force.” In my humble opinion this is nothing more than an embellishment of a simple concept for the sake of drama and the continued storylines. Don’t get me wrong I think the earlier stories were brilliant, however over time it has become convoluted and contrived. Yes, I have most likely alienated some readers. I apologize after the fact.

In real life, the force is nothing more than an understanding of how to shape the moment. In order to be able to have the skill to call forth the force, one needs to be present and have a keen understanding of how human character, including one’s own works.

This is not an easy undertaking. It calls for one to practice some form of meditation for long periods of time, in addition to studying character and mind. The result, a sense of clarity to determine what you need to do to get out of your own way in order to be present enough to have the skill to shape the moment.

This force is really something that we all have the ability to do, but do not because we go about our day on autopilot not living in the moment. When someone does realize they have this ability and use the “force,” the other person is unaware on a conscious level that something is happening.

As is clearly stated in the Star Wars films, with this ability comes responsibility and not to abuse the powers that have been cultivated, and in fact work to helping others achieve the ability. This is very much in line with Buddhist vows that “beings are numberless I vow to save them.”

At this point it all sounds so esoteric, which is why the Star Wars storylines about the force is so brilliant. They have taken this concept and turned it into a tangible form for entertainment. This force can be used in very simple day-to-day ways. One such example is working a room. When working a room full of people it begins the moment you step through the door way or onto the stage or any other place that one encounters a group. It starts with being in the moment, how you connect with others, how you let the nervousness and habits fall away to make room for the moment so that you can see with utmost clarity and subtlety.

What you say and how you say it is never the same, because if you are truly in the moment, you will shape how you say what you want to say consciously. And what you might have planned on saying is not what is being called for in the moment.

COIL’ers read on!

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In times like these a level head is needed now more than ever. And yet we have the opposite running countries. If you were to survey citizens across the world what it is they want in life, it would be food, education, health care, shelter and a fighting chance for the next generation or two to have the same things. And yet is it really human nature to make it so complicated that we have to struggle to maintain an even adequate standard of living? Why is it acceptable for the few who have amassed both money and power to continue to make more and more money so the rest have access to less and less? Is greed and power so much of an aphrodisiac that people lose sight of their humanity? I have news for you – we will die.

Death limits what we can take with us and makes things equal in the end. This begs the question how can one enjoy in a lifetime that amount of money totaling in the billions? And why is this acceptable? I remember the day when making millions was quite an accomplishment. Billions would take multiple lifetimes to spend. It’s not like that amount of money can stave off the inevitable. It will happen no matter what, and leaving a legacy at what cost? What makes this unacceptable is that there is a cost to be paid when individuals become this wealthy. Someone somewhere down the line that you and I will never see pays the price. Actually many are paying the price, whether it is in the form of low wages, child labor, unfair labor conditions or all of the above. Nobody is immune to paying the price when someone makes that much money – nobody!

What makes matters worse is that average folk think if that person can be rich so can I. People get sucked into the myth of, “I can be if I just say it is so and do it.” Truth be told it – it isn’t true. The unfortunate consequence is it becomes a dog eat dog world at the cost of humanity. A free for all where we step over one another and get what little pieces are left at whatever cost. And if you cannot hit it big, then the least you can do is put on airs by literally adorning yourself with the accouterments of the rich by buying name brands that proudly send a message of wealth or upward heading mobility – a facade. While at the same time amassing mountains of debt. Actually, if you think about it you are most likely simultaneously creating debt for yourself and paying the wealthy more and more. While you both will be leaving a legacy, the rich in an obvious way you will be leaving a negative legacy. And that is required to be paid off because thanks to the rich you have been paying have influenced politicians to enact laws that make you have to repay any debt accrued on a credit card or unpaid loan you may have taken out before you up and died.