temple

Tonight, I was writing a chapter for my new book, and I thought I would share it.

On Saturday mornings, I often found myself at a nearby Buddhist temple, Fukusen-ji 福泉寺, at dawn. The temple sat on a bluff overlooking the bay on the East side of Okinawa Island. The building sat slightly away from the coastal road, with a steep stairway leading up the bluff. 

Mujō (無常)

無 means without or lacking.

常 means permanence or constancy.

Together, they literally mean without permanence, which is the core Buddhist teaching that all things change and nothing remains fixed. This idea became one of the philosophical foundations of Japanese aesthetics.

In cultural practice, Mujō (無常) is not only a doctrine. It shapes how people see the world, how they respond to seasons, how they treat objects, and how they understand their own emotions. It encourages a calm acceptance of change, whether joyful or painful, and invites a person to notice the present moment fully because it will inevitably shift.

In literature and art, 無常 explains why stories often focus on transient beauty, memories, or quiet turning points. In daily life, it appears in the reverence for natural cycles and the careful handling of items that may be simple yet valued while they serve their purpose. Mujō works alongside Mono no aware (物の哀れ), since the recognition of impermanence gives rise to the tender emotional awareness that defines the latter.

Schopenhauer

I found myself wholly emptied, the mental exhaustion where you sit in your parked car and wake up minutes later, unsure how long you’ve been asleep.

This evening was one of those moments when something cracked inside. 

Values and Quality in our lives

Values and Quality in our lives
"The daily effort comes from no deliberate intention or program, but straight from the heart. The state of mind which enables a man to do work of this kind is akin to that of a religious worshipper or a lover."
- Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Mainenance
This book took me 10 years to understand and to live by. What is quality? Was is good and what is bad? These are the koans (questions) we may ask ourselves until we break down mentally, in the end we realize that there is no duality (good, bad) in love and there is none in God, so the Zen or Sufi masters will teach us.
They will teach you "Don't wait until you die to meet with your God, live by your heart, not mind. Mind is deceiving and dualistic, open your heart to see what's is good about.", "... there are hundreds of ways to kiss the ground" Jalal-ad-Din al-Rumi wrote.
I kiss the ground every day in deepest humility and love.
No confusion, just love.

If Buddha had a clock...

... he would live his life 15 minutes at the time.

I re-wrote my older article, I think it is worth re-posting it:

http://uki.blogspot.com/2007/07/is-it-mindful-or-wasteful-15-minutes.html

Japanese archery

I love the concept of Japanese meditative archery kyudo, but often in practice the execution is just pathetic.
So often it makes me just sick to watch it, as if they were doing the opposite of the original intent:
- wobbly grandpas and grandmas that obviously never practice anymore,
- badly choreographed and unnecessary movements such as Shinto priests carrying the bow by one end like a little baby, which may be respectful, but it is not Zen
- bad execution, terrible marksmanship, etc.
Recently, I came across a video of lovely ladies (pictures attached) doing things just perfect:
- efficient graceful movements,
- meditative mind and pose
- good marksmanship
What a joy to finally see a true art of Japanese archery! I have much to learn from them.
The art of Japanese archery is based on simple principles:
- practice a perfect form until it becomes you (muscle memory)
- practice without any unnecessary movements, good posture, efficiency of moves
- practice until hitting of the target is the outcome of your actions, not a goal
- let your mind become one with your action, no distractions

Stoic philosophy vs. Zen

Stoic philosophy vs. Zen

Both of the ways of life show similarities; both favor austerity and thoughtfulness, pursuit of quality in all doings and virtue. Both believe in the natural turn of things, here, however lies the biggest difference. Stoics distinguish things that are right, wrong and neutral, leaving very little gray area between them. Someone is either virtuous sage, or a burr, sadly this has very exclusive and aristocratic overtone. Also, as we all know, and Zen Buddhism supports, things are not black, or white, the judgement depends on point of view. Someone's garbage is another persons' treasure; just look at archeologists, psychosatrists, lawyers, or soldiers.

We can learn many noble things by studying stoics, some are great heroes of mine, but we must be forwarned about following the absolute truths and virtues, to understand this we may look at the shameful history of Christianity with the Holly Inquisition and more recent persecution and elimination of native religions around the World. Look at other religions that convert the infidels with the sword and fire and maintain its power by keeping the faithul in medival ignorance. We don't have to look too far as our current President Bush is the best example that "we are good, they are bad" might have worked well for the tribal chief, or football coach, but does not score us any cool points in the World. As the side note, Bush is also a great example of why we should separate religion from government, I shall not vote for anybody who considers beliefs anything more than a private and personal matter. Quality and virtue of stoics are still worth and noble goal everyone should strive for, but it is the "way" of living, not some ultimate truth.

wabi-sabi

I've read the aphorisms:
"Strive for excellence, not perfection." and "Don't worry about perfection, you'll never reach it."
Sadly, people tend to consider the things and ideas that are grand and complex as amazing. Any fool can see the world as complex and make it even more so.
"If not the perfection, not complexity, what is the excellence?" - You'd ask. - "Ha! Glad you asked this question. Your journey begins here and now."

Cogito, ergo sum - Decartes

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With
our thoughts, we make our world."
- Sakyamuni Buddha, Dhammapada 2,600 years ago
People back then may not have Sony TVs, or Apple computers, but they
knew the same facts that about psychology that every self-help book
on the shelves of the Borders will tell you.
Decide to live the free and happy life and your stress will be
greatly reduced. Make your mind to success, set goals, follow them,
and you will succeed. Smile at life and to people and they will start
smiling back to you.
Definitely worth trying.

Art of doing things

Strive to learn everything you can about your thing in life, learn the mechanics of it, every aspect, until it become a second nature, natural and without thinking. Then you'll forget all you have learned and develop a Zen-like gut feeling, an intuition, about the subject. Only then you will be able to make an art of it.

Zen & The Art of the Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig

For the last 12 years, I have repeatedly re-read that fascinating book. 

I meditated the Zen for even longer period of time.

Only today, I realized that the question which I asked myself for thousand times "What is Quality?" is a Koan, a question that has only one purpse - to transend the the intellect, intuition into the enlightenment, or madness.

This profound realization left me in awe and humbled by my blindness over the past 12 years.

Amazon

A Cook and Master Ikkyu

One day a man came to the famous Japanese Zen master Ikkyu. The man said:
- "Master, I work hard as a cook, yet the inn-keeper treats me like a worthless dog. Master, please help me with the inn-keeper, you are a very respected man in the town."
Ikkyu, without a word moved on to make a tea. After the tea Ikkyu send the man away with these words:
- "Go and become a good cook"
The men went away a little offended and disappointed, but out of the respect to the great master, he did study the art of cooking. After the while he came back to the master and said:
- "Master, I work hard and I became one of the better cooks in town, the inn-keeper is better now, but she still yells at me and pushes me around. Master, being a great cook is not working... please help this time."

Master Ikkyu tasted the sweets that the man brought and indeed they were first class. The cook thought - "Now the master will send the word to the inn-keeper for me"
Ikkyu upon finishing the sweets said "Observe and learn the art of being the inn-keeper, understand how your master thinks."
This was the strangest request, thought the cook, but he went away as it was not a custom to argue with the master.

A while later the cook comes back to Ikkyu and says:
"Master, I work hard, I became the best cook and I learned the art of inn-keeping, I realized I could go and work for anybody I would like to, yet I decided to stay in my inn because the keeper became quite agreeable."

"Was it she, or you that changed?" asked master.
"Ah, Master, indeed it was I" the cook replied.

"Now you know the true path: 1) work hard, 2) study your art, become good at what you do, 3) be mindful of others around you and 4) be mindful of your own thoughts."

Thoughts on Buddhism

I was thinking about Buddhism, I have read many books, and not all Buddhism is the same.

I realize I am not Zen Buddhist, not even a "proper" Buddhist, but a follower of my own way, er..., "Uki-do" (wink-wink).

Recently, my friend sarcastically laughed at me for hearing me say "I like normality" as if I was everything but. That was the first time I realized that I may be perceived by others as some kind of rebel without a cause, to me, in my own life, I stand up against what seems as unnatural to me.

So how do you practice my "Uki-do"?

At every moment try to be mindful (vipassana), be mindful of your own states of mind, and of others, try to see what causes the pain and anger. Don't let these states of mind control the life.

The most important principle is to try to do the best you can in every moment of your life. Then, don't worry when things go wrong, you already did your best and there is nothing you could have done better. Also, things do improve slowly in your life as you make the effort (karma). Remember, your "best" is subjective and others may think contrary, again, just try your best, trust your instincts, do not succumb to the peer pressure.

Stop to smell the roses, write a poem, observe. "Don't just do anything, sit there", goes an old buddhist saying.

Your life is your meditation, sitting in the cave may work for some, but not for me.

Train to live with the assumption that you may die the next day (momento mori), and your life will become full of meaning and maybe of peace (nirvana). Only young fools think they will live forever and waste their lives.

Battles are won before they even begin. Only young fools think otherwise.
Therefore be a warrior - imagine an old, wise, gentleman/warrior/master. Old warriors avoid the fights at all costs. The fights bring the casualties, but hardly ever the solutions. They are compassionate for their opponents before and after the fight, but never during - mind must stay clean during the confrontation. They are always preparing and instinctively know what to do when the time comes.

There will be plenty of fights that life will throw at you, don't try to pick one on your own, every fight may be your last. "Choose your fights wisely" my previous boss once said to me.

Prepare yourself, if you find that something matters, learn about it (dharma). You cannot learn about everything, but you can do your best. If you missed something, don't despair.

Be good to people, relationships are most important (sangha), you can try to live without them, but you will be miserable.

Eat well (read about my caveman diet), get good rest, make love and exercise.

Oh, almost forgot: "Snap out of it!", and seek your own enlightenment (buddha).

Is it mindful or wasteful 15 minutes?

For about a decade now, I've been reminding myself of this simple philosophy of living a few minutes at a time. I think it is worth to re-state it again.

According to the Buddhists, and common sense, there is no universal good, nor bad choices in life. However, we are not entirely off the hook yet; every action carries its consequences -- yes the buddhist 'karma'.

To be 'mindful' as Buddhists say is to be aware of self and the present surroundings. It's hard to keep the constant vigilance, therefore, it is by far easier to make the minor course corrections every once a while.

Wasting time, resources, life, opportunity (to learn), or simply not caring, is hardly mindful.

I try to do the best I can a that moment and monitor my life every 15 minutes. I ask myself what have I done that is beneficial?

No worries mate, sometimes your choices will be plain dumb, but I assure you, your life will gradually turn better and you become a more valuable person because you are more mindful and you learn constantly.

Finally, the note about the rest and fun - don't overdo it, but both are necessary to maintain the sanity. Life is too short to keep it all 'hard charging'. You will learn that after 5, 10, and 20 years later, you still chasing your goals as you did the day one. Life will be over sooner than you can realize.
Enjoying the present is the only way to be happy.

Christianity and Buddhism

In this short article I will attempt to show that there is a common ground for both of the traditions on their  respective highest levels.

To compare Christianity and Buddhism we have to understand clearly the essence and therefore the roots of both.

We will be talking about different religions, it is important to notice a big distinction; Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism are all technically true religions. Buddhism, in its original and true form cannot be classified as religion, but as mere philosophy. It is a philosophy in the very essence of the word; a quest, or pull towards (philo) the knowledge, or understanding (sophy).

Modern day Christianity stems out of much older Judeo-Christian tradition. The Judaic root is based in the teachings of the Old Testament which is heavily influenced by the laws and customs of the Jewish tribes of the era predeceasing the time when the Old Testament was written down from the oral tradition.

With great simplification, Jewish laws, traditions and teachings can be characterized as mostly external in regard to personal self and internal personal insights. The external traditions are simply the laws to be followed. There very little ground of comparison to buddhism here. The internal traditions manifest in Kabbalah teachings of the Judaism, which carried little or no weight into Christianity.

Christianity itself, carrying the external Judaic traditions developed into popular religion which is mostly represented by Protestant faiths (pure belief and laws) and majority of Catholicism (belief, customs and laws).

The tradition based internal insight are represented by a very narrow circle of Catholic and Eastern Orthodox mystics. It is this small group of mystics, and some insignificant fractions of mystic Protestants, that give us the best platform for further comparisons.

Buddhism, on the other hand, stems out of the hinduism, and both of the teachings are based on the internal insight of the individual.

It is therefore not difficult to see that if we want to compare Christianity to Buddhism and to find significant similarities, we will have to understand the internal insight that is the essence of both.

Judeo-Christian mystic experiences as well a Buddhist enlightenment are based on the similar basic principles. A person has to reject the distractions of the every-day world, most often going into seclusion. Person should cleanse the inner body, usually by limiting the intake of drink and food, or fasting. Person has to clean the mind from distractions by meditation, prayer, or contemplation on a single object. Finally, the person has to obtain a state of perfect balance, or union, with the object of the meditation, prayer, or contemplation.

The process of achievement of what eastern tradition call enlightenment (japanese satori), or Judeo-Christian mystic experience (visions and unions with God) are very similar and can be manifested in many ways common across all religions that utilize spiritual insights. Most graphic is in form of mandla that can be found in European church windows sponsored by people after mystic visions, Eastern Orthodox Church paintings, Hindu, east-asian art and Tibetan mandals.

The mandala is such a common reflection of the experience, that based on what was seen, and in what colors, a person can determine the depth of the experience. The subject is too extensive to explain it in-depth in this paper.

There were many great mystics in history of Christianity, Teresa of Avila is one of them, but the most obvious is Jesus himself. Most notably he went through a deep mystic experiences during the time he spent in the desert praying, fasting, being tempted and ultimately uniting with God-father.

Historic Buddha, similarly, fasted extensively in seclusion of the jungle, meditated and achieved enlightenment into his own existence and the ultimate truth about which he spent the rest of his life teaching.

Every religion, and even every individual perceives differently what is the ultimate. There is no point in discussing which one is truth, false, or which is misguided. At certain point of each tradition there is an individual who follows similar steps to achieves higher level of existence. Whether Jesus, believed to be already the son of God, or Buddha, who never claimed divine, and any saint, or Zen master, they all meditated, prayed, or contemplated, fasted and were tempted until the reality as we know it snapped like a broken string and the essence of the ultimate truth filled their lives. Many people compare this phenomena to many paths leading to the same mountain peak.

Finally, one can find similarities between Christianity and Buddhism that are not limited to a narrow circle of mystics. Those similarities are however more superficial and external and therefore secondary from the point of view of a buddhist. Most notably both of the traditions profess non-violence. Christianity has terrible track-record in this regard, but if to adhere to the teaching of Jesus, a person should not kill. Similarly, in Buddhism killing is considered as a source of bad karma, or harmful influence on the world, and therefore should be avoided at any level, including animals, or even inanimate nature, again with mixed results.

Philosophies: war and religion

War has always been a contradiction in my life. As a former U.S. Marine, I would not hesitate to fight, or even die, for my country’s principles. Yet, as a spiritual person, the resolution is not so simple.

I was raised in a Judeo-Christian culture shaped by Roman Catholicism and later exposed to Buddhism in Asia and Hinduism while working at a yoga temple. I’ve studied Poland’s long history of conflict with the Ottoman Empire and the present struggles against fanatical terrorist groups. Every tradition sheds a different and often contradictory light on war.

Let’s break it down.

Christianity: The Ideal of Nonviolence

Christianity, at its core, rejects war. If one genuinely follows Jesus’ teachings, there is no justification for violence. He preached non-judgment, refused to defend himself, and willingly accepted death. If everyone followed this philosophy, the world would be full of love and free from violence.

Yet, no Christian nation truly follows this doctrine. The Crusades remain one of history’s most shameful contradictions—wars waged in the name of peace. Many Christians still believe their way of life is the only righteous way to live.

Judaism: Justice and Survival

In Judaism, war is permitted when it aligns with justice and survival. The Torah teaches the importance of upholding God’s law, defending one’s people, and punishing enemies when necessary. This tribal wisdom served well 4,000 years ago and still holds relevance today. “Us vs. Them” conflicts (e.g., U.S. vs. Al-Qaeda) fit neatly within this framework. However, the danger is clear: if you are on the other side (e.g., Palestinians), then justice becomes subjective.

Islam: A Struggle for Righteousness

When interpreted correctly, Islam emphasizes justice, discipline, and submission to God. It has not been as diluted over time as Christianity, but it too suffers from rigidity—if you are not Muslim, you are considered wrong.

A fascinating irony: both Jews and Muslims believe in the same God, share the same lineage from Abraham, and recognize many of the same prophets. Yet, they view each other as enemies. Logically, at least one of them must be wrong—perhaps both.

If I follow any of these traditions, I would choose Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. Open-minded, deeply spiritual, and full of love for God and people, it offers a path that transcends dogma. As Rumi, the Sufi poet, wrote:

"It’s not always a blind man who falls into a pit. Sometimes, it’s one who can see.
A holy one does sometimes fall,
but by that tribulation, he or she ascends,
escapes many illusions, escapes conventional religion,
escapes being so bound to phenomena."

Hinduism: A Vast Web of Beliefs

Hinduism is expansive and full of wisdom, but in the grand scheme of history, it has failed to provide unity. Religious persecutions—both of Buddhists and Muslims—have shaped its past. While it offers profound insight into personal growth, its structure has not prevented internal strife.

Buddhism: A Philosophy, Not a Religion

Buddhism is unique because it does not function as a traditional “religion.” It teaches that all things in life are relative; thus, there is no absolute right or wrong. Its focus on mindfulness, compassion, and karma makes it highly adaptable.

Yet even Buddhism does not entirely reject war. A mindful warrior may still go to battle, but only if all other solutions have failed. This makes it perhaps the most pragmatic view—violence is a last resort, not an inevitability.

---

Conclusion: What is the Answer?

If I have learned anything from these traditions, no single belief system holds the absolute truth. Religion shapes perspective, but perspective is not truth.

So what do I believe?
I believe in respecting all spiritual people equally—not judging their traditions but learning from them. If there is a divine truth, it must be more significant than one tribe, one book, or one set of rules.

In the end, scripture does not answer the question of war. It is responded to in the heart of the individual.