WatSuanDok

Zen

I've found, recently, that reading and thinking about Zen make me very happy. I was reading Zen in the Art of Archery at CPK about an hour ago, and it got me thinking about a question my mother asked me. She asked me how my martial art training had affected my faith. I told her that Dojoo Nim is now Christian, and we talked about the subject for a while. I've thought often of the relation between western philosophy and Christianity. Zen in the Art of Archery is a German philosopher's account of his six years of training in archery under a Japanese Master. It deals with many of the hurdles that a westerner must overcome to wrap his mind around eastern philosophy, particuarly Zen.

My question, which I fully intend to contemplate and research, is this: Are Zen and Christianity mutually exclusive? D.T. Suzuki gives a definition of zen in his introduction to Zen in the Art of Archery:

Zen is the "everyday mind" as was proclaimed by Baso(Ma-tsu, died 788): this "everyday mind" is no more than "sleeping when tired, eating when hungry."

Tiramisu

I ate dinner at CPK. My spirits had not been lifted by either the chapter of Zen in the Art of Archery or the pizza. I was rather depressed that I was eating alone as I do 90% of the time. I then had the following conversation with my waiter, Viboon:

Viboon: Would you like tiramisu with your coffee?

Self: I do believe so.

Viboon: Have you had tiramisu before?

Self: Yes (thoughts of my ex-girlfriend in an olive garden...this doesn't help my lonlieness)

Viboon: At the Cheescake Factory?

Self: (This confused me, and probably caused me to stutter. I thought of 3 experiences with the Cheesecake Factory: I ate cheesecake at a Cheesecake Factory after watching a Les Mis�rables on broadway; a good friend of mine from college, who was studying for a year at Pepperdine, and I ate at a Cheesecake Factory in the Valley; I ate takeout from a Cheescake Factory with Master Lee after working on the website one evening. I live across from the Cheescake Factory in Marina Del Rey, but I've never eaten there. Why did he ask me about the Cheesecake Factory?) Actually, I last had it in Venice. (smile)

Viboon: (smiles, because he can see in my eyes I'm not talking about the Venice I could walk to...)

Final thoughts for the evening.

Journaling is so relaxing.

Why can't I ever come up with a cool name like 'Viboon?'

What does one use EMU OIL for?

I'm a web developer for NOVICA. I'm fascinated by languages, even though I only speak English and a little Spanish. I can count in Korean and have numerous language and linguistics books. I'm living within walking distance of CSUN where I share an apartment with my girlfriend and 2 cats. I'm happy. I write sporadically (I really need to finish that short story), with every intention of making a living at it at an undisclosed point in the future. I taught physics at Emperor's College Winter Term 2008. I love games and stories and music and computers and science and "and." I drink my coffee 100% black 80% of the time and 80% black 20% of the time. Also, there are other things. 7332 42
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Mood: Happy Read/Post Comments (2) Share on Facebook		2003-03-01 10:03 PM Zen and Tiramisu Zen I've found, recently, that reading and thinking about Zen make me very happy. I was reading Zen in the Art of Archery at CPK about an hour ago, and it got me thinking about a question my mother asked me. She asked me how my martial art training had affected my faith. I told her that Dojoo Nim is now Christian, and we talked about the subject for a while. I've thought often of the relation between western philosophy and Christianity. Zen in the Art of Archery is a German philosopher's account of his six years of training in archery under a Japanese Master. It deals with many of the hurdles that a westerner must overcome to wrap his mind around eastern philosophy, particuarly Zen. My question, which I fully intend to contemplate and research, is this: Are Zen and Christianity mutually exclusive? D.T. Suzuki gives a definition of zen in his introduction to Zen in the Art of Archery: Zen is the "everyday mind" as was proclaimed by Baso(Ma-tsu, died 788): this "everyday mind" is no more than "sleeping when tired, eating when hungry." Tiramisu I ate dinner at CPK. My spirits had not been lifted by either the chapter of Zen in the Art of Archery or the pizza. I was rather depressed that I was eating alone as I do 90% of the time. I then had the following conversation with my waiter, Viboon: Viboon: Would you like tiramisu with your coffee? Self: I do believe so. Viboon: Have you had tiramisu before? Self: Yes (thoughts of my ex-girlfriend in an olive garden...this doesn't help my lonlieness) Viboon: At the Cheescake Factory? Self: (This confused me, and probably caused me to stutter. I thought of 3 experiences with the Cheesecake Factory: I ate cheesecake at a Cheesecake Factory after watching a Les Mis�rables on broadway; a good friend of mine from college, who was studying for a year at Pepperdine, and I ate at a Cheesecake Factory in the Valley; I ate takeout from a Cheescake Factory with Master Lee after working on the website one evening. I live across from the Cheescake Factory in Marina Del Rey, but I've never eaten there. Why did he ask me about the Cheesecake Factory?) Actually, I last had it in Venice. (smile) Viboon: (smiles, because he can see in my eyes I'm not talking about the Venice I could walk to...) Final thoughts for the evening. Journaling is so relaxing. Why can't I ever come up with a cool name like 'Viboon?' What does one use EMU OIL for? Read/Post Comments (2) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top