Reality (2) The External World
In Buddhist philosophy, Reality is also indicated as the Reason, which pervades through the Universe, but in the second phase, we have to discuss the External World, in which we are just living now, as Reality. When we think about the problem simply on the basis of intellectual philosophies like Idealism, if we think that Reality is just Reason, it is impossible for us to insist that Reality is the External World. But in the case of Buddhist Realism, following the Theory of the Four Philosophies, it is possible for us to grasp the Universe as the External World from the opposite side of Reason.
Thinking from the Buddhist viewpoint, Reality is the External World itself, which we are just looking at in front of us. The one of the heavenly bodies, called the Solar System, includes the planet, called the Eearth, and the human civilization, which has developed on the surface of the Eearth, is also a kind of Reality. And even though we, human beings, have developed the history of the civilization for more than thouzands of years at least, we are just living in the historical Reality in the 21st Century.
And in such Reality, what I feel so much grateful, is the fact that USA and USSR have become reconciled with each other without fighting the World War 3. in 1991. Before the reconciliation I could never expect such a so happy reconciliation of the two countries at all. At that time I thought that, if the World War 3. had occured, I had supposed that the tens % of the surface of the Eearth might be destroied easily. Because even in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the damage by Atomic Bombs in Hirishima and Nagasaki was enormously serious, that it was completely impossible for us to suppose the damage before it occured actualy at all. And furthermore more than 60 years have passed since the bombing Hirashima and Nagasaki, and so we have to think that the damage, which we have to suppose, might be so serious.
Therefore it was so grateful fact that because of the enormous efforts of USA and USSR the World War 3. has been stopped. We could become very joyful in such happy conditions wholeheartedly, we can enjoy so enormously that we, human beings, were not so stupid to destroy ourselves utilizing the Atomic Bombs, which we, human beings, had produced after so long and so eormous efforts.
I have a rather peculiar idea on human history, that the World History of human beings seems to be similar to a tornament game of some kinds of sports. In the Anciet History of human beings, there were many small tribes, and each tribe has their own undeveloped civilization. And when there were some kinds of competitive attitudes among them, in the ultimate phase they had wars, and they decided which tribe was superior to others relying upon fighting. Such competitive fights have been continued so manty times in the human history. And at last in 1991 USA and USSR want to fight the Final Game, but fortunately human beings had their excellent ability to stop their Final Game.
And thinking about the real situation of the world, we can think that the Final Game of the World Tornament has ended without fighting, already. And I guess that the Winner of the Final Game might be USA. Therefore in such a situation, USA has possibility to change her Army into the Police of the World, and All Countries in the World will have possibility to change their Armies into each Branch Offices of the World Police. In other words I think that we, Human Beings, are able to begun to have the possibility to establish the Government of the Whole World. Of course such a too much optimistic idea might be very difficult for human beings to think so seriously, but I think that our efforts to establish the peaceful plan to make the World situation better, might be much more desirable for us than to destroy our Valuable Civilization into Ashes by our very stupid attitude.
I have a supposition that it might not be so stupid for human beings to use the Nuclear Weapons on the Earth in future for destroying the so brilliant and valuable civilization, which we have now.
Thinking from the Buddhist viewpoint, Reality is the External World itself, which we are just looking at in front of us. The one of the heavenly bodies, called the Solar System, includes the planet, called the Eearth, and the human civilization, which has developed on the surface of the Eearth, is also a kind of Reality. And even though we, human beings, have developed the history of the civilization for more than thouzands of years at least, we are just living in the historical Reality in the 21st Century.
And in such Reality, what I feel so much grateful, is the fact that USA and USSR have become reconciled with each other without fighting the World War 3. in 1991. Before the reconciliation I could never expect such a so happy reconciliation of the two countries at all. At that time I thought that, if the World War 3. had occured, I had supposed that the tens % of the surface of the Eearth might be destroied easily. Because even in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the damage by Atomic Bombs in Hirishima and Nagasaki was enormously serious, that it was completely impossible for us to suppose the damage before it occured actualy at all. And furthermore more than 60 years have passed since the bombing Hirashima and Nagasaki, and so we have to think that the damage, which we have to suppose, might be so serious.
Therefore it was so grateful fact that because of the enormous efforts of USA and USSR the World War 3. has been stopped. We could become very joyful in such happy conditions wholeheartedly, we can enjoy so enormously that we, human beings, were not so stupid to destroy ourselves utilizing the Atomic Bombs, which we, human beings, had produced after so long and so eormous efforts.
I have a rather peculiar idea on human history, that the World History of human beings seems to be similar to a tornament game of some kinds of sports. In the Anciet History of human beings, there were many small tribes, and each tribe has their own undeveloped civilization. And when there were some kinds of competitive attitudes among them, in the ultimate phase they had wars, and they decided which tribe was superior to others relying upon fighting. Such competitive fights have been continued so manty times in the human history. And at last in 1991 USA and USSR want to fight the Final Game, but fortunately human beings had their excellent ability to stop their Final Game.
And thinking about the real situation of the world, we can think that the Final Game of the World Tornament has ended without fighting, already. And I guess that the Winner of the Final Game might be USA. Therefore in such a situation, USA has possibility to change her Army into the Police of the World, and All Countries in the World will have possibility to change their Armies into each Branch Offices of the World Police. In other words I think that we, Human Beings, are able to begun to have the possibility to establish the Government of the Whole World. Of course such a too much optimistic idea might be very difficult for human beings to think so seriously, but I think that our efforts to establish the peaceful plan to make the World situation better, might be much more desirable for us than to destroy our Valuable Civilization into Ashes by our very stupid attitude.
I have a supposition that it might not be so stupid for human beings to use the Nuclear Weapons on the Earth in future for destroying the so brilliant and valuable civilization, which we have now.
posted by GUDO NISHIJIMA | 12:32 PM
21 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
>And I guess that the winner of the Final Game might be USA.
There is no "final game". Dogen himself said in Bendowa that teachings about the "final time" were wrong. The US simply happens to have emerged as the strongest nation at this particular point in time, due to the convergence of a number of historical and economic factors.
>Therefore in such a situation, USA has possibility to change her Army into the Police of the World, and All Countries in the World will have possibility to change their Armies into each Branch Offices of the World Police.
God forbid. America has no idea how to deploy its strength for good in the world. We've seen what happens when it tries to be the global policeman. Luckily, other countries won't even consider changing their armies into "branch offices" of the US military. Long before that happens, the US military itself will implode, as it is already starting to; the US will be unable to continue to support it; and your "global winner" will finally begin to reap the fruits of years of incompetent management (especially during the last five years), neglect, and carelessness as it spirals down the drain economically, ethically, and spiritually.
> In other words I think that we, Human Beings, are able to begun to have the possibility to establish the Government of the Whole World.
An interesting fantasy, which perhaps can come true at some point in the distant future, but certainly not based on anything the US does, and not even necessary for the human race to reach a state of increased happiness.
Amen, Bob.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
"I have a supposition that it might not be so stupid for human beings to use the Nuclear Weapons on the Earth in future for destroying the so brilliant and valuable civilization, which we have now."
What is it that you are saying here? I’m not sure I understand what you mean..
I think roshi Nishijima explains the character of External Reality as something which is opposed to Reason and uses example that some people confuse with roshi's personal views or opinions. We students sometimes tend to forget that Buddhist teachers speak in order to point to reality itself that is beyond all opinions. But when a student attaches to what a teacher says, then such a student believes a discussion started. Reality does not discuss itself.
In other words roshi Nishijima points to reality that is beyond all views with a finger, that is painted with stars and stripes - painted like this just for a while. And some ppl refuse to accept such politically oriented finger. But the colors of the finger change according to situation. But the direction of the finger is clear and sharp. As much as reality beyond views is clear and sharp.
Nishijima roshi,
I revere you as my ancestor. I bow to you. But I cannot take this. George Bush's policy, American imperialism as a chance for the world? Are you kidding? I am fucking French, as French ( different from american as they are from us, great) we love and cultivate differences and believe that the fabric of this universe is beautiful because of its diversity, its changing nature. Don't you understand that the vere changing nature of things is IT? Your dream of something stable, central, controlled is a byproduct of your perception of sitting Zen. Sitting Zen is dynamic, moving, flowing, directing, never achieving or rather never aware of its completion.
Taijun is helping the poor and people in suffering. She does more for Buddhism than this bullshit of polical correctness and your would be philosophy.
Gudo, WAKE UP !!!!
It is a shame to hear a Buddhist patriarch saying that America is the key to the problems of the world. I love american people and I don't want to be one of them. I don't want anybody to rule me. I wish that my delusion doesn't rule others or me so much.
It is my illusion to wish that you could react in a different way.
I have no business to tell you what to think but just a thought, great Buddhist thinker, all this, all these centuries of sitting for coming to the conclusion that market values and stock exchange are the acting Boddhisatvas of this world?
Do you realize the stupidity of what you write?
Gudo, Stupid foolish way.
Gudo, one day, you'll wake up and see that this crasy offender of Mike Chodo Cross and his insane follower Tetsu Ten could well be your most vulnerable, honnest, openely fucked up and true Dharma heirs.
When I visit japan, i'll meet you, face to face. Not to fight. Not to make peace. I don't care about politics.
Just meeting you. Meeting Taijun too.
Buddha bless, Gudo, and remember, Sawaki's imperfect and human teaching was full of rebellion, when offered the abbotship of Eiheiji he replied: not even a dog would take it...
How could I take your suggestion about America?
Pierre
"I am fucking French"
you certainly are
Hello,
I have to scatter words on this post.
Gudo Nishijima is my teacher for Zazen and Buddhist philosophy and many other aspects about living life with good grace. He is also an 87 year old grandfatherly man who grew up in a certain day and time. With all due respect to the teacher I love, I am completely comfortable with his teachings on Zazen and Buddhist philosophy and much else, but I never came to him for a political opinion. Gosh, I never came to him to fix my car either, or to remove my appendix. Gee whiz. Being a Zen teacher means being a True Human Being (not a Saint, not a God), and having some insight on the Universe. It does not mean that you are an expert on which movies deserve the Academy Award (see Brokeback Mountain, by the way).
I am an American, a political liberal, a pacifist as much as I can be in this violent world. Through Nishijima Roshi, I have attained a taste of something dropping all thought of American or French or Japanese, politics, war and peace. However, in the down and dirty world of Samsara, we can all have lots of very personal, quixotic ideas about how to fix this world, even if you aren't as much of an America-phile as old Gudo (as an American, I am certainly not an America-phile, and criticize as much as I love my culture).
All I know is that, if we are ever to get along in this world, we need to learn to communicate in a way in which we don't call each other names, think of ourselves as American, Japanese, French or whatever, act with anger or insult, yell at people who fail to accept our ideas, etc. etc. We need to learn to respfully agree to disagree.
Gudo Roshi, by the way, is a perfect example of that. He is a man of very strong personal opinions about various things (politics among them), and he has people who try to treat him with cruel and harsh words for little known reason, or even take advantage. For all the years I have known him as studemt and friend, I have never seen him react to all that. He takes it no more seriously than watching children fight over toys in the sandbox. He just goes on, in his little room, writing his words, sitting Zazen and treating everyone with a smile and dignity.
For me, that is what Buddhism is. In fact, if the Buddha himself showed up with definitive knowledge of the philosophy of Buddhism, how to sit and all that, but treated people with anger, harsh words, insults and such ... well, for me, the Buddha would not himself be a Buddhist.
And if I am completely wrong in my understanding of Buddhism, but I find myself as who I am - basically at peace with myself and the world, accepting, a good father to my kid (no saint or emotional robot, mind you ... far from it, but content with walking in my shoes, moment by moment, step-by-step) - I will take my wrong Buddhism over someone else's right one.
I like and respect my teacher, Gudo, even as I don't ask him for whom I should vote.
Peace, Jundo Cohen
you are a silly person pierre.
Just another reason why I am proud to call Jundo Cohen my teacher.
Thank you, Jim!
I agree, Oxeye,
Silly and much more,
Thank me for reminding you
Thank you for reminding me.
I don't get what everyone is getting so worked up about? The only real "problems" with Nishijima's blog are that he didn't use spell-check. The French guy seems particularly miffed... I see what you're saying, this competition is always in the world, and has been escalating for generations upon generations. If america and USSR hadn't resolved, we'd have had another "tribal" battle to sort out who should be on top. I feel that what you're saying is that America is on top, and as such, should behave that way. The world has deferred to the USA, albeit a corrupt USA, but still the "Winner". And this final game? Does that mean a kind of "armageddon" that was predicted when/if USA fought USSR?
while I appreciate the words of Jundo Jim... I gotta throw in my two cents.
To say that we should live under a totalitarian regime is purile, obtuse, and irresponsible. It's promoting fascism.
The people in Washington who run our government believe that they can now get all the things they wanted before the trade towers came down: more money for the military, ballistic missile defenses, more freedom for the intelligence services and removal of the last modest restrictions that the Vietnam era placed on our leaders.
From George Washington's "farewell address" to Dwight Eisenhower's invention of the phrase "military-industrial complex," American leaders have warned about the dangers of a bloated, permanent, expensive military establishment that has lost its relationship to the country because service in it is no longer an obligation of citizenship. Our military operates the biggest arms sales operation on earth; it rapes girls, women and schoolchildren in Okinawa; it cuts ski-lift cables in Italy, killing twenty vacationers, and dismisses what its insubordinate pilots have done as a "training accident"; it allows its nuclear attack submarines to be used for joy rides for wealthy civilian supporters and then covers up the negligence that caused the sinking of a Japanese high school training ship; it propagandizes the nation with Hollywood films glorifying military service (Pearl Harbor); and it manipulates the political process to get more carrier task forces, antimissile missiles, nuclear weapons, stealth bombers and other expensive gadgets for which we have no conceivable use. Two of the most influential federal institutions are not in Washington but on the south side of the Potomac River--the Defense Department and the Central Intelligence Agency. Given their influence today, one must conclude that the government outlined in the Constitution of 1787 no longer bears much relationship to the government that actually rules from Washington. Until that is corrected, we should probably stop talking about "democracy" and "human rights." (excerpt from chalmers johnson)
Peace.
mike , why are you fighting with gudo or vis versa ?
jundo jim
i think it is good to have more
than one teacher in life since
the higher truth is at stake here ? Being attach to one person
(gudo) can get you in trouble !
just an observation , what do you say ?
you make me laugh ,pierre
you are something.
For Bob San
I hope sincerely that the confrontation between USA and USSR has been the real final game in human history.
I do not know whether USA will implode historically in near future, or not, and at the same time I do not know whether all other countries will protest to make the world peaceful. I like always to think everything on the basis of facts, which have occured on the earth already.
Of course, my idea is a so enormously fantastic dream, but I think that we, human being, can have its freedom to make its efforts for realizing the dream without any hesitation, even though it seems to be completely impossible.
For Oxeve San
I think that we, human beings, have needed so many years, for example for more than tens thouthands, or hundreda thousands of years at least, for getting the so enormously gorgeous and so valuable civilizations, which we are just enjoying today, and so I do not think that it is so stupid for human beings to destroy such a valuable civilizations easily without any hesitation.
For ryunin San
I agree that Reality does not disscuss itself, but I think that it is necessary for human beings to discuss Reality for finding it.
I think that it is necessary for us sincerely to discuss the political situations of the world today for finding the real situations of the world, which is as exactly as similar to the real facts.
For Pierre Turlur San
I am never kidding anyone at all. I do not think that diversity is not always beautiful. We human beings have been suffered from the diversity between idealism and materialism for more than tens of thousands of years at least, and I think that we, human beings, are going to get rid of such a miserable condition in the human history for the first time relying upon Buddhist Realism. I think that it is inevitable for us to begin to lose all kinds of lies on the earth gradually because of so excellent power of IT civilizations.
Thank you very much for your praise of my disciple Taijun.
Fortunately I am always awake up other than the time when I am sleeping.
I think that you have your perfect freedom to believe in your own belief without fail.
I think that it is completely imposible for me to change my Buddhist thoughts until my death.
I would like to cearly say that even the market values and stock exchange are also just the acting Boddhisatvas of this world.
I do not find so far any kind of stupidiy in what I wrote in my blog.
I do not have anything to say to others' slanders or blames against me.
I think that what you suppose about me will never occur on the earth at all. Because recently Mr Mike Cross sent me an email that he never accept only one theory of me, which is based on the authonomic nervous system, but all theories, which I insist, belong totally to Gautama Buddha's theory, but among them the only one exception, which I insits, is just the theory on the authomic nervous system, because when Gautama Buddha lived, the scientific knowledge of the autonomic nervous system hasn't appeared on the earth yet.
I also expect to meet you in Japen sincerely.
I think Taijun also will be happy to meet you.
I think that your supposition of Master Kodo Sawaki is completely wrong. I have met him almost every month, when he was in Tokyo. and I think that he was also one of the most excellent Buddhist Master after Master Dogen's death.
I am always looking at the situations of the world everyday, not only of USA.
For Dan San
I have several Dharma Heirs, who are called Dan, and I guess you might be Dan Alon. Anyway I would like to listen to your opinion on France sincerely.
For Jundo Jim San
Thank you very much for your visiting me a few weeks ago. I would like to know the recent situations of Dogen Sanghas in France after your coming back from France.
For Oxeve San
I would like to keep my scilence in this case.
For JustKeith San
I would like to keep my silence too.
For Pierre Turlur San
I would like to keep my silence too.
For Pike San
I agree with your opinion perfectly, because, even though I am not a native speaker of English, my mistakes in English spellings are too many.
I have thought that the final game of the world tornament might be a kind of "Armageddon," and so I revere excellence of USSR and USA so much.
For zenarchist San
I have a very sincere boubt whether human beings have ability to maintain the peaceful conditions in the world without concetrating the government into one. I think that my opinion seems to be too pessimistic, but thinking the total situations in the world history, I think that the example between USSR and USA is only one exceptional consolation throughout the whole human histories.
All kinds of historical facts are critisized so severely from the both sides of idealism and materialism, but I am afraid that those two kinds of exstreme criticism are prone to belong to a too much one-sided opinion, or not.
For tena San
I do not like to say anything about the problems.
For Bob San
I hope sincerely that the confrontation between USA and USSR has been the real final game in human history.
I do not know whether USA will implode historically in near future, or not, and at the same time I do not know whether all other countries will protest to make the world peaceful. I like always to think everything on the basis of facts, which have occured on the earth already.
Of course, my idea is a so enormously fantastic dream, but I think that we, human being, can have its freedom to make its efforts for realizing the dream without any hesitation, even though it seems to be completely impossible.
For Oxeve San
I think that we, human beings, have needed so many years, for example for more than tens thouthands, or hundreda thousands of years at least, for getting the so enormously gorgeous and so valuable civilizations, which we are just enjoying today, and so I do not think that it is so stupid for human beings to destroy such a valuable civilizations easily without any hesitation.
For ryunin San
I agree that Reality does not disscuss itself, but I think that it is necessary for human beings to discuss Reality for finding it.
I think that it is necessary for us sincerely to discuss the political situations of the world today for finding the real situations of the world, which is as exactly as similar to the real facts.
For Pierre Turlur San
I am never kidding anyone at all. I do not think that diversity is not always beautiful. We human beings have been suffered from the diversity between idealism and materialism for more than tens of thousands of years at least, and I think that we, human beings, are going to get rid of such a miserable condition in the human history for the first time relying upon Buddhist Realism. I think that it is inevitable for us to begin to lose all kinds of lies on the earth gradually because of so excellent power of IT civilizations.
Thank you very much for your praise of my disciple Taijun.
Fortunately I am always awake up other than the time when I am sleeping.
I think that you have your perfect freedom to believe in your own belief without fail.
I think that it is completely imposible for me to change my Buddhist thoughts until my death.
I would like to cearly say that even the market values and stock exchange are also just the acting Boddhisatvas of this world.
I do not find so far any kind of stupidiy in what I wrote in my blog.
I do not have anything to say to others' slanders or blames against me.
I think that what you suppose about me will never occur on the earth at all. Because recently Mr Mike Cross sent me an email that he never accept only one theory of me, which is based on the authonomic nervous system, but all theories, which I insist, belong totally to Gautama Buddha's theory, but among them the only one exception, which I insits, is just the theory on the authomic nervous system, because when Gautama Buddha lived, the scientific knowledge of the autonomic nervous system hasn't appeared on the earth yet.
I also expect to meet you in Japen sincerely.
I think Taijun also will be happy to meet you.
I think that your supposition of Master Kodo Sawaki is completely wrong. I have met him almost every month, when he was in Tokyo. and I think that he was also one of the most excellent Buddhist Master after Master Dogen's death.
I am always looking at the situations of the world everyday, not only of USA.
For Dan San
I have several Dharma Heirs, who are called Dan, and I guess you might be Dan Alon. Anyway I would like to listen to your opinion on France sincerely.
For Jundo Jim San
Thank you very much for your visiting me a few weeks ago. I would like to know the recent situations of Dogen Sanghas in France after your coming back from France.
For Oxeve San
I would like to keep my scilence in this case.
For JustKeith San
I would like to keep my silence too.
For Pierre Turlur San
I would like to keep my silence too.
For Pike San
I agree with your opinion perfectly, because, even though I am not a native speaker of English, my mistakes in English spellings are too many.
I have thought that the final game of the world tornament might be a kind of "Armageddon," and so I revere excellence of USSR and USA so much.
For zenarchist San
I have a very sincere boubt whether human beings have ability to maintain the peaceful conditions in the world without concetrating the government into one. I think that my opinion seems to be too pessimistic, but thinking the total situations in the world history, I think that the example between USSR and USA is only one exceptional consolation throughout the whole human histories.
All kinds of historical facts are critisized so severely from the both sides of idealism and materialism, but I am afraid that those two kinds of exstreme criticism are prone to belong to a too much one-sided opinion, or not.
For tena San
I do not like to say anything about the problems.
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