The taboo

 ''In Japan it was once customary to give young people about to be married a "pillow book." This was a small volume of wood-block prints, often colored, showing all the details of sexual intercourse. It wasn't just that, as the Chinese say, "one picture is worth ten thousand words." It was also that it spared parents the embarrassment of explaining these intimate matters face-to-face.''

Alan Watts, ''The Book On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are''

The solution of Mu

 Once you reach ''Mu'', it is like reaching ''Kyogen''. The solution of the first koan, which is ''Mu'', leads to the solution of the first five koans*.                                                                                  

Thoughts on ''Zen flesh, Zen bones''

* the first five koans being ''Mu'', Hyakujo's's fox'', ''Gutei's finger'', ''A beardless foreigner'' and ''Kyogen mounts the tree''.

Ένας μύθος

 Ήταν κάποτε ένα ζευγάρι, ο Cogito και η Σεξουαλικότητα, που απέκτησαν δύο παιδιά,ένα αγόρι και ένα κορίτσι. Τους κληροδότησαν μαζί με την επικαρπία  κάποιων υλικών αγαθών και ένα συμβολικό κεφάλαιο για να σταθούν στον κόσμο...

(''Τί ΄Ελεγε ο Λακάν για τις Γυναίκες'', Κολέτ Σολέρ)

A suggestion for Meditation

Meditation can be practised through the koans ''Mu'' and ''A Beardless Foreigner'' or, through an alternative set, namely ''Hyakujo's Fox'' and ''Gutei's Finger''. The above suggestion refers to the so called Flesh of the ''Gateless Gate'' as described in the book ''Zen Flesh, Zen Bones''. It also applies to the Bones, the pictures of the ''10 Bulls'' in the same book. That is: ''The Search for the Bull'' and ''Catching the Bull'', or, ''Discovering the Footprints'' and ''Perceiving the Bull''.

ZEN AND YOGA

 ''The obvious is that which is never seen,
 until someone expresses it simply.''

Paramahansa Jivanmukta Mahabodhisattva

(''Zen and Yoga'', P.J.Saher)

AN IMAGE FOR WAKUAN*

My mother showing her teeth with a smile, alongside a car with the engine off , and the windshield wipers on !!!

(part of a dream I have had)

*Wakuan is the main character of the koan 'A Beardless Foreigner', in the Gateless Gate by Mumon.

ΤΟ ΨΑΡΙ ΚΟΙΜΑΤΑΙ

Η θάλασσα κοιμάται,

μην ξυπνάτε τα ψάρια.

ADVICE TO AN ANXIOUS RULER

"A wealthy ruler came to Chuang Tzu, with a troubled expression on his face. ''Why do you look so anxious?" Chuang Tzu asked. The ruler replied: " I have studied the methods of the ancient rulers, and have tried to follow them. Yet I cannot avoid failure. That is why I look anxious." Chuang Tzu said: "The elegant fox and the graceful snow leopard live in the mountain forests, that is where they are at peace. Since they both possess beautiful fur, they are completely fearful of humans. So they only go out at night to seek food, and they plan their trips with great care; during daylight they remain in their lairs. Nevertheless they are never entirely safe; they are always in danger of being caught in a trap or a net. So like you they always have an anxious expression. In their case their beautiful fur is the  cause of anxiety; in your case it is the land that you rule. The fox and the leopard cannot rid themselves of their fur; but you are free to rid yourself of your  kingdom. Your people would not suffer; on the contrary they would quickly learn to rule themselves."

(From the book "366 Readings From TAOISM AND CONFUCIANISM'' - Jaico Publishing House, Edited by Robert Van De Weyer)