What bothers us most of the time? We often complain about problems, thinking these are external, and saying we are supposed to be peaceful, but these external threats attack us. So, we believe: Life is a war. We live on the battlefield. Is that so? Perhaps, it is to some extent. Human history consists of … Continue reading We are Nobody but Gardeners
Tag: #Contemplation
Be not Defeated by the Rain
Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) is one of the well-known novelists and poets in Japan, especially for children's literature. While he was unknown as the author during his lifetime, his works are now part of the best classic lineups. Almost all Japanese now are familiar with his name and have read some of his novels, poets, and … Continue reading Be not Defeated by the Rain
Dark Night of the Soul
Nobody is free from the adversity of life. As long as we live in this world, various kinds of ups and downs are unavoidable. Consciously or unconsciously, we seek pleasures and avoid pains as if that is the default status in our lives. Sooner or later, however, we realize that pleasures are elusive, and pains … Continue reading Dark Night of the Soul
We are Nobody and Anybody
Meditation is one of the oldest religious, spiritual, and metaphysical practices in human history. Since the birth of our self-consciousness, we have known our cognitive limitations. What we can know is so limited. There has been a vast dimension that we can never understand. Know thyself. That is one of the Delphic maxims. And our … Continue reading We are Nobody and Anybody
The Waves of Life
Since the Big Bang, the beginning of the cosmos, the fundamental basis of every existence has been "spacetime." In physics, it’s the gravitational continuum that makes the universe substantial. Such spacetime makes everything exist; and, everything has the beginning and end. Without spacetime, we never have asked such questions as when, where, and what. There … Continue reading The Waves of Life
The Temptation of St. Anthony
Amid turmoils of this world, we face various temptations. We suffer a lot. Our common sense says all sufferings are external. Because of them, our mind have full of noise. Weeds cover up our inner garden. We miss a chance to nurture a beautiful flower within. Where did these weeds come from? Are they external … Continue reading The Temptation of St. Anthony
Pray, Work, and Read
In the tradition of the Benedictine monastery, the daily activities of the monks could be these three categories. People join the monastic community primarily to devote themselves to these three. Liturgical prayerManual laborLectio Divina The liturgical prayer is the foundation of their spiritual life. With this practice, they ensure to keep and inherit the traditions … Continue reading Pray, Work, and Read
