Well, today I got my "Zen name" - the equivalent of a Christian name - and I will carry it with me until I die (in the next life I will hopefully get another). In this reincarnation, it is Senshin, and it means "1,000-power," power being tenacity, strength of will, what have you. Much like the "true name" from the Earthsea series, this name is ( Read more... )

Evening Ladies and Gents! Tired of life? People get you down? Go no further - why waste your time on thoughts of suicide and revenge? To get those blues off of your backs for a bit, get into the groove and listen to Ragtime! Scott Joplin and the fellows will put the jive in your bones and the twinkle back into your eye! Feeling tired after a long ( Read more... )

Tonight I heard the Russian Philarmonic Orchestra play at Villa Montalvo...it was certainly something. They were very...Russian. Their conductor was some Italian bloke, and he ruined it completely. He looked like a traffic officer, moved his arms around, but his body stayed immobile. At first I attributed this to too much starch in his jacket, but ( Read more... )

Ahh...excellent, excellent. I am now studying three martial disciplines: shaolin, kendo, and tai chi. Hopefully I can achieve some level of proficiency in all three, seeing as they are all very different and vary in requirements both physically and mentally. For now, at the very beginning, I am familiarizing myself with their philosophy and history ( Read more... )

Some need drugs to keep them happy - some need friends. I am beyond both, but nothing intravenous ragtime couldn't cure. Ragtime...mmm

Hmm...haven't updated in a while...what has been happening? Not, much, considering my daily schedule (or lack thereof), but soon great things will happen - things that will make a great difference in my life one way or another. Yes, I'm still under the delusion that my future consitutes becoming a priest - we'll see how that turns out, but I have ( Read more... )

I had a very interesting conversation with Ito-san this morning regarding my career - it turns out that I may be going to Japan for my education (maybe). He said that there is a Buddhist seminary-type thing where I can essentially get a Masters degree IN ADDITION to my priesthood (and Pocky for all of us - except you). He had a lot to say about me ( Read more... )

Take a good look at this man - this is Oda Nobunaga, unifier of Japan in the 16th century. I'm currently reading about his exploits, and frankly, I am struck by the way he does things! If only I could do the same...but no, killing every member of a group that opposes you is NOT the way to solve an argument, although hey, they won't complain...

I have been recently saddened by our (my family's) neglect of Japanese literature - there's so much to read, so much to learn, and all of it inaccessable. So, commandeering the credit card and Amazon.com account, I slowly but surely built up a collection of my own (not at the same time - God no). Now, happily, I can call myself mediocrely "read" in ( Read more... )

Hm...spiritually-wise there is nothing better than becoming a monk. Career-wise, it may be a problem. Decisions, decisions. In the meantime, I am going to bed. Meditation tomorrow.