Author: Genyu Sokyu
Zen expressions often take the form of compound words, such as "ichigo ichie" (a once-in-a-lifetime encounter) and "gendai mu ichibutsu" (originally nothing exists), but it is actually possible to sense a Zen flavor in just a single kanji character.
When you learn about the background and Buddhist meanings of characters such as Sei (life), Ro (old), Ku (empty space), An (peace), Ga (self), Iro (color), Kokoro (heart), and Hashira (pillar), the characters you use casually will take on a more meaningful feel and enrich your daily life.
For example, "bitterness."
[Explanation]
It seems that humans learn tastes in the order of sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter, and forget them in the reverse order.
In other words, if you can enjoy the bitterness, you are a full-fledged adult. However, as you age, you will no longer be able to enjoy the bitterness or spiciness, and it is the sweetness that remains delicious until the very end.
Am I still young, sipping beer and thinking that tempura made with cod sprouts and butterbur shoots is delicious?
No, the problem is the bitterness, sourness, and bitterness of the heart. Adults are able to enjoy the taste of bitterness and pain. The word "bitter" originally came from a plant called "nigana."
For this book, Akutagawa Prize-winning author and Zen monk Genju Sokyu has selected 365 "Daily Characters."
The book explains the Zen and Buddhist ways of thinking and perspectives that are embedded in the characters in playful sentences. Many haiku poems are also included.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
■ Excerpts from main text headings
January 1st "Ichi" (one): Learn from the beginning and return to the original "ichi" (one)
February 3rd "Demon": Innocent demons are the scariest
March 17th "Entry": The equinox is the entrance to another world
April 14: "Cultivation": Is life all about continuing to cultivate?
May 7th: "Wisteria": Annual atonement
June 17th "Yanagi": Feel the coolness of "Wind in the Willows"
July 12th "Lotus": From the flower of love to the flower of Buddhism
August 14th "Shelf": The Bon shelf is a bridge to the afterlife
September 16th "Old": Praising aging
October 24th "Shin": I also feel lonely in the autumn evening
November 5th "Breath": Breath is the gateway to the body and mind
December 27th "Deer": Antlers that branch more and more every year
Zen expressions often take the form of compound words, such as "ichigo ichie" (a once-in-a-lifetime encounter) and "gendai mu ichibutsu" (originally nothing exists), but it is actually possible to sense a Zen flavor in just a single kanji character.
When you learn about the background and Buddhist meanings of characters such as Sei (life), Ro (old), Ku (empty space), An (peace), Ga (self), Iro (color), Kokoro (heart), and Hashira (pillar), the characters you use casually will take on a more meaningful feel and enrich your daily life.
For example, "bitterness."
[Explanation]
It seems that humans learn tastes in the order of sweet, sour, spicy, and bitter, and forget them in the reverse order.
In other words, if you can enjoy the bitterness, you are a full-fledged adult. However, as you age, you will no longer be able to enjoy the bitterness or spiciness, and it is the sweetness that remains delicious until the very end.
Am I still young, sipping beer and thinking that tempura made with cod sprouts and butterbur shoots is delicious?
No, the problem is the bitterness, sourness, and bitterness of the heart. Adults are able to enjoy the taste of bitterness and pain. The word "bitter" originally came from a plant called "nigana."
For this book, Akutagawa Prize-winning author and Zen monk Genju Sokyu has selected 365 "Daily Characters."
The book explains the Zen and Buddhist ways of thinking and perspectives that are embedded in the characters in playful sentences. Many haiku poems are also included.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
■ Excerpts from main text headings
January 1st "Ichi" (one): Learn from the beginning and return to the original "ichi" (one)
February 3rd "Demon": Innocent demons are the scariest
March 17th "Entry": The equinox is the entrance to another world
April 14: "Cultivation": Is life all about continuing to cultivate?
May 7th: "Wisteria": Annual atonement
June 17th "Yanagi": Feel the coolness of "Wind in the Willows"
July 12th "Lotus": From the flower of love to the flower of Buddhism
August 14th "Shelf": The Bon shelf is a bridge to the afterlife
September 16th "Old": Praising aging
October 24th "Shin": I also feel lonely in the autumn evening
November 5th "Breath": Breath is the gateway to the body and mind
December 27th "Deer": Antlers that branch more and more every year
Released on 03/11
▼Click here for details about the book▼
Zen Living 365 Days | Seibundo Shinkosha Co., Ltd. (seibundo-shinkosha.net)