Old Asian Women

August 28, 2009 Will Simpson

"Old Asian Women", number 145 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Old Asian Women seem to be some of the most durable people around. Why is this the case? Hard work, family ties, a go with the flow attitude. Doing what needs being done. This is also the way of Zen.

I've been thinking about obsession lately. In this context I view obsession as uplifting as apposed to an irrational drive. Obsession is defined as a compulsive or irrational preoccupation, an unhealthy fixation. And yet, it could also be seen as a strong drive for excellence, an immersion into the art, a single pointed endeavor, focus.

I came acrossthis short video of a Joel Bukiewicz, knife maker in Brooklyn who is obsessed withkitchen cutlery. Most excellent.

This embodies my feelings about wooden spoons. Only my execution needs work.

This reminds me of my friend, Doug Stowe who is an evangelist for making things with hands. A hand made world in which we learn and socialize via the work of our hands. We in America have gotten so far from this. So much education, work and social activities have neglected the value of hand skills.

In some arenas, hand skills have not only been neglected but are denigrated. There is so much to this world of the hand. An aesthetic and intimacy that is uncommon.

Any error or confusion created by my commentary on
Miniatures of a Zen Master
is solely a reflection of my own delusion and ignorance.
Any merit generated by this activity is solely the result of
Aitken Roshi's clear teaching and is dedicated to
all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas throughout space and time.

Picture Brides

August 26, 2009 Will Simpson

"Picture Brides", number 144 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Propinquity is the effect describing the tendency of relationships to be formed by people living in proximity to one another. In today's miniature, Japanese American's ordered 'picture brides' from Japan and when they arrived 'propinquity' lead some to develop love relationships with the older Japanese men who paid their way to America. Quoting Aitken's Nana "propinquity propinks". Propinks is not a real word but poets and literary types make use of it anyway.

The earliest literary use of this phrase comes from the tile of Chapter 21 in Ian Flemings 'Diamonds are Forever' - 'Nothing Propinks Like Propinquity' published in 1956.

In Robert Aitken's other book "Zen Master Raven" there is the scene in the book called. "Propinquity". Here is how it goes.

Propinguity

Cougar also came by that evening for the first time. After Raven's final response to Gray Wolf, he asked, "Then is karma just cause and effect?"

Raven said, "Propinquity propinks."

Cougar shook his head vigorously and said, "Sometimes it makes me irritated."

Raven said, " Your great chance."

As the Raven said, "Propinquity propinks." This 'propinks' is the verb form of propinquity. This is like the phrases "antiquity antinks" and "ubiquity ubinks", which are poetically cute. Obviously Aitken propinks propinquity!

Rev. Pierre Taigu Turlur talks about shikantaza, Dogen's unique style of meditation and ango, a traditional 100 day practice period in a couple of nice youtube videos.

Shikantaza

Medium

Miles Carey

August 24, 2009 Will Simpson

"Miles Carey", number 143 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

In this miniature Aitken shares with us more about community building and the relationships that occur because of our actions.

The unintentional consequences of Miles Carey's leadership lead to a community that quietly honored him by popularizing the naming of babies "Miles".

This reminds me of a Taoist parable.

There is a story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit.

"Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.

"We'll see," the farmer replied.

The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses.

"How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.

"We'll see," replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune.

"We'll see," answered the farmer.

The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out.

"We'll see" said the farmer.

"TA DAH!"

August 23, 2009 Will Simpson

"TA DAH!", number 142 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

The title of this miniature sounds like the big deal "TA DAH!" Yet what is pointed out is the opposite. In the lingo of Hawaiians, 'no make tada' is the admonition towards modesty.

Subtle nomenclature, language of the community. This is the glue of friends and family.

"TA DAH!"

August 23, 2009 Will Simpson

"TA DAH!", number 142 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

"TA DAH!"

August 23, 2009 Will Simpson

"TA DAH!", number 142 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

A Cue

August 22, 2009 Will Simpson

"A Cue", number 141 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Yesterday I referred to Aitken as 'the old man', today I'm not so sure. Cues come at us all the time. Some are obvious and some are subtle. It is the obvious ones Aitken overtly refers to in todays miniature. Yet there is a subtle set of cues being talked about here too.

Language is a cue game. Every word is hinting at whether or not we are members of the same community, whether that community is strong or weak, inclusive of exclusive. Do we ever stop with this community building?

Birdle Burble

(For James Broughton)

I went out of mind and then came to my senses
By meeting a magpie who mixed up his tenses,
Who muddled distinctions of nouns and of verbs,
And insisted that logic is bad for the birds.
With a poo-wee cluck and a chit, chit-chit;
The grammar and meaning don't matter a bit.

The stars in their courses have no destination;
The train of events will arrive at no station;
The inmost and utmost self of us all
Is dancing on nothing and having a ball.
So with chat for chit and with tat for tit,
This will be that, and that will be IT!

Alan Watts Nonsense

"On the occasion of Alan Watts' 50th birthday, James Broughton wrote a poem for him. On James Broughton's next birthday, Alan Watts wrote this poem for James. It's called: Birdle Burble"

Found this reference on the internets. Surprisingly little reference to this poem which adds to its mystery.

I found some hint that the poem James Broughton wrote for Alan Watts' 50th birthday was a poem titled "Forget-me-nots For Alan Watts". Near the right vintage but nothing to confirm. Also couldn't find this poem on the internets. It is printed in a couple of books by Broughton.

Hooplas by James Broughton
Special Deliveries by James Broughton

I was caught up short when looking online through a listing of the paper of James Broughton at the Kent Library and found this:

1978, July: Tabernik, Joan Watts To [James Broughton]. Invites him to theinterment of Alan Watts' ashes. Printed Manuscript. 1 p.; 17.4 cm.

Thanks to Matt for pointing out this poem and its mystery.