Grandpa Baker's Failure

January 4, 2010 Will Simpson

Grandpa Baker's Failure", number 170 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

About the saddest thing I've ever read. Short and in one paragraph, six sentences, Aitken paints a masterpiece of sadness expressed as Grandfather's marital failure.

"He couldn't attain the measure of human happiness that we all hope for ourselves."

I marvel at Aitken's skill at weaving story.

Like many, I've spent some time recently considering my goals. There are the usual suspects of, reading wider, losing weight by starting an exercise regime, writing regularly, etc. What is different this year is that I've seen a shift away from a list of stated goals. In its place there is a mind map. As it was being developed, it became clear that there are two different modes, traits and projects. Traits to develop or solidify; "focus on health", "focus on relationships", "focus on hyperlocal", and "focus on kindness". Projects to start, re-start, or grow; spoon making, photography, Python programming, blogging.

There is a bit of disconnect between the traits and the projects.

Attempting to boil all this down to a short phrase has been hard but valuable. Being concise and keeping a short phrase in front may be more successful than the large detailed mind map I've created.

Here is my attempt at creating a short phrase that encompasses the meme or feeling-tone of my new year's goals.

Create growth

Less consumption More production

Use talents to connect

Visualize kindness

Of these "Use talents to connect" seems the closest to what I have in mind for the coming year. Now the work of aligning the projects to this.

If I was to boil this down even farther, just three words, they'd be

create
connect
kindness

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.

A Fine Memory

December 26, 2009 Will Simpson

"A Fine Memory", number 169 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

In todays miniature, roshi confesses to a poor memory. He describes the tricks he uses to support his memory and how in the end they fail him.

Exactly what is the teaching here?

Is it that old men have poor memories? No. Is it that the tricks we use to hide our failing are all useless? Maybe. Is it that knowing we are naked at all times, it is still fun to play? This feels pretty close.

I'm reading James Krenov's "The Impractical Cabinetmaker" and what strikes me is how Krenov strips away all the jargon and talk of technicalities and advocates trusting our hands much the same way a Zen Master would strip away doubt and self-talk and advocate direct practice. Krenov ponders the problem as he sees it, that many craftsman loose their connection with the material and force their will on it. This leads to disasters of failure in design and execution all for the sake of showiness.

"Snagged in the pros and cons of technicalities we forget the broader meaning of a method and its relationship to our material... Being inventive at the expense of being sensitive may take us away from our best intentions and from the honest center of our craft... Craftsmen approach the work itself as having a definite and vital connection between the methods used and the nature of the result."

"Simplicity is at the heart of so much that is fine... Simplicity needn't be crude; it can, and should, include the sensitive... When the simple becomes obvious: a band of small discoveries, strung like pearls on a thread of curiousity, lend richness to our work."

James Krenov
The Impractical Cabinetmaker 1979

All Things are under the Law of Change

December 17, 2009 Will Simpson

"All Things are under the Law of Change", number 168 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Yes indeed 'all things are under the law of change'. Even this blog. Things have gone quiet here as other projects grew. All things are under the law of change.

In this miniature, Robert Aitken paints an intimate portrait of living with his grandparents at the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton. This was back in 1928 and all things are under the law of change. Yet, how often do we forget this or wish it was some other way?

Old photographs show us change. They show us that "nothing survives after all - nothing at all."

My intent is to add more woodworking content to this space. This space is called wooden Zen, till now more Zen then wood but that is about to change. There I go reaffirming 'all things are under the law of change'.

Here is a photo of a work under progress.

Here is a photo of the same piece completed and hanging in the Wawawai Canyon Winery gallery.

Steelhead Run

Will Simpson

2009

All Things Are under the Law of Change

October 10, 2009 Will Simpson

"All Things Are under the Law of Change", number 168 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Liquid Sunshine

October 10, 2009 Will Simpson

"Liquid Sunshine", number 167 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Photo by Will Simpson
From One world at a time

My meteorological friends will love today miniature. Aitken tells of his Hawaiian youth where ""liquid sunshine," as we called it as children, when it sprinkles on a bright day. The sun shines through the light rain and the effect is lovely. The Hawaiians call this phenomenon kilihune."

Turns out Hawaiians are quite creative in naming their rains. In a contest with the Inuit's names for snow, the Hawaiians are the champions. Another example of Hawaiian names for rain which I found in an article in The Independent published in the UK, is lanipali, which means a very heavy shower. Its literal meaning, however, is "shower reaching to heaven".

How sweet, a shower reaching to heaven. Those Hawaiians are close to the rain.

Incredibly Naive

October 9, 2009 Will Simpson

"Incredibly Naive", number 166 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

One minute we feel superior the next we are dead. What good is this superior feeling now?

I'm reminded about the Seung Sahn saying "you must become stupid" as a way of practicing. What we call intellect and reason only get us so far down the path. At some point they become barriers. When death approaches, intellect and reason will be of no use. This become stupid is not a become ignorant. Instead it is becoming more open, less rigid.

don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know... don't know...

Looks stupid but is intimate in ways knowledge and reason could never be.

John Daido Loori Roshi, successor to Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi, founder of the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism, and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery, and one of the most influential Zen masters in the West, died at the Monastery in Mount Tremper, New York on Friday, October 9th.

It is a sad day. Zen has lost a giant. Hand together in gratitude. I have a picture of Daido that I'll carry with me for 49 days.

Reading the Book

October 6, 2009 Will Simpson

"Reading the Book", number 165 of 188 from Robert Aitken's book Miniatures of a Zen Master.

Thank you Roshi for introducing me to Simone Weil.

The seasons change but fall does not become winter.