About the Author
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile / Koreaphile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the Internets a better place. Thanks for reading!
Category Archives: Taoism
The Trouble with Superstition
Today, I wanted to share yet another good passage I found from the 13th century Japanese text, the Essays in Idleness by Kenkō. This deals with the notion of superstition, using the example of the Six Days, but this could … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Japan, Literature, Taoism
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Buddhism and Taoism: the mental debate
I rescheduled a certain post I wrote for tomorrow to talk about something else on my mind as of late. My interest in Asian religions and Asian culture began when I was 16 after watching an episode of Kung Fu, … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion, Taoism
12 Comments
Medieval Japanese Marxism?
Continuing my theme this week of “Idleness Week“, I wanted to post another good quotation from the 13th Century Japanese text, the Essays in Idleness, or tsurézurégusa (徒然草). This comes from section 142: It is wrong for anyone who has … Continue reading
Posted in Confucius, Japan, Literature, Philosophy, Politics, Taoism
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My Favorite Pasttime
A couple months ago, I picked up a copy of the Essays in Idleness, or Tsurezuregusa (徒然草), which I had written about previously. The book is actually a pretty engaging read, with lots of little quotables that I hope to … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Literature, Taoism
4 Comments
Japan’s most dangerous monastery
Since I am doing a double-post today, I wanted to post an article that talks about Japan’s most dangerous monastery. This seems related to the Shugendo mountain ascetics found in Japanese religion, who combine an eclectic mix of Taoism, tantric … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Japan, Shinto, Taoism
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The “Six Days” in the Japanese Calendar
This is one of those little reference posts I like to put up for people. If you look on a Japanese calendar you will often see a lot of extra characters like 大安, 仏滅, or 赤口, but what do these … Continue reading
Posted in Japan, Taoism
7 Comments
Writer’s Block
Writer’s block is something I usually don’t have to face much,1 but lately I’ve had a bad case of writer’s block. So, I admit I have nothing good to write about now. I have some drafts half-done,2 or even less, … Continue reading
Posted in General, Taoism
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The problem with the world is people
My writing in this blog has dropped off again lately, but I haven’t really felt like explaining why, until I read today’s comic by Xkcd: I’d say this sums up my thoughts on certain things. For some reason, after some … Continue reading
Posted in Bsd, Buddhism, General, Hosso, Japanese, Taoism, Technology
10 Comments
Knowing your limits: learning a language, among other things
Hi all, Haven’t posted in a day or two. I’ve been spending time with my daughter now that she’s back home with me. I didn’t realize how much she missed me until she saw me at the airport and did … Continue reading
Forbearance
Therefore sages say: The one who accepts the humiliation of the state Is called its master The one who accepts the misfortune of the state Becomes king of the world –Tao Te Ching, Ch. 78 Conflict is nothing new to … Continue reading
Posted in Buddhism, Religion, Taoism
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