From this week, I decided to write down my general impression on the news headlines in English and German. The news is picked from the Japanese radio program "Round up world now". (I Also wrote what made me start it below)
Round up world now
＞Some Japanese banks have joined forces to launch a new digital currency called J Coin
- Why do we have to earn money? We didn't have to use it when we're young and in a family. Why can't we consider everybody as a family? It has always been my question since I was a child.
It will be interesting, if (not only monks but)the forefront virtual currency make us recognize that we don't need to use currency from the very beginning.
＞Japan hit the 20 million tourists 45 days earlier than last year, Akihiro Tamura, commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, told reporters. Japan hopes to welcome 40 million foreign tourists by the year 2020.
- It's a pleasure to welcome somebody from abroad. To think up how we can make more people coming for sight seeing is difficult, but it's more difficult to think up how we can make people refrain from coming for sight seeing. Why do we hope to welcome foreign tourists?
(What made me start it)
I begin to study language seriously from last month. I don't remember how many times have I begun to study it seriously, but this time, seriously serious.
Now I'm listening to the German Radio everyday, reading some German picture book, and I want to add one more thing now, to express my emotion linguistically.
10 years ago, I had a chance to come to Europe with the Zen Master "Kosho Murakami". It seems he understands almost all English he heard, and he can change almost all Japanese words into English. But he didn't TRY TO speak English, but told from the heart in Japanese for everybody who doesn't know Japanese language.
I was impressed with it and felt that WE DON'T NEED LANGUAGE in ZEN!
"The force to express something in language"
&
"The force to embody something expressed in language"
are totally in a different vector space.
This has been my excuse for a long time...
It could be beautiful to believe firmly in universality of the ZEN LIFE, but actually, we need language in Foreigners Authority!
In conclusion, within a specified time, I decide to pick a news from the Japanese radio program, and gossip about it.
Thank you.
26 Sep 2017
Seigaku with prayers
Dear Seigaku,
I will respond in English as the feedback on linguistsic efforts.
It is interesting when you mentioned Murakami roshi and no need for words in zen (as the zen proverb says: rain doesn’t need translation) as Sasagawa roshi told me something completely opposite when I visited his temple in 2007 for the first time and could not understand a word. He commanded to me to learn Japanese as without it you will never understand what zen is! After many years of learning it, I was able to experience a completely new reality due to kanji culture. Look at Dogen and how he used words beautifully to express something inexpressible in words. Amazing.
Although zen or the ultimate truth about reality is not to be explained by words, words themselves are the same ultimate reality exactly in the same way as thoughts are expressions of our mind; phenomena.
Good luck with your linguistic journey, Brother!
And see you soon
Hojun, bows
Thank you very much brother Hojun-san, yes I agree, what Sasagawa Roshi mentioned was truly important. I will keep on doing my best on the linguistic journey...! miłego tygodnia!