Joe Isuzu's Daily Slander

Oh Captain, My Captain

Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.

O Captain! My Captain!

O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Who’s being mourned?
I’ll give you a hint. It’s not “your” captain and it’s not “our” captain. But a choice is made available.

The Patient Giant

Buddhamitra
[仏陀密多] (n.d.) (Skt; Jpn Buddamitta)
A monk of northern India, and the eighth of Shakyamuni's twenty-three, or the ninth of his twenty-four, successors. He studied under Buddhananda, his predecessor among the Buddha's successors, converted people by skillful means, and defeated a number of Brahmanists in debate. The king of his country, however, was strongly attached to Brahmanism and tried to rid the kingdom of all Buddhist influences. Determined to overcome the king's prejudice, Buddhamitra, bearing a red flag, is said to have walked back and forth in front of the palace for twelve years. Finally the king, moved by his resolve, allowed him to debate with a Brahmanist teacher in the king's presence. Buddhamitra refuted his opponent and thus converted the king to Buddhism. (Note: there are also several references to Buddhamitra as a woman, a nun.)

Sometimes in life an immediate action is required because there is no time for explanation. Like when I was stepping off a curb and some stranger grabbed my shirt and pulled me back from being hit by a cab in New York City. It was my first time to a big city and those buildings were all so tall. All I could do was look up. I also stepped in dog poop. But nobody saved me from that. Lesson learned. Sometimes an explanation wouldn’t help even if there were time. Like a parent screaming at a toddler “don’t you ever do that again” all in an effort to keep them safe from a harm they can’t comprehend. And sometimes all you can do is be actively patient.

The Patient Giant

In 2000, my niece who was 11 at that time was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Except for being blind in one eye, she's fine now and attending USC. I watched her parents go through the daily torment of facing the possibility of losing their only child. It wasn’t until the surgeon came through a pair of automatic doors, which made a “swish” sound like in the old Star Trek TV show, to tell them “We got most of it,” did they allow their resolute stoic demeanor to crack. It was more than a time to finally let go and cry. It was a crumbling. But there wasn’t much of an interval between that initial first deep inhale of release and what was to come. She needed radiation to get the rest. That was the steely truth contained within the doctor’s words, “most of it.”

The Terror of Non-Conformity

"The raison d'etre of the world of faith is to help people become happy. In essence, ours is a gathering of supreme freedom and joy. No one has the right to reprimand and cause suffering for others, nor is anyone obliged to let him- or herself be reproved and made to feel bad...There are many differences , for instance, between the cultures, climates, and social systems of Japan and the United States. Therefore, it is only natural that there might be differences in how kosen-rufu is advanced in the two countries."
Daisaku Ikeda, My Dear Friends In America, page 8.

The first fourteen pages of this book, and page 190, could be the best leadership manual I've seen to date. In fact one could build an entire practice on those pages. I want to share what has been sitting on my altar for two years from Daisaku Ikeda:

"We are now in the process of creating an unshakable foundation meant to last for 10,000 years. For that reason, we must not be impatient, nor is there any need to try to look impressive. It is important that, person by person, we increase the size and scope of our movement by developing friendships based on humanism. Making true, genuine friends and creating a core of capable individuals is crucial. No great development can be accomplished without painstaking effort."

I am, of course, lampooning the organization which brought this amazing Buddhism into my life. That being said, and thanks to Byrd who coined the phrase, I bring you...

This is the harrowing story of Aeon Klutz. A young girl, played by Oscar winner Charlize Theron, practicing Buddhism under an unscrupulous and abusive leader, played by Oscar nominee Gary Busey, who is not so much acting but just being himself. Aeon escapes but must wander in the North Country until she meets her mentor played by Oscar winner Sally Field: “Norma Rae…that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long, long time.” Norma instructs Aeon in the ways of her previous mentors, Makiguchi, Toda, Ikeda, and the master of them all Nichiren. All portrayed brilliantly by Oscar winner Linda Hunt: “I find the challenge of playing four different men challengingly different. Instead of one Filipino man, these are four men, Japanese, you see? You see ‘Filipino’ begins with an ‘F’ and not a ‘Ph’ as in ‘The Philippines’. You see?” Aeon and Norma, together with their band of disciples, Sofia Gakkai, Inagaddadavidadevadatta, Don the Medicine King, Byakuren the Flight Attendant, and Evil “Friend” Knievel (in his last appearance jumping the drunken elephants), these Magnificent Seven help each other and the Village People they vowed to protect, regain what they thought was lost forever: conformity! And when they kick ass it’s by the book! After the smoke clears, and the dust settles, and the earth turns, and the sun comes up, and the cock crows, and the cows come home, and Tupac’s last album is released, and Elvis has left the building, sameness is restored in a miraculous transformation; everyone becomes Linda Hunt (as portrayed by Oscar winner Linda Hunt.)

What the critics are saying:

“Rapturous! Leaves everything else behind.”
Kirk Cameron

“Free Thinkers? Not for me. From now on, I’m charging for it!”
Susan Jacoby

“I found it’s ‘in your face’ approach refreshing.”
Richard Dawkins

“I read the book. I couldn’t put it down. Of course, I couldn’t pick it up either.”
Steven Hawking

“Finally something I can believe in!”
Sam Harris

“Let it be a warning for gays, lesbians, those bad people with aids, those bad people from Louisiana, feminists…oh wait, I already said lesbians… Hugo Chavez and anyone else trying to destroy the fabric of God’s America. And by God’s America, I mean My America.”
Pat Robertson

Between A Rock And A Mandala Episode II

“Ben…Ben. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Luke Skywalker to his friend/mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (posthumously). After battling his sworn enemy and having his hand chopped off in a light saber fight by the second evilest dude in the galaxy, Darth Vader, the man Luke believes killed his father, Luke finds out from Vader himself that “Obi-Wan did not tell you everything. No. *I* am your father!” Not only that, Vader is cajoling Luke to join him in his evilness and Luke can feel his presence because of the special connection they both have as father and son through the “force”. Talk about internal personal conflict! And you thought you were having a bad day!

PART 2 OF BETWEEN A ROCK AND A MANDALA;

THE FUNCTION OF BETRAYAL

Between A Rock And A Mandala

Recently I had a conversation with someone whose opinion I greatly respect. We spoke about the essence of the Nichiren Gohonzon, the one all of us in the Soka Gakkai International practice with. This person expressed the their understanding of this mandala as an expedient. That is, something that wouldn’t be needed if only we could tap into our Buddha nature on our own, without relying on an external object. This made perfect sense to me. Since we seem to be at the whim of external influences that consistently affect our momentary states of being, having an object whose sole purpose is to help us provoke the most positive effect possible is something to be desired. And for economy’s sake, let’s just say this effect is that we see things as they are from an enlightened perspective.

There Ain't No Sanity Clause

Sensei CHICO and Sensei GROUCHO discussing the new SGI-USA Leadership Manual, Code of Conduct, and Mandatory Signature Form.

GROUCHO: All right, fine. Now here are the contracts. You just put his name at the top and you sign at the bottom. There's no need of you reading that because these are duplicates.
CHICO: Yeah, they's a duplicates.
GROUCHO: I say they're duplicates.
CHICO: Why sure they's a duplicates...
GROUCHO: Don't you know what duplicates are?
CHICO: Sure. There's five kids up in Canada.
GROUCHO: Well, I wouldn't know about that. I haven't been to Canada in years. Well go ahead and read it.
CHICO: What does it say?
GROUCHO: Well, go on and read it!
CHICO: You read it.
GROUCHO: All right, I'll read it to ya. Can you hear?
CHICO: I haven't heard anything yet. Did you say anything?
GROUCHO: Well, I haven't said anything worth hearing.
CHICO: Well, that's why I didn't hear anything.
GROUCHO: Well, that's why I didn't say anything.
CHICO: Can you read?
GROUCHO (struggling to read the fine print): I can read but I can't see it. I don't seem to have it in focus here. If my arms were a little longer, I could read it. You haven't got a baboon in your pocket, have ya? Here, here, here we are. Now I've got it. Now pay particular attention to this first clause because it's most important. It says the, uh, "The party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the party of the first part." How do you like that? That's pretty neat, eh?
CHICO: No, it's no good.
GROUCHO: What's the matter with it?
CHICO: I don't know. Let's hear it again.
GROUCHO: It says the, uh, "The party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the party of the first part."
CHICO: (pausing) That sounds a little better this time.
GROUCHO: Well, it grows on ya. Would you like to hear it once more?
CHICO: Uh, just the first part.
GROUCHO: What do you mean? The party of the first part?
CHICO: No, the first part of the party of the first part.
GROUCHO: All right. It says the, uh, "The first part of the party of the first part shall be known in this contract as the first part of the party of the first part shall be known in this contract" - look, why should we quarrel about a thing like this? We'll take it right out, eh?
CHICO: Yeah, it's a too long, anyhow. (They both tear off the tops of their contracts.) Now, what do we got left?
GROUCHO: Well, I got about a foot and a half. Now, it says, uh, "The party of the second part shall be known in this contract as the party of the second part."
CHICO: Well, I don't know about that...
GROUCHO: Now what's the matter?
CHICO: I no like-a the second party, either.
GROUCHO: Well, you should've come to the first party. We didn't get home 'til around four in the morning... I was blind for three days!
CHICO: Hey, look, why can'ta the first part of the second party be the second part of the first party? Then a you gotta something.
GROUCHO: Well, look, uh, rather than go through all that again, what do you say?
CHICO: Fine. (They rip out a portion of the contract.)
GROUCHO: Now, uh, now I've got something you're bound to like. You'll be crazy about it.
CHICO: No, I don't like it.
GROUCHO: You don't like what?
CHICO: Whatever it is. I don't like it.
GROUCHO: Well, don't let's break up an old friendship over a thing like that. Ready?...
CHICO: OK! (Another part is torn off.) Now the next part, I don't think you're gonna like.
GROUCHO: Well, your word's good enough for me. (They rip out another part.) Now then, is my word good enough for you?
CHICO: I should say not.
GROUCHO: Well, that takes out two more clauses. (They rip out two more parts.) Now, "The party of the eighth part..."
CHICO: No, that'sa no good. (more ripping.) No.
GROUCHO: "The party of the ninth part..."
CHICO: No, that'sa no good, too. (they rip the contracts again until there's practically nothing left.) Hey, how is it my contract is skinnier than yours?
GROUCHO: Well, I don't know. You must've been out on a tear last night. But anyhow we're all set now, aren't we?
CHICO: Oh sure.
GROUCHO (offering his pen to sign the contract): Now just, uh, just you put your name right down there and then the deal is, uh, legal.
CHICO: I forgot to tell you. I can't write.
GROUCHO: Well, that's all right, there's no ink in the pen anyhow. But listen, it's a contract, isn't it?
CHICO: Oh sure.
GROUCHO: We got a contract...
CHICO: You bet.
GROUCHO: No matter how small it is...
CHICO: Hey, wait, wait. What does this say here? This thing here.
GROUCHO: Oh, that? Oh, that's the usual clause. That's in every contract. That just says uh, it says uh, "If any of the parties participating in this contract is shown not to be in their right mind, the entire agreement is automatically nullified."
CHICO: Well, I don't know...
GROUCHO: It's all right, that's, that's in every contract. That's, that's what they call a 'sanity clause'.
CHICO: Ha ha ha ha ha! You can't fool me! There ain't no Sanity Clause!

MYSTIC LAW OR COMMON SENSE?

We usually refer to Myo as “mystic” as in The Mystic Law. One explanation of the word “mystic” from an English dictionary describes it as this: a person who seeks by contemplation and self surrender to obtain unity with or absorption into the Deity or the absolute, or who believes in the spiritual apprehension of truths that are beyond the intellect. And the explanation of “mystical” is: transcending human understanding. Therefore, “mystic”, by this definition, is the personification of that which is “mystical”. So it would seem that when we Nichiren Buddhists refer to the “mystic law” we are referring to the personification of that which is transcendental to our understanding but is becoming integrated into our very person. But is that actually what we believe? When we refer to the “mystic” law we really think in terms of the “mystical” law, something that is apart from ourselves. And we don’t think of ourselves as “mystics”. Why is that? Is it because this law can only be understood between Buddhas and we don’t think of ourselves as one? Perhaps.

Inertia is a law too! Embrace it!

Since this is my first entry on a blog which is now losing it's credibility by allowing me to contribute, I'm going to start with something not too controversial before I jump into the deep poo abyss.

Pleonasm
1a. The use of more words than are required to express an idea; redundancy.

There are many simple examples of this kind of wording redundancy. The most famous might be from The Firesign Theater “The Department Of Redundancy Department”. Others are armed gunmen, fall down, plan ahead, free gift, ATM machine (automatic teller machine machine) or juzu beads (prayer beads beads). My personal new favorite is “Prince, the artist formerly known as, ‘The Artist Formerly Known As Prince’”. The list is an endless list.

Here’s one that pops into my head when I do morning gongyo:
“I suppose you know what your doing, but I wonder if you realize what this means?”
(Claude Rains as Monsieur Renault the Prefect of Police to Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in the movie classic “Casablanca”.)