Japan Zen simple with Grandma Kinoe

Bodhidharma must be kidding because there's so much we can do, beginning with appreciation

(Lizzy Grant) Before she was Lana Del Rey, she wrote "Gramma" (about bad boy Axl Rose) #LDR

Japanese grandmother leads simple Zen life

(Japanese Grandma Kinoe) Living alone in the Japanese countryside: a day in the life of 93-year-old Grandmother Kinoe.

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  Minamoto Yoshiie at Nakoso barrier

  Wisdom Quarterly: Gramma Kinoe, should Lana Del Rey keep obsessing about love, relationships, men, lesbian summer crushes...
• Grandma Kinoe: What's a summer crush?
• WQ: It's like when, you know how sometimes at the all-girl schools in Japan you get carried away admiring the little uniforms they make us wear, and two students get, um, carried away?
• GK: Oh, you mean rezu-dōseiai (女性同性愛者).
• WQ: I guess. Lana just does it for attention and to be inclusive of her big LGBT fanbase.
• GK: What's a fan base?
• WQ: It's sort of, never mind that.
• GK: I mind that!
• WQ: It's like a base, for a fan, or fans.
• GK: Oh, you mean tessen (鉄扇) like for war.
• WQ: Yes, exactly. Look, you're living the "Zen" life. What's it like? Shouldn't you move to a temple nunnery-monastery (zendo) where everyone practices proper form, slows down, and goes the Way of the Tao, with the flow and wu-wei (noninterference)?
• GK: You mean seppuku (切腹, harakiri [ritual suicide])?!



Why does J art look cartoonish?

• WQ: No, no, like royal forms and formalities but in a dojo, bowing and turning, taking your shoes off and sitting correctly for zazen on zafu and zabuton, meditation cushion and mat.
• GK: Oh, you mean go to the senbutsu-jō (選仏場)? I can do that in the comfort of my own home...if my darn grandkids didn't keep filming me for these silly YouTube videos. What is a you tube anyway?
• WQ: It's like a tube for you.
• GK: Oh, you mean shiso-arabiki (粗びき) [sausage].
• WQ: No, no! That's pig slaughter and offal; YouTube is more like crockpot TikTok pig butchering and awful.
• GK: What's offal/awful?
• WQ: YouTube is. It's really gone downhill since all the corporate Google censorship.
• GK: OK, OK, enough chit-chatty. Let's listen to soothing music and talk about 21 healthy foods to add to diet.
• WQ: Yeah, good idea, Gramma.
• GK: "Gramma"? I'm Kinoe! Why does that girl keeping calling me "Gramma"?
• WQ: She's trying to perfect her practice of wabi-sabi (侘び寂び).
• GK: Oh, that makes sense! Good for her. Good luck, Lezzie!
• WQ: No, Grandma! It's Lizzy or Lana now.

Healing sounds of Japanese Zen

Healing sounds of Zen • eliminate negative energy • calm body and mind

Zen: The Art of Simple Living

Zen: The Art of Simple

Editor/translator Allison Markin Powell (shown here smiling) and author Shunmyo Masuno have 4.6 out of 5 stars (with 3,688 reviews) for this handy little guide. Relax and find happiness amid the swirl of the modern world with this internationally bestselling guide to simplifying life by a Japanese Buddhist priest who embodies the wisdom of Zen.

Drawing on centuries of wisdom, renowned Zen Buddhist Shunmyo Masuno applies the essence of Zen to modern life in clear, practical, easily adopted lessons -- one a day for 100 days. Discover how:

• lining up our shoes after we take them off can bring order to our lives
• putting down our forks after every bite can help us feel more grateful for what we have
• spending time barefoot can strengthen our bodies
• planting a flower and watching it grow can teach us to embrace change
• going outside to watch the sunset can make every day feel celebratory.

Author Zen Priest Shunmyo Masumo

In Zen: The Art of Simple Living, readers will learn to find happiness not by seeking out extraordinary experiences but by [moments of appreciation and] making small changes -- to what we do, how we think, how we interact with others, and how we APPRECIATE the present moment (yes, this one right NOW).

[This is what the historical Buddha called sati or "mindful awareness," diligence, vigilance, conscientiousness, wakefulness, and MINDFULNESS].

With each task, we open ourselves up to a renewed sense of peace and inner calm. More

Maybe centenarians are what they eat?

(PhytoWise) 21 foods that make Japanese people virtually immune to any illness for longevity

1. natto (whole fermented soybean)
2. miso (fermented soybean paste)
3. tofu (vegan soymilk bean curd cheese protein)
4. edamame (young saltwater boiled soy pods)
5. shoyu (umami savory soy sauce)
6. tsukemono (lactic acid pickles, sauerkraut)
7. [taiyaki] (murdered cooked fish)
8. sashimi (murdered raw fish, omega fatty acids)*
9. wakame, nori, and kombu (mineral-rich seaweed)
10. shirasu don (bowl of warm rice, calcium topping)
11. daikon winter radish (enzyme-rich)
12. beni imo (Okinawan-purple-sweet potato, anthocyanins)
13. shiitake and other mushrooms (dried savory beta-glucan)
14. goya bitter melon (bitter gourd, Momordica charantia)
15. J-rice (white and brown, polished and whole integral)
16. soba (buckwheat noodles, gluten-free with its own toxin)
17. matcha (green tea, phytonutrient-rich, antioxidant catechins)
18. yuzu (flavonoid-rich citrus zest, usually for warm soaking)
19. wasabi (horseradish vegetable with antimicrobial powers)
20. umeboshi (salted fermented citric acid apricot-like plum)
21. [*hemp seeds (raw Cannabis sativa, protein, EFA-rich): Gummy 'flower' on 4/20? Cannabis (ma huang)].

(Dan Martin) Eat like it's Japan every morning (one simple prep)

Unseen Japan: magical land of many worlds

UNSEEN JAPAN | The Secret and Incredible Places in Japan | Travel Video

(World Travel Doc) May 16, 2026: This documentary is a guide through the most extraordinary places in Japan, perfect for planning a trip. Discover wonderful Buddhist Japan through spectacular images and fascinating stories for an unforgettable journey through unseen places that will leave viewers breathless.

I think it's very wabi-sabi. Good work!

01:48 - Yakushima. 04:20 - Ishigaki and Yaeyama Islands. 07:09 - Shirakawa'go. 09:46 - Koyasan. 12:44 - Ise. 15:29 - Hakone. 18:15 - Nikko. 20:59 - Kanazawa. 23:42 - Takayama. 26:37 - Japanese Alps/Nagano. 29:28 - Mount Fuji. 33:14 - Kamakura. 36:12 - Yokohama. 39:03 - Tokyo. 43:12 - Kyoto. 47:09 - Arashiyama. 49:54 - Outro – Japan Beyond the Postcard.

Is this "hardcore" enough for you, American Zen Priest Brad Warner, the punk-monk?

• Egypt's Book of the Dead buried for thousands of years (MSN)
• Jeadora: ZenChic bra, seamless sexy push up wireless brassiere
• Grandma Kinoe; Lana Del Rey (as young Lizzy Grant); Shunmyo Masumo, Allison Markin Powell; Healing Zen Sounds; PhytoWise; Dan Martin; World Travel Doc; Dhr. Seven, CC Liu, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

He studied every religion; this is closest

Is Jesus white? - He's any color the Empire says.

(Johnathan Bi) He studied every religion, and this one came the closest to being right, Rice U Prof. Jeff Kripal:

(Official Rice University website of Jeffrey J. Kripal) It consists of eight parts: (1) a brief professional bio, (2) an essay introducing the inspiration and purpose of this website, (3) a discussion of his body of written work to date, (4) a description of GEM, the graduate program in which he does most of his teaching and thinking now, (5) a discussion of his work and role at the Esalen Institute's Center for Theory and Research, (6) a synopsis of his two present film projects, (7) a set of frequently asked questions (FAQ), and (8) some quick links to media sites expressing or engaging his work: kripal.rice.edu

It is posted here for use by any interested readers, journalists, filmmakers, fans, cranks, haters, naysayers, colleagues, students, researchers, authors, and other artists.

Powerful Roman psyops: Ceasar's Messiah

Was the blood sacrifice and cross necessary? - Cigarettes are a demonic ritual 😳👿🚬

SNL, ScarJo, Jimmy Dore (comedy)

Weekend Update: Luigi Mangione in same prison as P Diddy, Gaetz report to be released (SNL)

Joke Swap: Che writes for Jost

• Weekend Update, Saturday Night Live, SNL; Jimmy Dore (jimmydore.com); Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Hunter-gathering to empire-building w/ Ali

The most famous Ali in England is Sacha Baron "Borat" Cohen (shown here being ironic, facetious, and satirical with feminist Prof. Naomi R. Wolf and a group of British religionists). But it should probably be Prof. Ali Roberts for her investigations aired by the BBC. She goes to Asia, China and Siberia, to investigate the progress of humankind from primitive to modern.

• Remember, Naomi Wolf isn't Naomi Klein: Doppelganger

The unexpected item that turned hunter-gatherers into empire builders | BBC Timestamp

(BBC Timestamp) Nov. 13, 2024: How did early hunter-gatherers manage to survive in some of the most inhospitable places on Earth, and could pieces of one of the world's oldest pots hold a clue? British Professor Alice Roberts journeys to Asia, the world’s greatest land mass, and attempts to replicate ancient survival techniques (innovations) that appear to have been passed down through many generations.

‘Mysterious’ Ice Age relics fascinate Prof. Alice Roberts (BBC Timestamp)

With little precedent and only the most primitive resources available, our ancestors’ innovation and experimentation were vital for their success. This clip is from Incredible Human Journey (2009).

Who was asked to speak at Harvard?

And who sat with Trump to pitch biz ideas?

ABOUT: Welcome to BBC Timestamp, home for all things history. Shed new light on the past by unveiling hidden worlds throughout time, dig into the fascinating true stories behind legendary myths, and learn about cutting-edge technologies helping to rethink stories from across the ages. This is a channel from BBC Studios who help fund new BBC programs. Service information and feedback: bbcstudios.com. #AliceRoberts #Archaeology #History #Asia #Survival Subscribe: bbc.in/4b7tZxt

Chuseok Korean Harvest Festival Moon

We Koreans love food. "Food can be a pathway to enlightenment," says Buddhist nun (scmp.tv).

• Moonrise, Moonset, and Moon Phase in Los Angeles, September 2024 (timeanddate.com)

Korean Harvest Festival is the "Korean Thanksgiving Day" (추석)

Korean culture remains steeped in Buddhism in spite of intensive Christian evangelism.

Real Zen practice in Korea

(KOREA NOW) Watch this video at koreanow.com. Chuseok (추석) is the Korean version of "Thanksgiving," the time to eat a lot of songpyeon, and practice a little seon (zen, chan, dhyana, jhana) or meditation. This Harvest Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 9th month according to the lunar calendar. The exact day changes each year, but it typically falls on September or October. In 2021 it was on Sept. 21st. Korea enjoys a three-day holiday to be with family and friends making "song pong" dumpling cakes with all kinds of stuffing and eating them until sleepiness sets in.

Los Angeles celebrates Chuseok

(WQ) Look up over Korea Town, Los Angeles (near DTLA), beyond the neon signs of all the restaurants and the glaring headlights of all the traffic, and there's the Hollywood sign. Turn east and it's all the lights from The Miracle Mile (Wilshire Blvd.) Look around, and it's the bling of the beauties blaring Far East Movement in their BMWs and Mercedes.

Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan should make a buddy movie, running through K-Town, you know, to save on travel expenses for their next Hollywood blockbuster. Neighboring Hollywood is literally walking distance from K-Town, where the big studios meet the grimy streets of "This Can't Be Hollywood." What did you expect? I'dunno, something clean, a little glamorous, not smog, homeless bums, vagrant encampments, skanky prostitutes, and all this traffic.

• Ancient monument unlike anything archaeologists have ever seen before unearthed in France
• A recycled universe could explain why everything is so flat, physicists suggest

Buddhism's "Atlantis" in the Jungle (BBC)

Jungle Atlantis | BBC Select

(BBC Select) Aug. 6, 2024: In June 2013, an international team of archaeologists uncovered a lost urban landscape deep inside the Buddhist Cambodia's jungle, close to the magnificent 12th-century temple complex of Angkor Wat.

Filmed with unique access, this fascinating history documentary follows the team as they travel deep into the jungle to uncover more about this forgotten city – once the capital of the mighty Khmer Empire and home to a million people – and its eventual decline.

• Watch the full series on BBC Select

ABOUT: BBC Select is the home of documentaries. Available in the U.S. and Canada. Find out more and start free trial: bit.ly/3kwM3bU. Follow on social media 📲💻 Facebook: bit.ly/37UXpBn Twitter: bit.ly/3dSUqxc Instagram: bit.ly/3uEVieL

Oldest living American is 110-y.o. Buddhist

We ain't your father's father, Boy. We're keeping fit, going vegan, sun, exercise, and vitamnis.

What is the secret of Asian longevity? Buddhist attitude and Asia diet habits like rice.

5 Longevity Tips From The Oldest Living Japanese American Person (today.com)

Oldest living Japanese American, 110, shares her longevity tips and the 1 food she eats daily

Great waves, great floods (ogha, asava) are coming. Don't resist. Surf to the further shore.

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Supercentenarian Yoshiko Miwa, 110

With 110 years of life behind her, Buddhist American YOSHIKO MIWA, who was born in California, isn’t going to wallow in the negative, and she doesn’t want you to either.

The oldest living person of Japanese descent in the United States, according to the Gerontology Research Group, Miwa prefers to focus on the times when she was happiest.

She’s lived through the Spanish flu [an epidemic everyone tried to keep secret except those in Spain], alcohol prohibition, Black Tuesday, World War II, and the losses of her parents, siblings, and friends, and still the supercentenarian’s go-to piece of longevity advice is: Don’t dwell.

• 5 longevity tips from the Oldest living Japanese American person Yoshiko Miwa (today.com)
• Yoshiko Miwa at 109 — What a blessing | (Gardena Valley News, 2023)

California Buddhist roots

Yoshiko Miwa at her 110th birthday celebration at Gardena Buddhist Church (Alan Y. Miwa)

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  A Japanese mindful Zen Buddhist attitude is key

  [What's a more positive way of stating this? In Buddhist terms, the expression means "Be mindful." Mindfulness of the present -- with a radical awareness and acceptance of what is -- is the secret to good mental health. Rather than dwelling on the past or projecting into the future, it is possible to be safe right here right now. This is what Byron Katie teaches, it is what Eckhart Tolle has been trying to say in lecture after lecture, and it is what the Buddha taught. American academic turned spiritual guru Ram Dass (aka Harvard's Dr. Richard Alpert) famously said the exact same thing: "Be here now." Be where? Here, in the present moment. When? Now.]

109 years old in 2023 — what a blessing

Miwa is part of the Nisei — the second-generation Japanese Americans sent to internment camps during World War II [so she has something to dwell on if she let herself mope and be miserable] — who often say “gaman,” which translates to “enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity,” her son, Alan Miwa, tells TODAY.com.

Buddhist Virgin Mary: Kwan Yin

It’s often loosely translated as “perseverance,” “patience,” “tolerance” [or the Buddhist term khanti, which can be translated as either “forbearance” or “forgiveness,” which is key to karuna or “compassion.”]

These feelings, Alan Miwa suspects, are born from the resilience of many from his mother’s generation — who had much to endure. Shikata ga nai (仕方がない) -- a Japanese phrase meaning, “It cannot be helped” or “Nothing can be done about it” -- is a common saying among them, too, he adds.

Mexico's Our Lady of Guadalupe

Yoshiko Miwa was born Yoshiko Tanaka in the U.S. on Feb. 28, 1914, to Japanese immigrants in Guadalupe, California. She was the fifth of seven children.

When her mother and infant brother died in 1919, her father struggled to care for his family and tend to the farm he owned.

So Yoshiko Miwa and her siblings were sent to live at the children’s home founded by their parish, Guadalupe Buddhist Church (buddhistchurchesofamerica.org).

• 

  Massive Japanese Buddha, Bodh Gaya, India

  Who is Guadalupe? She is the Mexican apparition of the Virgin Mary, a goddess of compassion like Asia's Kwan Yin (Avalokiteshvara, Guanyin, Kwannon), beloved my Mexican Americans in California and throughout the Americas.
• Her Buddhist faith energizes her: Yoshiko Miwa was 4 years old when her father turned to the Japanese Buddhist church for help. “The church then started a children’s home and taught us Buddhism, Japanese language, Japanese culture, and responsibility,” she recalls. “I’ve always been indebted to Reverend and Mrs. Matsuura.” She is grateful to them (leaders of the city of Guadalupe Buddhist Church), who took her in when her mother passed away.
• She loves to eat rice noodles: Yoshiko Miwa’s a fan of all kinds of [rice, yam, potato] noodles, eating them every day. “When I was in the children’s home, the cook used to make noodles, and I used to love them,” she says. “Today, I like...udon, ramen, soba, and any other kind of noodles.”

Buddhist longevity: World's oldest person, Ms. Kane Tanaka, finally passed at 119 (CNN)

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UC Berkeley is the greatest public univerity

She went on to graduate from Santa Maria High School in 1932, and she studied business at the University of California, Berkeley, graduating in 1936.

She married Henry Miwa in 1939. During the Second World War, the pair and their families were sent to Poston Internment Camp in Arizona before relocating to Hawthorne, Southern California, after the war.

When they, along with many other Japanese people, had difficulty finding work upon their release in 1945, her husband founded a plant nursery business, and in 1963, Yoshiko Miwa got her nursing license.

World's oldest: Maria Branyas, 117 (Californian)

Yoshiko Miwa has three sons, 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

These days, Alan Miwa says she’s in good health and lives in a care facility, where she gets her hair done weekly and attends church services on Sundays.

Magic on the Island of California, home of the world's oldest trees: bristlecone pines

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Seniors today: Wally Funk goes to space w/Bezos

In addition to a positive spirit, keeping your mind and body active is the key to a long life, Yoshiko Miwa has said in the past. Ahead she shares a few other aspects of her life that she believes have led to her longevity.

More: Oldest living Japanese American, 110, shares her longevity tips and the 1 food she eats every day (yahoo.com)

• Aryelle Siclait, Today.com via Yahoo.com, May 7, 2024 at 8:40 am PDT; edited and expanded by CC Liu, Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Wisdom Quarterly

Why do cats do that? Science explains

SciShow, Oct. 30, 2019; CC Liu, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

A mechanical "cathouse" for madams to profit? Maybe human science has gone too far now.

Why do cats do that? Baffling cat questions explained!

Companies use artificial intelligence to cater to animal lovers at CES tech show (msn.com)

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Smoking catnip is rad, Man.

(SciShow) Curious why cats have certain behaviors? Why do they knead blankets? Why do they love cardboard boxes? Join Olivia Gorden for a fun new episode all about those lovable kittens and their strange cat-ttitudes.

• Why do cats like catnip?
• Where do domestic cats come from?
• Why we have cats as pets: The history...
• Why do cat eyes glow in the dark?
• Why can't my cat roar?
• Why can't my cat see a treat in front of her face?
• Why is your cat so disgusted with you?
• Why do cats knead?
• Why do cats love boxes?