You both inspire me. I let anger overtake me over the last 3 years. In the last few months I have realized how much it stifled the creative part of me that is so vital to my wellbeing. Thanks for being part of the catalyst to get me back to being me.
“Let go or be dragged”—love the wisdom, love the graphic, and love YOU!
I had a blast and am so grateful to you for bringing my prose poem to life, Tonika. Can’t wait to dive into the next one (after we both catch our breath(s?) :-)
Hope you had a spectacular Christmas, and here’s to taking on 2023 together! 🙌
Dec 25, 2022·edited Dec 26, 2022Liked by Visceral Adventure
Hello from Japan Tonika!
Yes, I am one of the many who had to pick their jaw off the floor after seeing the video collab between you and Margaret. Fantastic. For all the good it will do, I posted it to several Fakebook groups and followed you immediately.
But then I saw the 'Zen Proverb' pic at the bottom of your post here, and my jaw dropped again. By way of brief introduction ... here is a little something I posted on Quora about 7 years ago.
I am fairly eclectic, not a follower of any particular tradition, but I do have a healthy intellectual, practical, and aesthetic respect for Zen. Pretty much agree with Patrick, David, and George's comments.
My understanding of Zen came mostly from reading Suzuki Daisetsu in my undergrad days, and a few other books along similar lines later on such as Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (Paul Reps).
At that time, I went through an intellectual stage of comparing Daisetsu's explanations to other thinkers such as Wittgenstein, Emerson, Jung, and mystics from more Euro-centric traditions.
Later in life, one of my part-time college teaching jobs for about 10 years was at a well known private university in Tokyo, Komazawa University, which was founded and still funded by a Zen sect, and is also one of Japan's oldest schools.
While working at Komazawa, I occasionally raised the topic of Zen in relation to deconstructing movies or short stories in upper level English classes, and although the students mostly understood my angle when pressed to give every-day examples (e.g. comparing 'kandou' with 'satori' — ‘a profoundly moving experience’ with ‘enlightenment’) or cross cultural equivalents (other than ‘woke’), they did not seem to be particularly knowledgeable about Zen or Buddhism in general.
After about my 3rd year or so working at the school, I finally attended one of those once-a-year parties held to allow part-time teachers to meet their otherwise anonymous, tenured counter-parts. I tried to strike up some small talk with the head of one of the graduate programs, and mentioned I was a big fan of Suzuki Daisetsu.
(In the interval since writing this original ‘answer’, I actually went to Kanazawa and visited the Suzuki Daisetsu Museum. That is about the time I started finding out that Suzuki Daisetsu was actually cast out from Kyoto University and was virtually an enemy of the pre-W.W.II Imperial Nation-State of Japan.)
But back to the party … my remark about Suzuki Daisetsu was met with amused condescension ... with me listening meekly while he explained that Zen, as popularized in Western cultures by Suzuki, was completely wrong. He then gave me an impromptu lecture of something that sounded altogether more militant and ethno-centric / right-wing.
To this day, I don't know if that intellectual spanking was because I did not know the difference between Rinzai Zen and Soto Zen, or because he was just an asshole. I suspect a bit of both.
————
A lot has happened since I wrote that, most of it not good. But thanks to activists like you and Margaret, things are getting better.
A match made in heaven. Beautiful work, both of you! I love the feel of ease, freedom, and joy that suffuses the video. It's a visceral (of course! 😉) reminder of who we were before all of this dystopian bullshit...
I found your visualisation of Margaret Anna Alice's words very moving, like the sentiment itself. As with a lot of your stuff it resonates deeply inside of me on, yes, a visceral level. Thank you both. Moreover, if the joy we have lost is replaced by defiance then I believe we are going to move on to an even better place. So I wish love and the new joy we are going to find on everyone who comes and visits these types of pages. The 'we' of that team are, indeed, all in it together. Peace.
I am surrounded by people who clearly do not or can not remember. The clearest sign they don't is that they don't recognize anything has changed. People still wearing masks in grocery stores are treated as a novelty rather than a great shame of how we treated treated each other.
So many people are in a rush to "move on" that they're hardly looking at what they're moving on into.
I really appreciate this video because it really puts it all into focus. If nothing else, reestablishing pro-human norms needs to be one of the top priorities.
Great video. My reaction while watching: yes, I do remember, but vaguely. Very vaguely, the way people our age remember their adolescence. Another lifetime, in the distant past. That world feels long long gone. I won't say I have no hope for the future, but to the extent I have any hope for some more-optimistic future, it will be a long road. It always seems much easier to tear things down than build them up; what we have lost will not be easy or quick to get back, and we have lost so much. I agree that you captured the essence, the spirit of the words perfectly, maybe the very fact that it was so well executed is part of why it made me feel very sad watching that. But very well-done.
This was wonderful and timely for me. I was just ruminating about the fear of hugging yesterday while watching a movie and when I woke up, there was your collaboration. Just shared it on my page. Well done! xo
Lovely and true! Wull, I DO remember and keep scratchin' my head as to the fact that SO many do not...those in lockstep with their new normal bull-de-ology that so dehumanizes us messy human beans. I'm a' jus' comin' up for air after 25 days with no email service and a big move and a jab-injured mama (and lots more--when it rains it pours jus' like that Morton's Salt gal) but as I start to read all the messages I missed, I was SO glad to see this one--and watch. Havin' our truth projected in under 5 joyful moments is what we are all 'bout. Well done agin'--and kudos to ya both!
You both inspire me. I let anger overtake me over the last 3 years. In the last few months I have realized how much it stifled the creative part of me that is so vital to my wellbeing. Thanks for being part of the catalyst to get me back to being me.
“Let go or be dragged”—love the wisdom, love the graphic, and love YOU!
I had a blast and am so grateful to you for bringing my prose poem to life, Tonika. Can’t wait to dive into the next one (after we both catch our breath(s?) :-)
Hope you had a spectacular Christmas, and here’s to taking on 2023 together! 🙌
Hello from Japan Tonika!
Yes, I am one of the many who had to pick their jaw off the floor after seeing the video collab between you and Margaret. Fantastic. For all the good it will do, I posted it to several Fakebook groups and followed you immediately.
But then I saw the 'Zen Proverb' pic at the bottom of your post here, and my jaw dropped again. By way of brief introduction ... here is a little something I posted on Quora about 7 years ago.
————
https://www.quora.com/What-do-modern-Japanese-think-of-Zen
Sept. 2015
I am fairly eclectic, not a follower of any particular tradition, but I do have a healthy intellectual, practical, and aesthetic respect for Zen. Pretty much agree with Patrick, David, and George's comments.
My understanding of Zen came mostly from reading Suzuki Daisetsu in my undergrad days, and a few other books along similar lines later on such as Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (Paul Reps).
At that time, I went through an intellectual stage of comparing Daisetsu's explanations to other thinkers such as Wittgenstein, Emerson, Jung, and mystics from more Euro-centric traditions.
Later in life, one of my part-time college teaching jobs for about 10 years was at a well known private university in Tokyo, Komazawa University, which was founded and still funded by a Zen sect, and is also one of Japan's oldest schools.
While working at Komazawa, I occasionally raised the topic of Zen in relation to deconstructing movies or short stories in upper level English classes, and although the students mostly understood my angle when pressed to give every-day examples (e.g. comparing 'kandou' with 'satori' — ‘a profoundly moving experience’ with ‘enlightenment’) or cross cultural equivalents (other than ‘woke’), they did not seem to be particularly knowledgeable about Zen or Buddhism in general.
After about my 3rd year or so working at the school, I finally attended one of those once-a-year parties held to allow part-time teachers to meet their otherwise anonymous, tenured counter-parts. I tried to strike up some small talk with the head of one of the graduate programs, and mentioned I was a big fan of Suzuki Daisetsu.
(In the interval since writing this original ‘answer’, I actually went to Kanazawa and visited the Suzuki Daisetsu Museum. That is about the time I started finding out that Suzuki Daisetsu was actually cast out from Kyoto University and was virtually an enemy of the pre-W.W.II Imperial Nation-State of Japan.)
But back to the party … my remark about Suzuki Daisetsu was met with amused condescension ... with me listening meekly while he explained that Zen, as popularized in Western cultures by Suzuki, was completely wrong. He then gave me an impromptu lecture of something that sounded altogether more militant and ethno-centric / right-wing.
To this day, I don't know if that intellectual spanking was because I did not know the difference between Rinzai Zen and Soto Zen, or because he was just an asshole. I suspect a bit of both.
————
A lot has happened since I wrote that, most of it not good. But thanks to activists like you and Margaret, things are getting better.
Cheers from Japan, Tonika.
And Merry Christmas!
steve
A match made in heaven. Beautiful work, both of you! I love the feel of ease, freedom, and joy that suffuses the video. It's a visceral (of course! 😉) reminder of who we were before all of this dystopian bullshit...
What a fantastic collaboration!! So inspiring. Such awesome work. Thank you...
I found your visualisation of Margaret Anna Alice's words very moving, like the sentiment itself. As with a lot of your stuff it resonates deeply inside of me on, yes, a visceral level. Thank you both. Moreover, if the joy we have lost is replaced by defiance then I believe we are going to move on to an even better place. So I wish love and the new joy we are going to find on everyone who comes and visits these types of pages. The 'we' of that team are, indeed, all in it together. Peace.
Merry Christmas 😀
Merry Christmas, visceral one! xxx
I am surrounded by people who clearly do not or can not remember. The clearest sign they don't is that they don't recognize anything has changed. People still wearing masks in grocery stores are treated as a novelty rather than a great shame of how we treated treated each other.
So many people are in a rush to "move on" that they're hardly looking at what they're moving on into.
I really appreciate this video because it really puts it all into focus. If nothing else, reestablishing pro-human norms needs to be one of the top priorities.
I love the Zen proverb.
Great video. My reaction while watching: yes, I do remember, but vaguely. Very vaguely, the way people our age remember their adolescence. Another lifetime, in the distant past. That world feels long long gone. I won't say I have no hope for the future, but to the extent I have any hope for some more-optimistic future, it will be a long road. It always seems much easier to tear things down than build them up; what we have lost will not be easy or quick to get back, and we have lost so much. I agree that you captured the essence, the spirit of the words perfectly, maybe the very fact that it was so well executed is part of why it made me feel very sad watching that. But very well-done.
This was wonderful and timely for me. I was just ruminating about the fear of hugging yesterday while watching a movie and when I woke up, there was your collaboration. Just shared it on my page. Well done! xo
What a treat; a perfect pairing of talents. Loved it.
More, please.
https://imgflip.com/i/75fzok
Lovely and true! Wull, I DO remember and keep scratchin' my head as to the fact that SO many do not...those in lockstep with their new normal bull-de-ology that so dehumanizes us messy human beans. I'm a' jus' comin' up for air after 25 days with no email service and a big move and a jab-injured mama (and lots more--when it rains it pours jus' like that Morton's Salt gal) but as I start to read all the messages I missed, I was SO glad to see this one--and watch. Havin' our truth projected in under 5 joyful moments is what we are all 'bout. Well done agin'--and kudos to ya both!
I can't get the video to play. Is it on another platform?