Ryōshin shiken

AS these beginners feel themselves to be very fervent and diligent in spiritual things and devout exercises, from this prosperity (although it is true that holy things of their own nature cause humility) there often comes to them, through their imperfections, a certain kind of secret pride, whence they come to have some degree of satisfaction with their works and with themselves. And hence there comes to them likewise a certain desire, which is somewhat vain, and at times very vain, to speak of spiritual things in the presence of others, and sometimes even to teach such things rather than to learn them. They condemn others in their heart when they see that they have not the kind of devotion which they themselves desire; and sometimes they even say this in words, herein resembling the Pharisee, who boasted of himself, praising God for his own good works and despising the publican.

St. John of the Cross. Dark Night of the Soul - Enhanced (Illustrated) (Kindle Locations 376-382). Kindle Edition.

Whenever I have a successful, or seemingly successful experience of teaching in church, the danger of this becomes clearly apparent.  How do we get past practicing a pretense of humility?

The Pharisee and the Publican
James Tissot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Samang Kirok

One should every day think over and make an effort to implant in his mind the saying, “At that time is right now.” It is said that it is strange indeed that anyone is able to pass through life by one means or another in negligence. Thus, the Way of the Samurai is, morning after morning, the practice of death, considering whether it will be here or be there, imagining the most sightly way of dying, and putting one’s mind firmly in death. Although this may be a most difficult thing, if one will do it, it can be done. There is nothing that one should suppose cannot be done.

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 118 (p. 32) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

Different deaths have different emotional content.  Can the Samurai's resolute acceptance be consistent with giving up out of anger?

A Buddhist monk commits suicide by burning at the Central Market in Saigon, October 5, 1963

Ryōshin shiken

"O Uniter of Attributes who came forth from the Cavern, I have not made extollings.

O Uniter of Good who came forth from the Cavern, I have not harmed the bread-ration of the Gods.

O Upraised of Head who came forth from the shrine, I have not stolen the Khenef-cakes from the Blessed

O He-who-Brings-his-Portion who came forth from the Hall of the Two Truths, I have not stolen Hefnu-cakes of a youth, nor have I fettered the god of my town.

O He-who-Brightens-the-Land who came forth from Faiyum, I have not slain sacred cattle."

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco.

 We steal from God when we serve objects of our own creation instead.  How am I like the priests hiding under the floor?

Destruction of the Statue of Bel
Cornelis Cort [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Samang Kirok

Dreams are truthful manifestations. When I occasionally have dreams of dying in battle or committing  seppuku, if I brace myself with courage, my frame of mind within the dream gradually changes. This concerns the dream I had on the night of the twenty-seventh day of the fifth month.

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 113 (p. 31) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

I used to dream about being killed quite frequently; it was always the irrational rage of a close family member brought on when I confronted the person's delusion.  How would "bracing myself" in such dreams have changed my "frame of mind"?

Medea
Da Pompei, Casa dei Dioscuri https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Medea_-_Casa_dei_Dioscuri.JPG

Ryōshin shiken

O Possessor of Two Horns who came forth from the Asyut, I have not be garrulous about matters.
O Nefertum who came forth from Memphis, I have not done wrong, I have not done evil.
O He-who-does-not-allow-Survivors who came forth from Busiris, I have not disputed the King.
O He-who-Acts-as-he-Wishes who came forth from Antinaiopolis, I have not waded in the water.
O Ihy who came forth from the Primordial Waters, my voice was not loud.
O He-who-Prospers-the-Common-People who came forth from Asyut, I have not cursed a god.

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco.

I was not properly silent; my word was ill-formed before I let it escape my lips and now the waters of another mind are muddied.  How does one sense the moment to speak?

Sayarim Valley South Masseboth
by Moti Shem Tov http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=14694

Samang Kirok

A certain person said, “In the Saint’s mausoleum there is a poem that goes:
Who in his heart
Follows the path of sincerity,
Though he does not pray
Will not the gods protect him?
What is this path of sincerity?”
 
A man answered him by saying, “You seem to like poetry. I will answer you with a poem:
As everything in this world is but illusion,
Death is the only sincerity.
Becoming as a dead man in one’s daily living
is following the path of sincerity.

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 111 (p. 31) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai 

For much of the activity in contemporary life, there is a need to function in respond to numerous unconnected, arbitrary, and often trivial demands.  What is there in my life that warrants sincerity unto death?

Ryōshin shiken

O Youth who came forth from the Double Scepter Nome, I have not been neglectful of truthful words.
O Dark One who came forth from darkness, I have not cursed.
O He-who-Brings-his-Offering who comes forth from Asyut, I have not been violent.
O Proclaimer of Voice who came forth from Wenis, I have not confounded truth.
O Possessor of Faces who came forth from Dedjefet, I have not been impatient.
O Captain who came forth from Weten, I have not discussed.

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco.

 I talked a lot today out of my own opinion.  How can I find the right balance between contributing my voice, and respecting the voice of the other(s)?

What is Truth?
Nikolai Ge [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Samang Kirok

Whether people be of high or low birth, rich or poor, old or young, enlightened or confused, they are all alike in that they will one day die. It is not that we don’t know that we are going to die, but we grasp at straws. While knowing that we will die someday, we think that all the others will die before us and that we will be the last to go. Death seems a long way off. 

Is this not shallow thinking? It is worthless and is only a joke within a dream. It will not do to think in such a way and be negligent, insofar as death is always at one’s door, one should make sufficient effort and act quickly.

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 109 (p. 30) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

It's a cliche, but it could happen today.  What am I leaving undone?

By ScottSteiner (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Or you could die like this spider: link

Ryōshin shiken

"O Planter who came forth from Heliopolis, I have not disputed about property at all.
O Doubly Evil One who came forth from the Busirite Nome, I have not had intercourse with a married woman.
O He-who-Sees-what-he-has-brought who came forth from the House of Min, I have not wrongly copulated.
O He-who-is-over-the-Great-Ones who came forth from the house sealed with copper (House of Suasm)*, I have not struck terror.
O Demolisher who came forth from the grove of offering*, I have not transgressed.
O Proclaimer of Speech who came forth from Weyrt, I have not been hot-tempered."

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco. *Faulkner left these untranslated and I have added my own attempts referring to Sir Wallis Budge

Our passions motivate us to dramatic actions of every kind. My own failings in this matter seem to be driven by unexpressed anxiety.  How can I quickly identify that I'm operating out of that anxiety, and rein it towards more useful purposes?

The Chariot of the Body

Samang Kirok

"When the priest Daiyu from Sanshu was making a sick call at a certain place, he was told, “The man has just now died.” Daiyu said, “Such a thing shouldn’t have happened at this time. Didn’t this occur from insufficient treatment? What a shame!” 

Now the doctor happened to be there at that time and heard what was said from the other side of the shoji. He got extraordinarily angry and came out and said, “I heard Your Reverence say that the man died from insufficient treatment. Since I am a rather bungling doctor, this is probably true. I have heard that a priest embodies the power of the Buddhist Law. Let me see you bring this dead man back to life, for without such evidence Buddhism is worthless.” Daiyu was put out by this, but he felt that it would be unpardonable for a priest to put a blemish on Buddhism, so he said, “I will indeed show you how to bring his life back by prayer. Please wait a moment. I must go prepare myself,” and returned to the temple. Soon he came back and sat in meditation next to the corpse. Pretty soon the dead man began to breathe and then completely revived. It is said that he lived on for another half a year. As this was something told directly to the priest Tannen, there is nothing mistaken about it. 

When telling of the way he prayed, Daiyu said, 'This is something not practiced in our sect, so I didn’t know of any way of prayer. I simply set my heart for the sake of the Buddhist Law, returned to the temple, sharpened a short sword that had been given as an offering to the temple, and put it in my robe. Then I faced the dead man and prayed, ‘If the strength of the Buddhist Law exists, come back to life immediately.’ Since I was thus committed, if he hadn’t come back to life, I was resolved to the point of cutting open my stomach and dying embracing the corpse.'"

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 101 (p. 28) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

 There is a great deal of energy in situations of absolute crisis, and it seems that it is necessary for every honest person to both believe and not believe in magic at the same time.  Are you really going to move to Canada, or are you just trying to create magic?

Ryōshin shiken

O Anointed One who came forth from the chapel, I have not dissembled.
O Hot-Legs who came forth at twilight, I have not transgressed.
O He-who-is-Blood who came forth from the place of slaughter, I have not done grain-profiteering.
O Eater of Entrails who came forth from the Council of Thirty, I have not robbed a parcel of land.
O Lord of Truth who came forth from Hall of Two Truths, I have not discussed secrets.
O Strayer who came forth from Bubastis, I have brought no lawsuits.

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco.

 When meeting our needs and desires depends on other people there's always pressure to provide an interface consistent with what the other wants or expects.  That said, how often do we hide our true value for fear, laziness, or simple unconsciousness?

Ski Mask XVII - Ski Mask Kid

Samang Kirok

For serious affairs that bear directly on oneself, if one does not take care of things by making his own judgment his foundation and breaking through headlong, matters will not be brought to a close. In conferring with people about matters of importance, there may be many cases when your affair is thought lightly of, or when people will not speak of the real circumstances. At such times one must use his own judgment. At any rate, it is sufficient to go crazy and choose to throw away one’s life. At such a time, if one thinks about doing things well, confusion will soon arise and he will blunder. In many cases one’s downfall may be brought about by an ally who is trying to do something for one’s benefit, or one may be killed by his friend’s kindness. It is the same as when one requests permission to become a monk. 

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 94 (p. 26) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

There are many social threats to one's resolve, even from those who are concerned for you within their own understanding.  Do we want to mitigate the death brought on others by our own?

James Tissot [No restrictions or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Ryōshin shiken

"O He-whose-Eyes-are-in-Flames who came forth from Asyut, I have not stolen the god's property.
O Burning One who came forth backwards, I have not told lies.
O Breaker of Bones who came forth from Heracleopolis, I have not stolen food.
O Orderer of Flame who came forth from Memphis, I was not sullen.
O He-of-the-Cavern who came forth from the West, I have not fornicated with the fornicator.
O He-whose-face-is-behind-him who came forth from his hole, I have not caused anyone to weep."

Faulkner, Raymond. The Egyptian Book of the Dead: The Book of Going Forth by Day (Chronicle Books) (Plate 31 - Chapter 125) San Francisco.

Where do the spirits by which we judge ourselves come from? The light of fire and contrast reveal our true selves.

Namarato Spirits and the Rainbow Spirit Burlung
Australian Aboriginal art - replica in the Brno museum Anthropos

Samang Kirok

"Concerning martial valour, merit lies more in dying for one’s master than in striking down the enemy. This can be understood from the devotion of Sate Tsugunobu*."

The Matheson Trust; Yamamoto, Tsunetomo, Hagakure: In the Shade of the Leaves, Section 84 (p. 24) http://themathesontrust.org/library/hagakure-book-of-the-samurai

Bravery isn't winning, it's risking everything for your purpose, thus making your loss the true evidence.  How can we even imagine this, swamped in the trivialities of contemporary life?  Is Netflix worth dying for?

By Yōshū Chikanobu (Claremont Colleges Digital Library) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

*Protecting his master, Tsugunobu is felled by Noritsune's arrow. Taira no Noritsune aiming his bow at Minamoto Yoshitsune, but hitting Satō Tsugunobu, who rode between to protect Yoshitsune. Noritsune's servant Kikuo is running forward to behead Tsugunobu