Japanese Web Round-up 03-21-08
Mar 21st, 2008 by Ad Blankestijn
The Mitsukoshi Department Store has bought a small Buddhist wood statue carved by famous Kamakura-period master Unkei at Christie’s in New York for $12.8 million. The Dainichi Nyorai (Cosmic Buddha) figure brought in more than ten times the estimated price - this is the highest price ever offered for any Buddhist artwork in the world (Japan Times article).
It is no Satori, but after reading this PingMag article about the diversity among logo lights on taxi roofs, you will be paying more attention to a whole new world of illumination!
PingMag MAKE is an interesting new sub-site that weekly introduces an innovative craftsman or craftswoman - from goldleaf to indigo, from washi to calligraphy brushes.
Japundit has a sharp dissection of the weird Buddhist(?) custom of self-mummification, accompanied by appropriate horror pictures.
Simplify your life by living somewhat like a Zen monk - read these suggestions from Zen Habits.
“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine.” - Shunryu Suzuki
For example:
Do one thing at a time. […]single-task, don’t multi-task. When you’re pouring water, just pour water. When you’re eating, just eat. When you’re bathing, just bathe. Don’t try to knock off a few tasks while eating or bathing. Zen proverb: “When walking, walk. When eating, eat.”
