The Nature of Questions

[image credit: pixabay.com]

 

Today's meditation:

When conducting an interview, or a discovery session...

Asking a question is like plucking a note on a stringed instrument...

The skill of the individual musician will vary...and the richness of what is heard, depends upon the skilll of listener...

Sometimes, the question is not the question.

Sometimes, the question is intended to "move the shade" and "reveal your true face".

Sometimes, the question is to reveal your questions.

Sometimes, the question is to reveal your intentions.

Sometimes, the question is to reveal your doubts and fears.

Sometimes, the question is like tapping a bell, to hear the the resonance of the tone returned.

Sometimes, the question is like tapping the side of a tall opaque jar, to determine the measure of fullness within.

And sometimes, the question is just a question.

Zen Koans - some resources

 This is a placeholder for links to interesting Zen Koans...enjoy!

• https://ashidakim.com/zenkoans/zenindex.html

 

(more to be added...)

My Favorite Translation of The Tao Te Ching

By Gia-Fu Feng & Jane English (1974)
https://genius.com/Laozi-tao-te-ching-gia-fu-feng-and-jane-english-translation-annotated

On  Amazon.com

 

 

Akiya Houses in Japan

A Comprehensive Guide to Buying Property in Japan as a Foreigner 

Searching Japan's abandoned houses for the ultimate fixer-upper

2024-05-07 CNN:  Super-aged Japan now has 9 million vacant homes. And that’s a problem

Great resources for finding inexpensive Japanese homes for sale, or rent:

• https://www.facebook.com/TokyoGaijinMode
• https://www.facebook.com/cheaphousesjapan 
• https://www.instagram.com/cheaphousesjapan/
  
• https://www.facebook.com/AkiyaHouseJapan
• https://www.koryoya.com/akiya/
• https://www.allakiyas.com/
• https://www.akiya-mart.com/ 
• https://www.akiyainaka.com/akiya-listings/
•  

These may be useful resources:

• https://www.akiyajapan.com/
• https://www.akiyabanks.com/ 
• https://cheaphousesjapan.com/buy-an-akiya-japan/
  

Interesting expat blogs and YouTube channels, about living in Japan:

• https://www.facebook.com/ikimasho.net
• https://ikimasho.net/
   

This is the YouTube video that got me hooked on the idea of a Japanese farm house...

We Bought an Abandoned House in Japan, Exterior | Tractor, 2 Cars, Farm Tools Left Behind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNFD9fKOWic

We Bought an Abandoned House in Japan, Interior, Everything Left Inside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgw_8fTkqNk

How We Bought Our Abandoned House in Japan | Process, Costs, Risks, Finance, How to Find One
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwRjO3kHxU4


Some  recent updates...on their progress...

Spring Garden Year 3 Update | Tokyo Llama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZPv5UrvXko

35 Things We Still Need to Do on Our House | Abandoned House Renovation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHIR5xhe0So


Their channel is filled with wonderful stories of their journey...
https://www.youtube.com/c/TokyoLlama

Some other stories...

Aussie Turns 130 Year Old Japanese House into Cafe/Farm/School | Tokyo Llama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oF-ljp7plLg

Incredible Tiny House Off-Grid Homestead in Japan | SELF-BUILT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgfrlRGxz5w

What A US$23,000 House Looks Like in Rural Wakayama, Japan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0cXfA1-Q4

Before & After - 6 months in a 120-year-old Japanese Kominka
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s19vS3BzmMY


Jaw-Dropping Traditional Small Japanese Home Renovation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36_6AnhQDT0


Some property listings in Japan...

(some better sites for finding the real bargains...)
https://realestate.co.jp/en/forsale/listing?prefecture=&city=&district=&min_cap_rate=&min_price=&max_price=10000000&min_meter=&rooms=&distance_station=&agent_id=&building_type=house&building_age=&updated_within=&transaction_type=&occupancy=&order=&search=Search
 

example: 5M Yen ~ $41.6K USD
https://realestate.co.jp/en/forsale/view/874273



(more expensive listings, in English...)

• https://www.japan-property.jp/en
• https://www.century21global.com/for-sale-residential/Japan/Kanagawa

Some info on different style/type of houses...

• https://www.toshihikoyamamoto.jp/kominka-renovation/
• https://www.tsunagujapan.com/simple-yet-beautiful-japans-traditional-homes-kominka/
• http://www.furusatokikaku.net/en/kominka/
• https://www.toki.tokyo/blogt/17/10/4/kominka
• https://blog.gaijinpot.com/buy-abandoned-house-in-japan/
• https://www.rethinktokyo.com/free-houses-japan-countryside
• https://www.rethinktokyo.com/2018/09/19/akiya-banks-abandoned-homes-japan
• https://resources.realestate.co.jp/news/akiya-bank-japan-vacant-house-database-to-now-include-govt-public-assets-ministry-of-land/

• https://www.koryoya.com/

Kominka Houses
Traditional Japanese Countryside Houses
https://www.koryoya.com/kominka/index.html


Machiya Houses
Traditional Japanese Townhouses
https://www.koryoya.com/machiya/index.html


Akiya Houses
Abandoned or Vacant Old Houses
https://www.koryoya.com/akiya/index.html



Example: 4.5M Yen ~ $37.5K USD
https://maizuru-iju.com/akiya/%e4%b9%85%e7%94%b0%e7%be%8e%e3%81%ae%e5%ae%b6%ef%bc%88%e7%89%a9%e4%bb%b6%e7%95%aa%e5%8f%b7%ef%bc%9a%e6%9d%91135%ef%bc%89/


(other listing sites...)
https://taka-t28365.akiya-athome.jp/
https://www.akiya-athome.jp/

Example: 2M Yen  ~ $16.6K USD
https://taka-t28365.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/detail/buy/%E5%A4%9A%E5%8F%AF%E9%83%A1%E5%A4%9A%E5%8F%AF%E7%94%BA%E5%A3%B2%E6%88%B8%E5%BB%BA%E4%BD%8F%E5%AE%85-21168


Example: 2.92M Yen ~ $24.3K USD

Example: 8.8M Yen - $73.3K USD
https://shiso-c28227.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/detail/buy/7872


https://www.homes.co.jp/akiyabank/


(using different search parameters...)
https://www.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/search/list/?freeword=%E5%8F%A4%E6%B0%91%E5%AE%B6&search_type=freeword&br_kbn=buy&sbt_kbn=house

https://www.akiya-athome.jp/
https://www.akiya-athome.jp/bukken/search/list/?freeword=%e5%ba%97%e8%88%97&search_type=freeword&br_kbn=buy&sbt_kbn=buy


https://inakanoseikatsu.com/

Stillness In Solitude

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

 

 Sometimes we all need stillness. 

To pause. 

To reflect. 

To plan. 

To be in the moment - and not constantly striving/competing toward some goal. 

To simply sit and watch the clouds roll by. 

To watch the waves continue their unending journey to the shore. 

To walk in the forest and hear the wind in the trees. 

The sanctity of stillness in solitude - as a necessary pillar of our spiritual health.

NAM MYOHO RENGE KYO

In 1981, while stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia, with the 24th Infantry Division - I began teaching a weekly Shotokan karate class at the base's Community Center. 

One of the students in that class was the young son of Mrs. Hisako Durbin - who became a dear friend. 

She worked at the  small food court (at the "Shoppette") that was opposite the base's "Moon Theater" - and within a short walk from  my barracks. 

We began our friendship over many months - when she would take her break in the late afternoon - and I would visit to be tutored in the Japanese language. 

Once she learned that I was teaching karate at the community center, she asked me to accept her son as a student. 

The night she came to watch her son train - afterward, she shared with me a compliment of the first order - the memory of which I cherish to this day...a short Japanese phrase that translated means: "Single-mindedness of Purpose"...which is what she felt generated from the floor, as I led the class in their training.

After Anwar Sadat was assassinated in Egypt - she feared for my safety - as I was to be part of a Rapid Deployment Force exercise called "Operation Bright Star", and was scheduled to travel to Egypt soon thereafter. 

She gave me her cherished Buddhist meditation beads to take with me - and I remembered the chant I had learned one weekend when she invited me to join her at a small gathering of followers of the Nichiren Buddhism sect. This was an act of grace, kindness, and friendship - that touched me deeply.

A Candidate House for Shibumi Sanctuary

Since 1999, I have had a dream of creating an Artist Retreat - for a small cohort of visiting artists (painters, sculptors, poets, writers, etc.). A sanctuary - in which artists of different modalities might spend weeks or months - with room & board provided at a low nominal cost to them - so that they might have the freedom to bring their dreams to reality - and perhaps, create their masterpieces.

Tomorrow I will be calling a realtor to inquire about this house - a 5,000 sq ft. mansion - that has been on the market for quite a while (a foreclosure) - and is now at a steeply discounted price.

There may be unexpected (and disappointing) news with regards to the condition of the house - but, I will ask for a favorable wind from Neptune and Poseidon.

This is a good example of what I have always envisioned Shibumi Sanctuary to eventually be: