" Visual and spatial modes of thought seem well suited to dealing with certain complex problems and are often closely associated with major creative achievements in the sciences as well as the arts. Visual-spatial abilities can play a much more important role in major creative accomplishments;  in many different fields, even when they are not commonly thought to be highly visual;  than is commonly recognised."

" I wish to thank my Ye Ye and honour him in Watching the Tree. His memory continues to give me strength. I hope his teaching will be of help to some who are also searching for spiritual tranquility and solace. "

Axiom 1

Useful change is likely to come only if it can provide as, equal, obvious and general a benefit as possible

Axiom 2

If proposed solutions don't take the lowest common denominators of human nature reallistically into account, they will not work

Zen is consciousness unstructured by particular form or particular system, a trans-cultural, trans-religious, trans-formed consciousness.

It is therefore in a sense "void".

But it can shine through this or that system,  religious or irreligious,  just as light can shine through glass that is blue, or green, or red, or yellow.

If  Zen has any preference it is for glass that is plain, has no color, and is "just glass."

The mind has first to be attuned to the Unconscious.

He whose soul melteth not away like snow in the hand of religion [that is, the Truth], in his hand religion like snow away doth melt.

Excellence of craftsmanship takes up all his time and so completely absorbs his thoughts that he will even make his choice of subject subordinate to his desire to explore some particular facet or technique

Zen is not a religion, not a dogma, not a creed.  Zen is not even a quest, an inquiry; it is non-philosophical.  The fundemental of the Zen approach is that all is as it should be, nothing is missing,  This very moment everything is perfect.

A seed is a miser, confined to himself, and a flower is a spendthrift.

Exchanging Self and Other

I believe the ultimate aim of all human beings is to obtain happiness and a sense of fulfillment.  These objectives can be achieved through physical amenities and proper mental development,  but the dominant and ultimate factor is the mental aspect.  In order to achieve these objectives one must have knowledge about both mind and matter.

Scientists may study mainly matter but they cannot ignore the human mind, or consciousness: spiritual practitioners may be engaging mainly in developing the mind but they cannot completely ignore their physical needs.

It is for this reason that I have always stressed the importance of combining both mental and the material approach to achieving happiness for humankind.