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Zen and Mindfulness Issho Fujita 24-5 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031 Tel: 03-5456-8082 Fax: 03-5456-8388 Mail: [email protected] Newsletter Vol. 8 Summer 2017 http://www.japancivilization.org/ On 26th May, the eighth symposium held by the Japanese Civiliza- tion Institute took place at Japan University of Economics campus in Shibuya, Tokyo on the theme of “Zen and Mindfulness.” The panel- ists were Mr. Issho Fujita, director of the Soto Zen Buddhism Inter- national Center, who is deeply acquainted with both zen and mind- fulness and who has taught zen for 17 years in the United States, Ms. Kimiko Bokura-Shafe, founder of the MiLI (Mindful Leadership Institute), and is introducing an employee orientation program de- veloped by Google’s head office based on neuroscience and mindful- ness to Japanese companies, and writer and director of Japanese Civ- ilization Institution Naoki Inose ,who moderated the panel. Mr. Fu- jita and Ms. Bokura set time aside for meditation during the first and second half of the event. Please enjoy learning about the differences between zen and mindfulness. (Reprinted from “Shukan Dokushojin,” August 4th, 2017, No. 3201) Greetings Ms. Kimiko Tsuzuki—Chairperson of Japanese Civilization Institute We have continued to hold our series of symposiums, and have now reached our eighth round. When we announced the theme of this eighth event, “Zen and Mindfulness,” on the internet,we received such a huge response from people who were eager to attend that we had to limit attendance today. We were delighted to receive such a wonderful response, but also saddened that we could not accommodate everyone who wanted to join us. The Tsuzuki Education Group celebrated its 60th anniversary last year. The theme we chose to mark our anniversary was “Wakon Eisai” (Japanese Spirit, Talented Scholars). Today, we hope to hear an incisive discussion between such talented scholars, Professor Issho Fujita and Professor Kimiko Bokura-Shafe, who are both spreading the Japanese spirit and soul in which we take such pride around the world in the English language. I hope all of you in the audience will not just passive- ly receive information from this event today, but will also actively take part and think about the theme with us together. Please enjoy today’s panel to the very end. “Transmitting Japanese Civilization—The Drama of the Pioneers.” Toshio Goto, President I would personally like to position this sym- share with you today. There was, for exam- might be Yonejiro Noguchi, the father of posium as part of the story of “Transmitting ple, Manshi Kiyozawa. In 1893, a World architect Isamu Noguchi, who strove to in- Japanese Civilization—The Drama of the Exposition was held in Chicago to com- troduce Japanese fine arts abroad, begin- Pioneers.” With the Meiji Restoration, Ja- memorate the 400th Anniversary of Chris- ning with Japanese poetry, verse and haiku. pan entered an era of “Wakon Yosai” (Japa- topher Columbus discovering the Americas. The individuals mentioned above all trans- nese Spirit combined with Western learn- At around that same time, Kiyozawa’s book mitted their information in English, and ing), receiving influences from outside cul- about Japanese religion was translated into ultimately spread the word about the posi- tures, and particularly from the cultures of English, and attracted attention at the Par- tive aspects of Japan to the outside world. the West. However, the Japanese of that day liament of the World’s Religions held in They then returned to Japan themselves. I did not just submissively receive culture Chicago that same year. By the way, Daiset- would like to share with you the fact that from abroad. There were also Japanese who su Suzuki, who we will hear about later, also pioneers like these individuals existed more worked strenuously to transmit the fine as- attended this conference. than 100 years ago, and that even today, the pects of Japanese culture to the outside Other famous names of people who have finest aspects of Japanese civilization are still world. I call these people the “Pioneers who worked to introduce Japan to the world in- the focus of attention from many diverse Transmitted Japanese Civilization,” and I clude Kanzo Uchimura, Inazo Nitobe and perspectives in countries across the globe. have assembled a list of some of them to Tenshin Okakura. An exceptional case About the group Address: 24-5 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031 Designed by artisancompany Japanese Civilization Institute Tel :03-5456-8082 Fax:03-5456-8388 Established in August 2015 Website: http://www.japancivilization.org/ A Report on Our 8th Symposium Zen and mindfulness Issho Fujita vs. Kimiko Bokura-Shafe （Soto zen priest） （entreprenuer and mindfulness instructor） MC Naoki Inose director of Japanese （ Civilization Institute ） The two Suzuki’s rating ideas derived from zen in their quite settled down yet? So now, let’s orientation programs for new em- take a moment to think. and the prehistory ployees. If you tilt a snow globe, you see of mindfulness Mr. Issho Fujita provided guidance white snow scattering inside. The best in zen in the U.S. for 17-and-a-half thing to do to make that snow settle is Inose: Daisetsu Suzuki’s book “Zen years. Today, he conducts research in to put the globe down. Your soul is and Japanese Culture” was published zen here in Japan. Meanwhile, Ms. just the same. You need to put down outside Japan in Showa 10 (1935). It Kimiko Bokura-Shafe is working to your feelings, your responsibilities, has been read continuously ever introduce Google’s employee orienta- and your emotions so they can settle. since. tion program back here in Japan. Be- Now I would like to show you some Daisetsu Suzuki is well known as cause mindfulness is spreading in easy steps to enter “mindfulness.” the Buddhist scholar who spread zen foreign countries, zen—which has You need to do just three things. culture to the outside world before been an integral part of Japanese tra- Firstly, “put your consciousness in and after WWII. Yet actually, there dition to the modern day—is now the moment. Gather your attention were “Two Suzuki’s” in the U.S. at the coming in for re-examination even in to “this moment.” time, another one being a priest Japan itself. At the same time, “relax.” named Shunryu Suzuki who estab- We hope that the audience gath- Then, still in this state, put your lished the San Francisco Zen Center. ered here today can let themselves consciousness into your next breath.” In the 1970s, members of the Beatles relax and listen to our discussion. So Just try these three things. were inspired by Eastern philosophy, to begin, we would like to ask Ms. Before you begin, however, relax while the hippy movement emerged Kimiko Bokura-Shafe to show us just your posture. You can close your eyes on the U.S. West Coast. These kinds how relaxing the method used at or leave them open. Pay attention to of movements were said to have been Google can be. the moment, relax, and focus your influenced in part by Shunryu Suzuki. attention on the next breath you’re As the furthest evolution in this Bokura: Okay. How is everybody’s going to breathe. Continue to place trend, today we see words like “zen” mental state today? your attention on your breath for and “mindfulness” spreading quickly Maybe you all rushed to get to maybe three breaths. to innovative companies like Google this venue on time, have soothed Please continue. Your might find and Facebook in Silicon Valley. yourselves down a bit, and are feeling that your mind is thinking of other These companies are now incorpo- clearer now? Or perhaps you haven’t things besides your breath, like, 2 best position for our head, it leads us to raise and straighten our pelvis. But if I tell people that first, before every- thing else, our bodies will uncon- sciously shrink as they try to straight- en up, so instead I want you to just loosen up first and find your most relaxed position. Inose: Mr. Fujita. In your book “Zen no kyoshitsu” (Lessons on Zen), you write that a good posture is when you think of aligning your ears and Kimiko Bokura-Shafe shoulders and your nose and navel. Issho Fujita “What am I going to do with the Fujita: That is the result of “finding” most important characteristic lies in things I left behind at work,” or the right pose. When we’re told in this tiny difference. “What shall I eat afterwards?” If you words how to pose correctly, we tend notice that you’re thinking about to create models. Instead of asking Inose: Why do you think mindful- something else, “Begin again.” Just our bodies to try and come up with ness is so popular in Silicon Valley go back to the beginning and con- the correct pose from the inside, we today? centrate on your next coming breath. create an ideal mold on the outside Good! Now take a deep breath, and try to adapt ourselves to it. The Fujita: The word “mindfulness” has try to maintain that state, and con- ideal shape and goal comes first, and been around for some time now. I centrate on the following discussion. we try to come as close to that as we moved to the U.S. in 1987, and can. It’s the kind of head-centered came across the word mindfulness Inose: When you say, “a relaxing approach that we all tend to follow for the first time in the book “Being posture,” what do you mean? in our everyday lives.
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