What a day for golf!

Dan Videtto is a member at Narita GC, so I called him up and got a foursome to go out on a perfect day. We played Bingo Bango Bongo. This is also the course where Tiger played before he went off to Australia with one of his Bimbos.

Golden Week in Izu

Michel brought his girlfriend to Izu at the end of Golden Week. As usual, I cooked and Michel ate. We both drank. His girlfriend's daughter spoke Rumanian, Japanese and some English. Very cute little girl.

The end of the cherry blossoms

Cat Warmer

Our jacuzzi is where the local cats come to sleep, groom themselves, and stay warm on cool days.

The Universe

The circle-triangle-square is Sengai’s picture of the universe. The circle represents the infinite, and the infinite is at the basis of all beings. But the infinite in itself is formless. We humans endowed with senses and intellect demand tangible forms. Hence a triangle. The triangle is the beginning of all forms. Out of it first comes the square. A square is the triangle doubled. This doubling process goes on infinitely and we have the multitudinosity of things, which the Chinese philosopher calls ‘the ten thousand things’, that is, the universe.

The trouble with us linguistically-minded beings is that we take language realistically and forget that language is of no significance whatsoever without time. In truth, language is time and time is language. We thus come to think that there is in the beginning of the world a something which is real and concrete, such as a world of galaxies which though formless and nebulous is yet real and tangible. This is the foundation of the universe on which we now have all kinds of things, infinitely formed and varied. It is thus that time itself begins to be thought of as something concrete and real. A circle turns into a triangle, and then into a square, and finally into infinitely varied and varying figures. In the same way the Biblical account of creation has turned into historical truth in the minds of many. But Zen is very much against such fabrications.

There is another and a more traditional interpretation that may be given to these three figures or forms. Sengai was familiar with Shingon, the mantra sect of Buddhism, as well as Zen. He liked Shingon because it taught the identity of the bodily existence (rupakaya) with ultimate reality (dharmakaya). The bodily existence is here represented by a triangle which symbolizes the human body in its triple aspect; physical, oral or intellection, and mental or spiritual. The quadrangle represents the objective world which is composed of the four great elements (mahabhuta); earth, water, fire and air. The Dharmakaya, the ultimate reality, is the circle here, that is, the formless form. We generally hold a dichotomous view of existence, form (rupakaya) and formless (arupa), object and subject, matter and spirit, and think they contradict each other and are mutually exclusive. Both Shingon and Zen, however, oppose this view and hold that what is form is formless or empty (sunya), that is, they are identical.

Tengan Yaku

In his little treatise on this subject called Tengan Yaku (Medicine for the Eye), written in dialogue form, Sengai estimates Zen as being higher than Shingon, and states that Zen is more direct and immediate and to the point without indulging in verbalism. Zen in this respect is the more effective medicinal drop for the eye that is still wandering on the level of intellection. It replaces this kind of eye with the one possessed by Mahasvara (Great Lord). It is the divine eye which looks directly into the secrets of the ultimate reality. The opening or awakening to this order is abrupt and beyond verbal demonstrations of any sort, which is characteristically lacking in Shingon.

New York Pizza Report by Clint on Facebook

L&B Spumoni Grdns_Bensonhurst:Hands down, the best Sicilian.

Lucoli's_Carrol Grdns: Closed

Totonno's_Coney Island: Perfect. Expensive Italian tomatoes.

Motorino's_Williamsburg:Amazing. The best dough/crust of all.

Patsy's_E.Harlem:Fantastic. Coal oven, sauce less sweet. Sinatra's favorite.

DiFara's_Midwood:Disappointing.$5.00 slice; coated in olive oil & Parmesan; Too rich

A nice day to see Fujiyama

〓http://docomo.ne.jp/cp/map.cgi?lat=%2B35.05.06.231&lon=%2B139.01.35.825&geo=wgs84

Prayer for Peace

Setagaya Park

Shoe box cover

Finally the bush will hide the window of shoe boxes!

International Financer Robert Crozier

Bob is back to Internet financiing deals. We had lunch at the St Regis pool in Singapore recently.

The view from my RACA Sydney room

My host family roommate, Ham Young Woo

We were outside Taejeon in the summer of 1973.

Nanbokusen ni noritai

LOVE, IT'S EVERYWHERE!

The Indian Kokopeli

In the hotels in Mumbai there is art everywhere. The halls of the first floor of the ITC Marathra had folk art posters with scenes of village life. In the middle of many of them is a person playing a flute that looks remarkably like the Pied Piper of the Southwest United States - Kokopeli. Coincidence?

The instrument is called a sha'nai. I searched for one on this trip, but couldn't find the time to get into a music store to buy one. Next trip. It'll be a good addition to my Izu musical instrument collection.

The typical sha'nai band has two flutes, cymbals players and a drummer playing a dullard (sic). A bit like a Japanese Chindonya; they play at parties and celebrations. We'll need to get one for the launch of our new indices.

Indian Friends

I had spent three days talking to fund managers and investment banks in Mumbai with staff from MCX-SX. Ranjan C. is head of research and dead keen to get the indices up and running.

Giacometti, Rothko, some woman

This is one of the best photos I have taken with my NEC mobile phone. A couple of my favorite artists and some woman...

I won't win any photo contest, but I sure am happy about it.

I wonder what Joel would say?

New Year's Blessing at Sensoji in Asakusa

This year, despite being My Year - the Tiger, is actually a "yaku" year for me. So when we went to Asakusa for the annual blessing, I paid extra to have a ceremony to bless me to prevent any bad things happening. I hope it works. I also picked up an amulet for good travel. Even though I have $1,000,000 worth of insurance with IAPA, you never know if an extra Buddhist blessing won't prevent a disaster! Anton and Thor like getting their fortune told. They are both Kichi. Figure it out!

Warhol, Hoff, Monroe

Not a bad combination in Izu...

Bowling for Fun in Ukiyama at DHC

Anton won.

He ain't heavy, he's my brother.

Anton showing off his muscularity and dominating his brother with a show of prowess on Christmas in Izu.

My Shadow

My shadow popped up on a Gaudi door at the Ikeda 20th Century Art Museum. Cute cowboy hart!

Let's go bowling, Dude!

The Hoffs went bowling at the DHC Bowl for Boxing Day fun. Anton was hot. Thor gave Anton a final challenge. There were quite a few gutter balls. When the Tokyo American Club reopens with a new bowling facility we'll all have to go there and practice.

Boeuf Bourguignon for Christmas

I made beef bourguignon for our Xmas dinner. I could have gone with a turkey, but wanted to try my hand at proper French cooking like Julie Childs or her blogging cook Julie. Other than our oven's tendency to only produce a 375 degree temperature, it turned out fine. Slightly different than Julie Powell's, but a winner nonetheless as I made it on my first try. No vodka tonics for me.

Guests were the Ownes, Chureis, Hoshis and Tsunaoshis. We drank a dark Barossa blend called Maverick with it, and later swam in the chocolate Christmas cake the Owens brought. Delish!

Christmas Eve Hoodies

Not exactly Santa's elves...

25th Wedding Anniversary

We had a party at the Tokyo Club. Lots of old friends showed up and Thor was wearing a new suit for his first outing at the Tokyo Club. Thanks to everyone for their gifts.

James Capel Christmas Lunch in the City

At the George and Vulture we listed to Robert's account of his beer business. Lunch finished at 10 pm on Jermyn Street...

My Hats

Everyone likes to try on my Akubra Stylemaster hat. At dinner behind London Bridge and Southwark Cathedral in the Wright Brothers Oysters and Porter Restaurant Nick Collins popped my hat on our waitress Marta's head. She has lovely Lithuanian green eyes. Maybe Nick's back there now looking into them....

Hong Kong

Naomi went shopping in Mong Kok. She actually prefers a wholesale district further out with more beads and clothes.

This one's for Eldon

One of those domestic moments when you are moved to action.

ASFA Conference in Melbourne

I got up and danced with the singer and was the hit of the night!

Such a nice birthday party...

with Julie and Natalie from the FTSE Sydney office.

Beijing

I was in the Chinese capital again this month. There are still the normal street shots of Chinesey buildings and then the outrageous sight of modern buildings! This one is more outrageous because it was set on fire by the building next door with their fireworks. In typical Chinesey confrontational negotiations the issue of blame and recompense will take a long time.... The top floors were to be the new Mandarin Hotel in Beijing.

Soon it's Halloween

And I've got the pumpkins following me....

I was a guest chef in a trendy restauarnt in Hong Kong's LKF

I made a gumbo with lots of good stuff like crab, prawns, oysters, sausage and a nice dark roux. Friends showed up to join me for dinner.

Jim had seconds.

The W Hotel provided me with the outfit.

It's only been twenty years since I invited Bill the first time

But suddenly he accepted. And on 9 October 2009 Bill drove down to Akazawa with his wife Michiko to spend a night and have a Hoff bbq, hot bath and tour of the local sites. Since they are considering building a Lindal house, we visit the Owens' place as well.

Come back soon, Bill!

Dinner with my son Anton in SF

I was in town for a day to see how he's doing at USF. I took him to North Beach for a steak at Joe Dimaggio's. I had steak, and he had veal. Both were excellent.

Roman Stopover

I stopped in Rome for Adrian and Kuki's 25th Wedding Anniversary. They had the party at the Hassler Hotel whose president is a school friend of Kuki's. I had a nice afternoon walking around Rome. I love the Pantheon.......