There were many passages which struck me in Novak’s book, but I would like to share the following passage.
“That friends should come to one from afar, is this not after all delightful?” (P116)
When I read the passage, I remembered that one of my friends traveled great distances to Kansai National Airport, where was located in western Japan, from Tokyo before my leaving Japan. He was the last friend who I met in Japan before coming to America.I was really happy for him to come to see me.We enjoyed eating sushi together and talking about various things in the airport.I really appreciate and respect him.That is because my friend confronted a painful situation when he came to saw me.As you may know, his company, Japan Airlines announced that they must cut the candidates of pilots drastically because of its financial trouble.Therefore, he gave up his dream to be a pilot.Despite his depressing time in his life, he saw me off with a big smile…If I had been in the same situation as in his, I could not have seen him off like that.I strongly believe that he is my true friend and he is my best friend!!
We, Japanese generally study this passage in a Japanese classics class when we are a junior high school student.Honestly speaking, I couldn’t fully understand the real meaning of this passage when I was a junior high school student.However, now, I finally gain a real meaning of this passage.“That friends should come to one from afar, is this not after all delightful?” is a wonderful passage for me.
This passage told me the following theological implication.If one person is in a difficult time and nonetheless, gives other people unconditional love, the person will be a saint like my friend.
Today, I read the chapter of "Taoism" in The Joy of Sects: A Spirited Guide to the World's Religious Traditions. This is a required text book in World Religion class at JFKU, and I think that this book includes a lot of wisdom in various traditional religions. When I read the chapter of "Taoism", I remembered that we had our beautiful inner microcosm in our own body. It's like a true universe.
This movie shows our beautiful inner world. Our microcosm is so mysterious and wonderful.
I suppose that our world is comprised of yang and yin.One win and the other lose.We sometimes feel happy, on the other hand, we sometimes feel sad.Yes, our life is two sides of the same coin like light and shadow, men and women, good and evil, joy and sorrow, and life and death.When I observe one thing, I can find two inseparable things hidden there.They are yang and yin.Therefore, it may be said that I feel yang and yin energy every day connecting to this real world.
As a matter of fact, I practice Tai Chi (Qi gong) and Zen meditation every morning and night although each practice is only 15 to 20 minutes or so. I started these practices one year ago in Japan when I struggled with my stress and felt losing my mind and body balance.These practices have given me inner peace, and mental-body balance.I can receive a harmony with the world practicing these exercises.While practicing Tai Chi, I try to remember the concept of “無為自然.” This means “abandoning artifice and just being oneself.”This is the philosophical idea of Lao zi.Now, in our modern society, there are a lot of artificial things in daily life.For example, a mobile phone, a car, a TV, a computer… The list goes on and on.It is true that those items have made our life very convenient and efficient, but I suspect that we rely on them too much.I think that we sometimes only have to go au naturel doing Taoism’s practices.That is because each of us have own inner microcosm in our body.Yes, we are a universe.
I would like to live my life being always conscious of Taoism’s precept.
As I said before, some new types of shadow emerged in me. That may be because my life environment changed dramatically. Wait, wait. This situation can be a very beneficial opportunity to practice my shadow work! Now, I’ll show you my shadow work (3-2-1 shadow practice) below.
3- Face it
I’m so irritated with me because I can’t say smoothly in English what I’m thinking. On the other hand, to me, my classmates look very smart because they can express their ideas fully. What do I contribute to my classmates and class? Nothing… Even if there is my contribution in my class, the size is like a tiny ant. I wish I could speak like a native speaker. I’m worried about what my classmates think of me.
2- Talk to it
Me: I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that I can’t give you anything in the class. And my poor English…
Classmate: Sorry what? You are trying to speak English hard even if that is little.
Me: Thank you, but I want to tell you more. And I want to speak more clearly.
Classmate: When did you come to America?
Me: On March 21st. Almost one month has passed.
Classmate: One month? Don’t worry. It’s natural that you can’t speak English very well.
Me: Thanks, but I think that is my mere excuse. What do I contribute to the class?
Classmate: That’s a difficult question, haha. Umm…Let me think about it… Eureka!! You can create a nice atmosphere in the class with us!!
Me: That's it?
Classmate: Yeah, of course, that's it!
Me: Hahaha, but thank you so much! I’m really happy to share same place and same time with you!!
1 Be it
I become my classmate. I am an invaluable man in the class. I have unique experiences and insights to contribute. To live in another country brings us a lot of precious opportunities to face our new shadow and practice shadow work. Our dark shadow can be our bright shadow. Shadow is beautiful!!!
Now, the most irritating thing is that I can’t speak freely what I’m really thinking in my mind.I can express my thinking, and what I want to share with my friends and classmates in a simple sentence or some words…That makes me so frustrating!Also, in today’s class, I made a comment, but I couldn’t tell it very well.All classmates except me could share fully their own experiences or ideas, but I couldn’t.This situation brings me a new shadow.
Today, I learnt “Soul Letter” practice from my teacher in a psychosynthesis class.This is one of psychosynthesis techniques and also a very useful transformational tool.Perhaps, I might miss some points in the explanation, but the following is the overview of this technique, I suppose.
First, write down any questions freely by intuition on your notebook or a piece of paper, which you are coming up with in your mind.After writing down them, sign your name below the letter.
Second, answer the questions freely by intuition.
This technique is a kind of free writing. I try to practice this exercise in the morning.
The following graphic is my image of shadow work effect based on the psychosyntheisis lecture at JFKU. Shadow work transforms lower unconsciousness into higher unconsciousness, and brings us a wholeness growth.
Please don’t forget that our dark shadow never disappears. Therefore, shadow work lasts forever.
