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Click pictures to play the movies (require the free Quicktime player) Osho and Chibikon movie |
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Zoo movie! |
Some links to things I'm interested in:
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Computers:
My first love in computers is the Macintosh. I have been very inspired by the elegance of the Mac OS,
and the attention to detail, both in the operating system and the hardware, that both consciously and
unconsciously influences you, whether you are doing some artistic work, or programming, to do your best work.
Now that I have done some serious programming on the Linux system, I appreciate how powerful the Unix system is
and am really excited to get started working on Mac OS X.
I have also worked extensively on Windows 95, 98, and 2000.
The Windows platform has many users, and many career opportunities in technical support, trouble-shooting, help desk, etc. ;-)
- The Mothership
- The most comprehensive Mac news source-Macsurfer
- The best place to look for good deals-DealMac
Karate:
My experience training in Seido Karate has been great, maybe even life-changing. My thoughts about martial arts training
could use a seperate page but I don't have time to go into it at this time (I am also reticent, as it is something that you
have to experience for yourself, and find out what it means to you.)
For me, one of the best parts is being down on the floor, trying to squeeze out that last push-up, the one you "knew" you couldn't do,
having the sensei come over to give you encouragement by pushing down on your back, trying to remember how to count backwards in japanese and then jumping
up and having the presence of mind and control to respond respectfully to the sensei and enthusiastically accept the next challenge.
I found a great teacher and a great style that emphasizes the things that I find interesting; sincere action and
disciplined concentration. I have seen sites on the web, and heard teachers who say that all that "eastern zen mumbo-jumbo"
is bull and Karate is just hitting your opponent. I would like to tell beginners that it doesn't have to be,
just keep looking for a good, sincere teacher.
Unfortunately, I have not found very many good martial arts sites.
- My dojo in Riverdale.
- The Worldwide headquarters of Seido Karate.
- My first Karate teacher Lester Ingber. He has a very scientific approach to technique and the mental focus of karate. You can download the text to the books he wrote for free (they are out of print).
Buddhism:
I have been interested in Buddhism since my father introduced me to the books of Suzuki (The Three Pillars of Zen) and others. I think that the most direct experience of "mu-shin" - "no-mind" I have had was in Karate class and not in sitting meditation.
- Eiko and I have occasionally been to a Jodo Shinshu temple, on the Upper West Side, on Riverside Drive between 105th and 106th. Jodo Shinshu is the leading sect of Buddhism in Japan. This site of the Chicago Jodo shinshu branch has a lot of information, most of which I have not read.
- I have alway been most interested in Zen Buddhism. Although it is not what the average Japanese practices, it does have a long history of being integrated into the samurai way of thinking. There is a branch on East 67th street between 2nd and 3rd that is affiliated with a large temple located in the Catskills. My wife recommends them because the Roshi is Japanese. There is also an American Zen temple associated with the Zen Mountain Monestery also in the Catskills which is where Seido Honbu used to have its summer camps.
- There is also the Nichiren Shoshu sect, which is fairly popular here in the US but is regarded as something of a cult in Japan despite have originated there in about 1253 a.d. It is known by the phrase they chant, "Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo". (This is the form of Buddhism that Tina Turner practices.)
- This is an interesting article about the issue of studying different styles at the same time.
- Of course there are other practices, Tibetian Buddhism is very ancient and the teaching of the Dalai Lama are quite popular now. I have to say that, having attended a lecture given by the Dalai Lama, I felt he was a profoundly sincere man, with a simple, clear and joyful way of speaking.
- I don't know much about the Chinese, Vietnamese, or Thai styles except that they are strong traditions.
Music:
The more twelve-tone the better! Much more on this later :-)
Favorite composers:
chronologically; Dufay, Josquin, Ockeghem, Di Lasso, Bach (that's a given), Haydn, Beethoven (another given), Webern, Thelonious Monk, Babbitt, Carter, Shallenberg, Gaburo, Ferneyhough
Eiko’s favorite Nickle Creek song "When You Come Back Down":
