michael lambe

Just time for one last post before the end of the year methinks. There’s a fresh post up on Deep Kyoto of my favorite Irish pub in Kyoto: Gnome. Now for the last message of the year from Hozouji Temple:

It reads: 反省と感謝でおくる除夜の鐘
反省　- hansei = self-reflection
感謝 – kansha = thanks
おくる – okuru = send or give?
除夜 [...]

Some time ago I set my 3rd grade writing class students the homework assignment of writing about their ideal partner. What kind of qualities would such a man possess? Well, I was marking their homework yesterday and it seems the two most popular qualities are having heaps of money and caring about fashion. This could [...]

A fresh post up on Deep Kyoto today for the cafe/bar Salut Ya. Top slogan they have there: Soup! Hamburger!!
Last weekend I went to see the long-awaited follow-up to Batman Begins (which I loved), The Dark Knight. I’d heard it was dark, but man, that’s a really dark movie. I think it’s less [...]

I want to get a couple of links out of the way first so…
There aren’t enough posts on bars on Deep Kyoto. This summer I aims to remedy that. God help my liver! Anyway, the first of many is up tonight: Bar Hawkwind. It’s a good place. I like it.
And this will make you smile [...]

Today’s message from Hozouji:

信頼は
最上の縁者
心の安らぎは
最上の幸福
shinrai ha
saijou no enja
kokoro no yasuragi ha
saijou no shiawase
Notice how the kanji for good fortune 福 has been squeezed into the word for happiness: しあわせ. This is from the Dhammapada (法句経). The story goes there was this king who used to eat a big old meaty lunch every day and then fall [...]

Tonight is party time at Joao for Nana and Eri (AKA: Janet Jackson) ’s birthdays. Then I’m off to Ishikawa for the next two days to soak in outdoor hotsprings and eat crab. Lovely.
Before I go, there’s a fresh post up on Deep Kyoto of an old favorite Hiraganakan. Good value for your yen there, [...]

My goodness! The snow was coming down in sheets today! I don’t think I’ve seen such a snowfall in Kyoto before. After finishing my stint at the clinic today, I slopped through the slushy streets to check out the latest meditation at Hozouji. It’s a simple one this month. Simple kanji, simple words, simple message. [...]

Here’s a New Year meditation from Hozouji. It’s a very positive one I think.

Here it is in kanji and then romaji:
迎春
私たちの人生
あらかじめ
決められた
道はない
geishun
watashitachi no jinsei
arakajime
kimerareta
michi ha nai
Quite an easy one this one, (for a change). Here’s my translation:
Welcome in the New Year
The path of our life
Has not been pre-determined.
I read this as a positive [...]

Here’s the last meditation of the year from Hozouji, (I took this just a few days before heading home):

Now, I can’t type up the kanji for you because I’m using my sister’s computer (no Japanese script on here see) so you will have to make do with romaji. I think this is right (not sure [...]

The latest meditation from Hozouji on Uradera Dori:

苦も楽も
心
ひとつの
おきどころ
ku mo raku mo
kokoro
hitotsu no
okidokoro
苦 is suffering or anxiety and 楽 is relief or ease. It is a part of buddhist teaching that whether we are happy or unhappy, anxious or at ease is in large part up to us as individuals. How we choose to react to [...]