This is Zen your roving reporter for SailFar.net news and intereviews.
I will be heading off to Japan (flying) in two weeks. I have the good fortune to have a meeting with Akoi, Yoh Sensei upon arrival in Japan. I will be going to see him directly from the Airport once landed even before going home. ;)
Yoh Sensei runs a major sailing school and teaching ASA yachting courses in Japan as well as managing a major yacht harbor. He is also a Zen priest.
For those of you not familair with him
http://www.aokiyacht.com/aoki/sailing-e.htm
Please list any questions you would like me to ask him, I will post the answers once a get a conection and time from Japan.
What is the sound of one sail flapping?
I mean no disrespect. I think the laughing Buddha would appreciate that I couldn't resist the allusion.
I am interested to know if he thinks of Zen and/or Buddhism as a religion or a philosophy. I've heard it, especially Zen, described both ways. Is it more spiritual or more a way of thinking? Or feeling vs. thinking?
I went through a Zen period in my long journey. Somewhere, in storage, I have a shelf length of books on Buddhism. I have been an atheist for 15 years, but feel that if I ever reverted to anything it could only be to Zen and/or Buddhism. It seems almost compatible in many ways.
I think there are many aspects, and even much of the same value, in sailing, especially singlehanding, as in my experience with meditation. How did he experience this when he was out there on the sea alone?
TrT
QuoteWhat is the sound of one sail flapping?
Bad sail trim. :D
Have a good trip...take lots of photos...and have a safe flight both ways... watch out for the idiots at TSA... who have thought of new and interesting ways to confound and annoy the traveler.
[quote
I am interested to know if he thinks of Zen and/or Buddhism as a religion or a philosophy.
Quote
How can it be defined as a religion, when they don´t acknowledge a God?
;D Laughing Buddha hits it ;)
Christ! I don´t believe what I am seing here... I type God, and it reads gosh on the screen. Who is editing my posts?
???
And once more! Is g-o-d a forbidden word to use?? I must have eaten some faulty mushrooms or...
By gosh, wikipedia has this to say:
>>>quote<<<
A Religion is a set of beliefs and practices generally held by a human community, involving adherence to codified beliefs and rituals and study of ancestral or cultural traditions and mythology, as well as personal faith and mystic experience. The term "religion" refers to both the personal practices related to communal faith and to group rituals and communication stemming from shared conviction.
Religion is often described as a communal system for the coherence of belief focusing on a system of thought, unseen being, person, or object, that is considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine, or of the highest truth. Moral codes, practices, values, institutions, traditions, and rituals are often traditionally associated with the core belief, and these may have some overlap with concepts in secular philosophy. Religion can also be described as a way of life.
>>>end quote<<<
I'd actually be more interested in a philosophy than a religion.
TrT
Quote from: maxiSwede on February 28, 2007, 06:03:03 PM
And once more! Is g-o-d a forbidden word to use?? I must have eaten some faulty mushrooms or...
Maybe it WAS the mushrooms.... ??????
Maybe you typed Gosh... ;)
Just kidding... ;D
Good grief!
It is both, it is nether, It is not about words or labels...
The questions were suppose to be on SAILING, sailing/boat related this is a sailing forum.
Zen, is it a religon is not a sailing related question. Zen pHilosophy and sailing would be in context.
Quote from: Zen on February 28, 2007, 08:01:42 PM
Good grief!
It is both, it is nether, It is not about words or labels...
Good point. Grog to ya!
To bring it make On Topic, here's a question you could ask:
From his perspective as an instructor, what interest does he see in cruising in Japan compared to say the US? What are his, and Japan's sailors in general, views on "small" boat cruising and voyaging?
Would he be interested in being a SailFar forum member? ;D ;D
Thank you,
perfect ! ;D
From his perspective as an instructor, what interest does he see in cruising in Japan compared to say the US? What are his, and Japan's sailors in general, views on "small" boat cruising and voyaging?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Splendid! I would be quite interested in general info on Japan as a cruising ground, and on the Japanese boating community as such...
Can´t recall I´ve ever came across a pilot or something on Japan. As a martial arts instructor since ages I would laso be interested in ..... (deleted: Off Topic)
What about the Zen approach to sailing?!
Hey Zen, How about a short list of good anchorages in Japan? ;D
I wonder about the trend in the west of 'bigger is better', compared to the market in Japan.
Knowing that many boats in Japan are 'drystack' and very $$$ to maintain, I wonder if the SailFar idea has found some new refinements? I bet that there is a lot of market pressure to build more features into smaller boats, and if there is anything happening that may help provide a model to reverse the trend.....
(if this even makes sense)... ;D
I would also be interested to know a little bit more about how the leisure boat scene works in Japan, especially given their tendency to come up with ideas and gadgets.
Also whether Japanese folk tend to go long distance cruising and if so where?
Not sure how "Zen" these questions are..........
Zen, I didn't mean to get us off on the wrong foot.
I had fun sailing a couple times one summer with a guy who was a Japanese Champion 505 sailor. I've never been much of a racer, but we had fun bombing around Lake Lansing from the Michigan State U. Sailing Club dock.
He worked for Sony. I'd have to look up his name.
I wonder if Japan has the same friction with regard to Anchoring as we have here in the States.
I am intrigued by Zen but am not a spiritual guy. Hence, my previous.
TrT
In a parachuting magazine recently, there was a discussion on the benefits of yoga and meditation helping a person remain calm in an emergency.
As a zen priest and sailing instructor, has he seen similar benefits of regular meditation helping a person remain calm in a stressful situation?
I'd be interesting hearing about areas of interest in that part of the world. In the sailing press, Japan, China and Korea aren't really well represented, with the exception of some Japanese singlehanders making the news on occasion. What are popular destinations in that part of the world. Do they have a sailing culture similar to what is found in the UK, US and other parts of the world???
Good idea, Zen, neat. There are some things I have wondered about how serious Zen/Eastern sailors would do as regards their usual land-based lifestyle being replaced/displaced on long sea journeys/living aboard for years kind of stuff. :) Here goes...
Us "Westerners" (called that even though we are east of the Far East at least 1/2 the time...) :D tend to regard our foodstuffs as energy, energy which hopefully will also taste good.
We make it, and as soon as it is ready, eat it, and then perhaps belch as we move on to the next thing we are doing.
It is very much just a function, only slightly more ceremonial than other functions, like say elimination, because it is performed (generally) with others, whereas elimination is primarily a solo occupation (thank goodness!).
My understanding of the Eastern way of thought is that mealtimes and foods are regarded in a much more ceremonial manner (as are many of the things in Life), almost religious, certainly reverantly.
There are certain conventions and structures based around food and eating that recognize a belief that there is deeper value to them than just plain nutrients.
So I would think that things meal-related - maybe even to galley planning and outfitting - might be very different on an Easterners cruising boat.
Are they? Or would they just live basically as a Westerner does in regards to food while on passage, and resume more usual eating habits when back at anchor?
One other thing: Feng Shui. Do they even attempt it on a boat? :D
I mean - boats swing at anchor, courses differ, there's *no way* to set the things on a boat up so that they stay in a good healthy alignment, right?
So - would boats have an inherently good Feng Shui anyway, because they are on the water, because they are living things?
That's what I would think would be the answer. ;D
Quote from: maxiSwede on March 01, 2007, 05:17:38 AM
Can´t recall I´ve ever came across a pilot or something on Japan. As a martial arts instructor since ages I would laso be interested in ..... (deleted: Off Topic)
See my blog, several post on MA, zen and sailing
http://zensekai2.wordpress.com
Quote from: CapnK on March 04, 2007, 08:48:42 AM
One other thing: Feng Shui. Do they even attempt it on a boat? :D
I mean - boats swing at anchor, courses differ, there's *no way* to set the things on a boat up so that they stay in a good healthy alignment, right?
So - would boats have an inherently good Feng Shui anyway, because they are on the water, because they are living things?
That's what I would think would be the answer. ;D
Good Questions: I will answer this one. I have studied with and been certified by two International Feng Shui masters. Feng Shui is a Chinese not Japanese., THough the Japanese have taken an changed many Chinese pracitices eg: "Zen" is a Chinese Buddhist practice started in the Shaolin ( as in Kung Fu) temple. It is called "Chan" in China, which means Zen in Japanese. Japanese only do Feng Shui for the most part on a small basis eg: do not sleep with head pointing north. Now as for boat and Feng Shui
a boat in a slip can have feng shui done to it as it is always in the same spot while docked. However a boat at anchor can not, as you say because the position is always changing.
As far as inherently good Feng Shui of a boat, no. Traditional feng Shui is very complex, New age Feng Shui is not. It has does not have to do with being alive. Boats are not, having a spirit/energy is not the same as being alive. Rocks have a spirit, but they are not alive, trees are alive, dirt/earth has a spirit but it is not alive, same for metal. Tradional Feng Shui not only deals with the energy of an object eg: boat, but also the energy around it eg: water, mtn, other ships (metal or wood) as well as the energy of the person(s) on the boat as well as the day/time/year it was built and launched if apllied to a boat, in the case of a house, when the roof was placed on it. Then there is the 5 element factor, eg: water nurishes wood, wood nurishes fire, fire to earth, earth to metal, metal to water, I'm not sure where plastic fits in this, as it is not a natural element, so it's nature is unknown, at least by me, perhaps one of my teachers would know.
So is that way more than you wanted to know ;D
Quote from: Zen on March 05, 2007, 05:46:19 PM
I'm not sure where plastic fits in this, as it is not a natural element, so it's nature is unknown, at least by me, perhaps one of my teachers would know.
I would offer that "plastic" is a natural substance from two points of view.
1. There are certainly natural polymers with plastic characteristics. I believe amber would make a good example. Zebra mussels excrete a substance that becomes one of the strongest "glues" known, and it has a similar mesostructure to many of our "manmade" resins. Manmade plastics may differ in detail (which atoms bound in which positions), but the overall 'essence' is very, very similar to naturally occuring macromolecules.
2. Chemistry is about transformation; the 'synthetic' plastics that are typically meant by 'plastic' are rearranged atoms from some other, naturally occuring stuff.
Since we're being spiritual today.... :)
Hmmm interesting. I would say then that if Fiberglass falls in the relm of rearranged elements then it's essence would be natural. eg: glass=sand, paper=tree.
Thinking on this more everything, that we have on this planet, starts from some "natural" form/e/element or another, since everything we have to work with comes from this planet (so that we know of) all things reduced to their essence are natural. With that in mind, it would be a matter of correctly determaning which element class it belonged in.
WRT fiberglass;
Quotematter cannot be created or destroyed, only redistributed
Law of Conservation of Matter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Conservation_of_Matter)
Quote....and there is no new thing Under the Sun.
King Soloman; Ecclesiastes 1:9
Ah yes, good points!
Quote from: Zen on March 05, 2007, 05:46:19 PMGood Questions: I will answer this one. I have studied with and ...{what is the sound of one big log being sawn}... nature is unknown, at least by me, perhaps one of my teachers would know.
So is that way more than you wanted to know ;D
Huh? Wuzzupflsh? {blinks eyes, wipes drool off forearm} Erm, yeah, Zen, I got it! Great!
;D ;D ;D :D ;D ;D ;D
.
.
.
hehe - Actually, I found what you wrote about the difference between a thing being alive vs having spirit an interesting delineation, one well made, and worthy of future contemplation.
Smollett is obviously a master of Molecular Shui. :D
Last, it would seem that perhaps 'water energy' and 'plastic energy' complement each other. :)
Thanks for the reply - really. :)
Greetings from Japan,
I had a good meeting with Yoh Sensei, we spoke on on Zen and sailing. I will post the questions and answers later. I am limted on internet access and I forgot to bring my adapter plug fror power so I am running low on go juice for my laptop :-(
other than the cold al is well. My stomach is full of food and sake, put my computer is low on power.
Back later.
Z
Great Zen... look forward to the posts... :D Get well soon too.
It was a rainy evening when when landed in Osaka Kansai Airport. We found our way by taxi out to the marina where, Yoh Sensei was waiting. The driver knew where the place was, right away, he said it was famous.
It was just getting dark when we arrived and to our surprise Yoh sensei came out to meet us as we were settling with the driver.
After he made us some green tea and some chating on other things, Zen study and philosophy, I started with some boat questions.
Q: Does Japan have the same fricton with regard to Anchoring as in the states?
A: The problems in Japan come from friction between the sailors and the commerical fisherman. Not from the government.
Q; Do Japanese tend like, to go long distance criusing or mostly in local waters?
A: A large portion of the sailors like to do long distance sailing. Many that take classes with his school are over 50 and planning for their retirement cruise.
Q:What would you do different now if you were to make a circumnatigation again?
A: Not do it!
however if did, a GPS would be nice. Original trip was made with sextance only. Some modern equipment is nice, but nothing overley done. Some basics.
Q: I have a 29ft Islander, with a full keel. What would you say is the perfect size boat for that type pf trip?
A: That is a very good size. Not too big to handle alone or with one person, but big enough to be comfortable.
Q: Advice for a person making a long passage?
A: Boat should be in good shape of course, but the mind and spirit must also be in good shape that is equal as important. Not just to go out with a light attitude, like taking a drive somewhere.
Q: Did you study Zen before or after you took your trip?
A: After the trip the media made me to be a big hero. I was not doing it to be a hero , I just wanted to see what was out there. After all the press I found I had lost myself. That is when I came across my Zen master who asked if I wanted to follow him. I studied with him for 6 yrs.
Q: Did you have any type of spritual experience while out, something to make you more aware the "universe" lead you to Zen?
A: There were two times. One I was sleeping at night and I just woke up for no reason, I went to look around and found a big tank bareing down on me. I woke in time to get out of the way. He did not see me as I had no lights.
Another time I was leaving S.F. heading out toward the Farllon Islands. I had been with the people sending me off and had a lot to drink so was somewhat sleepy. I figured the lslands to be a couple of hours away and I could take a short nap. after while I heard a strange sounds and got up to check them, it turned out to be the waves breaking on the rock around the Fairllons. I had sleep too much and if I had snot woke up at that time, I would have been on the rocks.
There is more to this, which I will post later as well as on my blogs, once they get more typed up. right now it is late here and we have an early day tomorrow. Hopefully I can find computer access later in the week. Right now I am in a good area and picked up a free wifi.
Fair winds
(http://www.electronicfiles.net/files/3784/Yoh-Sensei.gif)
SailFar sticker now in Japan!
Zen,
I read the interview, I was thinking 'what great stuff'.... ;D
I really appreciate you taking the time to gather our questinos, and bringing them with you.
I really got a kick out of the end! Cool ;D 8) ;) :) ;D
Quote from: Zen on March 11, 2007, 12:15:24 PM
.....Fair winds
(http://www.electronicfiles.net/files/3784/Yoh-Sensei.gif)
SailFar sticker now in Japan!
Very Cool, Zen. Thanks a BUNCH for posting that. Grog to ya, mate. :)
Neato, Mr Zen! Good pic, too! :D
Looking forward to reading more!
I just found out if I sit in the kitchen I can access someones wifi, sweet! ;D
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/bayshaolin/misc/Yacht-2.gif)
This above the Yacht that Yoh Sensei sailed around the world, built in his yard. It is kept on public display
This is the rest of the interview:
Q: Are there good anchorage's in Japan.
A: There are many great anchorage location in the inland sea area. Out of the way little islands.
Q: Typically Japanese like new things and throw away things even if still useful, to have something new. Does that mind set hold true with boats?
A: Basically yes. Although it is not my way. I find value in older boats.
Q: How do you feel about a boat load of gadgets and comfort toys on Sail boats?
A: When I am delivering boats, they are nice to have. They are nice comfort items great for when working. But on my boat no. They take away from real sailing, and too many electronic things are more to go wrong, more to hassle with. But for working, business, all the toys are nice, on someone else's boat
Q: When you set out on your trip how much experience did you have?
A: I was 22 when I set out. All of my sailing had been done on the inland sea with no offshore experience. I had been sailing for about two years.
Q: ( from Lady Zen) Do you think that Zen will have enough experience & knowledge to make such a trip with just another 4 hrs of training? ( that was her big sailing question ;D )
A: Yes! He has the correct mind for it. He also has more experience than I had when I set off. I had no formal training, no certificates, no licensing.
( from me Whewwwww)
The balance of misc is posted on my blog, with more pictures.
Good to get reassurance from an unbiased source... ;)
Thanks Zen!
Yoh Sensei got me inspired. Right up until I saw his photograph
(http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/attachment.php?attachmentid=2635&stc=1&d=1128527353)
What's wrong with his photo??? Also, Zen, do you know what kind of boat he sailed around the world in???
Oh, a great photo.
Must be lots of fun. Probably like downhill skiing, during an avalanche
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on March 13, 2007, 12:45:57 PM
What's wrong with his photo??? Also, Zen, do you know what kind of boat he sailed around the world in???
Is it not showing for you ??
or do you mean a boat on a land stand... that is weird!
He built the boat himself, so it is not a production model. I would guess though that it is based on a Japanese Yamaha design. Thye are big boat builders here. He said some of the older boats, used a fin keel design, but not as cutaway or narrow as US racing designes.
I was wondering about the boat... and CmdrPete's photograph..but now i see the photo he was talking about..
It doesn't look that bad... no breaking top on the wave at least... ;)
Besides, how would you know if skiing down an avalanche is fun if you haven't tried it... :D
A forgotten incert:
I asked about Zen and sailing. What was the type of thing he taught his advanced students?
A: Blind sailing. It is helpful to sail without looking. Being below and feeling the boat, sensing your position and the waves.
I told him about my blind drills. Checking my position, feeling everything then closing my eyes for a while to see if I could stay on course, tune in the the environment and then see how far I drfted off. He said yes excellant!
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on March 13, 2007, 09:40:40 PM
I was wondering about the boat... and CmdrPete's photograph..but now i see the photo he was talking about..
It doesn't look that bad... no breaking top on the wave at least... ;)
Besides, how would you know if skiing down an avalanche is fun if you haven't tried it... :D
Hahah Good point! I hear some do that.
Besides there are some who water ski on waves big than that.
Zen-
I've done some work with blind sailors, and some of them are incredible... they are more attuned to the boat than some sighted sailors I know...
BTW, did you get a chance to check out the video I posted on this thread (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=1025.0).
Dan
Quote from: AdriftAtSea on March 13, 2007, 09:48:37 PM
Zen-
BTW, did you get a chance to check out the video I posted on this thread (http://sailfar.net/forum/index.php?topic=1025.0).
Dan
Now that I am on a fast connection I just did. That looked FUN!!! I would love a Tri-hull!
Too bad about the hat. It would have been a good time to practice your Hat over board drill ;D
Where is your PFD going out of the cockpit ? tsk tsk tsk ;)
The boat is eighteen feet wide... so I would have to be really clumsy to manage to fall overboard...
We were doing about 12 knots at the time... so the Hat Overboard drill was scuttled...no way to spot it in those waves by the time we were turned around... and losing that particular hat was well long overdue
Ok campers, it is that time again your roving sailfar reporter is nearing another misson.
The West Coast Sail Expo or thing is next weekend. I am going to try to make it at least to one day as it is rather costly, and I am forced to start a new less paying job, so $$ is on watch. Anywho, The
Pardey's sail boat will be there I'll get pix. Lin Pardey is doing the talks on Fri & Sat. I will only go on Sat if able. I see only her doing the seminars. Maybe both will be showing the boat. I will try to see if I can ask a few questions somewhere.
Post them if ya got um!
Hmmm, I guess there were no questions for them..
well, here's something...
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/bayshaolin/misc/pardeys.gif)
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/bayshaolin/misc/thebook.jpg)
and for Dan...
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f276/bayshaolin/misc/telstar-II.gif)
I'll post the story on the blog later...
Nice, Zen!
I just love that photo of the Pardey's and the SAilFar sticker ;D
... and they are, for sure, a couple of the most worthy sailfar-ers too
It'd be nice if they put one on their boat and sent us a photo of it.
Wouldn't that be an honor for us !! They didn't 'buy the T shirt'...they picked the cotton and wove it into one !!!! Great 'humble' regular folks...amazing mariners !