Meditation within movement is a million times superior to meditation in stillness—Hakuin Ekaku, referring to Dahui Zonggao
動中工夫勝靜處百千萬倍
After more than twenty years in Asia, I currently live in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Religious Studies constitutes my field, my hobby, and my passion.
In addition to my expertise in East Asia’s religious and intellectual history, I have a broader interest in historical and philosophical issues including universalism and nonsectarian approaches to religious practice. My teaching competence includes Asian religions, Japanese and Chinese Buddhism in particular, with a broader familiarity with the philosophy and the history of religious traditions. Because Yoga flows in my veins, Indian traditions often inform my research on Japanese or Chinese culture and history.
Receiving an award from FulbrightTaiwan to teach and conduct research at National Taiwan University (NTU) in 2022–23 opened a broad range of new perspectives, which will translate into collaborative projects across East Asia.
Probably represents Shōmen Kongō yasha myōō 青面金剛夜叉明王, the blue-faced king of the yakṣas, protector of Buddhism. We know that it is Japanese because of the representation of Prince Shōtoku (or an imitation of him) holding an incense burner on the left side, with a similar figure on the right side. The name of this deity is literally translated as “Blue-faced Vajra,” and is known in China as Qingmiàn jīngāng 靑面金剛. This Tantric deity is considered one of the five Yakṣas, this one being the protector of Buddhism associated with the Eastern direction (東方青帝藥叉). In Japan, after the introduction of related rituals by the Tendai school, this particular representation became associated with the popular cult of the Daoist deity Kōshin 庚申 (Ch. Gēngshēn). #buddhism #buddhistart #deity #japan #yakṣa #shōmenkongō #yashamyōō #shōtoku...
One of my my favorite works, by the famous artist Luigi around the age of three or four, when he was learning how to form alphabetical letters (around 2006–07). Words uttered at that time were "nobina" ノビナ in Japanese, roughly equivalent to "grow up" or "improve"! Why do adults loose the ability to be so creative? #childdrawing #painting #kindergarten...
Shaolin Monastery (Shàolínsì 少林寺), Henan Province, China. Stone carving representing Bodhidharma crossing the Yangtze River with a single shoe in his hand. #china #shaolin #bodhidharma...
Shaolin Monastery (Shàolínsì 少林寺), Henan Province, China. Monk sitting in front of the Guanyin Hall (Guānyīn diàn 观音殿・觀音殿). For the full photo gallery see https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Z6sbk6/ #china #shaolin #monk #guanyin #martialarts...
Shaolin Monastery (Shàolínsì 少林寺), Henan Province, China. The Lìxuětíng 立雪亭 (Standing in the Snow Pavilion). For the full photo gallery see https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Z6sbk6/ #china #shaolin #dengfeng #martialarts...
Dēngfēng 登封, Henan Province, China. Mural showing the training of Shaolin monks. For the full photo gallery see https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-Z6sbk6/ #china #shaolin #dengfeng #martialarts...
Michel
