happy life why not
Cafe chiều thứ 7 - HHT Select - Some nice music - Some useful software - Some wisdoms - Some thoughts and more ... But what's the meaning of your life? What do you live for? What's the aim of your living? Do you have your own answer?

The Tunnel

9:14 PM

Zenkai, the son of a samurai, journeyed to Edo and there became the retainer of a high official. He fell in love with the official's wife and was discovered. In self-defence, he slew the official. Then he ran away with the wife.

Both of them later became thieves. But the woman was so greedy that Zenkai grew disgusted. Finally, leaving her, he journeyed far away to the province of Buzen, where he became a wandering mendicant.

To atone for his past, Zenkai resolved to accomplish some good deed in his lifetime. Knowing of a dangerous road over a cliff that had caused death and injury to many persons, he resolved to cut a tunnel through the mountain there.

Begging food in the daytime, Zenkai worked at night digging his tunnel. When thirty years had gone by, the tunnel was 2,280 feet long, 20 feet high, and 30 feet wide.

Two years before the work was completed, the son of the official he had slain, who was a skillful swordsman, found Zenkai out and came to kill him in revenge.

"I will gived you my life willingly," said Zenkai. "Only let me finish this work. On the day it is completed, then you may kill me."

So the son awaited the day. Several months passed and Zenkai kept digging. The son grew tired of doing nothing and began to help with the digging. After he had helped for more than a year, he came to admire Zenkai's strong will and character.

At last the tunnel was completed and the people could use it and travel safely.

"Now cut off my head," said Zenkai. "My work is done."

"How can I cut off my own teacher's head?" asked the younger man with tears in his eyes.

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Soldiers of Humanity

9:11 PM

Once a division of the Japanese army was engaged in a sham battle, and some of the officers found it necessary to make their headquarters in Gasan's temple.

Gasan told his cook: "Let the officers have only the same simple fare we eat."

This made the army men angry, as they were used to very deferential treatment. One came to Gasan and said: "Who do you think we are? We are soldiers, sacrificing our lives for our country. Why don't you treat us accordingly?"

Gasan answered sternly: "Who do you think we are? We are soldiers of humanity, aiming to save all sentient beings."

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Arresting the Stone Buddha

9:10 PM

A merchant bearing fifty rolls of cotton goods on his shoulders stopped to rest from the heat of the day beneath a shelter where a large stone Buddha was standing. There he fell asleep, and when he awoke his goods had disappeared. He immediately reported the matter to the police.

A judge named O-oka opened court to investigate. "That stone Buddha must have stolen the goods," concluded the judge. "He is supposed to care for the welfare of the people, but he has failed to perform his holy duty. Arrest him."

The police arrested the stone Buddha and carried it into the court. A noisy crowd followed the statue, curious to learn what kind of sentence the judge was about to impose.

When O-oka appeared on the bench he rebuked the boisterous audience. "What right have you people to appear before the court laughing and joking in this manner? You are in contempt of court and subject to a fine and imprisonment."

The people hastened to apologize. "I shall have to impose a fine on you," said the judge, "but I will remit it provided each one of you brings one roll of cotton goods to the court within three days. Anyone failing to do this will be arrested."

One of the rolls of cloth which the people brought was quickly recognized by the merchant as his own, and thus the thief was easily discovered. The merchant recovered his goods, and the cotton rolls were returned to the people.

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The Gates of Paradise

9:10 PM

A soldier named Nobushige came to Hakuin, and asked: "Is there really a paradise and a hell?"

"Who are you?" inquired Hakuin.

"I am a samurai," the warrior replied.

"You, a soldier!" exclaimed Hakuin. "What kind of ruler would have you as his guard? Your face looks like that of a beggar."

Nobushige became so angry that he began to draw his sword, but Hakuin continued: "So you have a sword! Your weapon is probably much too dull to cut off my head."

As Nobushige drew his sword Hakuin remarked: "Here open the gates of hell!"

At these words the samurai, perceiving the master's discipline, sheathed his sword and bowed.

"Here open the gates of paradise," said Hakuin.

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The True Path

9:09 PM

Just before Ninakawa passed away the Zen master Ikkyu visited him. "Shall I lead you on?" Ikkyu asked.

Ninakawa replied: "I came here alone and I go alone. What help could you be to me?"

Ikkyu answered: "If you think you really come and go, that is your delusion. Let me show you the path on which there is no coming and going."

With his words, Ikkyu had revealed the path so clearly that Ninakawa smiled and passed away.

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The Tea-Master and The Assassin

9:09 PM

Taiko, a warrior who lived in Japan before the Tokugawa era, studied Cha-no-yu, tea etiquette, with Sen no Rikyu, a teacher of that aesthetical expression of calmness and contentment.

Taiko's attendant warrior Kato interpreted his superior's enthusiasm for tea etiquette as negligence of state affairs, so he decided to kill Sen no Rikyu. He pretended to make a social call upon the tea-master and was invited to drink tea.

The master, who was well skilled in his art, saw at a glance the warrior's intention, so he invited Kato to leave his sword outside before entering the room for the ceremony, explaining that Cha-no-yu represents peacefulness itself.

Kato would not listen to this. "I am a warrior," he said. "I always have my sword with me. Cha-no-yu or no Cha-no-yu, I have my sword."

"Very well. Bring your sword in and have some tea," consented Sen no Rikyu.

The kettle was boiling on the charcoal fire. Suddenly Sen no Rikyu tipped it over. Hissing steam arose, filling the room with smoke and ashes. The startled warrior ran outside.

The tea-master apologized. "It was my mistake. Come back in and have some tea. I have your sword here covered with ashes and will clean it and give it to you."

In this predicament the warrior realized he could not very well kill the tea-master, so he gave up the idea.

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The Last Will and Testament

8:08 PM

Ikkyu, a famous Zen teacher of the Ashikaga era, was the son of the emperor. When he was very young, his mother left the palace and went to study Zen in a temple. In this way Prince Ikkyu also became a student. When this mother passed on, she left him a letter. It read:

To Ikkyu:

I have finished my work in this life and am now returning into Eternity. I wish you to become a good student and to realize your Buddha-nature. You will know if I am in hell and whether I am always with you or not.

If you become a man who realizes that the Buddha and his follower Bodhidharma are your own servants, you may leave off studying and work for humanity. The Buddha preached for forty-nine years and in all that time found it not necessary to speak one word. You ought to know why. But if you don't and yet wish to, avoid thinking fruitlessly.

Your Mother,

Not born, not dead.

September first.

P.S. The teaching of Buddha was mainly for the purpose of enlightening others. If you are dependent on any of its methods, you are naught but an ignorant insect. There are 80,000 books on Buddhism and if you should read all of them and still not see your own nature, you will not understand even this letter. This is my will and testament.

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Repetitive listening for language learning - how often should we listen?

6:49 PM
Repetitive listening is a powerful way to get used to a new language. How often should we listen to the same content?

The key is to do what you want to do. There are two principles at work.

1) Repetition: Repetition helps to create new neural networks in the brain.
2) Novelty: The brain likes new things. Once you are bored, you stop noticing and you stop learning.

You have to find your own balance between repetition and novelty. Some content is interesting, or you like the voice and you can listen many times. Some content you do not want to listen to again. Keep the interest level up, and choose when to repeat and when to move on.

It is your own personal journey.

Comments:

I usually get bored after the second listening.
Hope I won't be crucified for my comment. :o) Me, the infidel one! :o)

Posted by: Igor
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I know some people that can listen to a news broadcast over 50 times in a row, but I'd just want to hang myself after that.

Only with movies I feel the urge to watch/listen it again and again (simply because I enjoy it every time).

My advice is to just listen something as many times as you want, but you shouldn't do it because you think you need to listen to it again.

Posted by: Ramses
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Interesting. I can rarely watch a movie more than once. I can listen to content in a new language over and over, no problem. When I was learning Chinese I found that the rhythm of the Xiang Sheng comics like Hou Baolin was almost hypnotic. I could listen over an over. It helps when there are parts that you always can't seem to understand. This helps to keep you alert, hoping to get it the next time.

Posted by: Steve Kaufmann
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I try to listen to the same podcast in Spanish for 10 times at least. I saw your video on youtube about the guy that listened to the same podcast for 1000 times!! And got near-native fluency in 3 years. I'd like to know more about it. What kind of podcasts did he listen to? How did he choose them. Did he only listen to it or also read along with it? Thanks.

Posted by: Marcelo
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I usually listen to the same content 400-500 times on average as what my Ipod displays.

I tend to get bored after about the 10th re-listen and then tune out. If there is that 1 sentence I must recall, I listen to it over 1000 times and I found my fluency or automatism of that phrase becomes second nature.


So I now normally follow about 3 different dialogues together in a loop over and over, rather than the same dialogue over and over.

Posted by: Milan
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Finding new and interesting content is one of my biggest problems. Some of the Lingq pod casts from Vera's diary I've listened to 20 times other don't feel right when I first listen to them.
Competing against L2 content I have LOTS of english ipod and radio content that I'm always interested in.

Posted by: Michael
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Michael is it not time to graduate to some of the native speaker podcasts that we have in the library?

Posted by: Steve Kaufmann
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Michael, I'm sure there is plenty of interesting content out there, only it does not come with a transcript.

Try not to limit your content options to stuff that already comes with a transcript.

Consider hiring a native speaker to produce transcripts for you for any interesting content that you find, for example, on YouTube. Download the audio from the YouTube videos (very easy to do), import the transcript into LingQ, and you're set.

If you're willing to go this far, your content options are pretty much infinite.

Posted by: Marc
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You should never listen to content that is boring or bores you!

I think the best types of content for repeated listening are conversations that are not too simple, and not so complex that you don't understand anything. Also it should be fairly short (1-20 minutes).

I Think if the content is very short, then listening to it too many times in a short time period leads to burn-out.
I don't understand people listening to the same content 1000 times, my mp3 player doesn't keep track of play counts, but I don't think I listen to most stuff more than 30 times before I feel I understand it and can move on. of course I'm listening to fairly simple stuff that incrementally becomes more complex.

I do the same as Steve, I listen til I get bored and move on. I don't really care if I've understood everything yet because I can come back again later if I want. And if there's something important that I've missed it will show up again in something else. So there is no reason to listen to content that is boring.

Posted by: John W
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I usually listen to the same content several times. But instead of trying to force myself about listening in a row, I try to use 4 or 5 mp3 or more. In this way, if I get bored with one, I go to for another (btw, shuffle mode is great for this). I also combine it with listening just one time other interesting content, without worring to much about understanding 100%.

Posted by: Òscar
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Marcelo,

This person from China listened to the same CD 1,000 times. He claimed that it was effective for getting the pronunciation. Obviously it will not help him acquire a large vocabulary. I think, though, that repetitive listening to limited content can help with pronunciation. It was my experience as well, although I did not get to 1000 times! The problem is finding something that you are prepared to listen to a lot.

Posted by: Steve Kaufmann
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Thanks for you reply Steve. That sounds more like Pimsleur's CD's.

Posted by: Marcelo
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How often should we listen to the same content?

Once? It's possibly more ideal hearing something similar but slightly different every time.

Posted by: Kevin Geoghegan
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I add each item to my iTunes library and slowly build up a collection which I shuffle and listen to over and over. Obviously, in the eatly stages I might only have 10 or so items, but as the content amount gradually increases, so does the ratio of repetition with novelty, since I end up listening to the older items less and less as a result of adding more and more new content. This way the process feels natural and I don't have to worry too much about how many times to listen. The only factor controlling it is the rate at which I study new content. I will always be "reviewing" and re-listening to old content items when iTunes runs over them with the shuffler.

Posted by: Chris
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I think Kevin has an interesting point here. I remember when I first moved over to Germany (i.e. before I had really got to know too many folks) I would just spent most evenings and weekends sitting in my home chain-smoking cigarettes and watching German TV. I have sometimes wondered whether this was what got me off the ground with speaking German? (The TV I mean, not the cigarettes!)

The point is, if you watch TV a lot in a foreign language, you are getting roughly the same pool of words, but in continually changing combinations. (And of course the pictures help you to figure out roughly what the action is too.)

Posted by: Teutophobe Jones
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I think Chris is on the right track. I do not agree with Kevin at all. Repetitive listening is a the core of my approach to learning a new language. I also do not spend much time watching TV or movies that I do not understand.

Posted by: Steve Kaufmann
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Source: thelinguist.blogs.com
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The Giver Should Be Thankful

6:08 PM

While Seietsu was the master of Engaku in Kamakura he required larger quarters, since those in which he was teaching were overcrowded. Umeza Seibei a merchant of Edo, decided to donate five hundred pieces of gold called ryo toward the construction of a more commodious school. This money he brought to the teacher.

Seisetsu said: "All right. I will take it."

Umezu gave Seisetsu the sack of gold, but he was dissatisfied with the attitude of the teacher. One might live a whole year on three ryo, and the merchant had not even been thanked for five hundred.

"In that sack are five hundred ryo," hinted Umeza.

"You told me that before," replied Seisetsu.

"Even if I am a wealthy merchant, five hundred ryo is a lot of money," said Umezu.

"Do you want me to thank you for it?" asked Seisetsi.

"You ought to," replied Umeza.

"Why should I?" inquired Seisetsu. "The giver should be thankful."

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Your Light May Go Out

9:08 PM
A student of Tendai, a philosophical school of Buddhism, came to the Zen abode of Gasan as a pupil. When he was departing a few years later, Gasan warned him: "Studying the truth speculatively is useful as a way of collecting preaching material. But remember that unless you meditate constantly you light of truth may go out."
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Sour Miso

9:07 PM

The cook monk Dairyo, at Bankei's monastery, decided that he would take good care of his old teacher's health and give him only fresh miso, a paste of soy beans mixed with wheat and yeast that often ferments. Bankei, noticing that he was being served better miso than his pupils, asked: "Who is the cook today?"

Dairyo was sent before him. Bankei learned that according to his age and position he should eat only fresh miso. So he said to the cook: "Then you think I shouldn't eat at all." With this he entered his room and locked the door.

Dairyo, sitting outside the door, asked his teacher's pardon. Bankei would not answer. For seven days Dairyo sat outside and Bankei within.

Finally in desperation an adherent called loudly to Bankei: "You may be all right, old teacher, but this young disciple here has to eat. He cannot go without food forever!"

At that Bankei opened the door. He was smiling. He told Dairyo: "I insist on eating the same food as the least of my followers. Whe you become the teacher I do not want you to forget this."

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Ryonen's Clear Realization

9:06 PM

The Buddhist nun known as Ryonen was born in 1797. She was a graddaughter of the famous Japanese warrior Shingen. Her poetical genius and alluring beauty were such that at seventeen she was serving the empress as one of the ladies of the court. Even at such a youthful age fame awaited her.

The beloved empress died suddenly and Ryonen's hopeful dreams vanished. She became acutely aware of the impermanency of life in this world. It was then that she desired to study Zen.

Her relatives disagreed, however, and practically forced her into marriage. With a promise that she might become a nun aftr she had borne three children, Ryonen assented. Before she was twenty-five she had accomplished this condition. Then her husband and relatives could no longer dissuade her from her desire. She shaved her head, took the name of Ryonen, which means to realize clearly, and started on her pilgrimage.

She came to the city of Edo and asked Tetsugya to accept her as a disciple. At one glance the master rejected her because she was too beautiful.

Ryonen went to another master, Hakuo. Hakuo refused her for the same reason, saying that her beauty would only make trouble.

Ryonen obtained a hot iron and placed it against her face. In a few moments her beauty had vanished forever.

Hakuo then accepted her as a disciple.

Commemorating this occasion, Ryonen wrote a poem on the back of a little mirror:

In the service of my Empress I burned incense to perfume my exquisite clothes,
Now as a homeless mendicant I burn my face to enter a Zen temple.

When Ryonen was about to pass from this world, she wrote another poem:

Sixty-six times have these eyes beheld the changing scene of autumn.
I have said enough about moonlight,
Ask no more.
Only listen to the voice of pines and cedars when no wind stirs.

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Black-Nosed Buddha

9:05 PM

A nun who was searching for enlightenment made a statue of Buddha and covered it with gold leaf. Wherever she ent she carried this golden Buddha with her.

Years passed and, still carrying her Buddha, the nun came to live in a small temple in a country where there were many Buddhas, each one with its own particular shrine.

The nun wished to burn incense before her golden Buddha. Not liking the idea of the perfume straying to others, she devised a funnel through which the smoke would ascend only to her statue. This blackened the nose of the golden Buddha, making it especially ugly.

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Accurate Proportion

9:04 PM

Sen no Rikyu, a tea-master, wished to hang a flower basket on a column. He asked a carpenter to help him, directing the man to place it a little higher or lower, to the right or left, until he had found exactly the right spot. "That's the place," said Sen no Rikya finally.

The carpenter, to test the master, marked the spot and then pretended he had forgotten. Was this the place? "Was this the place, perhaps?" the carpenter kept asking, pointing to various places on the column.

But so accurate was the tea-master's sense of proportion that it was not until the carpenter reached the identical spot again that its location was approved.

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The Stingy Artist

4:03 PM

Gessen was an artist monk. Before he would start a drawing or painting he always insisted upon being paid in advance, and his fees were high. He was known as the "Stingy Artist."

A geisha once gave him a commission for a painting. "How much can you pay?" inquired Gessen.

"'Whatever you charge," replied the girl, "but I want you to do the work in front of me."

So on a certain day Gessen was called by the geisha. She was holding a feast for her patron.

Gessen with fine brush work did the paining. When it was completed he asked the highest sum of his time.

He received his pay. Then the geisha turned to her patron saying: "All this artist wants is money. His paintings are fine but his mind is dirty; money has caused it to become muddy. Drawn by such a filthy mind, his work is not fit to exhibit. It is just about good enough for one of my petticoats."

Removing her skirt, she then asked Gessen to do another picture on the back of her petticoat.

"How much will you pay?" asked Gessen.

"Oh, any amount," answered the girl.

Gessen named a fancy price, painted the picture in the manner requested, and went away.

It was learned later that Gessen had these reasons for desiring money:

A ravaging famine often visited his province. The rich would not help the poor, so Gessen had a secret warehouse, unknown to anyone, which he kept filled with grain, prepared for these emergencies.

From his village to the National Shrine the road was in very poor condition and many travelers suffered while traversing it. He desired to build a better road.

His teacher had passed away without realizing his wish to build a temple, and Gessen wished to complete this temple for him.

After Gessen had accomplished his three wishes he threw away his brushes and artist's materials and, retiring to the mountains, never painted again.

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How Grass and Trees Become Enlightened

9:01 PM

During the Kamakura period, Shinkan studied Tendai six years and then studied Zen seven years; then he went to China and contemplated Zen for thirteen years more.

When he returned to Japan many desired to interview him and asked obscure questions. But when Shinkan received visitors, which was infrequently, he seldom answered their questions.

One day a fifty-year-old student of enlightenment said to Shinkan: "I have studied the Tendai school of thought since I was a little boy, but one thing in it I cannot understand. Tendai claims that even the grass and trees will become enlightened. To me this seems very strange."

"Of what use is it to discuss how grass and trees become enlightened?" asked Shinkan. "The question is how you yourself can become so. Did you even consider that?"

"I never thought of it that way," marveled the old man.

"Then go home and think it over," finished Shinkan.

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Right and Wrong

9:01 PM

When Bankei held his seclusion-weeks of meditation, pupils from many parts of Japan came to attend. During one of these gatherings a pupil was caught stealing. The matter was reported to Bankei with the request that the culprit be expelled. Bankei ignored the case.

Later the pupil was caught in a similar act, and again Bankei disregarded the matter. This angered the other pupils, who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief, stating that otherwise they would leave in a body.

When Bankei had read the petition he called everyone before him. "You are wise brothers," he told them. "You know what is right and what is not right. You may go somewhere else to study if you wish, but this poor brother does not even know right from wrong. Who will teach him if I do not? I am going to keep him here even if all the rest of you leave."

A torrent of tears cleansed the face of the brother who had stolen. All desire to steal had vanished.

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The Thief Who Became a Disciple

9:50 PM

One evening as Shichiri Kojun was reciting sutras a thief with a sharp sword entered, demanding either money or his life.

Shichiri told him: "Do not disturb me. You can find the money in that drawer." Then he resumed his recitation.

A little while afterwards he stopped and called: "Don't take it all. I need some to pay taxes with tomorrow."

The intruder gathered up most of the money and started to leave. "Thank a person when you receive a gift," Shichiri added. The man thanked him and made off.

A few days afterwards the fellow was caught and confessed, among others, the offence against Shichiri. When Shichiri was called as a witness he said: "This man is no thief, at least as far as I am concerned. I gave him money and he thanked me for it."

After he had finished his prison term, the man went to Shichiri and became his disciple.

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Zen in a Beggar's Life

2:50 PM

Tosui was a well-known Zen teacher of his time. He had lived in several temples and taught in various provinces.

The last temple he visited accumulated so many adherents that Tosui told them he was going to quit the lecture business entirely. He advised them to disperse and go wherever they desired. After that no one could find any trace of him.

Three years later one of his disciples discovered him living with some beggars under a bridge in Kyoto. He at once implored Tosui to teach him.

"If you can do as I do for even a couple days, I might," Tosui replied.

So the former disciple dressed as a beggar and spent the day with Tosui. The following day one of the beggars died. Tosui and his pupil carried the body off at midnight and buried it on a mountainside. After that they returned to their shelter under the bridge.

Tosui slept soundly the remainder of the night, but the disciple could not sleep. When morning came Tosui said: "We do not have to beg food today. Our dead friend has left some over there." But the disciple was unable to eat a single bite of it.

"I have said you could not do as I," concluded Tosui. "Get out of here and do not bother me again."

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The Dead Man's Answer

1:49 PM

When Mamiya, who later became a well-known preacher, went to a teacher for personal guidance, he was asked to explain the sound of one hand.

Mamiya concentrated upon what the sound of one hand might be. "You are not working hard enough," his teacher told him. "You are too attached to food, wealth, things, and that sound. It would be better if you died. That would solve the problem."

The next time Mamiya appeared before his teacher he was again asked what he had to show regarding the sound of one hand. Mamiya at once fell over as if he were dead.

"You are dead all right," observed the teacher. "But how about that sound?"

"I haven't solved that yet," replied Mamiya, looking up.

"Dead men do not speak," said the teacher. "Get out!"

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Joshu's Zen

9:49 PM

Joshu began the study of Zen when he was sixty years old and continued until he was eighty, when he realized Zen.

He taught from the age of eighty until he was one hundred and twenty.

A student once asked him: "If I haven't anything in my mind, what shall I do?"

Joshu replied: "Throw it out."

"But if I haven't anything, how can I throw it out?" continued the questioner.

"Well," said Joshu, "then carry it out."

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In Dreamland

9:47 PM

"Our schoolmaster used to take a nap every afternoon," related a disciple of Soyen Shaku. "We children asked him why he did it and he told us: 'I go to dreamland to meet the old sages just as Confucius did.' When Confucius slept, he would dream of ancient sages and later tell his followers about them.

"It was extremely hot one day so some of us took a nap. Our schoolmaster scolded us. 'We went to dreamland to meet the ancient sages the same as Confucius did,' we explained. 'What was the message from those sages?' our schoolmaster demanded. One of us replied: 'We went to dreamland and met the sages and asked them if our schoolmaster came there every afternoon, but they said they had never seen any such fellow.'"

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Giáo sư 82 tuổi truyền ngoại ngữ bằng Thiền

3:59 AM

(TuanVietNam) - Gửi lại phía sau hơn 40 năm trong nghề giáo, GS Lê Khánh Bằng về hưu với... "bục giảng ở nhà", đón học trò đến học ngoại ngữ không theo cách truyền thống: Học ngoại ngữ bằng phương pháp Thiền.

Không muốn ở ẩn với nếp sống nhàn tản, giáo sư (GS) đã biến căn nhà nhỏ tại tầng 4 khu tập thể Đồng Xa (Hà Nội) thành một giảng đường cho người thích học ngoại ngữ lui tới với phương pháp học đặc biệt mà đến giờ còn gây nhiều tranh cãi.

Học bằng những công thức “Thiền” kì lạ

GS Lê Khánh Bằng (Ảnh: N.T.H)


Khi nói đến Thiền, không ai không nghĩ đến một phương pháp học chủ yếu huy động về mặt tinh thần và ưa phần "tĩnh". Điều đáng nói ở phương pháp học mà giáo sư Lê Khánh Bằng đưa ra là dạy học tiếng Anh chỉ với vài động tác Thiền.

Thiền (tức tập trung) là một cách rèn luyện gồm những biện pháp thể dục và tâm lý, từ gốc Yoga, được một trường phái phật giáo của Trung Quốc kết hợp với phương pháp của Đạo Lão áp dụng sau đó truyền sang Việt Nam, Nhật Bản và ngày nay cũng được một số người châu Mỹ vận dụng.
GS Lê Khánh Bằng
- SN: 1927
- Nguyên là chủ nhiệm khoa Tâm lí giáo dục – Trường ĐH Sư phạm Hà Nội
- Chủ biên cuốn : Phương pháp tự học và hướng dẫn tự học ngoại ngữ có chất lượng và hiệu quả cao”
- Chỗ ở hiện tại: Phòng 402 A17 tập thể Đồng xa- Mai dịch - ĐT: 04-38341329)
Khi thiền ta phải ổn định hoạt động tâm thể bằng điều hoà hơi thở, trên cơ sở ấy, tập trung ý nghĩ vào những bộ phận nào đó của cơ thể, hoặc những giáo lý cơ bản, những vấn đề mình quan tâm.

Và việc học ngoại ngữ thông thường đều chỉ chú trọng vào 4 kỹ năng cơ bản: nghe, nói, đọc, viết.

Tuy nhiên, để việc học ngoại ngữ thật sự có hiệu quả và người học sử dụng ngoại ngữ ứng dụng vào cuộc sống hàng ngày như ngôn ngữ mẹ đẻ thì cần tạo ra được vùng ngoại ngữ ở trong vỏ não. Tạo ra vùng ngoại ngữ bên trong vỏ não là một quá trình tập trung cao độ lâu dài hay còn gọi là Thiền.

Đã từ lâu người dân của khu tập thể nhỏ bé gọi ông giáo Bằng là "ông giáo Thiền". 82 tuổi, vậy mà ngày nào cụ bà cũng phải nhắc cụ ông rời bàn sách để nghỉ ngơi. Tất cả cũng chỉ tại ông đang làm cuốn sách: “Phương pháp tự học và hướng dẫn tự học ngoại ngữ có chất lượng và hiệu quả cao”.

Phương pháp học ngoại ngữ bằng Thiền đã được giáo sư Lê Khánh Bằng tổng hợp lại với những công thức gồm: 3T, 5B, 5C, 2H và 3V.

GS Bằng dạy học bằng phương pháp Thiền (Ảnh: Dân Trí)

3T là tập trung gồm: 1.Thiền sự tập trung tư tưởng cao độ. 2. Tần số nhắc lại. 3. Tốc độ nhanh như người bản địa, có thể đọc một bài dài trong thời gian ngắn.

5B là 5 bước chuyển vào trong và 5 bước chuyển ra ngoài. Trong đó, 5 bước chuyển vào trong bao gồm:

Bước 1: đọc thật to để tạo nên một khu vực hưng phấn mạnh trong vỏ não và nhằm góp phần làm ức chế vùng tiếng mẹ đẻ. Đọc to, đúng như vậy từ 3 – 5 lần.

Bước 2: đọc to vừa, đúng ngữ điệu, tốc độ có thể nhanh dần lên. Đọc to vừa 3 – 5 lần hoặc hơn.

Bước 3: đọc mấp máy môi, có âm thanh và ngữ điệu phát ra nho nhỏ. Đọc 3 – 5 lần, tốc độ nhanh nhất có thể.

Bước 4: Đọc trong óc, còn gọi là đọc liếc hay đọc thầm. Lúc này môi không mấp máy, âm thanh không phát ra, nhưng bản thân người đọc vẫn cảm thấy âm thanh và ngữ điệu vang lên trong óc. Đọc như vậy nhiều lần, có thể từ 10 đến 100 lần, cho đến khi đọc thuộc lòng hẳn.

Bước 5: Đọc thuộc lòng trong óc nhiều lần( không nhìn vào bảng chữ cái như trong bước 4) để khắc sâu vào vỏ não.

5 bước chuyển vào trong bao gồm:

Bước 1: Đọc trong óc.

Bước 2: Đọc mấp máy môi.

Bước 3: Đọc to vừa.

Bước 4: Đọc to.

Bước 5: Vừa đọc vừa viết nhanh lên giấy.

5C là chất lượng đạt 5 kỹ năng nghe, nói, đọc, viết và suy nghĩ bằng ngoại ngữ. 2H là hiệu quả của việc học ngoại ngữ phải đáp ứng được các yêu cầu của nền kinh tế xã hội và sử dụng tốt các nguồn lực.

Cuối cùng là 3V tương ứng với 3 vùng ngoại ngữ cơ bản, từ tối thiểu, phổ thông đến chuyên ngành. Đó là những nội dung cốt lõi và chủ đạo mà người thầy già muốn gửi gắm trong cuốn sách này.

Dạy cách suy nghĩ bằng ngôn ngữ khác

Thầy giáo bắt đầu buổi học với một động tác Thiền

Bắt đầu có ý tưởng từ những năm 1986, khi có buổi giảng dạy cho sinh viên trường Đại học Hà Nội về tâm lí giáo dục. Bản thân giáo sư với 6 thứ tiếng nhuần nhuyễn và ông thấy lạ khi có khá nhiều sinh viên của trường chuyên ngành hàng đầu về ngoại ngữ không tự tin giao tiếp bằng ngoại ngữ họ đang học. Điều ấy thôi thúc ông tập trung nghiên cứu vấn đề này.

Cuối cùng ông đã biết kết hợp mặt lợi của Thiền để nâng cao hiệu quả học tiếng của người học. Ông chính thức mở lớp học từ năm 1995 với nhu cầu cũng như mong muốn của những người theo học.

Ở lớp học của thầy Bằng, khi thầy giáo đề cập đến vấn đề gì hay chỉ vào những hiện vật trực quan cụ thể thì học sinh phát ra thứ đó bằng tiếng Anh ngay lập tức. Phân tích về vấn đề này, GS Bằng cho biết: “Tôi muốn người học phải tự suy nghĩ tiếng Anh ở trong đầu. Suy nghĩ bằng tiếng Anh nhanh chứ không phải nói mãi mới bật ra được. Tôi dựa trên những bước mà kết hợp từ tác dụng của Thiền với tư duy của trí não”.

Cho đến nay tuy sức đã yếu nhưng GS Lê Khánh Bằng vẫn chuyên tâm cho việc truyền bá những tri thức ông học được từ thiền cho người tham gia nhằm nâng cao kĩ năng về ngoại ngữ.

Đã 30 khóa học đi qua với hơn 500 học viên, lớp học ngoại ngữ bằng phương pháp Thiền luôn là điểm đến quen thuộc của những người yêu ngoại ngữ.

Khi nói về việc học tại nhà thầy Bằng, em Trần Đức Tuấn - học sinh lớp 11 trường THPT Việt Đức, nói: “ Ba mẹ định cho em đi du học nhưng vấn đề giao tiếp của em chưa ổn cuối cùng em đi học lớp của thầy Bằng thông qua người quen. Em thấy mình có nhiều tiến bộ nhất là ở kĩ năng nói. Thầy dạy có kỉ luật nên việc tập trung và tự rèn luyện phải cực kì cao mới được kết quả như thế”.

GS Bằng đã giảng dạy thành công khá nhiều thế hệ học trò trong đó có rất nhiều thạc sĩ, cử nhân có nhu cầu học tập tiếng Anh để phục vụ mục đích trong cuộc sống của mình. Hầu hết họ đều đánh giá cao phương pháp học này, tất cả đều do bản thân người học chứ không phải do thầy giáo. Người thầy chỉ là người bật nút và kích thích họ mà thôi.

GS Bằng miệt mài với những trang sách chỉ vì một điều thật hiển nhiên đó là: thực tế việc học ngoại ngữ của người trẻ vẫn còn kém lắm. GS bộc bạch: “Tôi thấy hạn chế nhất của các em chính là khâu giao tiếp. Các em vẫn còn chưa tự tin khi nói và nói vẫn còn chưa chuẩn”.

Cứ tuần tự vào sáng chủ nhật, chiều thứ hai, căn hộ gần 20m2 lại có khoảng 15 học viên đến học. Không khí bao trùm trong sự yên tĩnh tối đa người học không có chút vấn vương những chuyện xung quanh.

Những khúc quanh của đời người dạy học qua Thiền

GS Bằng với cuốn sách mới in của mình

GS Lê Khánh Bằng sinh ra ở mảnh đất Hương Sơn - Hà Tĩnh, mảnh đất của danh nhân và danh thắng. Gia đình thuộc nền nếp danh gia vọng tộc học hành tấn tới. Cụ thân sinh ra giáo sư cũng làm đến chức Tham tán bộ lễ trong triều đình nhà Nguyễn xưa.

Hơn chục tuổi giáo sư đã được gửi hẳn vào trường Quốc học Huế và học cùng những danh sĩ khắp cả nước. Tại đây ông đã được trau dồi những kiến thức căn bản của văn hóa phương Đông và có cơ hội tiếp thu những kiến thức của văn hóa phương Tây. Từ đấy những tố chất của ông được phát huy triệt để.

Năm 17 tuổi ông tốt nghiệp tú tài với bằng xuất sắc, ông ra Hà Nội tiếp tục học cử nhân rồi đi khắp nơi trên thế giới với 6 thứ tiếng uyên thâm. Đặc biệt giáo sư nói rất chuẩn ngôn ngữ Latinh, cụ thể là tiếng Bồ Đào Nha.

GS cho rằng: “Không chỉ có việc học ngoại ngữ cần phải tập trung cao độ mà ở các bộ môn chuyên ngành khác cũng phải như thế. Nếu không tập trung cao độ thì ắt hẳn sẽ khó khăn lắm mới có thể thành công”.

Khi dạy Thiền, giáo sư cũng chỉ mong người học tập trung để tạo được một vùng ngoại ngữ trong vỏ não và đó là mục đích cuối cùng của người dạy.

Để được người khác tin cậy bằng phương pháp học lạ, ông phải đứng trước rất nhiều nghi ngờ. Giáo sư đã phải viết sách và có những buổi thuyết trình trước những nhà khoa học để làm sáng tỏ hơn phương pháp dạy của mình.

GS nói: “Tôi không truyền bá kiến thức. Phương pháp dạy của tôi là cho người học biết hệ thống hóa những kiến thức đã học rồi tổ chức nó theo trật tự logic và đem vào cuộc sống để làm lợi cho cuộc sống từ chính những kiến thức đó”.

Lòng đam mê dạy học, dạy học là niềm vui đã tác động rất lớn đến suy nghĩ của giáo sư. Ông nói vui: "Tôi không muốn mình trở thành một ông già "quá đát" của cuộc sống!". Ở tuổi cổ lai hy, giáo sư vẫn muốn được đóng góp được "thêm chút nào hay chút đó" cho cuộc sống này.

  • Thu Hà – Trần Tân
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Sleeping in the Daytime

9:44 PM

The master Soyen Shaku passed from this world when he was sixty-one years of age. Fulfilling his life's work, he left a great teaching, far richer than that of most Zen masters. His pupils used to sleep in the daytime during midsummer, and while he overlooked this he himself never wasted a minute.

When he was but twelve years old he was already studying Tendai philosophical speculation. One summer day the air had been so sultry that little Soyen stretched his legs and went to sleep while his teacher was away.

Three hours passed when, suddenly waking, he heard his master enter, but it was too late. There he lay, sprawled across the doorway.

"I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon," his teacher whispered, stepping carefully over Soyen's body as if it were that of some distinguished guest. After this, Soyen never slept again in the afternoon.

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Gisho's Work

1:01 PM

Gisho was ordained as a nun when she was ten years old. She received training just as the little boys did. When she reached the age of sixteen she traveled from one Zen master to another, studying with them all.

She remained three years with Unzan, six years with Gukei, but was unable to obtained a clear vision. At last she went to the master Inzan.

Inzan showed her no distinction at all on account of her sex. He scolded her like a thunderstorm. He cuffed her to awaken her inner nature.

Gisho remained with Inzan thirteen years, and then she found that which she was seeking!

In her honor, Inzan wrote a poem:

This nun studied thirteen years under my guidance.
In the evening she considered the deepest koans,
In the morning she was wrapped in other koans.
The Chinese nun Tetsuma surpassed all before her,
And since Mujaku none has been so genuine as this Gisho!
Yet there are many more gates for her to pass through.
She should receive still more blows from my iron fist.

After Gisho was enlightened she went to the province of Banshu, started her own Zen temple, and taught two hundred other nuns until she passed away one year in the month of August.

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