Discussion on Perfecrt Good Conduct

15414168 Keisuke Fukunaga

There is a Japanese proverb that says, “Zen wa isoge” which means “If you

think it's a good thing, do not hesitate to do it soon.” Same proverb exists in English,

“Strike while iron is hot.” However, a good deed is not necessarily a truly good deed.

Nuisance on relief supplies at the time of disaster is raised as example. Chiki Ogiue

(2016) examines that goods assistance for disasters from good will does not always

result in good deeds. For example, when the event of a disaster emergency, someone

send cup ramen and raw food for good intensions, but these cannot be eaten in the

absence of water or gas in the event of an emergency. And disaster evacuee will be

pressed a specific action and will be irritated. Therefore, there are things that good

intentions do not do good deeds. Then, what is the perfect good conduct? The answer is

understood by “Zen no kenkyu”. People can understand the perfect good conduct by

understanding Nishida’s insistence of perfect good conduct and true good, and view of

Buddhism. This paper first considers the Nishida’s insistence of perfect good conduct

and true good, then examines the relationship between Nishida and Buddhism and

Buddhism thought, and finally describe life of Herbie Hancock, who is one of the

greatest jazz pianists and believer in Buddhism, as the example of perfect good conduct

practitioner.

First, explain what Nishida is saying about perfect good conduct and true good.

First of all to understand perfect good conduct, as a premise, it is needed that

understanding of Nishida’s idea of good in “Zen no kenkyu”. Nishida (1921) says “the

good is actualization of personality”, “When we approach the good academically, we

can offer various explanations, but in actually there is only one true good: to know the
true self.” For him, good is to self-realize after fully understanding himself. Generally

good is to do something that someone be happy, but his idea is totally different, it is to

know myself. This idea is definitely based on Buddhism. In Buddhist thought, the self

and the universe are the same thing. And from the Buddhism thought, all that God

creates are good, and evil does not exist in this world. Therefore, Nishida thinks people

equal universe, because both were made by god and they are originally good.

Furthermore, he says about perfect good conduct. Nishida (1921) examines “While

internally we discipline the self and attain to the true nature of the self, externally we

give rise to love for our fellow humans and come to accord with supremely good goal-

good conduct that is perfect and true.” From his idea behavior in situations where

person cannot know the true self cannot be good, but if he builds up himself and know

himself it will be a good deed. Good deed is impossible without knowing the true self.

In short, Nishida’s insistence is the good is to know true self by refining self, and to

know self is necessary to good conduct.

Second, describe about the relationship between Nishida and Buddhism. As

shown in the previous paragraph, Nishida’s idea is based on Buddhism. Then, in order

to better understand the idea of Nishida's philosophy, should people understand how

Nishida and Buddhism have been involved? In his philosopher life, Buddhism,

especially Zen Buddhism is important factor. Makio Takemura (2002) shows how he

involved to Zen Buddhism. Nishida first touched Zen is by Tokimasa Hojo who is a

teacher of the 4th Higher secondary school. Nishida was living in the house of Hojo and

received a learning about Zen. He learned Zen not for academic studying, for

understanding the way to live and life and death. Therefore, the idea of Zen is not only

sticking to his thought in academic but also deeply stuck to the way of life and ideas.
According to Takemura’s book, Nishida acknowledged the influence of Zen and

Western philosophy research from the student’s question of whether “Zen no kenkyu”

has Zen Buddhism in the background. Also, he is strongly influenced by Zen from

Buddhist scholar Daisetsu Suzuki. Daisetu immersed himself in Zen earlier than

Nishida and wrote a book called "New Religious Theory". Nishida read this book and

deeply impressed and began to train Zen enthusiastically. As these shows, Nishida was

deeply inclined to Zen Buddhism and it can be said that Zen's idea is deep in Nishida.

Buddhism idea like Zen, there is important factor. It is called “E”, that means wisdom.

An internet article (“What is Zen Buddhism”, 2017) examines “E” is to master the

power to think about the truth, and it is the greatest purpose of Buddhism to open the

eyes of wisdom, that is to master the power to think about the truth. Because of this

idea, knowing oneself is emphasized in Nishida’s idea on true good and perfect good

conduct. In short, Nishida is strongly influenced by Buddhism, especially Zen, and it

can be said that the idea of Buddhism appears greatly in his opinion.

Finally, examine about the example of perfect good conduct practitioner:

Herbie Hancock. Herbie Hancock is an American jazz pianist. He has been making a

remarkable success in jazz like playing in Miles Davis Quintet, using electrical

instruments for seeking a new sound of jazz. He is a great jazz pianist also Buddhist.

According to his autobiography “Possibilities”, Herbie says about Buddhism influence

in his life. Since 1972, Hancock has practiced Nichiren Buddhism as a member of the

Buddhist association Soka Gakkai International. Even now, he recites the Buddhist

chant Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. A believer in this Buddhism will help to achieve what

he wants to do by chanting. When a wish is fulfilled by a chanting, invisible change in

the inside appears as a reality, and this phenomenon is called actual proof. He has
overcome many difficulties in life by engaging Buddhism and chanting. For example,

when he fell at the time of composing, he said he had overcome it by chanting and

calming the mind. Also, in reviewing the influence of Buddhism on his life in his

autobiography he describes the following things. “Buddhism has awakened me in the

will to use my humanism for world peace through all means, not only music. It is true

that the direction of my progress has been changed by Buddhism, and if I had not

practiced Buddhism, I would probably have not turned my attention to the major

problems the world faces.” Currently he is appointed UNESCO Goodwill

Ambassador and is trying to contribute to the world by his music. It can be said that he

could know himself by Buddhism and found what should he do. Therefore, same as

Nishida’s idea to true good and perfect good conduct Herbie is doing truly good

conduct. To sum up, Herbie Hancock is influenced by Buddhism and he is good

example of perfect good conduct practitioner.

In conclusion, to understand perfect good conduct and true good, this paper

tried to think of the Nishida’s insistence of perfect good conduct and true good, examine

relationship between Nishida and Buddhism and Buddhist thought, describe life of

Herbie Hancock as an example of perfect good conduct practitioner. Nishida wanted to

say that cultivate oneself and founding true oneself connect to perfect good conduct.

This idea is based on Buddhism like “E”(wisdom). When people think about their own

good deeds, it is important to know themselves based on Nishida’s philosophy and

Buddhist perspective.
Reference

Chiki Ogiue, (2016). Saigai shien techou [Disaster support notebook], Tokyo,

Kirakusya.

Herbie Hancock, (2015). Possibilities. Japanese trans. Humimaru Kawashima. Tokyo,

DU BOOKS.

Makio Takemura, (2002). Nishida KItaro to bukkyo, zen to sinsyu no kontei wo

kiwameru [Kitaro Nishida and Buddhism, Understand the basics of Zen and

Shingong], Tokyo, Daito Press.

Ryujo, (2017), Zen to wa nanika [what is the Zen Buddhism].

Retrieved July 27, 2018, from http://www.zen-essay.com/entry/zen