Can someone help me out with some kanji?

[Hatamoto]

I saw this as a tattoo and like how it looks, but two things confuse me about it.

First thing is I've seen it written two different ways, I don't know what the differences mean so if someone could explain why they're different that would be great.

Second is I have no idea what it means. I know what it represents, but if anybody could translate it for me, I'd really appreciate it. I've tried googling for a translation but I've read two translations so far and they're totally diffferent, one says it's "No past no present no future", the other said it was "mindfulness is the essence of being."

Any help appreciated. Here's the picture:

http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6237/symbol3.jpg

Edit: Just found this one as well, different style again :/
http://www.christireikimaster.com/reiki%20images/hon-sha-ze-sho-nen.jpg

[Mushroom]

If you dont know what it means...dont get it.

Find yourself a phrase that you do like in English and then have it translated to Chinese if you want...or find the universal slogan where it means the same no matter how/who translates it. That way you know what it means.

Another tip is to make your way to Chinatown and if youre lucky there would be either a cultural learning school/class or even a shop that sells calligraphy books and go ask them to write it out properly.

The first link :
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6237/symbol3.jpg. the set on the right is the closest to being correct, except for some of the lines being way too over extended/stretched out/off centre. (bad handwriting)

I have no idea what the set on the left is, and the 2nd link you can just forget about (looks to be trying to be ancient Chinese, where our words were closer to being glyths but it doesnt look right)

A calligraphist (sp?) can style it out for you, but you also need to consider that it will be based on that writer's handwriting. Some of which can look cool...others will be the Chinese handwriting equivalent of a Dr's handwriting.

Also as you notice, I am basing this on the fact that the words are of Chinese translation which may differ in Japanese (as this sentence doesnt really make sense in Chinese).

"No past no present no future" - Mo lai si, mo yi gar, mo mei loy. I dont have a Chinese writer on this laptop but I can say in Chinese that the words you placed on the links doesnt come close to what that translator said as No past no present etc...

It may mean that in Japanese but our words for "No/none" is the same...as well as "future".