With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
In the greater scheme of things, what really matters? Do the big events of the day matter? Does the sound of a beloved pet matter?
What matters is what we invest meaning in. Things themselves without relation to others have no meaning. They come and go just as we do. But human beings are meaning makers. And we make meaning in terms of our relationship to things.
If we have a distant relationship to nature and natural events, they will matter little. If we have a close relationship to our pets, they will matter.
Regardless, what matters most and what matters least will drop away in the natural course of events. So, what really matters?
The common denominator of all this is relationship. It is very important to recognize that we are all interconnected, interconnected to the point that on the deepest level, we are all one, the entire universe is one. So, what matters most is our willingness to see and openness to nurture, relationship.
It is in this nurturance that we begin to see and solidify our realization that, we and the universe are not two, but one and always have been.
Reincarnation is just a matter of the Universe opening its eye through the continuous creation of eyes to open.
May you be a blessing in the universe today.
Organ Mountain Zen
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
On Not Getting Stuck
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
This morning I sat in my Zendo and worked through a large portion of the morning prayers Jews recite each morning. I have a CD that a friend made for me that should help me more correctly pronounce the Hebrew. I downloaded it onto my iPhone, but the thing organized the pieces alphabetically. Oh well. I will have to get a CD player or bring my laptop into the Zendo. Anyway, I then sat zazen for one period. I usually do this in reverse, sit Zazen, then do yoga, then review the morning prayers. So it was interesting to see how reciting the prayers prepared me for Zazen which then lead to yoga. It "felt" better. The one downside is that I usually more study the morning blessings than actually recite them, reciting them takes a bit away from that process.
It is a good idea to change up our routines from time to time. Its rather like stretching, teaching us something about pliability. Care must be taken, however, that we don't abandon routine in the process. It is our daily routine, our rituals of the day, that serve as guideposts as the sun traverses the sky.
May we each stay steady on our course.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
This morning I sat in my Zendo and worked through a large portion of the morning prayers Jews recite each morning. I have a CD that a friend made for me that should help me more correctly pronounce the Hebrew. I downloaded it onto my iPhone, but the thing organized the pieces alphabetically. Oh well. I will have to get a CD player or bring my laptop into the Zendo. Anyway, I then sat zazen for one period. I usually do this in reverse, sit Zazen, then do yoga, then review the morning prayers. So it was interesting to see how reciting the prayers prepared me for Zazen which then lead to yoga. It "felt" better. The one downside is that I usually more study the morning blessings than actually recite them, reciting them takes a bit away from that process.
It is a good idea to change up our routines from time to time. Its rather like stretching, teaching us something about pliability. Care must be taken, however, that we don't abandon routine in the process. It is our daily routine, our rituals of the day, that serve as guideposts as the sun traverses the sky.
May we each stay steady on our course.
Be well.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
When at the Top of the Mountain, Don't Shout!
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
When we see clearly through to the Absolute, so what? We realize emptiness, and? Our way is the highway. We don't stop at the top of the mountain. When we see clearly, friends, we see our work.
Agent wrote on Zen Living:
To see something as neededIs not to see something as it isBut it is to add our desire onto itThus, we see our desires as they are, too.
There are ten stages on the famous ox-herding pictures. At some point after seeing realizing the Way, the ox-herder returns to the village. He is "free and easy" in the market place. What do you think he does there? What is his function there?
When the baby cries, what do you do? when to dog needs water, what do you do? Our bodhisattva vow has us responding to the cries of the world; it is not we who cry. We simply care. This is our buddha-heart.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
When we see clearly through to the Absolute, so what? We realize emptiness, and? Our way is the highway. We don't stop at the top of the mountain. When we see clearly, friends, we see our work.
Agent wrote on Zen Living:
To see something as neededIs not to see something as it isBut it is to add our desire onto itThus, we see our desires as they are, too.
There are ten stages on the famous ox-herding pictures. At some point after seeing realizing the Way, the ox-herder returns to the village. He is "free and easy" in the market place. What do you think he does there? What is his function there?
When the baby cries, what do you do? when to dog needs water, what do you do? Our bodhisattva vow has us responding to the cries of the world; it is not we who cry. We simply care. This is our buddha-heart.
Be well.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Questions
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Zen is about all existence in all times. When we thoroughly experience the present moment as it clearly is, we experience all moments. We are karma unfolding and each moment, its flower. Not all flowers are nice. All flowers are nice. Flowers are just flowers. Moments are just moments. Our karma is to see clearly. You have come to Zen Living, a communication branch of Clear Mind Zen.
As I open my eyes, the world is created. Like an artist, I add this shade or hue to that flower. While this flower sits in the shade or wilts. My dog barks to disturb me or to talk to me or to simply bark. It is me who makes meaning.
When we see clearly, we see things as they are. Master Seung Sahn says this means we see function. We see what is needed. Water the flower, dead-head the flower, walk the dog, pet the dog. And so on. The world we create is not about us and our needs, although we would like it to be. Rather, it is about calling us to action.
The action we employ is a reflection of our perception: is it about "me" or "you" or neither? Is it about the world as it is? Is it about our relative state of awakened being?
To sit zazen is to address these questions. To walk kinhin is to address these questions. To practice samu is to address these questions. To eat mindfully is to address these questions.
Forget your answers.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Zen is about all existence in all times. When we thoroughly experience the present moment as it clearly is, we experience all moments. We are karma unfolding and each moment, its flower. Not all flowers are nice. All flowers are nice. Flowers are just flowers. Moments are just moments. Our karma is to see clearly. You have come to Zen Living, a communication branch of Clear Mind Zen.
As I open my eyes, the world is created. Like an artist, I add this shade or hue to that flower. While this flower sits in the shade or wilts. My dog barks to disturb me or to talk to me or to simply bark. It is me who makes meaning.
When we see clearly, we see things as they are. Master Seung Sahn says this means we see function. We see what is needed. Water the flower, dead-head the flower, walk the dog, pet the dog. And so on. The world we create is not about us and our needs, although we would like it to be. Rather, it is about calling us to action.
The action we employ is a reflection of our perception: is it about "me" or "you" or neither? Is it about the world as it is? Is it about our relative state of awakened being?
To sit zazen is to address these questions. To walk kinhin is to address these questions. To practice samu is to address these questions. To eat mindfully is to address these questions.
Forget your answers.
Be well.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Put a Little Zen in Your Life
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Mastering your mind is the aim of Zen practice. What does this mean? It means many things on many levels. Not just one thing. Yesterday I suggested sitting with scissors. Yes. Sit zazen, as a thought arises cut it loose. As a feeling arises cut it loose. We practice not thinking. Thinking is the act of putting one thought together with another thought and another and soon we've constructed a thinking reality in which we reside. This thinking reality excludes the actual reality of our lives. If you want to live in a movie, be my guest, stay asleep. Sometime something will whack you upside the head.
Mastering mind also means knowing/experiencing proper relationship of mind to mind. This is a bit more challenging. In Zen we talk about "mind to mind" transmission. Mind to mind is one mind, experience one mind. We do this by beginning outside of our self. When we open our eyes, do we say "I see you"? Or do we say nothing and simply experience the whole? Our starting point is harmony.
We practice to experience the other as our self and our self as the other to the point that self and other are one and the individual words become hindrances. No mind. This is the relationship side of our practice.
If you say, 'but what about me?' you are lost. Let that be your danger flag. Your early warning device. From Zen practice, there is no "me". No "you" There is only awareness.
We function within this awareness. Experience within awareness requires this. Experience within awareness requires that.
When we function in this way we see Big Mind in operation. But caution! The moment you think, "Big Mind", it disappears.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Mastering your mind is the aim of Zen practice. What does this mean? It means many things on many levels. Not just one thing. Yesterday I suggested sitting with scissors. Yes. Sit zazen, as a thought arises cut it loose. As a feeling arises cut it loose. We practice not thinking. Thinking is the act of putting one thought together with another thought and another and soon we've constructed a thinking reality in which we reside. This thinking reality excludes the actual reality of our lives. If you want to live in a movie, be my guest, stay asleep. Sometime something will whack you upside the head.
Mastering mind also means knowing/experiencing proper relationship of mind to mind. This is a bit more challenging. In Zen we talk about "mind to mind" transmission. Mind to mind is one mind, experience one mind. We do this by beginning outside of our self. When we open our eyes, do we say "I see you"? Or do we say nothing and simply experience the whole? Our starting point is harmony.
We practice to experience the other as our self and our self as the other to the point that self and other are one and the individual words become hindrances. No mind. This is the relationship side of our practice.
If you say, 'but what about me?' you are lost. Let that be your danger flag. Your early warning device. From Zen practice, there is no "me". No "you" There is only awareness.
We function within this awareness. Experience within awareness requires this. Experience within awareness requires that.
When we function in this way we see Big Mind in operation. But caution! The moment you think, "Big Mind", it disappears.
Be well.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Sitting with Scissors
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
There were five of us last night who braved the chilled evening air to come to the Temple for meditation. It was very good to see Rachel there, and Sam KoKyo, and Patrick, and Colette. We sat in silence and felt the chill in the Temple sanctuary...not as cold as some evenings when I sat streetZen at the Veteran's Park rotunda, but enough to let one know there was little heat.
As we sit, we experience. This is the important thing. We experience without attaching to or investing in, the experience. We experience without desiring to get away from the experience. We just sit with scissors cutting thoughts and letting them float away. Soon, there is no need for scissors.
I am very happy we had an opportunity to practice together.
I read Sam KoKoyo wishes to give me thirty whacks if I say anything. Sipping my coffee, I smile.
I read Dave KoMyo offers me a teaching from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and offers as well a fond memory of my friend, Ken.
I read Wen and am taken back to long conversations with Tex Anderson, a Navajo Road Chief on the reservation.
With intimacy comes responsibility to be open and reception to the other. Student KoKyo and I discussed some of this yesterday in dokusan. It all depends on our starting point. When we open our eyes, whose eyes do we see with?
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
There were five of us last night who braved the chilled evening air to come to the Temple for meditation. It was very good to see Rachel there, and Sam KoKyo, and Patrick, and Colette. We sat in silence and felt the chill in the Temple sanctuary...not as cold as some evenings when I sat streetZen at the Veteran's Park rotunda, but enough to let one know there was little heat.
As we sit, we experience. This is the important thing. We experience without attaching to or investing in, the experience. We experience without desiring to get away from the experience. We just sit with scissors cutting thoughts and letting them float away. Soon, there is no need for scissors.
I am very happy we had an opportunity to practice together.
I read Sam KoKoyo wishes to give me thirty whacks if I say anything. Sipping my coffee, I smile.
I read Dave KoMyo offers me a teaching from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and offers as well a fond memory of my friend, Ken.
I read Wen and am taken back to long conversations with Tex Anderson, a Navajo Road Chief on the reservation.
With intimacy comes responsibility to be open and reception to the other. Student KoKyo and I discussed some of this yesterday in dokusan. It all depends on our starting point. When we open our eyes, whose eyes do we see with?
Be well.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Intimacy
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
The sun rises over the Organ mountains as I sit in the comfort of my Zendo. I have recently switched back to sandalwood incense. I had been using cedar. Sandalwood is the incense my Teacher uses in his Zendo. I think I am yearning for connection.
My Little Honey and I had a talk about this last night. Connection is so important, yet a challenge for many, including myself. By connection I don't mean the superficial, acquaintance level. I mean a deeper, much more intimate level. And yet, when I consider any deep connection but with the Infinite in the privacy of the Zendo, I feel anxious and vulnerable. Such a struggle.
My response is to become defensive. I talk. I turn the conversation away. I leave.
Years of practice has helped me "see" these things. And I have adapted in some cases. I rarely use intense anger to frighten people away. Nor do I use the sort of intellectually arrogance sarcasm that was present in my grad school days.
My technique is much more sophisticated now. Yet, it leads to the very same place. A lack of real, sustaining, connection to others who are close to me and very important to me.
Preparing for this class I am teaching at the Academy has made some of this very clear. I am using my journal much more efficiently and purposefully.
So, the good part about Zen practice is that it gets us close to the truth of ourselves, but there is a shortcoming, I think, in how we teach Zen in the US, since it is taught outside of a monastic community. This shortcoming has to do with intimacy.
Many of us who come to Zen experience this and its just fine because it is what we want. Yet, that want is a real block to our growth as human beings.
What do you think?
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
The sun rises over the Organ mountains as I sit in the comfort of my Zendo. I have recently switched back to sandalwood incense. I had been using cedar. Sandalwood is the incense my Teacher uses in his Zendo. I think I am yearning for connection.
My Little Honey and I had a talk about this last night. Connection is so important, yet a challenge for many, including myself. By connection I don't mean the superficial, acquaintance level. I mean a deeper, much more intimate level. And yet, when I consider any deep connection but with the Infinite in the privacy of the Zendo, I feel anxious and vulnerable. Such a struggle.
My response is to become defensive. I talk. I turn the conversation away. I leave.
Years of practice has helped me "see" these things. And I have adapted in some cases. I rarely use intense anger to frighten people away. Nor do I use the sort of intellectually arrogance sarcasm that was present in my grad school days.
My technique is much more sophisticated now. Yet, it leads to the very same place. A lack of real, sustaining, connection to others who are close to me and very important to me.
Preparing for this class I am teaching at the Academy has made some of this very clear. I am using my journal much more efficiently and purposefully.
So, the good part about Zen practice is that it gets us close to the truth of ourselves, but there is a shortcoming, I think, in how we teach Zen in the US, since it is taught outside of a monastic community. This shortcoming has to do with intimacy.
Many of us who come to Zen experience this and its just fine because it is what we want. Yet, that want is a real block to our growth as human beings.
What do you think?
Be well.
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