With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Soku Shin Ze Butsu: Mind here and now is Buddha. Master Dogen writes, “The immediate universe exists; it is not awaiting realization, and it is not avoiding destruction.” (Shobogenzo, Volume I, p. 52)
When we practice, we touch this mind. The mind of practice realization, the mind that understands mountains are not mountains, but mountains are mountains. Words are dust covering the truth. Sweep away the dust and see clearly: mind, object of mind, and thought arising from mind, are one in the same in every moment and in the next moment, non-existent.
Yesterday I worked on arranging time at Upaya Zen Center in Sante Fe and called to begin the process to go to Claude Anshin Thomas’s Veteran’s Retreat in New York. Early this morning I am sitting with a friend’s partner as my friend undergoes a medical procedure and later this morning sitting Street Zen at the Veteran’s Park. Tonight I will attend Shabbat dinner at the house with family.
So, it is a busy time. Son Jacob will be meeting a person about renting a house this afternoon and I am, therefore, hopeful that I may move in to this condominium in full soon.
Be well,
Organ Mountain Zen
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Ready, Aim, Practice!
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
An Order is a community of Zensters that practice vows established by that Order. Clear Mind Zen has as its mantra, the Third Pure Precept: I vow to create conditions for abundant good. This vow, as does all healing and recovery-work, begins inside and works its way out. At some point in our practice, the dichotomy of inside and outside falls away as we realize our original oneness. In the beginning, however, we start with the self.
A daily practice of zazen is good for this, but takes place with the intent to free all beings. Our aim in practice is to free ourselves from ourselves. It is a deep and complete opening of heart/mind with each breath. Breathing in, I accept the universe as it is; breathing out, I enter the universe as it is. With each breath, the universe and “I” are “one.”
This morning I awoke from my sleep in my new personal zendo. I sleep on the floor with my head on my zafu at the foot of my altar. I looked at the beautiful statue of Buddha friend Rachel gave me (which she brought back from Nepal), and feel blessed to be awake for you.
May we each begin our day with the aim of freeing all beings by cutting through the delusions that bind us.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
An Order is a community of Zensters that practice vows established by that Order. Clear Mind Zen has as its mantra, the Third Pure Precept: I vow to create conditions for abundant good. This vow, as does all healing and recovery-work, begins inside and works its way out. At some point in our practice, the dichotomy of inside and outside falls away as we realize our original oneness. In the beginning, however, we start with the self.
A daily practice of zazen is good for this, but takes place with the intent to free all beings. Our aim in practice is to free ourselves from ourselves. It is a deep and complete opening of heart/mind with each breath. Breathing in, I accept the universe as it is; breathing out, I enter the universe as it is. With each breath, the universe and “I” are “one.”
This morning I awoke from my sleep in my new personal zendo. I sleep on the floor with my head on my zafu at the foot of my altar. I looked at the beautiful statue of Buddha friend Rachel gave me (which she brought back from Nepal), and feel blessed to be awake for you.
May we each begin our day with the aim of freeing all beings by cutting through the delusions that bind us.
Be well.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Clear Mind Order Membership
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
The Order of Clear Mind Zen is a socially engage lay Order. We are not monastics, but rather, everyday practitioners of Zen. The Order was established by Harvey Daiho Hilbert-roshi in 2005. It has no building, it exists through the actual practice of its members. It is a street-bound Order.
Anyone can be a member of the Order. Members do not have to be priests. Members must honor the following six vows:
1. I take Refuge in Everything That Is (Buddha)
2. I take Refuge in Reality and its Teachings (Dharma)
3. I take Refuge in the Order (Sangha)
4. I vow to cease creating evil
5. I vow to do good
6. I vow to work to create abundant good for all beings,
Persons who wish to become members of the Order must telephone Daiho-roshi for a set of brief interviews designed to explore the Order’s precepts and gain Roshi’s approval for membership. Once granted, the petitioner will recite our vows with Roshi.
Each member will have sewn a strip of black cloth into a 2” x 36” strip tacked together to form a loop. This is called a wagessa and is considered a modern version of a Zen robe. Members who wish may order wagessas from us. These will come with our embroidered emblems on each side. (The cost is $15.00 plus shipping)
Membership will include a printed certificate stamped by Daiho roshi. This carries a commitment to live as Zen Buddhists following Clear Mind precepts.
A suggested donation of $24.00 per year is asked for. At $2.00 per month it helps us create printed materials, offer incense, and candles, as well as provide a small degree of comfort to those in need.
If you are interested please reply to Roshi via his personal email. harveyhilbert@yahoo.com
Good Morning Everyone,
The Order of Clear Mind Zen is a socially engage lay Order. We are not monastics, but rather, everyday practitioners of Zen. The Order was established by Harvey Daiho Hilbert-roshi in 2005. It has no building, it exists through the actual practice of its members. It is a street-bound Order.
Anyone can be a member of the Order. Members do not have to be priests. Members must honor the following six vows:
1. I take Refuge in Everything That Is (Buddha)
2. I take Refuge in Reality and its Teachings (Dharma)
3. I take Refuge in the Order (Sangha)
4. I vow to cease creating evil
5. I vow to do good
6. I vow to work to create abundant good for all beings,
Persons who wish to become members of the Order must telephone Daiho-roshi for a set of brief interviews designed to explore the Order’s precepts and gain Roshi’s approval for membership. Once granted, the petitioner will recite our vows with Roshi.
Each member will have sewn a strip of black cloth into a 2” x 36” strip tacked together to form a loop. This is called a wagessa and is considered a modern version of a Zen robe. Members who wish may order wagessas from us. These will come with our embroidered emblems on each side. (The cost is $15.00 plus shipping)
Membership will include a printed certificate stamped by Daiho roshi. This carries a commitment to live as Zen Buddhists following Clear Mind precepts.
A suggested donation of $24.00 per year is asked for. At $2.00 per month it helps us create printed materials, offer incense, and candles, as well as provide a small degree of comfort to those in need.
If you are interested please reply to Roshi via his personal email. harveyhilbert@yahoo.com
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Clear Mind Zen
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Sitting this morning in my personal Zendo, the incense calls me to stillness. I have just performed Teihatsu No Ge, shaving my head to free myself from attachments. I do this every three days. It is an important ritual in the Zen lexicon.
Some people close to me believe I am making myself ugly. Perhaps. However, I see a buddha opening in the mirror before me. The reflection is a personal reminder of who I am and why I am here. Teihatsu No Ge is an action of divestment of personal interest.
A Zen Buddhist priest (or lay member) in the Order of Clear Mind Zen teaches through example. We live a life of study, contemplation, social action, and work. We also live in relationships with others, as we are a lay order, not a monastic order.
This Order is open to anyone willing to dedicate themselves to the Three Pure Precepts:
1. Cease Doing Evil
2. Do Good
3. Bring About Abundant Good for All Beings
We are not affiliated with Soto Shu in Japan. We are our own authority established through my Master, Rev. Hogaku McGuire-roshi and his Master, Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi.
May we each be a blessing in the Universe.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Sitting this morning in my personal Zendo, the incense calls me to stillness. I have just performed Teihatsu No Ge, shaving my head to free myself from attachments. I do this every three days. It is an important ritual in the Zen lexicon.
Some people close to me believe I am making myself ugly. Perhaps. However, I see a buddha opening in the mirror before me. The reflection is a personal reminder of who I am and why I am here. Teihatsu No Ge is an action of divestment of personal interest.
A Zen Buddhist priest (or lay member) in the Order of Clear Mind Zen teaches through example. We live a life of study, contemplation, social action, and work. We also live in relationships with others, as we are a lay order, not a monastic order.
This Order is open to anyone willing to dedicate themselves to the Three Pure Precepts:
1. Cease Doing Evil
2. Do Good
3. Bring About Abundant Good for All Beings
We are not affiliated with Soto Shu in Japan. We are our own authority established through my Master, Rev. Hogaku McGuire-roshi and his Master, Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi.
May we each be a blessing in the Universe.
Be well.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Enlightenment
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
There is a koan about a man who complains upon seeing a picture of a bearded Bodhidharma: “Why hasn’t that fellow a beard?”
Mumon comments, “If you want to study Zen, you must study it with your heart.”
When we see what we want to see, we are not seeing at all. If we convince ourselves we are awake, even if we have had a glimpse, we are a universe away from the clear eye. As in climbing a mountain, we should climb without climbing; in sitting, we should sit without sitting.
This is our way.
The other day I went to a mountain and believed I had climbed it. Silly me.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
There is a koan about a man who complains upon seeing a picture of a bearded Bodhidharma: “Why hasn’t that fellow a beard?”
Mumon comments, “If you want to study Zen, you must study it with your heart.”
When we see what we want to see, we are not seeing at all. If we convince ourselves we are awake, even if we have had a glimpse, we are a universe away from the clear eye. As in climbing a mountain, we should climb without climbing; in sitting, we should sit without sitting.
This is our way.
The other day I went to a mountain and believed I had climbed it. Silly me.
Be well.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
A Crack in Everything
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
“Ring the bell that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack,
A crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.”
L. Cohen
Today comes with clouds and the threat of rain. ‘Got out of the mountains just in time, I understand, as another snow is coming there today. Tonight we are to sit down for Sunday dinner, the kids, their partners, and Judy. We will have a discussion.
On April 1, I will move into one of our two condominiums, Unit 1115. It has a courtyard and was our apartment when we first retreated from the mountain winters. We need to talk out the “parameters” of our separation and make sure the family is all on the same page.
I am looking forward to this living alone segment of my life in an odd sort of way. Being alone, like sitting zazen, offers an opening for the “light to come in” as Leonard Cohen suggests. And in keeping with his lyrics, being alone or sitting zazen are like “cracks” in the everyday.
There is a piece in the Mishkan T’filah, the Reform Jewish prayer book that asks the Infinite to “disturb us” as we enter prayer (or in meditation, I will add). We invite ourselves not to mistake our serenity as an excuse to overlook the suffering of others, not to feel that we are somehow special, better, or closer to Everything That Is just because we are in a sanctuary.
A separation is such a disturbance. We need them. I need them. I seek the light to come in; I invite it to illuminate my heart and expose my complacency. For better or worse, life must be lived as it actually is. Complacency is a blinder, shutting out light and inviting sleep.
So let’s invite the bell to ring.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
“Ring the bell that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack,
A crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.”
L. Cohen
Today comes with clouds and the threat of rain. ‘Got out of the mountains just in time, I understand, as another snow is coming there today. Tonight we are to sit down for Sunday dinner, the kids, their partners, and Judy. We will have a discussion.
On April 1, I will move into one of our two condominiums, Unit 1115. It has a courtyard and was our apartment when we first retreated from the mountain winters. We need to talk out the “parameters” of our separation and make sure the family is all on the same page.
I am looking forward to this living alone segment of my life in an odd sort of way. Being alone, like sitting zazen, offers an opening for the “light to come in” as Leonard Cohen suggests. And in keeping with his lyrics, being alone or sitting zazen are like “cracks” in the everyday.
There is a piece in the Mishkan T’filah, the Reform Jewish prayer book that asks the Infinite to “disturb us” as we enter prayer (or in meditation, I will add). We invite ourselves not to mistake our serenity as an excuse to overlook the suffering of others, not to feel that we are somehow special, better, or closer to Everything That Is just because we are in a sanctuary.
A separation is such a disturbance. We need them. I need them. I seek the light to come in; I invite it to illuminate my heart and expose my complacency. For better or worse, life must be lived as it actually is. Complacency is a blinder, shutting out light and inviting sleep.
So let’s invite the bell to ring.
Be well.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Refuge
With palms together,
Good Evening Everyone,
The Refuge seemed cold and barren without students. There is much work that needs to be done there, gutter replacement, solar system upgrade, generator repair, general grounds clean-up. Winter exposes so much!
Ken-roshi replaced our water pump, but the hoses to the storage tanks had been damaged by snow and ice, so pumping was out of the question. It seems Dharma Mountain was damaged as well: two breaks in foof beams. This winter has brought lots of snow and precious few days of higher temperatures to melt the stuff.
As spring approaches and depending on finances, I will try to begin repairs with the help of sons Jacob and Jason, as well as any others who might be interested. Gutter replacement is top priority as we will need to collect the water we need for the year through the coming rainy season.
Due my change in status and the costs of repairs, I am forced to ask for donations.I will be sitting streetZen more often as the days pass with begging bowl. Clear Mind Zen has a donation button on our website, www.clearmindzen.org
If you are able and so desire, please consider helping.
Thank you.
Good Evening Everyone,
The Refuge seemed cold and barren without students. There is much work that needs to be done there, gutter replacement, solar system upgrade, generator repair, general grounds clean-up. Winter exposes so much!
Ken-roshi replaced our water pump, but the hoses to the storage tanks had been damaged by snow and ice, so pumping was out of the question. It seems Dharma Mountain was damaged as well: two breaks in foof beams. This winter has brought lots of snow and precious few days of higher temperatures to melt the stuff.
As spring approaches and depending on finances, I will try to begin repairs with the help of sons Jacob and Jason, as well as any others who might be interested. Gutter replacement is top priority as we will need to collect the water we need for the year through the coming rainy season.
Due my change in status and the costs of repairs, I am forced to ask for donations.I will be sitting streetZen more often as the days pass with begging bowl. Clear Mind Zen has a donation button on our website, www.clearmindzen.org
If you are able and so desire, please consider helping.
Thank you.
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