With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
This morning I would like to talk about the Order of Clear Mind Zen. Traditionally “Orders” are understood to be lineages within sects that hold certain precepts and a common mission. The Order of Clear Mind Zen (OCMZ or, the Order) is no different. In our case, the Order is open to anyone who has taken the Buddhist precepts and who has an interest in, and commitment to, engaged Zen practice.
I have envisioned the Order to be homeless, that is to say, without a headquarters, building, and other baggage. In a sense, it is a child of the Internet, a virtual community, with a real world presence in the hearts of each of its members.
One need not shave one’s head, vow celibacy, or wear robes. Of course, these are permissible, and as to head shaving and robes, encouraged. Yet, we are contemporary Zen Practitioners with modern and post-modern minds.
Our mission is to bring “good” into the world through our practice. We define “good” as that which sustains and nurtures life, work for peace, and teach non-violent solutions to everyday issues.
Rev. KoMyo, my disciple and able adjunct, will accept your applications to join our order. The process is simply, simply ask and offer either your willingness to take the precepts or evidence that you have already done so, along with a statement about your current practice. We will then get in contact with you to complete the process of affirming your membership in the Order.
A bow to each of you,
Organ Mountain Zen
Monday, March 8, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Now
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
The Zen way is the way of no “Way.” The Zen way is the way of picking up a piece of paper on the sidewalk without thinking much at all about it. Or if annoyed, being completely there with the annoyance, doing what is necessary to deal with the annoyance.
There is no perfection other than this moment exactly how it is and if we engage it exactly how it is, everything is as it should be and is “good.” On the other hand, if we imagine our situation as needing to be other than it is, measuring this against that, our mind is separating us from what is, and this is not a good situation.
Perfection is easy for a mind that engages reality directly and without preconception. Our practice is to be in this “now” as fully as possible and doing within it what the reality demands of us. It is no problem.
When hungry eat; when sleepy, sleep.
By all accounts, I should be miserable. Nevertheless, I am not. Instead, I am alive in this moment, experiencing all of the thoughts and feelings that arise out of it and am doing what I must in each moment. Feelings and thoughts come and go: they are impermanent. Holding them is like trying to hold air in motion and just as futile...be it a gentle breeze or a storm.
To me Zen is about practicing appreciation of the now.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
The Zen way is the way of no “Way.” The Zen way is the way of picking up a piece of paper on the sidewalk without thinking much at all about it. Or if annoyed, being completely there with the annoyance, doing what is necessary to deal with the annoyance.
There is no perfection other than this moment exactly how it is and if we engage it exactly how it is, everything is as it should be and is “good.” On the other hand, if we imagine our situation as needing to be other than it is, measuring this against that, our mind is separating us from what is, and this is not a good situation.
Perfection is easy for a mind that engages reality directly and without preconception. Our practice is to be in this “now” as fully as possible and doing within it what the reality demands of us. It is no problem.
When hungry eat; when sleepy, sleep.
By all accounts, I should be miserable. Nevertheless, I am not. Instead, I am alive in this moment, experiencing all of the thoughts and feelings that arise out of it and am doing what I must in each moment. Feelings and thoughts come and go: they are impermanent. Holding them is like trying to hold air in motion and just as futile...be it a gentle breeze or a storm.
To me Zen is about practicing appreciation of the now.
Be well.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Soku Shin
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,
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,
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.
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