Memorial Days

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



Today at Clear Mind Zen Temple we will prepare for tomorrow’s Zazenkai (Day of Meditation) which coincides with the annual Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial Day. In Japan this day is remembered as “A-Bomb Day” and participants often light lanterns for those ancestors killed by the atomic bomb strikes on these two cities near the end of World War Two. During our Zazenkai we will mark these catastrophic events by lighting two candles and reciting the Great Compassionate Dharani, a chant that evokes the that aspect in us we call compassion to act in the world..



War is never a good solution to conflict among nations, just as violence is not a good solution between individuals. We have these marvelous brains able to look into the deepest realms of inner and outer space, unlock the mysteries of the genome, and even travel in space, yet we cannot seem to think our way out of using bombs and guns to solve our conflicts.



Events such as memorial days honoring those who died are meaningless without a commitment to changing behavior so as not to pile up more bodies for our children to honor. Personally, I would rather understand memorial days as times of committing to peace than remembering war because the danger in remembering war is that it often arouses feelings of great sadness and hurt. We know from our practice that such feelings are often at the source of our anger toward those who hurt us and act as justifications for additional conflict.



Let us each commit to peace, bringing about peace, and the practice of non-violent solutions to conflict.



Be well.

August 4

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



Yesterday afternoon we had a surprise call and delivery of furnishings from my former teacher's Dharma Mountain Zendo in Cloudcroft. He has retired and has dismantled his Zendo. We now have elevated tans along each wall. We had to remove one of the partitions in order to accomodate these beautiful and classic Zendo furnishings. We also received a chest of drawers used to keep incense and other ceremonial objects. We will spend the next two days getting the Zendo back into shape from everything being moved around in order to be ready for Zazenkai on Saturday. My thanks to Ino Dai Shugyo, Jiisha Soku Shin, Tenzo Tamra, Sangha Member Marcos, ZCLC Members GoZen and Pierre, and friend Artie who helped move everything, tear down the partition, and otherwise assisted in this unexpected process.



We have one remaining seat available for Zazenkai. If you are interested in attending and practicing with us this coming Saturday from 9:00 to 4:00 PM, please email me as soon as possible.



Today at CMZT: Zazen at 9:30 AM and again at 6:00 PM; UN Peace Day Celebration Planning Meeting at Unity Church at 1:00 PM, and dokusan at 2:30 PM.



Be well.

July 29

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



Today concludes our three week commitment to Peace Camp here in Las Cruces, NM. Each morning at 8:30 AM we offered meditation training to children participating in Peace Camp. It has been, as always, a joy to do this practice. Children are often the most receptive of students, although, on occasion (as was the case this year) there are a few who are such wiggle worms that they find the practice too much to bear. In their presence, my own mind wanders.



This wandering mind catches me in my complacency and teaches me that I am only as far along the way as the next breath allows. Wiggle worm children became my most excellent teachers, then, offering themselves and their discomfort as questions to be addressed through my practice.



Notice. Let go. Learn. Such a deal!



Today: Peace Camp at 8:30, Morning Zazen at 9:30, and Evening Zazen at 6:00 PM.



A reminder: Zazenkai from 9:00 to 4:00 next Saturday the 6th of August. So far, only one reservation. If you plan to attend, please email me. Thank you.



Be well.

July 26

With respect,

Today at Clear Mind Zen Temple we will offer meditation at Peace Camp at 8:30 AM, Zazen at Temple at 9:30 AM, again at 6:00 PM, and Zen 101 at 7:00 PM. In addition, we have a Peace Village Board Meeting at 1:45 and dokusan at 3:30.



Please consider joining us for zazen and the Zen 101 group!



Be well,

July 25

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



This morning we offer meditation training to the youngest of the Peace Campers during week three of our three week event. It is always a joy to offer this training. Children come to it very naturally with much less self awareness and perceived threats involved.



When adults come to it, they often bring with them all the issues that have dogged them through their lives: judgments, worries, and stiff, unyielding bodies.



We can learn a lot from practicing with children. Bring an open and unattached mind, allow your body to unfold and go in the direction of the training, and check your ego at the door. We call this Shoshin, “Beginners Mind.”



Today at CMZT: Peace Camp at 8:30, Zazen at 9:30, Zazen at 6:00 PM, Comparative Religion Group at 7:00 PM.



Be well.

July 24

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



Yesterday was a good day, as days go. We rested, we walked, we visited with friends, and I painted. Practice can take many forms. In fact, all forms are practice. This is not to say forms are practice. Rather, anything we do is a practice when we approach it with an unmoving mind.



When I paint, for example, I let the painting speak for itself. I sometimes wrestle with what it is saying, but in the main, open myself to its teaching. The same for writing. I was saying to Soku Shin the other day that when I was writing plays, the characters took on a life of their own and held lengthy discussions in my head. I simply wrote down what they were saying. Likewise, the paining is in the canvas. It simply has to be revealed. It is the same for all other activity.



So, too, our true nature. An unmoving mind is a mind that knows nothing, only perceives, and allows perception to have its place without being mistaken for the thing itself. It leaves no traces, yet is everywhere.



Be well.



Today: Sunday Services at 10:00 AM.

July 23

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



This morning we woke late as we were up into the night. Our wagessa group did well, although there was a degree of nervousness being reported regarding the actual process of sewing. This is an area where Zen practice is extremely helpful. Just a stitch. Just a breath. Nothing more. Our practice is to stay in the stitch and the breath and let all of the rest go. Practice.



Once the wagessas are completed, we will take them to a shop and have the embroidery applied.



Then, when the student is ready, as determined by the Teacher, we will conduct a ceremony and the person will take The Three Treasures and the Pure Precepts as their own.



What comes after is all about one’s willingness to manifest one’s true nature.



Be well.