Windshield?

 

Living Zen can sometimes be a challenge. Take yesterday for instance.  I had ordered a very expensive windshield for my CanAm motorcycle and had made an appointment with the dealer to have it installed. I arrived early, checked in and began to wait. I was told it would be an hour. I brought with me a copy of Hesse’s book, Siddhartha, and began to read. An hour and a half later I asked about the progress. I was told after a bit that the mechanic had trouble locating the thing in the parts department, but he had found it. So, another hour was projected. I waited. I began to sit in Zazen.

 

                One of the service reps asked me what I was doing, I told him and we chatted a bit about Zen. I gave him my card and went back to practice. Sometime passed and I finally asked for the service department manager. After a while longer he and the parts department manager came out to talk with me. It seems they ordered the wrong windshield, and I needed to select another one that would fit my bike. I had been at the shop for two and a half hours already.  I ordered another windshield as both men profusely apologized.

 

                I felt for the two men in their embarrassment.  Sitting Zazen had helped me through this experience. I was extremely frustrated and quite irritated.  As I rode home without the windshield, knowing it would be another week before the replacement arrived, I felt it all fall away. Riding a motorcycle has been a lifelong Zen practice for me. After telling Shukke all about it, sitting outside, then sipping a cold Mexican beer, all was forgiven. 

 

May we each be at peace,

 

Daiho

 

Zen

 

March 8, 2026

 

This morning brings sunshine and a cool temperature to southern New Mexico. It promises to be a sunny and warm day. We will be practicing Zen at 10 AM today and I will be offering the Dharma talk. Its funny, I rarely know what I will talk about. I rarely plan a talk. I find this helps me speak from “shin” which is to say, “heart/mind.”

 

                Early this morning, around 5:30, I sat outside and listened in the darkness. A few early birds were at the feeders. My one shih tzu came out to do her “business,” and I just sat still. As I’ve often said, sitting zazen outside is wholly different from sitting in the zendo or my library. I recommend it very much. It is, after all, the way the Buddha himself sat.

 

                If anyone should wish to attend Zen service this morning go to this site and click on “join us.”

http://organmountainzen.org

 

May you be well and happy!

 

Daiho

 

Gratitude

 

March 6, 2026

 

                Master Dogen Zenji says the most important task is to study the matter of birth and death. While watching some British hospital show last night there was an elderly man, a few years younger than me, who suffered a stroke. Next to him, lay a young baby boy in his mother’s carriage: birth and death. We are each born to grow, flower, and die. It is life’s way. For each of us, this is our path. What we make of it is ours.

 

                There is an old phrase, “Carpe Diem.” In effect, it means having a “live for the moment” attitude. Seize the day for tomorrow may not come and yesterday is gone.  Yes. For us Elders, tomorrow is a hope; each morning I am grateful for the sun to rise, and I am awake to experience it. A sip of coffee, a chat with Shukke, petting our dogs…grateful for it all.  My practice is to live knowing I will die. This is the knowledge of being a human being. I may not be here tomorrow. And so?

 

                The “so what?” is to make each day count by some measure we each bring to our lives. For me, since Vietnam, it has been to be in service to others whether as a psychotherapist or priest. Now, pretty much retired, it is with such writing as this, such kindness as caring for wife and pups. I am grateful for this everyday opportunity.

 

                Be a blessing,

 

                Daiho

 

War Again

 

War Again

 

                Again, we are at war, again without congressional approval. Our dictator just makes a nod, and our war machine goes into action.  This sort of war does not involve ground troops and so seems more sanitary for our side. Jets, guided missiles and drones: pilots rarely see who they kill. But kill they do.  I oppose war unless we have little choice.  The Buddha Way does not oppose self-defense.

 

                Still, it is always a terrible choice to kill. Our dictator has never served, has never had to engage in combat. He dodged the draft multiple times. What does he know but a life of ease and wealthy privilege? Yet he unleashes the most powerful killing machine the world has ever seen without the authority to do so. This, among many things, makes him less a president and more a dangerous dictator.

 

                Plainly, he should be removed from office.

 

                Daiho

Living a Life

 

Living a Life

 

Living a life where all of life is a practice is just living a life with all our senses awake and receptive to the universe around us. I sit here at my desk with fingers wrapped in bandages. My back aches. I settle in.  I notice my breath as it relaxes. Nothing special. Yet it is.

 

We are fortunate to be born a human being. Millions of kalpas have passed with all kinds of beings evolving and here we are. Wow! Moreover, we are very fortunate to have encountered the Buddha Way. I am so grateful for all of my life experiences; the good and the bad, grateful to all of the people in my life over the decades. Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed with it all.

 

It is the simplest things in my life that humble me: a bird at my feeder, witnessing a white winged dove in her nest with babies.  My loving wife offering me coffee or just checking on me. Maybe just standing up without falling down. Life is miraculous, it’s that simple. Our practice is to enter it completely without reservation.

 

May you be well and free from suffering

 

Daiho

Dokusan Day

 

February 26, 2026

 

Good Day to All,

 

                This morning, I had some growths removed from two of my right-hand fingers. They are bandaged but still numb and bleeding a bit. The thing is I only have use of my right hand, so typing is an interesting practice of mindful attention! Anyway, today is my day to offer dokusan to any who wish to present themselves. I enjoy such moments with students and any others wishing to speak with me.  For an appointment text me at 575-644-7420.

 

                Have a great day!

Daiho

Expectations

 

February 25, 2026

 

Today will be a warm day here in Las Cruces, NM. Maybe near 80 degrees F. This morning, I rode my Trike down to Litas’s and had her sew a few patches onto my cut. She’s a great biker herself; also rides a trike.  We talked about families. She’s Mexican American and owns her own shop. After that I rode over to our local Walmart and greeted people while sitting on the park bench.

 

“Beings are numberless, I vow to free them” our vow goes. So I greet people, ask how they are, and sometimes entertain a conversation. We often discuss our gratitude for waking up in the morning since many are elderly like me. These are small, but not insignificant, musings together. They are connections within our small community. And while most return my greetings return, some don’t, choosing to walk on by. I’ve mentioned this before in other posts. I guess it still bothers me a bit, but then, who am I to have such an expectation. All part of my practice today.

 

                Take care all,

                Daiho