Engaged practice

Engaged practice often takes forms we do not recognize.  We too often believe it must be writ large like the brave man halting a tank in a Chinese Square or those who call out politicians in public places. But I believe engaged practice ought be an everyday experience like honoring the food we eat or responding to a friend in need. 

Engaged practice is nothing more or less than everyday practice since the everyday is the only day we have and how we manifest ourselves in it brings about the Dharma.  

Remember, in the Absolute there is nothing that is sacred or profane, pure or impure.  There is just this that is in front of you right now. In its most true state it is nothing but the universe itself. 

Today I blessed Bikes and bikers. So? Treating bikers whether they are 1%ers or weekend warriors to respect and offering them a blessing is no more or less sacred than eating French Fries or sipping fine wine, meditating at Eiheiji or on a bus stop bench.  What matters most, I believe, is doing. 

Let us each commit to doing, which is to say, engaging the world with deep compassion and a desire to free all beings from suffering. It’s the least we can do. 

Blessings to each of my readers, 

Daiho 

Inspiration

Yesterday I spent some time talking with two friends at Milagros coffee shop. Our discussion rambled a bit, as discussions often do, but settled on a most interesting challenge: is it possible for a speaker in a school to be inspiring without emotional investment? And is such investment manipulative? What role does inspiration have in education anyway?

It seems to me inspiration comes from and through a speakers life. And what our young ones (and elders) need is a sense of inspiration. I don’t seem to care much if the speech is emotionally charged and will manipulate, what I care about is motivation. Getting us to look into something, dig deeply into it, requires motivation and motivation is often gained through inspiration.

The concern was that our audience may not have the cognitive skills to take apart and critically examine what’s being presented and also that the speaker may not have done the same and as a result, allows biases to enter without examination, save, in afterthoughts.

So, do we require inspiration to aid our motivation? Should a highly controversial speaker be turned away due to toxic language or ideas? Do we have the critical skills to examine a speakers words?

Given our current political situation, I’m inclined to say we don’t.  So where does that put us?

Yours,