Once again at 4:00 AM, I woke up this
morning and sat zazen outside with the moon and stars. I am so very grateful
for this opportunity each morning as I have no idea how many such mornings I
have left in my life. Then at 6:00 AM, I sat a morning Zen service with a small
group of Zensters. These are moments that
offer an opportunity to set my intention for the day to come, explore my place
in this vast universe, and remind me indeed of the universe’s vastness. There
is nothing like sitting out in the open under the stars.
I
remember early mornings back in the late sixties when I sat under a willow tree
in my backyard in Miami Florida. I sat with mosquitoes and “no see ‘ums” trying
to maintain my posture and stillness. And then years later sitting in my meadow
in the mountains of southern New Mexico and on the streets of Las Cruces… it
took quite an effort on my part, believe me. But there I sat and I think that
discipline has served me well over the decades of practice.
I’m not
sure what “served me well” actually means I just know that I can sit nearly
anywhere at anytime and remain in stillness. Maybe that’s enough. Try it, you
might like it!
Daiho