With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Do not pursue the past.
Do not lose yourself in the future.
The past no longer is.
The future has not yet come.
Looking deeply at life as it is
in the very here and now,
the practitioner dwells
in stability and freedom.
Buddha
As so many have said, the past is past. We cannot change it. We have done what we have done, responded as we responded, and are in this moment with its karmic results. Just so, the future has yet to happen and it amounts to a fantasy. Reside there and Walt Disney would marry you.
We abide in life as it is. Oh boy. Another pitch for 'the present moment'! Yet, what is life as it is?
For me it is creating this message as I wait for My Little Honey to get herself ready to fly to Memphis. Noticing the clock, noticing my mind. Taking a breath and releasing into it.
We do not displace the present for something other than what it is. If anxiety is there, it is there. If love is there, it is there. We are present with all the things and processes that brought us to this moment and allow ourselves to see the moments unfold, opening one to the next.
I am here, what can I do?
Be well.
Organ Mountain Zen
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Prayer
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
The highest way to understand prayer is as union.
Reb Nachman says, "When a man goes out to the meadows to pray, every blade of grass, every plant and flower all enter his prayers and help him, putting power and strength into his words."
We should consider this. Sitting zazen out of doors is a very natural experience. We drop away the bells and whistles of the Zendo and open ourselves to Everything. Everything enters, embracing and supporting us. In turn we are embracing and supporting Everything. Somewhere, sometime, Everything is. It is at this point that prayer takes its power.
We realize we are not praying to anything for anything, we are integrating our hearts and minds with Everything for Everything.
May we each be blessings in the Universe.
Good Morning Everyone,
The highest way to understand prayer is as union.
Reb Nachman says, "When a man goes out to the meadows to pray, every blade of grass, every plant and flower all enter his prayers and help him, putting power and strength into his words."
We should consider this. Sitting zazen out of doors is a very natural experience. We drop away the bells and whistles of the Zendo and open ourselves to Everything. Everything enters, embracing and supporting us. In turn we are embracing and supporting Everything. Somewhere, sometime, Everything is. It is at this point that prayer takes its power.
We realize we are not praying to anything for anything, we are integrating our hearts and minds with Everything for Everything.
May we each be blessings in the Universe.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Tines
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Whatever I say,
it is not true,
as what I say
is a product of thought,
a simple reflection:
the image in the mirror
is not "me",
it is just an image.
Understand our words
as tines on a tiller.
Together, we dig in the dirt,
aerate the soil
and open ourselves
for the myriad things to grow.
_____________
Today: 9:00 AM meeting with Yoga Instructor, 4:00 PM Meditation & Yoga at Temple Beth-El.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Whatever I say,
it is not true,
as what I say
is a product of thought,
a simple reflection:
the image in the mirror
is not "me",
it is just an image.
Understand our words
as tines on a tiller.
Together, we dig in the dirt,
aerate the soil
and open ourselves
for the myriad things to grow.
_____________
Today: 9:00 AM meeting with Yoga Instructor, 4:00 PM Meditation & Yoga at Temple Beth-El.
Be well.
Monday, January 11, 2010
and No Religion, Too
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Last night I finally got some sleep. Going to bed early, slipping on a blindfold, and taking an Ambien helped. I am told by my doctors that sleep patterns change as we age and that sleep interruptions are common. I'll have none of that.
So, I slipped under the covers after a period of meditation and light yoga, practiced awareness of breathing, and then it was morning.
Ready now to step out of the Zendo into a new day, I am contemplation a bit on yesterday.
At a "Future Planning" meeting at Temple Beth El, I experienced a small awakening. Well...maybe just an insight. Everyone was happy to see me "back" at TBE. (I admit, I resigned many of my tasks and jobs there rather abruptly. Kind of like a kyosaku whack.)
Over the course of the meeting, people were talking about the need to live more "Jewishly" and wondering how the Temple might inspire such a thing. Identification with the people, the faith, the land, and all things Jewish seemed the order of the day.
I sat there, just out of Morning Zen Services, in my black robes and brown rakasu. Oh boy.
I don't feel like a cheerleader. I don't believe organizations can or should be Ra Ra Glee Clubs. My practice is personal and direct. Follow the Way; don't follow the Way.
I don't believe we should live as anything but good human beings in service to the universe.. Jew? Buddhist? Christian? Muslim? Oy!
I am sooooo tired of that level of duality.It exhaust me, literally. It is one of the things I now realize I loathe about organized religion and probably a central reason for my embracing Zen. Religious practice, religion itself, should not be a means to an end, but an end in itself and that end is the realization that there is no beginning, no end, no this or that. Our religion should teach us ways to drop religion, not to encase it in gold and silver. Everyone needs cheerleader I suppose, but my aim is to cheer us on to universality, not to direct us toward enhancing demarcation lines an supporting boxes and labels, no matter how beautiful they are.
The Infinite does not have a religion, unless we call being everything is a religion. Maybe there is a deep and profound teaching there.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Last night I finally got some sleep. Going to bed early, slipping on a blindfold, and taking an Ambien helped. I am told by my doctors that sleep patterns change as we age and that sleep interruptions are common. I'll have none of that.
So, I slipped under the covers after a period of meditation and light yoga, practiced awareness of breathing, and then it was morning.
Ready now to step out of the Zendo into a new day, I am contemplation a bit on yesterday.
At a "Future Planning" meeting at Temple Beth El, I experienced a small awakening. Well...maybe just an insight. Everyone was happy to see me "back" at TBE. (I admit, I resigned many of my tasks and jobs there rather abruptly. Kind of like a kyosaku whack.)
Over the course of the meeting, people were talking about the need to live more "Jewishly" and wondering how the Temple might inspire such a thing. Identification with the people, the faith, the land, and all things Jewish seemed the order of the day.
I sat there, just out of Morning Zen Services, in my black robes and brown rakasu. Oh boy.
I don't feel like a cheerleader. I don't believe organizations can or should be Ra Ra Glee Clubs. My practice is personal and direct. Follow the Way; don't follow the Way.
I don't believe we should live as anything but good human beings in service to the universe.. Jew? Buddhist? Christian? Muslim? Oy!
I am sooooo tired of that level of duality.It exhaust me, literally. It is one of the things I now realize I loathe about organized religion and probably a central reason for my embracing Zen. Religious practice, religion itself, should not be a means to an end, but an end in itself and that end is the realization that there is no beginning, no end, no this or that. Our religion should teach us ways to drop religion, not to encase it in gold and silver. Everyone needs cheerleader I suppose, but my aim is to cheer us on to universality, not to direct us toward enhancing demarcation lines an supporting boxes and labels, no matter how beautiful they are.
The Infinite does not have a religion, unless we call being everything is a religion. Maybe there is a deep and profound teaching there.
Be well.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Our True Nature
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
There are ten grave precepts, a sort of Buddhist Ten Commandments save the command part. We often discuss these as practice guides, principles, anything but rules. In fact they are our True Nature and reflect our compassion.
The grave part is twofold: first, to violate a precept is to violate oneself, hence the universe. Second, in some places and times, to violate one of these precepts got a monk out of a sangha.
As we unfold in our practice, our attention regarding precepts shifts from care for the morality of self to the nurturance of the universe. This leads in two directions it seems to me. First it asks us to examine how our conduct nurtures others. Second, and most importantly, is not to harm in the process. Ahimsa: do no harm.
It is not enough to nurture, we must also protect. I wonder if these are the same or different. Awareness is key. Can nurturance, for example, be harmful? Co-dependence suggests it is possible when one is acting for another to the point of harming oneself.
It is time for my bell to ring.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
There are ten grave precepts, a sort of Buddhist Ten Commandments save the command part. We often discuss these as practice guides, principles, anything but rules. In fact they are our True Nature and reflect our compassion.
The grave part is twofold: first, to violate a precept is to violate oneself, hence the universe. Second, in some places and times, to violate one of these precepts got a monk out of a sangha.
As we unfold in our practice, our attention regarding precepts shifts from care for the morality of self to the nurturance of the universe. This leads in two directions it seems to me. First it asks us to examine how our conduct nurtures others. Second, and most importantly, is not to harm in the process. Ahimsa: do no harm.
It is not enough to nurture, we must also protect. I wonder if these are the same or different. Awareness is key. Can nurturance, for example, be harmful? Co-dependence suggests it is possible when one is acting for another to the point of harming oneself.
It is time for my bell to ring.
Be well.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Nothing Special
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Lee Love, a friend in Japan, made a comment on my Face Book wall about a practice used by Tibetan followers of the Buddha Way. This practice, called "Tummo" is about deep concentration, a concentration that allows for the raising of body temperatures, reducing heartrate, blood pressure, metabolism, etc. The Dalai Lama was instrumental, and continues to be, in bringing Buddha's practices under the light of scientific investigation.
Much has been learned as a result. The text I am now reading (Buddha's Brain) is a practical guide that bases its work on such investigations. And while there is clearly much benefit from such practices and their study, I often wonder about what we take away from such efforts.
For one, I think many people see our practices as (maybe) sophisticated techniques and tools. The practice is eviscerated, gutted of its spiritual heart. Secondly, I think people think there is something special about the practices, Tibetans, or the East. Not so.
The entire aim of practice is to simply be awake and aware. As a consequence, heart awakens, body awakens, and our senses explore without grasping. It is nothing special. It is allowing the world to be as it is: in our hearts, minds, and bodies. Such practice leads to a complete awareness of the vast interconnectivity of everything. This is prayer in each moment. This makes every speck of sand, every bag of trash, every piece of toast or every sound, smell, taste, or touch, prayer. This is the heart of religion.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Lee Love, a friend in Japan, made a comment on my Face Book wall about a practice used by Tibetan followers of the Buddha Way. This practice, called "Tummo" is about deep concentration, a concentration that allows for the raising of body temperatures, reducing heartrate, blood pressure, metabolism, etc. The Dalai Lama was instrumental, and continues to be, in bringing Buddha's practices under the light of scientific investigation.
Much has been learned as a result. The text I am now reading (Buddha's Brain) is a practical guide that bases its work on such investigations. And while there is clearly much benefit from such practices and their study, I often wonder about what we take away from such efforts.
For one, I think many people see our practices as (maybe) sophisticated techniques and tools. The practice is eviscerated, gutted of its spiritual heart. Secondly, I think people think there is something special about the practices, Tibetans, or the East. Not so.
The entire aim of practice is to simply be awake and aware. As a consequence, heart awakens, body awakens, and our senses explore without grasping. It is nothing special. It is allowing the world to be as it is: in our hearts, minds, and bodies. Such practice leads to a complete awareness of the vast interconnectivity of everything. This is prayer in each moment. This makes every speck of sand, every bag of trash, every piece of toast or every sound, smell, taste, or touch, prayer. This is the heart of religion.
Be well.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Rest
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Cloudy skies greet the morning light. A threat of snow lingers. The land feels barren. Winter is like that, a natural break from the forces of growth. Rest is important to us all.
Last night I went to bed fairly early, fell asleep munching on some creamy chocolate, and woke this morning at 3:30 as Tripper wiggled and snorted, and snuggled, until I let him and his two brothers out. Too early to rise, back to bed for another hour or so.
Rest is, indeed, important.
Calm abiding in everyday life is rest in motion. Resisting nothing, enfolding everything, living things bend and yield. We practice to create a mind that is aware of the changing environment, as well as its own changing nature. Anger and frustration happen: yield to patience and compassion. Poverty and greed happen; yield to generosity and understanding. Alienated and isolated; yield to the deep wisdom of interdependence.
With each breath, a universe rises and falls. Keep nothing. Release everything. Our lives are ours to be lived.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
Cloudy skies greet the morning light. A threat of snow lingers. The land feels barren. Winter is like that, a natural break from the forces of growth. Rest is important to us all.
Last night I went to bed fairly early, fell asleep munching on some creamy chocolate, and woke this morning at 3:30 as Tripper wiggled and snorted, and snuggled, until I let him and his two brothers out. Too early to rise, back to bed for another hour or so.
Rest is, indeed, important.
Calm abiding in everyday life is rest in motion. Resisting nothing, enfolding everything, living things bend and yield. We practice to create a mind that is aware of the changing environment, as well as its own changing nature. Anger and frustration happen: yield to patience and compassion. Poverty and greed happen; yield to generosity and understanding. Alienated and isolated; yield to the deep wisdom of interdependence.
With each breath, a universe rises and falls. Keep nothing. Release everything. Our lives are ours to be lived.
Be well.
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