With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Our discussion group wrestled with the Faith Mind poem yesterday afternoon. The poem is quite a piece of work. I believe it should be read like a Teisho, an expression of the speaker’s Buddha Nature. It is a challenge to apply to everyday life unless one is willing to let go of thoughts about it.
Is it possible to be without preferences, distinctions, or ideas? Is it a worthy aim to reside that way?
As long as I am breathing, I will make a choice to breathe. I will breathe in order to live and will find meaning in that choice. What I must practice to do is practice. In the practice is the falling away of “self” and with this falling away, preferences and distinctions, reason and ideas. No preferences means residing in openness and receptivity.
The part that fascinates me is where the author says, in effect, that to reside in Big Mind is to realize its non-existence. Non-duality denies itself because when there is no duality, there is no oneness. Oneness requires something apart from it to make it sensible.
For those theists among us, this would also be true of God. If we were to become one with the Infinite, the Infinite would cease to exist because to exist it needs the finite.
This is what it means to say all dharmas are empty.
Be well.
Organ Mountain Zen
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Wisdom
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
Walking Suki last night and again this morning, I was delighted with the sky and the smell of the desert air after a storm. The grass was wet, the shrubs perky, and the air clean. Fresh.
Someone on the main list noted that we often post with “raw honesty.” This is a challenge in our world. In our world, appearance is nearly everything. To be honest to a fault is to reveal a fault and faults are not acceptable in our world. Blemishes will not do. Indecision, error, inconsistency: these are an anathema to leadership and yet, these very traits are often major aspects of reflective wisdom.
Of late, I have myself suffered a sort of crisis in confidence, doubting myself, my choices, and sometimes even my value to the Zen community. Conditions are always changing and, in my case, rapidly. Adaptation to these changes requires a willingness to be fluid and, in essence, free-forming. What was, no longer is; what will be is not known, and what is, changes with every breath.
So, the occasional “breaks” from posting (which rarely exceed a day or two) and the felt need to go off to the Refuge are more expressions of my insecurity on the one hand, and a need to center, on the other hand, than statements of an actual plan. With the Order finally gaining a Temple space, I will feel much less dis-eased and far more focused on our mission.
Throughout all this, I have tried to post my thoughts and feelings on the processes and relate them somehow to the experience as a Zenster. I believe this is a teaching in itself. I know I am learning from it.
May we each be a blessing in the universe today.
Today at CMZT
7:00 AM. 7:00 PM, Zazen at Condo Zendo
8:30 AM Peace Camp
9:00 AM Zen in the Park
1:00 PM Sign Lease
4:00 PM Zen Discussion Group
Good Morning Everyone,
Walking Suki last night and again this morning, I was delighted with the sky and the smell of the desert air after a storm. The grass was wet, the shrubs perky, and the air clean. Fresh.
Someone on the main list noted that we often post with “raw honesty.” This is a challenge in our world. In our world, appearance is nearly everything. To be honest to a fault is to reveal a fault and faults are not acceptable in our world. Blemishes will not do. Indecision, error, inconsistency: these are an anathema to leadership and yet, these very traits are often major aspects of reflective wisdom.
Of late, I have myself suffered a sort of crisis in confidence, doubting myself, my choices, and sometimes even my value to the Zen community. Conditions are always changing and, in my case, rapidly. Adaptation to these changes requires a willingness to be fluid and, in essence, free-forming. What was, no longer is; what will be is not known, and what is, changes with every breath.
So, the occasional “breaks” from posting (which rarely exceed a day or two) and the felt need to go off to the Refuge are more expressions of my insecurity on the one hand, and a need to center, on the other hand, than statements of an actual plan. With the Order finally gaining a Temple space, I will feel much less dis-eased and far more focused on our mission.
Throughout all this, I have tried to post my thoughts and feelings on the processes and relate them somehow to the experience as a Zenster. I believe this is a teaching in itself. I know I am learning from it.
May we each be a blessing in the universe today.
Today at CMZT
7:00 AM. 7:00 PM, Zazen at Condo Zendo
8:30 AM Peace Camp
9:00 AM Zen in the Park
1:00 PM Sign Lease
4:00 PM Zen Discussion Group
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Zen
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
For me, Zen is nothing more than a process of unfolding. In such a process, there is nothing really to teach except the process itself. Each of us experiences the process individually and in our own way and time. What is essential is our attitude, or our stance, toward each moment as it arises.
Being open, allowing what we think is real and true to fall away, this is Zen.
This falling away may be sudden or gradual, but with practice it will happen. Some of us resist: who wants to be empty?
Some of us dive right in: who wants to be solid?
Most of us just practice, not at all concerned about outcome: this is the way.
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
For me, Zen is nothing more than a process of unfolding. In such a process, there is nothing really to teach except the process itself. Each of us experiences the process individually and in our own way and time. What is essential is our attitude, or our stance, toward each moment as it arises.
Being open, allowing what we think is real and true to fall away, this is Zen.
This falling away may be sudden or gradual, but with practice it will happen. Some of us resist: who wants to be empty?
Some of us dive right in: who wants to be solid?
Most of us just practice, not at all concerned about outcome: this is the way.
Be well.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Today
With palms together,
Good Morning Everyone,
In the interest of full disclosure, it is dark outside. The candles in the Zendo are casting that warm light that they do under such conditions, almost begging for all other light sources to be excluded. The incense wafts through the room, as the open window allows a breeze. Desert air is always so refreshing in the morning.
We are excited that the Order will finally have a home of its own. I will keep you posted.
Today:
7:00 AM Zazen at Zendo
8:30 AM Peace Camp Zazen at TBE
2:00 PM Dokusan with Ron at Zendo
5:00 PM Dokusan with Shoji on Skype
7:00 PM Zazen in Zendo
Be well.
Good Morning Everyone,
In the interest of full disclosure, it is dark outside. The candles in the Zendo are casting that warm light that they do under such conditions, almost begging for all other light sources to be excluded. The incense wafts through the room, as the open window allows a breeze. Desert air is always so refreshing in the morning.
We are excited that the Order will finally have a home of its own. I will keep you posted.
Today:
7:00 AM Zazen at Zendo
8:30 AM Peace Camp Zazen at TBE
2:00 PM Dokusan with Ron at Zendo
5:00 PM Dokusan with Shoji on Skype
7:00 PM Zazen in Zendo
Be well.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Rest Over
With palms together,
We found a delightful space for our Temple this afternoon. A Letter of Intent is on its way. I am very hopeful. Dharma Combat will resume this Friday at 4:00 PM. at Student Kathryn Soku Shin Masaryk's residence.
Be well.
Sitting schedule as follows:
Daily at 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM at Condo Zendo
Monday and Friday at 9:00 AM at Zen in the Park at Sagecrest Park, corner of Roadrunner and Frontier.
Sunday Services: 7:00 AM (informal), Formal at 9:00 AM.
We found a delightful space for our Temple this afternoon. A Letter of Intent is on its way. I am very hopeful. Dharma Combat will resume this Friday at 4:00 PM. at Student Kathryn Soku Shin Masaryk's residence.
Be well.
Sitting schedule as follows:
Daily at 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM at Condo Zendo
Monday and Friday at 9:00 AM at Zen in the Park at Sagecrest Park, corner of Roadrunner and Frontier.
Sunday Services: 7:00 AM (informal), Formal at 9:00 AM.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Cutting Back
Dear Readers,
I will be seriously cutting back on my Internet use and presence. I will post a few things from time to time, but in the main, am taking a long awaited vacation.
Be well.
I will be seriously cutting back on my Internet use and presence. I will post a few things from time to time, but in the main, am taking a long awaited vacation.
Be well.
Schedule Changes
Sangha and Friends:
Weekly Schedule
This week and next we have Peace Camp at 8:30 AM.The first week Temple Beth El will host it; the second week Peace Lutheran Church will host it. Dharma Teacher Reba Zen Shin Montera and I will be offering Zen Meditation instruction to the children at 8:30 AM daily.
I have decided to alter our practice schedule at Clear Mind Zen in the hope of attracting other sitters to join us.
I am changing my daily schedule so that we sit in the park a little later, Beginning Tuesday the following will be our schedule.
Zendo 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM daily,
Zen in Sagecrest Park at 9:00 AM on Monday and Friday only
and Formal Zen in Zendo at 9:00 AM on Sunday.
Zen Dharma Combat at 4:00 PM Friday
Saturday we are off.
Please undertstand, our situation is fluid and may change at any moment. I am searching for a permenant home for Clear Mind Zen. If you should know of a building availbale that has a bath and a kitchen, please let me know. Our upper limit in rent is $600.00.
Weekly Schedule
This week and next we have Peace Camp at 8:30 AM.The first week Temple Beth El will host it; the second week Peace Lutheran Church will host it. Dharma Teacher Reba Zen Shin Montera and I will be offering Zen Meditation instruction to the children at 8:30 AM daily.
I have decided to alter our practice schedule at Clear Mind Zen in the hope of attracting other sitters to join us.
I am changing my daily schedule so that we sit in the park a little later, Beginning Tuesday the following will be our schedule.
Zendo 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM daily,
Zen in Sagecrest Park at 9:00 AM on Monday and Friday only
and Formal Zen in Zendo at 9:00 AM on Sunday.
Zen Dharma Combat at 4:00 PM Friday
Saturday we are off.
Please undertstand, our situation is fluid and may change at any moment. I am searching for a permenant home for Clear Mind Zen. If you should know of a building availbale that has a bath and a kitchen, please let me know. Our upper limit in rent is $600.00.
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