Illness

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



With the morning light comes hope for a day with less coughing and less runny nose events. My joints are no longer achy, but my nose keeps flowing and the cough is still there, though not quite as bad. I think I can actually speak in a near normal voice, as well. The sad news is that Soku Shin seems to have caught this from me. Being ill is no fun. Yet, it does bring a few benefits if we are willing to accept them.



First, being ill is a clear reminder that we are not permanent. We are of the nature to get sick. Sooner or later we will naturally succumb to illness of one sort or another. Second, illness slows us down. It is good to slow the pace from time to time. In such a slow pace it is easier to assess where we are and what we are doing with our lives. With slowness comes the third benefit of illness, appreciation. We are much more inclined to appreciate things when we are deprived of them for a time. Illness deprives us of energy and diminishes our capacity to listen to others, but at the same time it causes us to pay attention to that which we too often neglect, our bodies.



So, while I do not suggest we all go out and become sick, I do think that when we do become sick, we might pay attention to the lessons our illness may be teaching us.



May you be a blessing in the universe today.



Yours,

Daiho

Sesshin

With palms together,

Good Evening Everyone,



Our Summer Sesshin was very good, if not quite challenging for those who had to bear the sound of me with a nasty cold. I could barely speak and was in considerable distress, but sesshin is a potent and important cornerstone to our practice. We had several members of the Zen Center of Las Cruces participate, as well as three people from our El Paso Sangha. It was a packed Zendo.



Tenzo Tamra was superb in her practice. Meals were delicious and served properly: all meals were Oryoki style with our three bowl Oryoki sets. Jisha Soku Shin was our Zendo Jikido who provided supervision in the Zendo. Steve was our Doan who kept the time for Zazen and Kinhin. Rev. Dai Shugyo, our Ino, kept things going even in the midst of confusion which was, thanks to all, kept to a minimum. I was very thankful for the support of Rev. Gozen-sensei, abbot of the Zen Center of Las Cruces, for his willingness to co-officiate this event with me. I am also thankful for Rev. Kankin’s special effort to come Saturday morning from El Paso even though he has spent considerable time on the road over the last several weeks. In passing we had a cordial visit from Ken-roshi and his teacher An Gaio who is visiting from California. Fortunately, they arrived during a period where we could offer iced tea and a short tour of our Temple.



Rev. Gozen offered a lovely teisho opening night, we held an Abbot’s Dialogue at Saturday Morning services, and I offered a teisho regarding Matsuoka-roshi this morning. Tenzo Tamra lead a Study period on Master Dogen’s Instructions to the Zen Cook. Our sitting periods were extensive and strong and mindful silence was maintained most of the time.



This week we begin Peace Camp for three weeks in a row. Also we will begin our work in the youth correctional facility here in southern, New Mexico. As a reminder, Monday through Friday we practice at 9:30 AM, again at 6:00 PM. We host a Comparative Religions Discussion Group on Monday evening at 7:00, an Introduction to Zen Group on Tuesday at 7:00 PM, and a Women in Zen Group on Thursday at 7:00 PM. Please consider joining us for any of these practice opportunities.



Be well.

Summer Sesshin

With palms together,


Good Morning Everyone,



The Order of Clear Mind Zen will retreat into Summer Sesshin from today at 7:00 PM through Sunday at 4:00 PM. We will be joined by members of the Zen Center of Las Cruces and the Both Sides/No Sides Zen Sangha in El Paso.



May you each practice to be awake and thoroughly present in this moment.



Yours,

Daiho

July 6

With palms together,


Good Morning Everyone,



With the excellent care of Soku Shin I am feeling a tad better. Not that I am going to be all springy and everything, but better. Thanks to those who wished me well.



Our little temple seems to be thriving. We have had drop-in visitors, several new people who had scheduled appointments, our groups, and dokusans, all in addition to our regularly scheduled daily Zazen. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be in such service. It is hard not to be there when I am not well. This suggests that perhaps some of you who are in Las Cruces might commit to opening the Temple at least in the evening on a certain day of the week. I would then not be as concerned if I knew we had coverage in the event I am otherwise occupied. It would be your opportunity to take ownership of your temple. Let me know if this is something you would be willing to partner with me about.



Dharma Teacher Zen Shin had a good idea about Sunday. I agree going to a restaurant is a not such a good option. Why not have a brunch at the Temple? I do think, however, this would need to be coordinated through our Tenzo, Tamra. We have a week or so to think about this as this weekend we will be in Sesshin.



Sesshin will begin at 7:00 PM on Friday evening and go through Sunday afternoon. We will be including members of the Zen Center of Las Cruces in this event. If you have not yet registered and wish to attend, please email or call me today. There are two open seats, I believe.



A few comments regarding Sesshin: Once you arrive for the day’s practice, please understand that if you should leave you cannot come back that day. In other words, no coming and going. Practice periods will start on time. Please be in your seat at the appropriate time. Those attending will have a copy of the practice schedule. If you plan to stay at the Temple, bring a sleeping roll, pillow, and overnight necessities. This is a unisex event, so be sure to bring PJs.



Lastly, due to the cost of our hotspot, I will have to limit dokusan via Skype to 30 minutes. Please understand this. Those who are doing dokusan, please consider this: dokusan is a part of your practice. I will likely ask you “what is your practice?” at the beginning. How you answer this determines the quality of the dokusan period. I make one assumption: we are adult learners. You are your own best teacher and how you present yourself is part of the teaching. Pay attention. Do not think that I will know what is on your mind or that I will know what questions you have. It is appropriate for you to come to dokusan with your questions, but do not expect answers. Again, you are your own best teacher, I will point the way, but you will have to walk along the path yourself.



Practice: it’s a Zen thing.



Be well,

CMZ Temple

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,



It is early in the morning. I woke at just before 4:00 AM. I enjoy the early morning hours very much as they are usually quite quiet and cool. The weather here in New Mexico has been exceedingly toasty with daily temps over a hundred degrees. The good news is that this should change as the rains come beginning in July. Mornings, as a result, are cooler and in the quiet provided, I am able to sit in reflection about the coming day.

About the Kitchen:

We have been hard at work in the Temple this past week. Tenzo Tamra has revamped the kitchen, did a deep cleaning, and is now ready to assume her duties for the coming Sesshin. Please honor her work and be respectful of the Temple by washing any cups, glasses or other dishware you may use while there. Also, if you make coffee or tea, prepare food, or something of the kind, please take care to clean up after yourself.

_______



A few words regarding our Order and the Zendo:



Please do not interrupt the officiating priest during his/her teisho. He/She may or may not ask for questions. Only ask one question and do not follow-up with another unless asked. Question and answer periods following teisho are not free-wheeling discussions.



Please wait until the officiating priest leaves the room to get up from your cushion. Please clean your zabuton and refresh your zafu before leaving. All zabutons should be in line with each other against the wall. Replace your sutra cards under the zabuton so that it is not showing. Please do not bring items into the Zendo. This includes bottled water. You will not dehydrate in the hour you are in seated Zen.



There will be times when we will sit for periods longer than our typical 25 minute practice periods. These will not be announced. Rest assured the time-keeper has not fallen asleep. Longer periods can assist us in our practice. Questions that arise during practice (such as “when is that bell going to ring?”) are best left let go: just sit.



Dokusan in our Order has been understood to be more an informal discussion period with the teacher. We will endeavor to make dokusan a bit more formal over the next several weeks. Please understand, interviews with your teacher are considered a part of your practice. If you are a student of a teacher, please make sure you have and maintain regular dokusan times. These are not for a specified amount of time nor are they discussion sessions, but are, rather, examinations by the teacher of your practice and understanding. Dokusan is opened with a bell and a bow and closed with a bell and bow. Silence may be a part of the dokusan time. Allow for this space. Use this space. Include in its use, a short period or a longer period. Everything that happens in relation to your time with your teacher (in and out of dokusan) should be considered part of both the teaching and your practice.

______



Today at Clear Mind Zen we will practice Zazen at 9:30 AM, again at 6:00 PM, and conclude the day with our Comparative Religions Discussion Group at 7:00 PM. The topic for the evening is the chapter in the text on Confucianism.



Lastly, if you have not already made your donation as Members or Friends of the Order, please do so. The Order relies on your monthly support.



Thank you and I hope to see you soon!



Gassho,

Daiho

Training Fund

With Respect to All,


Good Morning Everyone,



Since opening the topic training with the Silent Thunder Order's abbot, Taiun-sensei, several members and friends of the Order have asked how to help financially. At our Order's bank we have a savings account. I am considering this account a "Training Fund" which will go towards Taiun's travel to and from New Mexico, as well as my travel to Atlanta for training there. Taiun is expected to train with us here in New Mexico in late September. His partner is now obtaining flight information. Fortunately, I am "retired" from the US Army and can fly on military aircraft "hops." So, my travel expenses will not be great. However, I am expected to offer Ango fees and dana to Taiun-sensei. The Ango fees are (at present) $1500.00 for the three months.



I am considering beginning Ango (a three month training retreat) in the first part of 2012 with Taiun's permission. I am working on a budget for myself which will allow me to save money towards the Ango fes and dana. I would personally appreciate any and all assistance I can get from you.



If you wish to support this effort, please make your donation either by check to "The Order of Clear Mind Zen" with 'training' in the memo section, or through Paypal on our website. If you chose Paypal, kindly send me an email so that I know that your donation was intended for the Training Fund as opposed to the general fund which supports the Temple itself.



Since it is the end of one month and the beginning of another, please do consider offering support to our temple. Your donations are greatly appreciated.



May you each be happy and free from suffering.



Yours,

Daiho

June 29th

With palms together,

Good Afternoon Everyone,



The Dharma is incomparably profound and minutely subtle…so, says the chant for opening a sutra. In fact, the Dharma is as plain as the nose on our face. It is the nose on your face. My face. Every face. No face. Because it is everywhere, it is nowhere. As one of the Ten Ox-Herding pictures suggests, “no thing.”



If it is nothing and it is everything, what is it?



We cannot say, because as we speak, falsehood flows from our mouths. One and all, all and one, yet both and neither. Goodness…we can certainly get a headache with this sort of stuff.



What difference does this Zennish nonsense make? Not much. The Dharma for me is the feel of the pc keys under my fingertips, the heat of the southwestern sun, the sweat dripping from my forehead as I work, or the taste of cold water as I take a sip from my glass. Everything in every direction manifests the Dharma. The flowing stream, once entered, is ours knowing in fact, there is no stream and that “the stream” itself is just a construct we use to assist us in getting in the flow.



So? Just sip some water.



Be well.