Organ Mountain Zen



Tuesday, August 4, 2020

Prayer

"A prayerful vow is a vow that is not dualistic. No petitioner, nothing petitioned, no one being petitioned. A prayerful vow is a realized expression of no-self."
Daiho
from my forthcoming book, "Zen Bits."
Prayer, Enlightenment, and Zazen:
What is enlightenment if not the complete unification of all that is, was, and will be?
The highest form of prayer is that of unification with all that is.
When we sit zazen fully and completely, we attain this unification since mind and body have fallen away.
So in a very real way, prayer and zazen are the same: awakened being.
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Sunday, August 2, 2020

Our World

With palms together,
Many of us are tempted to say our world is "going to hell in a handbasket." Perhaps it is, but I'm not so sure. The Buddha Way realizes the universe is nothing but change. What we call "emptiness." Nothing exists forever, everything is "conditioned" (read, dependent) by everything and so not one thing is dispensable; everything is necessary.
Even the evil in our world has its place along side the goodness: night has day, black has white, weeks conclude as new weeks are born. In each we are free to chose how we will live in such a world. This is what the Diamond Sutra teaches: how to live in our world as a "bodhisattva" (an awakened being or being on the path to awakening).
What does it take to live in this way? For one, an open heart/mind. Second, a forgiving heart. Third, a generous heart, and fourth, a willingness to always see in the largest possible context. Without these, we are doomed to repeating our historical mistakes, see objects rather than brothers and sisters, and walk the path of suspicion and anxiety.
If we are in that hellish handbasket, I say we are putting ourselves there. Only we, through our practice, can see through the basket we have woven and free ourselves. I encourage you to look deeply, investigate your mind, and walk directly into the issues you face. As you do, perhaps the mind weeds in that basket will be transformed into lovely basket of flowers, each to be given away.
Yours in the Dharma,
Daiho

Zazen

 Zazen this evening at 6:00 PM Mountain Time. Send me your gmail address if you would like an invitation to join us for our Zen practice offerings.  

Mail to: daihoroshi@gmail.com

Note on Zazenkai

Good Morning All,
Our Zazenkai went quite well yesterday. Thanks to all who participated and in particular to my disciple in Atlanta, Rev.
Marshall Daishin Tucker
, who co-led the ceremonials and created the agenda. Great job! My disciple in Greece, Rev. Kaishin MyoJu Xifaras, attended and suggested we do these on a monthly basis. I think this is a great idea and will take that suggestion under advisement.
Have a great day y'all!

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

TAKE ON FAITH

Good Morning All, My new radio show, "Take on Faith," was approved for broadcast at 10-11 AM on Saturdays beginning August 15th. I am both excited and grateful to the station's program committee for giving me this opportunity to be in-service to the faith community.
My intent is to conduct cordial, informative dialogues regarding faith traditions, practices, and religious issues, welcoming calls from the community. I would love to have guests from all traditions, both clerical and lay and include even non-believers in the conversations. My interview questions will be open-ended and designed to explore rather than challenge..
If anyone of my friends would like to be a guest, please let me know ASAP. I will be able to interview people from outside Southern New Mexico, as well. Please consider becoming a part of this much needed area of dialogue about the human faith experience.
Thank you!

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Zazenkai Announcement



Order of Clear Mind Zen

Summer Kannon Bodhisattva Zazenkai

Saturday, August 1st, 2020 

5:00 – 11:00 Mountain Time

Hosted via Zoom


Join us for a half-day intensive practice period. Activities will include zazen, kinhin, samu, oryoki, and dharma talks. We will endeavor to perform all services and events as if we were physically present despite our virtual venue.

We encourage everyone to attend for the entire retreat, however, if this is not possible, please join us for as much time as you can devote to practice. Please note that attendees are asked not to leave and return to the retreat. You are welcome to join late or leave early as necessary.

If you are interested in attending please email Daishin (daishintucker@gmail.com).

Registrants will receive an information packet detailing the schedule and events for the retreat. We hope you will join us for this opportunity to devote a morning to practice.

Gassho,

Order of Clear Mind Zen





https://docs.google.com/document/d/1B409LFxjEuGWBXDL_Y3lHJfeHc0ppwm4Paidyv2ltyI/edit?usp=sharing

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Radio

Good Morning All, 

This morning I'll be meeting with Randy Harris to discuss the topic for a radio show we will record later today for broadcast tomorrow.  We will be talking about the notion of a shift in paradigm from an analog, paper and pencil, set of values to a high tech virtual reality paradigm.  Take a listen Monday morning at 7:00 AM on KTAL, lccommunityradio.org. 101.5 FM