‘I know that my life here, as an individual entity, is not accidental. We can understand that without our parents and endless parents before us, our lives would not be here, but when we go into our own biological presence, and then go way, way back, it gets too complicated, so we don’t try to […]
Kobun Chino
Blessed New Year
I’ve been away from my zazen practice for a few weeks…I have allowed the insanity of the holidays pull me away and it’s time to reconnect.
This morning I sat for 20 minutes, and then resumed my reading of Dogen. I’m still in the introduction, but have determined that this text will be part of my morning routine. This passage stood out for me this morning.
Wondrous dharma is already given, and yet within our life we have delusions. Delusions mean our individuality, our limitations as individuals, and also egocentricity. We cannot see the universe from the viewpoints of other people; we can see things only from “my” point of view. I cannot see from your point of view. Even though I think I can understand it, I really cannot see it, because it is not reality for me. Even if I stand in the same place, the way I see things is different from the way you see them. That is because we have karma and are limited as individuals. I cannot see half of the world. If I try to see the dark side, I have to turn my head. Then I cannot see this part. So each moment we can see only part of the world, not the whole world. That is the source of delusion. –Master Dogen, Zazen Meditation Handbook
It is such a simple concept, yet so difficult for many to grasp. Until we can truly see all sides of a situation, we don’t know anything. If we all remembered this, there would be less misunderstanding, less miscommunication, and more compassion. With Mercury in retrograde coming up, this is important info to remember.
Untimed
When I first started meditating in earnest, I clung to the idea of a timed session. As most people, I’m sure, the idea of going past 10, 15, 20 minutes was unfathomable. I was itchy, fidgety, achy, kept looking at my timer to see how much more etc etc.
My normal time daily time is approx 15-20 minutes. Just enough time to get my mind where it needs to be.
Lately, I have been finding that the timer goes off just as I’m starting to comfortably get settled, and yes, sometimes I reset the timer and continue on, but then it’s at times too long. So, This morning, I decided to set my timer to “infinite”, with mindfulness bells every 2 minutes. I had no where to be, no agenda for the day, and I just let myself slip into a kind of peaceful veg. The bells insured I didn’t wander too far, and the location (on the front deck of our camper) gave me an interesting soundtrack… Crickets, birds, squirrels, Campground golf carts, the sound of camper AC units… And none of that was distracting to me. For the first time in a while, I found myself very content to just “sit”.
I sat for 45 minutes. Which I’m sure in more experienced circles is a small drop in the bucket. For me it’s a milestone.
No, I’ll never be a monastic. I might not ever get to a point where I actually sit sesshin. But I’m on the path.
Come out and see Elemental Dots at Pride!
Walking
In Pennsylvania, we’re having a warm stretch… Temps today are going to be in the high 50s. Which means that I am going to practice my walking meditation on my way home from driving my daughter to work. There is a little park on the edge of Lancaster, on my way home, which has a few small level trails, just perfect for about 20 minutes or so of quiet contemplation.
It’s a start.
RIP
“This body is not me; I am not caught in this body, I am life without boundaries, I have never been born and I have never died. Over there the wide ocean and the sky with many galaxies All manifests from the basis of consciousness. Since beginningless time I have always been free. Birth and death are only a door through which we go in and out. Birth and death are only a game of hide-and-seek. So smile to me and take my hand and wave good-bye. Tomorrow we shall meet again or even before. We shall always be meeting again at the true source, Always meeting again on the myriad paths of life.”
Thích Nhất Hạnh,
#thichnhathanh #nodeathnofear
Wabi sabi
I’ve read recently about the Japanese idea of “wabi-sabi”…
Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.
In essence, there’s no reason to herniate over imperfection, because perfection does not exist. All art is meant to evoke an emotional response, and it will be different for each person. If the work you are doing makes You happy, then that’s all that matter. Anyone else who sees it will appreciate it, and if they don’t, then it’s not meant for them anyway.
Create for yourself. Create for your own happiness. The rest will come. 💜
Away for too long…
Bliss
My fiancé and I are in Sedona.. Lost night we took a, jeep tour to the top of a rock formation called “Merry-go-round”. The view inspired me to sit for a few minutes while the rest of our tour group scrambled up the rocks to take pics. He took this pic of me in the setting sun. It’s a beautiful Pic, but doesn’t do justice to the beauty of the place and the absolute peace I felt in those few minutes of mindfulness.
Look within..
“The kingdom of heaven is within you.” -Christianity
“Those who know themselves know the Lord.” -Islam
“He is in all, and all is in Him.” -Judaism
“Those who know their own nature, know heaven.” -Confucianism
“In the depths of the soul, one sees the Divine, the One.” -Taoism
“Look within, you are the Buddha.” -Buddhism
“Atman (individual consciousness) and Brahman (universal consciousness) are one.” -Hinduism
Elemental Zen 