apologies

Dear Readers,

I am sorry to inform you that I will no longer be continuing the blog. Due to physical illness, an increase in work responsibilities (both paid and domestic) and the upcoming holidays, I can't foresee having the time to write a blog every day as well. I tried to get back to the blog every day this week and it stressed me out not being able to do it. And well, that's just not very zen! So I remembered the Thoreau quote which was a blog entry back in September, and decided the stress isn't worth it.

It was short-lived, but great. I have learned a lot and definately feel that my mind and spirit are more at peace. I hope it was helpful for you too. I will continue practicing zen thinking, even though I won't be available to share the thoughts with you. I hope you will also continue with your zen path.

If I decide to continue the blog in the future and you would like to know about that, please send me your email address. Or if there is anyone out there that would like to take over the blog, that would be great too.

Until then, have a wonderful holiday season. Don't forget the Meal Gatha on Thanksgiving, and remember to have a thankful heart throughout the rest of the holidays! If you can't think of words of thanks, there is always Buddha's prayer of gratitude.

Good luck with your journey.

Heather

Dog kills Joju

Zen Master Seug Sahn and several others were once invited to stay at a student's house out in the country. The student had a large dog, which spent most the time looking out the front door, wagging its tail and barking anytime someone came near the house. In the evening, as everyone was resting around the fireplace after dinner, the dog came and sat next to Dae Soen Sa Nim.

The Zen master leaned over to the dog. "I have a question for you that all Zen students cannot answer: Buddha said that all things have Buddha-nature. But when asked if a dog has Buddha-nature, the great Zen Master Joju said, 'Mu!' ('No!') So I ask you, do you have Buddha-nature?"

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

"You are better than Joju," Dae Soen Sa Nim said.

Teaching of Zen Master Suen Sahn, compiled by Hyon Gak in Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake

Commentary:


There is a famous koan that goes like this:

A monk asked Zhaozhou (Joju above), "Does even a dog have Buddha-nature?"

Zhaozhou said, "No."

This is supposed to be first in a series of koans to break down the barriers of the mind. One must reflect on and come to an understanding of this koan before preceding to more koans. The explanation of the koan (according to No Barrier - Unlocking the Zen Koan by Thomas Cleary) is that

a) nonhumans do not have the ability to attain enlightenment, because they have consciousness similar to humans' dream-state consciousness.
b) the word 'no' is not just an answer to the question but more like a mantra to concentrate on, so as to "free the mind from the limitations of fixed ideas and compulsive habits of thought."
c) the answer 'no' also means that there is no way to describe or imagine enlightenment; one can only experience it.

One is supposed to use this koan in meditative practice and when you observe your thoughts rambling on (in apparent 'dog'-like fashion) you are supposed to bring No to mind. Of course the trick is to clear the mind and thinking the word 'no' is a means to getting there, but thinking anything at all, even the word 'no' means you have not yet emptied the mind.

There is further, more profound explanation of this koan in Cleary's book, as well as warnings on malpractice of the koan. As this is a very famous koan, I am sure there are many more theories on its explanation. And as I read more of the koans, I am sure this one will be revisited.

I think Zen Master Seung Sahn student's dog (above) has the best explanation of all!

let go of anger

Let go of anger.
Let go of pride.
When you are bound by nothing
you cannot fall prey to sorrow.

*

Curb your anger,
just as a charioteer
controls the unruly horse.
Those who lack control
merely hold the reins.

*

Transform your anger with kindness,
Your meanness with generosity,
your lies with truth.

Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

we are what we think

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts;
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with an impure mind
and trouble will follow,
just as the wheel follows
the ox that draws the cart.

*

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.
Speak or act with a pure mind
and happiness will follow,
just as your shadow, unshakeable.

Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

Commentary:


Its all about attitude and I believe its possible to change your attitude about anything if you try hard enough.

hope

Once you choose hope, anything's possible.

Christopher Reeve

Commentary:

Finally, there is hope in the world again!

be tolerant in judging the opinions of others

Be tolerant in judging the opinions of others and moderate in expressing your own.

Baltasar Gracian, Spanish Jesuit of the seventeenth century

Commentary:

This is hard to accomplish at the height of election fever! Maybe I should have waited until next to week to post this one. I am not very moderate in expressing my opinion at times - something I should probably work on, because I think I often offend people inadvertently. While I don't really judge the opinions of others out loud, I do so secretly sometimes, and thoughts are one of the three producers of karma (words and action being the other two). I try to be open-minded toward other's beliefs, but I bet I could be even more tolerant than I am. However, I will not be swayed one iota in my opinion of who should win the presidential election! In fact I already voted, so its too late anyway. :)

I guess there's nothing wrong with having an opinion, as long as you don't force your opinion on others and you allow others to have their opinions too. Many of us talk to one another expressing opinions, expressing opinions, but often are only interested in hearing ourselves speak. We rarely take a moment to hear what the other person is saying. You never know when an opinion of someone else might actually help you to see things in a new light. If nothing else, being tolerant in others' opinions makes for smoother relations between people - which is why they say you should never talk about politics or religion at a cocktail party.

Have a great Halloween weekend!

the teachings of the Awakened are simple

It is hard to be born into this world
and even harder to live the life of a human.
Yet it is harder still to hear of the path,
and even harder than this to awaken,
to rise and to follow the sacred way.

*
Yet the teachings of the Awakend are simple:
"Cease to do evil, learn to do good, and purify your mind."

*
Practice patience,
harm no one,
so say the Awakened Ones.
Profund liberation is the supreme goal.

*
Offend no one
either by word, action or deed.
Eat with moderation,
live in your heart
and seek to know your mind.

Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

Commentary:

The teaching does seem quite simple. Especially the 'do good, not evil' part. The purifying of the mind is the real challenge, but if we can attain a pure mind, then everything else will be easy.

So how to achieve a pure mind? Practice, practice, practice. We must always be aware of the thoughts in our heads, and purge the negative ones. Purging the mind of thoughts all together, and achieving a blank/zero mind is the ultimate goal. This is hard to do without performing sitting meditation, but not impossible. When doing the dishes or picking up all 100 toy blocks (again and again), I try not to think about the drudgery of repeating the same mundane tasks over and over, when there are probably more 'meaningful' ways I could be spending my time. I just do it without thought. Life is meaningful now, because I am living it. No matter what actions I might currently be performing.

letter from a student to a zen master

One of my students sent me a letter, in which he wrote, 'Zen Master, I have a problem. You sent me a picture of Shakyamuni Buddha. I kept it on my desk. My one-year-old son climbed up onto the table and ate the Buddha. What should I do?' I sent him a letter saying, 'Your baby is stronger than Buddha, and is a great Zen master. He has no hindrance. You must learn everything from your son, then you will soon get enlightenment.'

Zen Master Seung Sahn in Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake

Commentary:

Children have no hindrance. They just are. They live in the present moment free from prejudices about the world. We can learn a lot from them. A picture of a Buddha, anyway, is the not the real thing. It is just a picture. It is not sacred or holy. Its just a piece of photo-paper.

ancient wisdom, rather comic

ANCIENT WISDOM, RATHER COMIC

Chuang-tzu dreamed,
And having dreamed that he was a bird, a bee, and a butterfly,
He was uncertain why he should try to feel like anything else,
Hence his contentment.

poem by Ezra Pound, in Personae of Ezra Pound (Lustra)

Commentary:

Sometimes our dreams alone are enough to get us through. When I need to relax, I picture myself on a bed of crisp, white sheets with white, translucent curtains draping the open doorway and lightly swaying from a tropical breeze. The sounds of the ocean are audible but not forcibly so. No activities are planned. Restaurant staff and cleaning crew are there when we need them. But I am not them! I eat when I want to eat, sleep when I want to sleep or walk the beach when I wish. Otherwise, I can lie on the crisp, white bed until the spirit moves me. That is my daytime fantasy.

Sometimes at night, I dream that I am flying. Or sometimes, I am swimming in the most crystalline, refreshing ocean one could ever dream of. The blue, blue water is so stimulating to my spirit, that I never want to leave.

What do you dream of that helps keep you content? I would love to hear from you. Keep dreaming over the weekend!

a little progress in meditation practice

Were you to attain but a little progress in meditation practice, at the moment of death you would not be dragged under by the force of negative karma, even if you have not attained enlightenment in this lifetime.

Sutra in The Mirror of Zen by Zen Master So Sahn

Commentary:

Rather than strive to reach the peak of the mountain of enlightenment, I am currently content taking one step at a time up the long, steep incline. Any little bit of work toward bettering my spirit counts!

ordinary mind is the way

Zhaozhou asked Nanquan, "What is the Way?"

Nanquan said, "Ordinary mind is the Way."

"Should I turn toward it or not?"

"If you turn toward it you turn away from it."

Zhaozhou asked, "How can I know the way if I don't turn toward it?"

Nanquan said, "The way is not about knowing or not knowing. When you know something you are deluded, and when you don't know you are just empty-headed. When you reach the way beyond doubt, it is as vast and infinite as space. You can't say it's right or wrong."
With these words, Zhaozhou had sudden understanding.

Japenese koan, retold by John Tarrant in Bring Me the Rhinoceros

Commentary:


Just like the koan about the innkeeper, here is another tale in which enlightenment, or the Way, is said to be found in the ordinary. It is not necessary that you must be in mystical, peaceful surroundings, or that your mind must meditate on the extraordinary. Instead the light of Buddha can be found all around you, when your mind is focussed on the ordinary, when your actions are involved in the ordinary. But of course, the twist is that you cannot go looking for it, just like you cannot go looking for true love and hope to find it. Its almost when you have given up all hope, or when you give it all up to faith and let yourself believe it will happen one day...and then carry on living... that the extraordinary happens: you find true love. Or you find the Way.

This is good news for me, because I don't have the luxury these days to surround myself in exotic, peaceful locations or to meditate for hours on end. Its not that I necessarily believe I will become 'enlightened' in my ordinary life, but at least I can achieve a more balanced mind, even when my mind is focussed on the ordinary. Or as said in Monday's quote, I am working toward "readjusting nervous activity" and even in my mundane world, I should be able to do so.

Zen is not, in my view, philosophy or mysticism

Zen is not, in my view, philosophy or mysticism.
It is simply a practice of readjustment of
nervous activity. That is, it restores the distorted
nervous system to its normal functioning.

Katsuki Sekida, in A Guide to Zen. Lessons from a Modern Master

it has been said that time is money

It has been said that time is money. That proverb understates the case. Time is a great deal more than money. It is the inexplicable raw material of everything. With it, all is possible; without it nothing.

Arnold Bennnett, How to Live on 24 Hours a Day

Commentary:


So seize your day!

a dispute in sign language

A Zen master and his one-eyed student lived together in a monastery. One day a wandering monk came to the Zen master and said, "If you will accept me, I wish to study with you."

The old monk replied, "Decide first if you belong here. Go into the garden and speak to my student. Converse with him in any way you wish. After that, come and tell me your decision."

The visiting monk nervously went out into the garden and saw the one-eyed monk meditating. "I will show him how profound I can be," thought the visitor. "I will converse with him in sign language."

Approaching quietly, the visiting monk tapped the one-eyed monk on the shoulder and held up one finger. The one-eyed monk held up two fingers. In response, the visiting monk held up three fingers. The one-eyed monk held up his fist. When the visiting monk saw this, he dashed out of the garden to tell the old monk his decision.

He came upon the old monk at his chores and gasped, "I do not deserve to stay here! I am unworthy of being a fellow student with the enlightened young monk I met in the garden!"

The old monk paused in his work and asked increduously, "Are you speaking of the young one-eyed monk in the garden?"

"Yes!" exclaimed the visitor. "His knowledge is far superior to mine. I will humbly leave."

"Please tell me what happened in the garden," said the old monk, wide-eyed with amazement.

The visitor explained, "I approached the venerable monk and decided to converse in sign language. I held up one finger to indicate the Buddha. Whereupon he held up two fingers to indicate the Buddha and his teaching, the Dharma. I persevered in the discussion, however, and held up three fingers to show the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, the community. Then he revealed the limitations of my understanding. He held up his fist to show me that they all are one. I immediately ran here to tell you I must leave." With a sigh, he turned and left the temple.

A moment later the young one-eyed monk stumbled into the temple. He grumbled and shouted, "Where is that scoundrel?" How dare he insult me!"

"Calm your temper," said the old monk. "Please tell me what happened in the garden."

The young monk explained, "I was peacefully meditating when that rude visitor interrupted my concentration. When I looked up at him, he held up one finger, indicating that I have only one eye. I held up two fingers, politely congratulating him that he has two eyes. Then he insulted me further! He held up three fingers, pointing out that there were only three eyes among us. I could bear it no longer. I raised my fist to punch him in the nose and he ran away!"

Japanese Zen story, retold by Heather Forest in Wisdom Tales from Around the World.

Commentary:

More humor today! I guess it just goes to show, you don't always know what the other person is thinking.

The woman at the inn

There was a woman who kept the pilgrims' inn at Hara under Mount Fuji. Her name is unknown, and it is not known when she was born or died.

She went to hear a talk by Hakuin who said "They say there's a pure land where everything is only mind, and that there's a Buddha of light in your own body. Once that Buddha of light appears, mountains, rivers, earth grass trees and forests suddenly glow with a great light. To see this, you have to look inside your own heart. Then what should you be looking for? When you are looking for something that is only mind, what kind of special features would it have? When you are looking for the Buddha of infinite light in your own body, how would you recognize it?"

When she heard this the woman said, "This isn't so hard." Back at home she meditated day and night holding the questions while she was awake and during her sleep. One day, as she was washing a pot, she had a sudden breakthrough. She threw the pot aside and rushed to see Hakuin.

She said, "I've met Buddha in my own body, and everything on earth is shining with a great light! It's wonderful!" She danced for joy.

"Is that so?" said Hakuin, "but what about a pit of shit, does it also shine with a great light?"

The woman ran up and slapped him. She said, "You still don't get it, you old fart!"

Hakuin roared with laugher.

Japanese koan, retold by John Tarrant in Bring me the Rhinoceros

Commentary:

I thought the blog needed a little humor today! This koan is retold and expanded upon in John Tarrant's book Bring me the Rhinoceros. There is more than one message in the koan. The first is that during one's ordinary day, doing ordinary things, one can reach enlightenment (or see the beauty in all life, or whatever you may want to call it). Tarrant speaks about two others in the same chapter who 'saw the light' while scrubbing pots in their kitchens. I like this, as it means there is hope for me yet! Maybe I can start looking forward to doing dishes. :)

Another message the koan brings is best summarized by Tarrant himself: "When you forget your carefully assembled fiction of who you are, you can find a natural delight in people, in the planet, the stones and the trees." In the expanded version of the above koan, the innkeeper began to see the light in everything around her, only after having a near out-of-body experience, where she completely forgot who she was and all of her past life experiences. When she re-awakened, all her past life experiences where given a new 'light', and she even saw herself in a new way. In our modern day, so much of our identities are tied up in our accomplishments and the things we can tell others about ourselves. But this 'fiction of who you are' can ultimately become a trap. Forgetting your sense of self is the key to seeing the Buddha of light.

Another layer to the koan is the reference to the 'pit of shit.' It is a test to see if indeed the innkeeper has now become enlightened, then even a pit of shit must glow. It is far easier to see the beauty in beautiful autumn trees and vast mountainscapes, in the faces of strangers, or the tools of man; than it is to see beauty in darkness, painful memories and death. But darkness, pain and death have purpose in our lives. Understanding their purpose and seeing how difficult situations may actually further our spiritual growth, will help us see the Buddha of light.

Does a pit of shit actually serve a purpose? Well I don't know. But accepting that 'shit happens' makes facing the hardships of life just a little easier. And accepting the fact that 'everyone poops', makes poop itself seem a little less dark and evil (I am reading this book now to my son, in the hope that he will one day make the transition from diapers to toilet!).

So there you have it. I never thought I would be talking about poop on a zen-inspired blog!

if you cannot find a worthy companion

If you cannot find
a worthy companion,
better to travel alone,
like a king who has renounced
his kingdom or an elephant
that has left the elephant grove.

*

Travel alone
rather than in the company of fools.
A solitary life is better
than a life kept in bad company.

Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

Commentary:


This post is dedicated to three people in particular, one who is struggling in her marriage, another who is going through a divorce, and a third who has long since decided to travel through life alone, and seems quite content doing so. I hope the first two of my friends can find this same contentment soon, as well as any other readers out there who might be going through relationship problems.

Of course, if you have relationship problems now, it doesn't mean you will necessarily always have to go it alone. Maybe you just haven't met your true travel companion yet.



P.S. After posting this entry, I learned that the person I mentioned above who has been 'traveling' alone for ten years now, has actually met someone new and may no longer have to tread alone! And he is in his sixties. So you never know what lies ahead on your path!

travel together with joy

If as you travel,
you find a good companion
who is wise and virtuous,
travel together with joy
and overcome the troubles of this world.

Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

I am very lucky to have found a good companion to share my life's journey with. Happy 5th anniversary to him (tomorrow)!

do not concern yourself with outer appearances

Do not concern yourself
with outer appearances;
only the inner landscape
of liberation concerns the wise.

Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

may I be well, may I be happy, may I be free from suffering

“May I be well, may I be happy, may I be free from suffering.”

Loving-kindness mantra from wildmind buddhist meditation

Commentary:

In a follow up to Friday's post and this morning's post, there is another way to work on forgiving and forgetting. It is to cultivate loving-kindness (metta) through meditation. There are many different mantras associated with metta. You first begin by cultivating love toward yourself (as in the above mantra) and visualize yourself as you say the mantra. Then move on to showing love to your loved ones (replace "I" above with "you" and visualize your loved ones). Next repeat the mantra (with "you" instead of "I") and focus on a neutral person, the mail carrier or bus driver for instance. The fourth stage of the meditation is the hard part: cultivating loving-kindness toward your enemies. Repeat the mantra again, this time visualizing your enemies. If you project love toward your enemies (repeatedly) as you visualize them, it will become increasingly difficult to stay angry with them. There is a fifth stage of the loving-kindness meditiation and that is to cultivate metta toward all beings.

If, like me, you do not have the time to devote to focussed and disciplined meditation practice, you can reflect on loving everyone around you throughout your busy day (when at the stoplight, when walking to work, etc.) or as you are going to sleep, much like Christians say their prayers before going to bed. I find it a pleasant way to drift off to sleep as I aim to project love outwardly toward everyone I know. If you are lucky enough to have more time in the day to devote to meditation, and you would like a more in depth study on the loving-kindness meditation, please check out the wildmind tutorial on metta.


P.S. two quite long posts in one day! I hope this makes up for lost time over the past few days.

every person you ever meet has either been your mother once, or will be so in the future

Dear Readers,

I apologize for the delay between the last post and this one. I have been under the weather, so I hope you understand.

A reader commented on Friday's post about how difficult it really is to forgive and forget. I agree that this is easier said than done. Usually after a hurtful situation we seek an apology or revenge, but to just let it go.... that is not something most of us ever really want to do. But as mentioned in the Friday post, surrounding yourself by thoughts of misfortune and misdeeds from the past only furthers your misery.

In an effort to help us heals those wounds, there are two things one can meditate/reflect on to get closer to forgiving your enemies and thus ultimately forgetting the pain they caused you.

The first notion is to remember that in Buddhist philosophy, the universe is seen as having no beginning and no end. Thus people are born, reborn, and reborn again endlessly. If this is the case, then every person you ever meet has either been your mother once, or will be so in the future. Therefore everyone we ever meet deserves the same respect that we give our mothers.

I like to follow this notion even further. Not only has everyone once been your mother (or will be in the future) but as a parallel, everyone we meet has once been in the same predicament that we are now. Haven't you ever cut someone off on the road - maybe accidentally - or maybe you knew it was wrong but you were in a hurry? So then you can't really get angry the next time someone else cuts you off on the road. Maybe you once insulted someone with harmful words, whether by accident or out of anger. You may regret those words later, and may not have the chance to apologize. So too may the person who insulted you, be feeling that same way. Or in the example provided by Buddha, if you were born into a life of violence and poverty, you may very well beat and rob someone just to get money to survive. And because we live in a continual cycle of reincarnation, it is very likely you might be that violent robber one day (or once were in the past).

Projecting yourself into the life of your enemy makes it a little easier to see things from their perspective and thus understand and forgive their actions.

"Look how they abused me and beat me,

"Look how they abused me and beat me,
how they threw me down and robbed me."
Live with such thoughts,
and you will know only hate.

*

"Look how they abused me and beat me,
how they threw me down and robbed me."
Abandon such thoughts,
and you will know only love.

from the Dhammapada, by Buddha, translated by Karma Yonten Senge

Commentary:

This is similar to the 'turn the other cheek' mentality encouraged in the Christian religion. However, Buddha explains that if you forgive and forget, you heal yourself. If you hold a grudge, you are only continuing your own misery by rehashing hurtful moments.

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured

Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured.

~B.K.S. Iyengar

Commentary:

When I have an opportunity to exercise, I tend toward strenuous activities in order to burn up as many calories as I can in the limited time I have. I have been wanting to include yoga in my exercise routine as well, since it has so many benefits for the body and the mind. I used to do yoga a lot, when I was single with no children and seemed to have endless time at my disposal, but until now I haven't been able to find a way to include it in my busy schedule.

But this week as I have been laying on the floor with my 'rug rat', between reading him his favorite books and putting all his toys back in the toy box over and over... it dawned on me, that I too can be a 'rug rat' or rug 'downward dog' or rug 'cobra'. I can do yoga right here in my living room, a little here, a little there. It may not be the absolute quieting of the mind, and I may not always get to complete a full series of asanas, but it would still be better than nothing. I am sure it will still have benefits on my mind and body. There won't be incense burning, fancy yoga clothes or Western gurus named sri something-or-other, but I can live without all that!

The cultivation of altruism

True happiness comes from a sense
of peace and contentment,
which in turn must be achieved
through the cultivation of altruism,
of love and compassion...

the Dalia Llama

Commentary:

I don 't have a lot of spare time, and what little time I do have is consumed by many things I need to get done, and rarely things that I want to do. One thing I do want to do, aside from starting a new photography project is to volunteer at a local garden. But between post-hurricane clean-up and and the upcoming election, suddenly, I have found myself volunteering three times in one week! Since Thursday, I helped to clear trails from hurricane debris at the Houston arboretum, where they estimated that they lost over 1000 trees in the storm; I have helped prepare plants for an upcoming sale to help support local gardens in the area; and today I got deputized and then joined an event sponsored by a local radio station to register people to vote. There isn't much time left before the elections, so I imagine I will continue to use my free time over the next few weeks to help get out the vote. Then I can focus on the stuff I need & want to.

Buddhist dogma talks a lot about altruism and how the giving of oneself is but one of many actions that help one reach peace and harmony. I can't really explain the feeling that I get when I volunteer, but it is different than when I actually do similar work for a paycheck. When I am volunteering, I give myself up wholly, without expectation of reward for the work that I am doing. I suppose I do hope that my efforts in registering voters will be rewarded with a win for Obama. Its not a completely selfless desire, but neither is it selfish, for I truly believe if Obama were President, he would look out for the interests of most (95%) citizens in this country.

There was a child went forth

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he looked upon and received with wonder or
pity or love or dread, that object he became[...]

The early lilacs became part of this child,
And grass, and white and red morningglories, and white and red clover, and the
song of the phoebe bird[...] all became part of him[...]

from Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Luke is finally at an age where everything he comes across he holds in wonder and amazement. He is understanding a lot and learning even more, every day. If I spend time with him wholly, not distracted by dishes or emails or my need to accomplish something in the day, then I too, begin to revel in the wonder of the world, just as I did as a child. And this brings me closer to a state of harmony and peace. There is nothing better than a young child to help us "live in the moment" and remember to "stop and smell the roses".

If you do not cross the meadow thickly covered

If you do not cross the meadow thickly covered
in weeds,
You will never reach the village dusted with
falling blossoms.

from The Mirror of Zen by Zen Master So Sahn

Commentary:


Or as my father always says: "forefront the agony." There is also another saying that goes something like: "anything worth having is worth working hard for." But I like the way Zen Master So Sahn says it.

I just want the beautiful third story

Once there was a wealthy but foolish man. When he saw the beautiful three-storied house of another man, he envied it and made up his mind to have one built just like it, thinking he was himself just as wealthy. He called a carpenter and ordered him to build it. The carpenter consented and immediately began to construct the foundation, the first story , the second story, and then the third story. The wealthy man noticed this with irritation and said: "I don't want a foundation or a first story or a second story; I just want the beautiful third story. Build it quickly."

A foolish man always thinks only of the results, and is impatient without the effort that is necessary to get good results. No good can be attained without proper effort, just as there can be no third story without the foundation, and the first and second stories.

from Sayings and Parables, Buddhist Publication Society

Commentary: We started house shopping this weekend. One of the house descriptions that we came across was: "This house NEEDS A FOUNDATION." Needless to say, we passed that one by!

Family life

A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another. If these minds love one another, the home will be as beautiful as a flower garden. But if these minds get out of harmony with one another, it is like a storm that plays havoc with the garden.

If discord arises within one's family, one should not blame others but should examine one's own mind and follow a right path.

from Sayings and Parables, Buddhist Publication Society

Let us rise up and be thankful

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.

Buddha

Commentary:

I might add to this... at least we have electricity and running water. And if we don't have electricity and running water, at least we have a house, and if we don't have a house, at least we have food...

I'm still giving thanks, and even if I don't post another entry on gratitude tomorrow, I will still try to keep gratitude in my heart and mind every day, for there is always something to be thankful for.

Let us receive it in love and gratitude...

The joys and pains of all beings
are present in the gift of this food.
Let us receive it in love
and gratitude...

And in mindfulness of our sisters and brothers
among living beings of every kind
who are hungry or homeless,
sick or injured,
or suffering in any way.

Meal Gatha from Blue Iris Sangha

Commentary:

I want to continue the theme of gratitude. I find myself often giving thanks for what I have, and I believe reflection on gratitude keeps me at peace. I feel especially grateful today as another day passes for many who are still waiting for electricity. Luckily the weather is pleasant (not the usual heat & humidity) as they stand in long, long lines for Meals Ready to Eat and drinking water. Some of these people don't have a home to return to.

A thankful heart is the way to happiness

It's no easy task to find happiness in a society established on insatiable desire. So what is it that we need to do to escape never-ending desire and find happiness? The answer is to have a thankful heart... There are no conditions needed for appreciation. We can be thankful for life and for our freedom to move about.


From The Secret Life of Water by Masuru Emoto

Commentary:

I am extremely grateful that we got through Hurricane Ike without any complications. We were only out of power for 12 hours. The rest of the city was not so lucky. Millions are still without power and according to the power grid map, so should we also be. I do not know if its because we were mentally and physically prepared for the worst, if we paid our dues in Florida because we went without power there for weeks (after two separate storms) or if we were just plain lucky. Either way, we are extremely grateful, and my heart goes out to those who do not have electricity, and especially to those who lost their homes this weekend.

Tibetan sand painting

YouTube - Sand Mandala

Tibetan monks create paintings of 'mandalas' with colored sand, to help promote healing in the world. These paintings are beautiful and intricate creations that take many days to complete. At the end of it all, the monks destroy the paintings, symbolizing the impermanence of everything in the world. Thus we are reminded not to get attached to the physical nature of things, that nothing is permanent and that it is often the process, the actions, the journey, that are as important as the final destination or the end result.

YouTube - Sand Mandala Dissolution Ceremony

If you don't hear from me for a while, I may have lost power do to Hurricane Ike, which is due to start flexing it muscles in the Houston area sometime this evening. Stay tuned... I'll be back with more Zen thoughts, when I can!

Things will flow as they will

As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will, and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit.

Emmanuel Teney

Commentary:

Just as I was getting happy about crossing all the little details off my seemingly neverending list of things to do, I found myself running around town today preparing for a hurricane. Lots of details indeed. We are now, however, physically and mentally prepared and so instead of worrying, I can only just 'go with the flow'.

Our life is frittered away by detail

Our life is frittered away by detail. An honest man has hardly need to count more than his ten fingers, or in extreme cases he may add his ten toes, and lump the rest. Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail.

from Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Commentary:

I have finally caught up on every last detail that is involved in a big move. My desk is cleared. My house is clean. Luke is sleeping. And I have time on my hands! I'm almost at a loss for what to do! Its a shame that there are so many details involved in leading the modern life. It makes my head spin. Which is why, even on the days that are the busiest, I try to find a moment or two of 'being in the present moment'. Having a young child certainly helps in that aspect. It might not be a quiet moment, but it is most certainly in the present.

As for the details... out of sheer necessity, I have begun to simplify many aspects of my life and it feels good. I will continue to work on paring down the excess so that I have time to actually enjoy living.

On a clear and bright day

On a clear and bright day,
Clouds gather in deep valleys.
In a remote and silent place,
Radiant sunlight illuminates the clear sky.

Gatha from the Mirror of Zen by Zen Master So Sahn

Commentary:

I like this gatha and I think I know what it means, but cannot yet find the right words to express it. So because I cannot find the right words, I was going to abandon this post and search for another quotation. But then I read that one of the ten 'sicknesses' one must avoid in meditation on sayings and parables is "allowing yourself to get caught by words and speech... Instead keeping your mind clear, pour all of your energy into the question 'What is this?' " (also from the Mirror of Zen).

So I will continue to meditate on the gatha throughout the day and see if its meaning crystallizes. I may or may not come back for further commentary, depending on whether I find the right words to express how it makes me feel. In the meantime, I encourage comments from anyone else.

Tune us the sitar

The string o'erstretched breaks, and the music flies;
The string o'erslack is dumb and music dies;
Tune us the sitar neither low nor high.

The Light of Asia, Edwin Arnold

Commentary:


May my mind be perfectly tuned so that my soul may experience harmonious bliss.

Commentary on Friday's post

I found the content for Friday's post fairly early in the day, and knew that I liked the saying. But it took me all day to meditate on it and find its meaning in my own daily life. Mostly because these days meditation happens here and there, in ten second intervals as I am carrying on the daily activities of my busy life.

To reiterate:

Blossoms come about because of a series of conditions that lead up to their blooming; leaves are blown away because a series of conditions lead up to it. Blossoms do not appear unconditioned, nor does a leaf fall of itself. So everything has its coming forth and passing away; nothing can be independent without any change.

from Sayings and Parables by the Buddhist Publication Society

Its now obvious to me that success in life/love/career/happiness... whatever one's definition of success may be (and this includes Enlightenment), does not just happen, just as that blossom does not just suddenly bloom. Diligence, hard work, sometimes luck, and always following the right path are some of the conditions that lead up to success. So too, failure or dieing out (of a relationship, of an old way of being, of a direction in life... etc.) does not just happen one day, like a dead leaf on a tree. It can come about from neglect, laziness, or maybe just a change of seasons which gradually took place. Realizing this, it calms my mind knowing that I don't have to expect the blossom to appear right now - I know that I am working toward that. And at the same time I should never be surprised if the leaf suddenly falls off the tree, the signs that such would happen most certainly should be prevalent before the event actually takes place.

Blossoms and leaves

Blossoms come about because of a series of conditions that lead up to their blooming; leaves are blown away because a series of conditions lead up to it. Blossoms do not appear unconditioned, nor does a leaf fall of itself. So everything has its coming forth and passing away; nothing can be independent without any change.

from Sayings and Parables by the Buddhist Publication Society

You cannot bend your arm backward

Contort your body as you may, and yet still
You cannot bend your arm backward at the elbow.


Gatha from The Mirror of Zen by Zen Master So Sahn

Commentary:

There are some things that just cannot be changed, not matter how hard we try. Accepting that is a key to freeing the mind.

One thing

There is only one thing, from the very beginning, infinitely bright and mysterious by nature.
It was never born and it never dies. It cannot be described or given a name.

Sutra from The Mirror of Zen by Zen Master So Sahn

Commentary:

To me, this is both God, and the energy that runs the entire universe (from planets and stars to humans and microorganisms), which I believe to really be one and the same, whether you describe it through mathematical equations and laws of physics or theological doctrine and biblical verse. This 'one thing', I believe, exists within us, as well as all around us, and so all that exists is really intertwined into one great thing, even if we each have unique qualities within this system. Understanding I am only one small part of this big never-ending system is humbling, but it is also freeing.