We
are not separate from our practice, and so no matter what, our practice
is present. An ocean swimmer is loose and flows with the current and
moves through the tide. When tossed upside-down in the surf, unable to
discern which way is up and which is down, the natural swimmer just lets
go, breathing out, and follows the bubbles to the surface.
—Sensei Pat Enkyo O’Hara, "Like a Dragon in Water"
In
a work situation, if you have a particularly cantankerous boss who you
think is a complete idiot, can you look at that person as the Buddha? As
a manager, can you see that person who is working for you as the
Buddha?
—Gerry Shishin Wick Sensei, "Zen in the Workplace"
The progression is quite inevitable. After some time on the path of
awakening, the type of associates you share time with changes. Finally,
you realize that except for existing karmic commitments - such as
familial, or societal commitments - there is no reason to spend time
with anyone except as an aid to one’s sadhana (service). So all new
relationships, be they friendships, roommates, marriages, business
partnerships, take on implicitly, and finally explicitly, this
contractual basis.
When your center is firm, when your faith is strong and unwavering, then
it will not matter what company you keep. Then you will see that all
beings are on the evolutionary journey of consciousness. They differ
only to the degree that the veil of illusion clouds their vision. But
for you… you will see behind the veil to the place where we are all ONE.
Anyone who enjoys inner peace is no more broken by failure than he is inflated by success.
—Matthieu Ricard, "A Way of Being"
The
more we try to make life conform to our desires, the more we struggle,
and the more we suffer. The only way out of this vicious cycle is to
accept what arises, completely: in other words, do nothing.
—Ken McLeod, "Something from Nothing"
United Nations Secretary General-elect Antonio Guterres's appeal for #LGBT equality.
Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things,
this is the best season of your life.
—Wumen Huikai, "The Best Season"
Offered by David Mushin Keeber:
This evening, our teacher Eisho offered a lovely Dharma Reflection as
we sat zazen. Given that Vietnamese Zen teacher Thich Naht Hanh has
taken seriously ill recently, she brought to us a gatha he often sits with.
Breathing in, I calm my body
Breathing out, I smile.
Dwelling in the present moment
I know this is a wonderful moment.
He has offered these reflections on the gatha.
Breathing in, I calm my body. This line is like drinking a
glass of ice water on a warm day. You feel the freshness permeate your
body. When I breathe in and recite this line, I actually feel the
breathing calming my body, calming my mind.
Breathing out, I smile. A smile can relax hundreds of
muscles in your face and relax your nervous system. Smiling means that
we are ourselves, that we have sovereignty over ourselves, that we are
not just drowned in forgetfulness. This kind of smile can be seen on the
faces of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Dwelling in the present moment. While I sit here, I don’t
think of somewhere else, of the future or the past. I sit here and know
where I am. The only moment to be alive is the present moment.
I know this is a wonderful moment. This is the only moment that is real. To be here and now, and enjoy the present moment is our most wonderful task.
As we sit, we can easily remember this gatha by thinking of these words on each breath, one by one: Calming, Smiling, Present, Wonderful
Make the jump here to read the original and more
Because
we imagine anger is never a good thing, it is easy to think we should
practice simply not being angry. But that approach is too general and
abstract. It’s important for each of us to be precise, to be real, to be
personal and honest, to find out exactly what my anger is. To do that
we need to ask ourselves lots of questions about its actual nature.
—Nancy Mujo Baker, "Precious Energy"