Nowhere Fast

Going Nowhere Fast

There’s that person that passes you in their car only to end up at the same stoplight as you.  We’ve all had it happen, and some of us have been the person passing.

But what’s the rush?  Is that person’s time more important than anybody else’s?  And don’t you find yourself giggling when they are beside you or in front of you and have to wait just as long for the light to change as you do?

Life is full of stoplights.  No matter how much of a rush you may be in, what is that rush worth?  We are all on the “road” of life.  We may travel at different speeds and end up at different destinations.  The point is to enjoy the ride, do not speed through it to get ahead.  This ends up as nothing more than a desire being fulfilled, leading to another desire when we are bored of the previous one.

Enjoy your drive or ride on the road of life and keep mindful of the scenery.  

Mass Distraction

This may be different for certain people.  But what would happen if you turned off your TV, stepped away from your games, or stayed home from the pub?  Just with silence around and nothing to do.  Would you feel lost?  Confused as to what to do to past the time?

Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh said in a Dharma talk that, we thrive on these distractions because we are afraid of ourselves/one's own mind.  The more I think about this, and the more I try to break away from these stimuli, the more I find it is true.

Our present day is filled with a constant stream of input and data.  90% of it is essentially useless in all truth.  It's filler, not unlike the foods we think we taste with other elements mixed in.  It distracts us from who we truly are and who we can be.  But how many of us take time to take that inward step to realize what we are and where we are?

Understandably, not everybody's life can include a long period of solitude.  But what about a half hour, or even twenty minutes a day to reflect and be mindful of where we are and what we do?  Just to mindfully breathe and realize that we are not the only thing that matters. What we do inevitably influences others in some way. 

This is important even to the non-Buddhist.  It can be stress relieving, and open the mind to more things than a self-centered reality. 

As Bright as a Light

Every day on my way to and from work, it's a twenty mile drive.  On the route, there are 3 blinking lights.  When you drive, the mind wanders, does it not?   This got me thinking the other day.

As a light shines, no matter the distance you are from it, or if you are not looking at it, it's still the same brightness, or blinking as it takes its course.  People's character are the same.  There is always a base.  Character is always the same.  We can change, as people, or mature, but isn't there always something that has always been there?

Does a light shine any brighter whether you look at it or not?


So I applied this self-thought riddle to life.  Are people the same whether or not you are around them?  Do things keep their course whether or not you are there?

Do clouds hinder the sun's true brightness?  The sun still glows whether or not clouds are in the way. Also if it is night where you are, it still shines on another part of our earth.

Thus it is the same with all things.  Be aware that all things are what they are, and their nature.  This is comparable to the Dharma.  We cannot change what is.  Consider this.

If you can think of other things relative to this, I'd like to read it in the comments.

Gassho.

Wavelenghts

Sometimes we say "We're on the same wavelength" when meeting or talking to somebody.  Others sometimes are on a totally different wavelength.

Harmony

To practice understanding, acceptance and compassion to all involves a harmony of wavelengths on all levels.  How can one do this?  Perhaps with mindfulness, understanding, and unbiased opinion, or abolishing ego.  I know in posts past I have gone on about "ego."  But this is really what drags us down as humans.  We put ourselves first and cling to the idea that "I am" or "I need."  

So what if we could be on the wavelength of anybody?  I personally am trying to do this myself, trying to judge others less, and accept people.  Of course there are people I don't want to be involved in my personal life, and I have made measures to do so.  I don't believe this to be hypocritical, there are just people out there who may have a negative influence on you or people who are holding you back from what you believe is your potential. Though, to understand life and this "whole" we need to understand everybody and everything without exception.  

In short, it's important to have a wavelength or form of understanding to give compassion and acceptance to all beings.  Also it is very important to realize the influence and affect we all have on each other.

In Gassho.  _/\_

Nothing Special

What is it to be special?  Being held in high or low regard?  To be unique to all others?  In Reality, what is truly the difference between wealthy or poor; respected or ignored; sacred or mundane, wise or lame of mind?

All of the above are relative.  What I mean is that you can't have one without the other.  And why do these opposites exist?  Ego.  The sense of self, the idea of disconnection from the All. It is only applying form to that which in truth is actually formless or empty.

Too often we get caught up in the ideas and beliefs of what is right vs wrong, beautiful vs ugly, dark vs light, etc. But Buddhism and Zen is about seeing things for what they are before these ideas, or what we could even call labels.  Absolute Reality doesn't depend on opposites/relativity/opinions.  The universe will inevitably continue to unfold itself regardless of what happens or what we may hold as valuable.  As sobering as it may be, the earth will continue to spin after encounter the end of you life, and people will forget about you time to time.

One of the purposes of Zen is to live in the moment and approach each moment to it's fullest and deepest meaning.  A homeless person can penetrate this moment just as well as a billionaire. A plastic representation of a "holy" figure can have just as much value as one made of gold. It is never about who or what you are, but how you approach life in its completeness in this moment.  Just to be awakened is the point.  To see through the delusion of thought that opposites exist in the mind but not in Reality.

In conclusion nothing is ugly or beautiful, good or evil, sacred or mundane, light or dark, etc.  These are all ideas (delusion) which conflict with true reality.  Nothing is special or lame, everything just is.

Pushing Against the Tide

One of the biggest roots of suffering is feeding our ego or self this belief that we can have Reality the way we want it.  Things don't happen in our favor when we believe they should, or we feel the universe is against us.

There was a ninth century Zen teacher from China named Kuei-shan and his student Yang-shan.  The student asked his teacher, "When the ten thousand things come up to you, what should you do?"  Kuei-shan responded, "Green is not yellow; long is not short.  Each thing manages its own; why should I interfere?"

What control do we truly have over Reality?  The answer is none.  Thinking that we can have things our way is like pushing against the tides when the water will just go around you anyway.  But do not think things are predetermined as destiny.  Things may go in favor for a while, but invariably can change in an instant because everything is constantly changing.

Also this isn't telling you to "just sit back and take it."  We can accommodate to the situations that rise up in our lives by approaching them wisely and in a calm manner.  As my teacher always says, "We just need to rise to the moment."  Face whatever comes your way, from a flat tire to losing a loved one.

Back To Society

After spending a four to five month stint in the nether regions of Iowa working at the monastery, I'm back and I'm going to be posting more often. (I know I've said that many times before, but I do always return ;) ).
Some serious food for thought is included in the link below. Enjoy, and see you soon. Gassho.

The Universe in Prospective (interactive)
(be sure you scroll the bar all the way to the left to begin)

Tiding Over

I've been quite busy lately, i.e. unable to post a meaningful entry, so to tide you over I have decided to share this video I stumbled upon to keep your mind flowing.  There are many metaphors and parallels to many Buddhist teachings included.  Enjoy

Mountains Walk

In Dogen's "Mountains and Waters Sutra" (Sansui-kyo), he states, "Mountains' walking is just like human walking...if you doubt mountains' walking, you do not know your own walking; it is not that you do not walk, but that you do not know or understand your own walking."

source

I have put this into practice and realized it's universal with all activities.  When we say "I" am walking, it's not just me walking.  The ground is also walking with us.  If there were no ground, how could walking take place?  The same goes for virtually any activity.  "I" don't shovel snow; the shovel, snow and myself shovel snow.  Even for driving, "You" don't drive; the car, the road, and yourself drive.


Having put this into practice, I have experienced a deeper connection with everything I do.  I've found it can be done with everything I do including cooking, dish-washing, painting, etc.  This is a great practice in mindfulness.  You become one with everything you are doing while realizing this, which Katagiri Roshi himself explains this topic in his book Each Moment is the Universe, and calls it "The great enlightenment."


This is also a great example of why Zen is considered "practice-realization."  We don't have to wait for enlightenment, it happens all the time if we put into practice the teachings and see the world from what some call "Big Mind" or "Universal Mind."


I highly recommend practicing the "Mountains walk" frame of mind.

In Gassho.

Intoxicating

One of the vows for Lay Persons and Monks alike is, "..to not indulge in intoxicants."  Typically this is considered for mind altering substances like drugs and alcohol.  But what about other things in life which seem to "intoxicate" us?

The basis of the vow is that intoxicants cloud our minds so that we don't see the true reality which Buddha teaches us about.  Also the side-affects of these can lead to our mishaps, and can affect the lives of others.

source

As far as clouding the mind, I believe we as humans have many things which cloud our minds, not just drugs and alcohol.  Namely things such as ignorance, greed, desire, and anger just to mention a few.

We can get our minds in so deep into some of these that it really does intoxicate us, altering our minds just like a controlled substance.  We are unable to think clearly, see truth, and see things as they really are.  Not only that, but the side-affects can hurt others and affect their lives in negative ways as well.

By being mindful of our thoughts and emotions we can better control these impulses, recognize them and deal with them by more skillful means.

Marrow of the Bone

What is spirituality or religion?  What is life?  By seeing the two as separate things, we create a dualistic view and feel one is separate from another.

As Katagiri Roshi puts it,
down to the marrow of your bones.

True practice, as defined by many masters such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Katagiri Roshi, and Dogen Zenji, is total unification of the both.  In other words life is spirituality, and spirituality is life.  This is living a true spiritual life.

This idea isn't just for monks and priests, but for anybody who claims  they are spiritual, Buddhist, Christian, etc.  Pardon my words, but what is the point of a half-ass practice?

To see the true rewards of practice, this is what must be done; a complete unifying of life and practice.  The Buddha and all Bodhisattvas were only human and they were able to do this.  Saints of other practices have also realized this.

rcz.org

What are ways we as Buddhists can achieve this?  A continuation of practice.  Zazen/meditation, daily sutras and chanting, and living mindfully.  I believe this is also one of the reasons that there is The Noble Eightfold Path.  Of course it may not happen immediately if you are new to Buddhism, but always keep the words of the teachers and masters who have said the same thing as I have here and you will surely be able to live a truly spiritual-life.

In Gassho

Chop Wood, Carry Water

So it has been well over a month since my last post.  I moved and for a greater portion of that time I didn't have internet access.  I moved to a property owned by Ryumonji Zen Monastery.  Since my move, I have come to realize many great things about life.

Less is a luxury.  I don't have a whole lot where I live right now, and I love it.  I just have my "staples" and my practice (both Buddhism and martial arts).  I read, work out, practice, sit zazen, and write.  Nothing could be better to me.  I've also had a lot of time to work/practice on my calligraphy which is also nice.

I chop wood, carry wood and water.  It reminds me of the Zen proverb, "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.  After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water."  In a sense, I have come to appreciate this proverb.  Work is life, life is work.  When appreciated, both are beautiful.

I've also been reading a lot of Dogen's writings, which has inspired me to compose little poems.  I think that's a side-affect of reading Dogen, haha.

I will be posting more often now that I have the internet.  Hope you are all well, many blessings, in gassho.

Where I live:

Fuel for the Fire

I was pondering the importance of ritual, ceremony, chants, etc.  My best idea is that it's to keep us on the path.  Kind of like adding tinder and fuel to a fire we have started, so that it wont extinguish itself.  This is also true of our sitting Zazen or meditation.

Why do we chant sutras and repeat things we have said over and over in front of our altar?  To remind us of our practice.  We are human and we get side-tracked, involved in worldly affairs and such that can often draw our attention away from The Way.

I don't think we do it out of dogmatic obligation.  When we want to delve into our spirituality and the practice of Buddhism, we do things such as rituals, chants, and meditation to keep a base.  The base can be seen as a foundation for living our lives or handling our affairs according to the Dharma.

My guess would be that it's the similar situation of people of other faiths going to church and the like.  They go to hear the pastor's, reverend's, or priest's words to keep in touch with their faith and remind themselves of the teachings.

When we can realize the meaning of what we do and why, it gives a deeper dimension to the practice.  So keep chanting, prostrating, and meditating to keep the course. :)

Gassho

Conformity of Form

Very often while studying Buddhism we hear two words, "FORM" and "EMPTINESS."  What exactly do these words mean?  I've had many conversations on the topic of Form and Emptiness.  It can be a heavy topic, because it is one that challenges much of how we have been taught for most of our lives.

I will attempt to do my best (from what I have found through my teachings and studies) to explain exactly what form and emptiness are, in hopes that it will enlighten others who may not exactly know what the two are (or are not).

Let's start with Form.  Form (like many other terms in Buddhism) has a double meaning.  Our eyes, ears, tongue, nose, sensations, and mind (namely the Five Aggregates and imagination or mind) create form.  It is how we function in the world.  As the Dhammapada and many sutras say, "With out thoughts, we make the world," or, "Our perception of the world is merely a manifestation of our minds."  This doesn't mean we create the world with our minds, it means our interpretations and imaginations create a biased reality by our senses and minds, which is not true reality.

Why is it not true reality? Because form is emptiness......let me explain. Form is a what our mind grasps to for the purpose of interpretation.  We create words, opinions, and ideas based on interpretations of form. 

In the Lankavatara Sutra, the Buddha tells us that because of our ignorance and biased ideas of words and ideas of forms, we develop a false reality.  In absolute reality, words and forms are empty.  Now emptiness is another confusing term.

Emptiness doesn't mean that things are unsubstantial, invalid, or without purpose.  Emptiness is another word for "that which is without form or self."  The tree has no self because it is part of the the dirt, sun, rain, and wind from which it grows.  Just as we are without self because of the many elements and ancestors which have come together to create us.

Also, form implies another thing.  We may see a pond as a nice piece of scenery or fishing-hole.  What of the fish?  The fish, tadpoles, frogs and dragonflies see that pond as home.  Just as you may see your house as home, termites see that as food, and so on.  So form is only implied by the mind.

The Buddha also says in the Lankavatara Sutra that when we can achieve the stage of imagelessness and egolessness, we will be emancipated.  Images and egos are nothing but implications of form.  So in absolute reality: style, language, perceptions, feelings, false-imaginations,  and things of the like are only empty and subject to the mind.

This is merely a brief description of the terms in mind, there of course, is much more to it, I pray this post has made sense and helped those to may not have previously understood.  Many Blessing and Gassho.

Joy of Jukai

This past weekend I attended another Sesshin (meditation retreat) before my Jukai (Lay Ordination).  It was nice to see friends and of course meet new ones.  One of the highlights was the new practice at the monastery of traditional Oryoki meal serving in the Sodo (meditation hall).  We have always had Oryoki meals there before, but in the dining hall instead.  Sorry I don't have a picture, but it was pretty much exactly like this:

I was chosen to be a server for two of the meals which was a unique and cool experience as well.  I fell somewhat ill, so I was unable to sit in every single sitting, but I was able to get my "fill."

The highlight of the weekend, of course, was the Jukai Ceremony.

Setup before Ceremony

 I had been looking forward to this and taking the precepts pretty much all summer.  It was strange going in the procession I felt almost "naked" in a sense.

I was surprised how many people were there.  We had quite a handful there for Sesshin, but more and more people kept pouring in.  After taking the vows though, I felt a definite renewal of practice and purpose.  It was truly something I'll never forget.  The following pictures (and captions) may better describe what ensued. :

Formally asking for Ordination

Incense offering at one of the altars

Initial prostrations

Chanting the Heart Sutra

Receiving the Rakusu

Prostrations after The Vows

Bestowal of Lineage Papers

Shoken (the abbot) with Ordainees

Taking Refuge

The word "refuge" may be easily misunderstood in the context of Buddhism.  The dictionary definition of "refuge" is usually as follows:
1. shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.: to take refuge from a storm.
2. a place of shelter, protection, or safety.
3. anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape.
(from Dictionary.com) 

The term "refuge" in Buddhism is shorthand actually takes on a different meaning.  We are not looking to run away, hide, find immediate relief when we speak "I take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha."

What we really mean is: "I am one with the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha."  Now, the term "one" can have a double meaning as well.  If we are ONE with the Triple Treasure, we do have protection within our mind, body, and spirit.  But taking refuge should not be seen, implied, or even imagined as an escape from reality or an immediate alleviation.

When we truly practice and have a deep faith within Buddhism, we are a part of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha.  We live it in our daily lives, instilling it into our bones and marrow.  We cannot be separated from it and it cannot be separated from us.

So remember the next time you recite the verse of the Triple Treasure, Triple Gem, (etc.), you are not escaping into them, your are affirming that you are one with them.  This will bring much more strength and meaning into the recitation alone.

Gassho.

Ego-patrio-tism

I wasn't sure if I should post this on the 10th anniversary of the "9/ll attacks" or for Columbus Day.  So  I chose Columbus day.
If it weren't for ego, many things in history, including many atrocities wouldn't have happened.  Radical religious practitioners are no different.  Crusaders, Jihad, Conquistadors, they are all based on an attitude that of ego, that their religion is best.  And it always ends up in unnecessary deaths and disposal of innocent lives.
With that in mind, for Columbus Day, I leave you with this video.  But consider it has not only been Columbus and his time, but so many other "leaders" who have killed and harmed many innocent people in the sake of ego.

Code of Fighters and the Peaceful

The Shaolin Code is an ancient code of ethics taught to all Shaolin monks.  This code is great for a marital artist, but also great for a Buddhist.  With a little tweak of the words, it perfectly matches what every Buddhist should live by.  I'll give the original translation, then the "tweaked" version so you can see the connection for yourself.
Original:
Remain disciplined: uphold yourself ethically as a martial artist.
Courtesy and righteousness: serve the community and honor your family.
Respect your fellow students: be united and avoid conflicts.
Curb your desires and pursuit of bodily desires: preserve your proper spirit.
Train diligently and make it a habit: maintain your skills
Strive to develop spiritual tranquility: abstain from arguments and fights.
Coordinate in society: be conservative, cultured and gentle in your manners. 
Protect the weak and very young: use your martial skill for the good of humanity
Maintain the tradition: preserve this Chinese art and its Rules of Conducts. 

Now with a little adaptation to this code, here's how I believe it connects to Buddhism with only a little switch of the terms.
"Buddhist Version":
Remain disciplined: uphold yourself ethically as a Buddhist. (uphold the precepts)
Courtesy and Righteousness: Serve the community (Sangha and all beings) and honor your family (teachers/lineage)   
Respect your fellow students: be united and avoid conflicts (not much else needs to be changed here- learn from each other and keep an open mind)
Curb your desires and pursuit of bodily pleasures: preserve your proper spirit (again, not much needs changing here- keep the precepts and preserve your path of the Way)
Train diligently and make it a habit: maintain your skills (Continue your practice and meditation regularly, make it a part of you)
Strive to develop spiritual tranquility: abstain from arguments and fights. (Keep a tranquil mind and practice compassion)
Coordinate in society: be conservative, cultured and gentle in your manners. (Compassion again plays a major role here, also, teach people on their various levels)
Protect the weak and very young: use your martial skill for the good of humanity  (The practice is Buddhism is for all beings, we don't only practice for ourselves)
Maintain the tradition: preserve this Chinese art and its Rules of Conducts. (Teach those who do not know the Way and uphold its precepts diligently)

Gassho

Alone in the World

One of the biggest difficulties I find while practicing is the dis-attachment from self.  I've always had a little problem with social anxiety. Even now as an (ever-aging) adult, the task of letting go of self is sometimes difficult.

I live my life as I choose, but perhaps it is "western-conditioning" that I still feel self-conscious about what I may wear or how I behave.

Dogen states that people will scoff and make fun of those who practice the Way of the Buddhas and Patriarchs for what they wear and what they do, but hold fast to the teachings of the Way, for those who make fun of you and scoff at your actions are the furthest from awakening.

Being in the west, many Buddhist customs such as dress and begging are not exactly accepted.  This is different from eastern cultures where this has been a part of society for at least 2,000 years. But the statement from Dogen even holds true until today in eastern cultures.  Many monks beg for alms in China, Japan, and others as the Buddha instructed during his time on earth.

So the only solution to this, I guess, is to ultimately let go of ego and self.  Dogen states that continuously that the benefits of studying and practicing the Way of the Buddhas and Patriarchs far out-weighs the benefits of conforming to the emotions and judgments of worldly people.

Relic Tour

This past Saturday, I attended the Maitreya Relic Tour.  I was kind of skeptical and wasn't sure what to expect.  All of the flyers and brochures just showed rocks and hair.  But when I watched the video which they had playing, something profound hit me.

When beings are enlightened and have deep compassion, during their cremation, they produce relics.  One of the Lama's relics was of his heart, and as the story goes, his whole heart was untouched by flames and his ashes were in the shape of various Bodhisattvas.
EVEN THE ORIGINAL BUDDHA'S RELICS WERE THERE!  I was moved to tears when I looked over them before I even realized what I was looking at.  So after viewing the video, I had to take another round of observing the relics.
Here are some pics:

Main Relic Table Display

Relics of Buddha's Disciples, including Ananda and Shariputra

Relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, himself!

Relics of other Lamas and Teachers

These relics are going to be placed in the heart of a 500 ft statue of Maitreya in northern India, where the Buddha passed away.  This was definitely a once-in-a-life opportunity and I am forever grateful.  If the tour comes by your way, I strongly recommend you attend.
Gassho.