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.

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)