Life On Purpose

I’ve been reading Norman Fischer’s book, Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong. It’s a mind training practice on compassion. Fischer has put a Zen spin on this traditionally Tibetan practice. A Dharma brother suggested it. I’ve also had a meaningful encounter with another dharma brother who is deeply engaged with Tea Ceremony, an intentional act of presence and being, in peace. The philosophy and aesthetics of tea ceremony had a profound effect on me as a potter and introduced me to way of seeing that influenced my engagement with Zen. I’ve been happily reminded of some of its core values.

It’s a generally accepted idea that all Buddhist practice fundamentally has the same primary purpose, the first of the 4 vows; “Beings are numberless, I vow to save them”. This is the meaning of bodhicitta. To work to relieve suffering. Helping out in whatever way we can. Clearly this is a noble yet, in a practical sense, unattainable vow. The point here is not accomplishment in totality, but rather the action of continuing the work we vow to do. When we experience a realization of total non-separation (emptiness, as such), dissolution of the dualistic thinking of ‘self vs other’, then we realize that, in fact, bringing peace to oneself is, in a very real way, bringing peace to all beings. Does it seem a bit abstract to you? Understandable, but this is the reality of it. This is because of the truth of the undeniable interconnectedness of all things. Can we detach ourselves, even for a moment from the habitual self-centered thoughts that constantly ask “What’s in it for me”? Is it possible to just engage in the work-at-hand with our full heart and mind focused on relieving the suffering of another? Haltingly though we may proceed, even in great doubt, we carry-on. This is the vow we take as Buddhists.

It’s my view that there is another issue at hand to work with that is implicit in our Bodhicitta vow: To Live Life Fully. One of the great gifts of practice has been the slow shift in consciousness and focus from a self-centered reality to a reality that truly sees and experiences things as they are and acting with intention. Not only is this a gift but a great responsibility. It’s said; “not knowing is the most intimate” and at the best of times we experience that “not knowing” as it emerges fully as awareness. There is a clarity that presents itself. This reality-shift encompasses an inconceivable range of emotions, reactions and thoughts. Many are quite uncomfortable, but present none the less. To turn away from these with ego-rationalization and justification is stealing from ourselves the abundance of a life fully lived. We have vowed to face life full-on which is not always our initial reaction to difficulty or even to exuberance.

Not knowing may engage us in a deeper and more profound way of seeing however there actually IS stuff we know! The danger about this stuff-we-know is that we’re habitually programmed to react from a perspective of grasping for ourselves or averting, again for ourselves. Some of this stuff is important stuff and we actually need to honor it. Can we remember and act accordingly with flow and grace? With the needs of our fellow beings at heart? This is the salient point; when we are intentionally engaged in the experiences of living fully there is no space for the separate-self to gain a foothold in our thinking or dictate our actions. This is perhaps, due to the overwhelming enormity of the experience of seeing things as they actually are in reality. There remains little space for self-deception. By intentionally practicing living life fully we gradually notice awareness as a more frequent and natural state. We notice the experiences of suffering we witness for what they actually are and engage appropriately, without the need for self aggrandizement or thought of gain. We can hold lightly all the emotions and fleeting thinking and show-up for our own life.

There’s an old joke in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings; Q. What does a drunk do when he finds himself in a rut? A. He furnishes it. In this case it’s not about making lemonade from life’s lemons. It’s about being unable to motivate himself to get out, trapped by wallowing in his own suffering. We might say in Buddhist terms; he’s unable to raise the Bodhi Mind. Whether it’s our attachment to our ideas of who and what we are, or our fear based thinking, or a habitual behavior, we all get stuck in the rut. To raise the Bodhi Mind we recall our vows, we move into them, review our intentions, and engage in compassionate action. To live life fully, including accepting all its travails and ecstasy is to raise the Bodhi Mind and that, in and of itself, is to actively relieve the suffering of beings, starting with yourself.

As the Sandokai forcefully reminds us: “Do not waste your time by night or day.”

_{Deep Peace & Great Love, Issan}

Schedule 10/6-12

Wednesday, 6:30 am; Zazen at the Teahouse, Andy opening.

Friday, 6:30 am; Zazen at the Teahouse, Aishi opening

Noah’s Poems

My altar is filled with prayers

I keep on listening to the song

“Fast Car”

And I have been contemplating questions of purpose and service

But mostly, this morning at least, it has been about

Belonging

—-

Last night as I lay on the couch I realized I was stopping myself from 

Making comparisons (Nope, that is a bad thought to have!)

So I let myself have all those thoughts

Just for a bit!

And what a relief!

How wonderful it was to compare and compare!

At least I am not as…

I’ll never be as good as!

Am I better than?

I am I am. Indeed!