I forget who it was who said something along the following:
“We spend most of our time thinking about sex, except for act itself, when our minds tend to wander.”
When we really pay attention to the moment by moment rising phenomena, what is true and real? The following, as stated so well by Tracy, who passed this on to me, is “no great surprise to meditators, though apparently a shocking revelation to scientists.”
(Thanks, Tracy.)
This week’s class was on “The Heavenly Messengers.”
When sickness, old age and death touch us, our lives can be transformed. As a great sage once said when asked of the greatest wonder of the world, he replied, “That everyone dies … and no one thinks they will.”
I thought I’d share a few of the Death Poems I read. This is entitled “Zazen on Ching’t'ing Mountain:”
The birds have vanished down the sky.
Now the last cloud drains away.
We sit together, the mountain and me,
until only the mountain remains.
I love the following from Dogen. How could one better describe impermanence?
To what shall
I liken the world?
Moonlight, reflected
In dewdrops,
Shaken from a crane’s bill.
Exploring how our state effects our perceptions, I read the the Diary of a Dog and a Cat. Pretty funny, I must say.
| DIARY OF A DOG AND CAT | |
| The Dog’s Diary | The Cat’s Diary |
| 8:00 am – Dog food! My favourite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favourite thing! 9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favourite thing! 10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing! 12:00 pm – Milk bones! My favourite thing! 1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favourite thing! 3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favourite thing! 5:00 pm – Dinner! My favourite thing! 7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favourite thing! 8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favourite thing! 11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing! |
Day 983 of my captivity.
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. B@*****s! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage. Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now….. |
From this week’s class on Inner and Outer Change:
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
A twilight moment at Spirit Rock
There is a fine line between
Here are a few things I found helpful during my month-long retreat – for a while. Once I ‘lost the buzz’ I found myself struggling to ‘get back there.’
Eventually I realized that the ‘there’ I was trying to get to is actually ‘here.’
That’s when I started to relax.
Tulku Urgyen said the following phrase describes the essence of the practice. As you reflect on these words, simply feel their effect. There is no doing here … Just opening to the sense of things.
“Utterly Awake, Sense Doors Wide Open,
Utterly Open, Non-Fixating Awareness.”
The Tibetans describe consciousness as “Undivided Emptiness Suffused with Knowing.” I found reflecting on that phrase helpful.
As cliché as this may sound, when you are meditating you might ask yourself:
“What would the Buddha do?” “How would the Buddha meet this moment?”
I found this to be quite effective … By tuning into what I imagined as the consciousness of the Buddha I could sometimes feel a distinct shift to an expansive sense of presence.