a ritual sign

palms together, gassho, hapchang, what is the meaning of this humble yet profound action? presence– is just a state of mind. observance– is just seeing true nature. nurturance– is just embracing our own mortality. joy– is merely letting go of ideas. what is this grace? where does it function and what is it that results? my idea has nothing to do with the beautiful expression whose expectations have gone beyond all that a mortal could ever imagine!

some want to be Zen Masters

*Please see the notes on this picture at the bottom of this post. some want to be Zen Masters; they should try to be good carpenters. some want to be world honored sages; they should try to be good mechanics. some want to be saints— they should try to be good clerical help. the true master is a carpenter. the true sage is a mechanic. the true saint is a clerk. if you want a zen stick, I will take it from you. if you don’t want a zen stick. just pay attention and the truth will appear. * I came accross this photo on the internet and it so much reminded me of Zen Master Su Bong (Subong Sonsa) also known as Mu Deung Sunim as well as See Hoy Liao. There is a conversation in "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha" with See Hoy and Seung Sahn (Sungsan) about his practicing with three of the four Zen Masters in the Photo. It appears as 'Kongan Blues' on page 42 of that book. See Hoy is very confused at this time and tells Sungsan to go Fuck Himself. Many years later See Hoy became the First Zen Master to be sanctioned by Sungsan. Unfortunatley he died at the age of 50 during a koan interview with a student in Hong Kong. This snapshot contains a great history and brings dead words to life. Here is a simple Zen Practitioner who came to fruition and his veritable pantheon of Zen Masters who would lead him in the right direction. This photo contains four Zen masters: Dr. Thich Thien-An in the rear at the front of the procession, walking behind Dr. Ananda, a very sweet man who died of a massive heart attack two years after this photo was taken; walking side-by-side, Seung Sahn Soen Sa and Maezumi Roshi; Kimura Roshi, an unassuming Zen master if there ever were one, brought up the rear. See Hoy was practicing with Kimura Roshi, Dr. Thien-an and Sungsan Sonsa, how amazing!

images

what images do we have about life and love? what pictures exist in our minds when we are conversing with a friend? can we separate the metaphors from the presence of the exchange? this is the paradox of this life that is thrust upon us at birth, how do we perceive the presence without the residue of bygone experience and misrepresented memories of a forlorn past? black characters on a white backround, Sheila Chandra chants ‘waiting’ in the melodic tones of grace.

Boundless Way Sesshin

the winding path

leading upwards to

the Zendo,

as gravel and rocks

yield beneath footsteps.

a gentle rhythmic cadence

echoes against the hills

a symphony of crickets

harmonize with chirps and coo's

a still forest pond

reflects tall reeds

and age old trees

ducks quack and peck

at the ground

while mosquitoes feast

on my hands and head

the breeze from atop the

hill cools the light sweat

on my skin.

the sound of the han

reverberates in the valleys.

a silent presence pervades

this meeting of seekers

only to flow into

this unfolding presence

of constantly changing eternity.

6 Day Retreat

Will be sitting a week long retreat on the East Coast. Will post again when I return.

a birthday poem

what’s the use of looking forward or looking back, when this moment of clarity and focus is full of wonder and blessings? being born is not an event in the usual sense of existence, and we don’t seem to find solace in the constant comings and goings that appear and disappear on this path we have come to call our lives. yet, there are those moments in which we must rest and accept the essence of living in the two worlds. birthdays are like this, we smile and celebrate with those we love and in this sharing learn to love them all the more. Happy Birthday James, may all your days manifest the perfection on life’s unfolding presence.

there is only this moment

there is only this moment within the cosmic unfolding of eternity, we can not control it we can not know it nor can we direct or divert it, we are, at best an observer of this now. we do not trust in this, yet this is all that there is, this is the nature of the reality in which we seek. do not mistake aspiration for desire, it is this that most do not understand in sakyamuni’s teaching. he did not say to detach from our lives, he merely tried to teach about the difference between aspiration and desire. desire contains “I” aspiration is about “we” so what can we do? just believe in this moment and all is well. this is OK but some think that their way or idea or religion will save this cosmos from itself what folly is this? we can not know– we can not be– we can not accept all that is diverse, for we have not the capacity nor the insight to realize all that is real or all that is illusion. we are now. we are this. and just this. is all that there is. love is all. and love is now.