Starting Readings from My Book "Zen Master's Dance" - in our 'No Words' Book Club -1-

[Marita]

Hello Jundo. I wrote some in my journal while you were replying. Thank you. Just click on each attachment to the next.
Here is more:

[Jundo]

Hello Jundo. I wrote some in my journal while you were replying. Thank you. Just click on each attachment to the next.
Here is more:

That is lovely. I feel you have a sense of it.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Marita]

Jundo, I do have a sense of it. And you help me in that.
ty
Bows
Sat/lah

[Shoshin]

Lovely, Shoshin.

Maybe you could continue with the other paragraphs too.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

Oki doki!
I changed what I already did a bit. And I'll try to be a bit more creative this time, changing more things here and there.


Eihei Dōgen, a Japanese Zen Master of long ago ... experienced reality as caring for all kinds of non human animals moving through time, coming to life in the thoughts and acts of all beings. It is a most special expression of love, for it is the caring that the whole of reality is putting into practice, with nothing left out, that you and I are embodying, that is caring as you and me. It is a kind, loving, joyful, vibrant, merging and emerging unity that Buddhists sometimes call “emptiness,” as the tenderness and joy of the caring “empties” us of the sense of only being separate beings, and fills and reaffirms us as the whole. We, as human animals, can’t be sure when or where this caring began, or whether it even has a beginning or end. But we can come to see that it is being put into practice now in each decision we take, as every act of care unfolds and constantly renews with every breath of its carers.
You and I are carers in this act of care, as is every creature human and non human, great or small, the mountains and seas, every grain of sand or massive galaxy, the atoms that make up the universe and the whole universe itself. Everything in reality, no matter how old or vast, no matter how unnoticed or small, is caring for others, all together. And although we may feel as if we are separate carers—finite individuals, sometimes exhausted, sometimes hopeless, sometimes unable to find comfort, on a grand stage spanning all of time and space—we are also the care itself caring through us. A universe of carers that are being cared for in this act of care that the whole universe is putting into action. Picture in your mind a spectator witnessing an act of care so sweet and kind that its countless actors seem to vanish in the swirl of love: single carers becoming pairs, then groups, coming together and separating moment by moment, yet so merged as the overall act of love and kindness that, from a distance, individual carers can no longer be seen and just the pure joy of love remains.

... So united did Dōgen see that whole that, in his mind, each point holds all other points, near or far, each point miraculously fully contains
the whole, and each moment of time ticks with all other moments of time, before or after. It is much like saying that every act of each carer (be it feeding, giving refuge, protecting or bearing witness) somehow embodies, depends upon, and also fully expresses every act of care by all the other carers, past, present, or future, and fully contains the entire caring too. Dōgen experienced the time of the care as the overall action that is fully held and expressed in each individual action itself, with past not only flowing into present and future, but future flowing into the present and past, as the present fully holds the past and future of the whole act of care.

... Master Dōgen spoke of practice, putting it all in motion. Where this act of care has come from, where it is going, is not as important as the act of care that is truly realized—made real—right here, in your next thought, decision and action.
The act of care is always the easiest step so just act with and from love, without thought of any other place.


Gassho
Satlah

[Jundo]

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hello wonderful Sangha,

Here is my humble remix of the Zen Master's Dance -- call it The Zen Master's Riff or the Zen Master's Song... Perhaps the Zen Master's Concert.

I am particularly grateful to the Sangha member who already remixed Jundo's prose with music and particularly classical orchestration, since upon reading that post I felt invited to to much deeper into specifics that I feel passionate about, rather than a more generic rewriting simply replacing "dance" with "play" (as in the verb rather than the noun) or "song". In thinking my way onto the fretboard -- I play bass guitar and make loud, slow, immersive ambient music intended to invite awe and wonder for the universe -- I felt a much deeper connection to Jundo, Dogen, and indeed, all beings, including myself and my instruments (as well as the rest of my gear, as you'll see if you decide to read on).

I have in mind (or bodymind, as it were) a few experiences I have had in seeing a band called Sunn O))) (not to be confused with the old and famous amplifier company of the same name). Their music has a power and spaciousness I aspire to -- sometimes I like to think I might even get close... They wear black robes in a European monk style, play very slowly, and pick frequencies that will vibrate the body of audience members all the way through. It is a unique and, if I may, meditative experience that has been profound for me and helped open the way to Zen and Buddhism for me... And keep it open. (Indeed, they even have an album called Metta | Benevolence.) Normally I try not to mention such things to other respected practitioners of Zen out of some sense of projected embarrassment, since the presence of music in Buddhist contexts in my experience often seems to include only pre-20th century classical instruments, sometimes making use of microphones but little else from the 21st century, and I sometimes fear the presence of such contemporary technology would be frowned upon. Jundo, here you have me wondering: after all, why shouldn't I embrace my love of amplifiers and strange pedals and effects while exploring and practicing the dharma?

For context, a "riff" is to me a delightfully vague concept in music, both verb and noun (rather like "dance" in that respect), often with an implied meaning of being played on a guitar, and sometimes carrying the connotation of being improvised (as when metaphorically "riffing" on a theme in conversation). It is a rhythmic section of uncertain length, often serving to support a fuller song including many other instruments, and usually suggesting powerful emotional weight, volume, and an experience of satisfaction that can be repeated. Example: "What a great riff! It's massive... I've gotta listen again!"

I smile and am delighted as I read and share this remix that I was delighted, too, to write. I hope you enjoy it, whoever you are.

-----

THE ZEN MASTER'S RIFF: a Remix of Jundo (feat. Dogen)

Eihei Dōgen, a Japanese Zen Master of long ago ... experienced reality as a great guitar riff reverberating through time, coming to life in the strumming and plucking of all beings. It is a most special riff in a most special song, for it is the riff that the whole of reality is riffing, with nothing left out, that you and I are riffing, that is riffing as you and me. It is a vibrant, swirling, flowing, merging and emerging unity that Buddhists sometimes call “emptiness,” as the motion and sweep of the pick across the guitar strings “empties” us of the sense of only being separate beings, and fills and reaffirms us as the whole. We, as human beings, can’t be sure when or where these chords began, or whether they even have a beginning or end. But we can come to see that they are being played now in each fret we press or barre and each breath we take, much as a massive riff unfolds and constantly renews with every pick or slide across its strings.

You and I are guitarists in this riff, as is every creature great or small, the mountains and seas, every grain of sand or massive galaxy, the atoms that make up the universe and the whole universe itself. Everything in reality, no matter how old or vast, no matter how unnoticed or small, is riffing this massive riff together. And although we may feel as if we are separate guitarists—finite individuals plugged into different amps and pedalboards on a grand ancient church stage spanning all of time and space—we are also the riff itself sustaining its long vibrations through us. A universe of bassists that are being riffed up in this riff that the whole universe is riffing. Picture in your mind a concertgoing listener hearing a riff so massive, so vigorous and vibrant that its countless frets, strings, pedals and stacks of amplifiers seem to vanish in the swirl of motion: single frets becoming power chords, then barre chords, looped on a looping pedal and layered with distortion and delay, coming together and separating moment by moment, yet so merged as the overall ambient music riffing that, from a distance, individual notes can no longer be heard. ...

... So united did Dōgen see that whole that, in his mind, each point holds all other points, near or far, each point miraculously fully contains the whole, and each moment of time ticks with all other moments of time, before or after. It is much like saying that every riff of each guitarist and bassist somehow embodies, depends upon, and also fully expresses every fretted note, every riff played by all the other guitarists on the stage, past, present, or future, and fully contains the entire concert too. Dōgen experienced the time of the riff as the overall movement that is fully held and expressed in each individual strum itself, with past not only flowing into present and future, but future flowing into the present and past, as the present fully holds the past and future of the riff.

... Master Dōgen spoke of practice, putting it all in motion. Where this riff has come from, where it is going, is not as important as the song that is truly realized—made real—right here, in your next great riff and sweep of the pick. The riff is always right under the fingertips, so just riff, without thought of any other place.

-----

Thank you for reading.

Sorry for the long post -- didn't know how to say it more briefly without being cryptic.

I haven't posted here much at all, so I also wanted to offer an experience that would be easier to understand, doing so as a gift in reciprocity for all the incredible insight and deepening of my practice that has come from listening to the podcast, reading this book, reading the forum, and practicing with a dear friend who more actively participates around here. Humble gratitude to all beings, including you.

Sat today; lent a hand.

Gassho,
Andrew | Silence Bursting Outwards

Hi,

NGL, I would never have expected to see Sunn O))) referenced here. Fascinating. I love the diversity. Thank you for sharing! I'm inspired to listen to them more and perhaps see them in concert one day (with earplugs).

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi,

So full disclosure: I initially felt a little silly about this exercise. I suppose it's more about me feeling that whatever is important to me is unimportant in the grand scheme of things. And when I feel a certain way about something (myself), I belittle that something.

I didn't know what to use here. Tennis? Music? Cooking? These are all things that are important to me. But then I thought of books. Or reading specifically. But then reading didn't quite seem to fit as well as I would have liked, or at least my interpretation wasn't up to par. Writing, though...that is a good fit. It felt right and amazingly really did speak to my heart and understanding of what, I think, is being conveyed here.

Anyway, thank you for this exercise that I didn't want, but ultimately needed. Isn't that how Zen is done? Through the experience?

Eihei Dōgen, a Japanese Zen Master of long ago ... experienced reality as a great story written through time, coming to life in the thoughts and acts of all beings. It is a most special story, for it is the story that the whole of reality is writing, with nothing left out, that you and I are writing, that is writing as you and me. It is a vibrant, swirling, flowing, merging and emerging unity that Buddhists sometimes call “emptiness,” as the words and sentences of the story “empties” us of the sense of only being separate beings, and fills and reaffirms us as the whole. We, as human beings, can’t be sure when or where this story began, or whether it even has a beginning or end. But we can come to see that it is being written now in each step and breath we take, much as a story unfolds and constantly renews with every turn of its pages.


You and I are authors of this story, as is every creature great or small, the mountains and seas, every grain of sand or massive galaxy, the atoms that make up the universe and the whole universe itself. Everything in reality, no matter how old or vast, no matter how unnoticed or small, is writing this story together. And although we may feel as if we are separate authors—finite individuals on a grand stage spanning all of time and space—we are also the story itself writing through us. A universe of authors that are being written up in this story that the whole universe is writing. Picture in your mind a spectator witnessing a story so vigorous and vibrant that its countless authors seem to vanish in the swirl of motion: single writers becoming pairs, then groups, coming together and separating moment by moment, yet so merged as the overall writing that, from a distance, individual authors can no longer be seen. ...


... So united did Dōgen see that whole that, in his mind, each point holds all other points, near or far, each point miraculously fully contains the whole, and each moment of time ticks with all other moments of time, before or after. It is much like saying that every word of each author somehow embodies, depends upon, and also fully expresses every word by all the other authors on the page, past, present, or future, and fully contains the entire story too. Dōgen experienced the time of the story as the overall story that is fully held and expressed in each individual word itself, with past not only flowing into present and future, but future flowing into the present and past, as the present fully holds the past and future of the story.


... Master Dōgen spoke of practice, putting it all on the page. Where this story has come from, where it is going, is not as important as the story that is truly realized—made real—right here, in your next word and sentence. The story is always right underneath your pen, so just write, without thought of any other place.

[Heikyo]

Hello Jundo and fellow Zen dancers

I am currently in the Alps so here is my attempt at the paragraphs

Eihei Dōgen, a Japanese Zen Master of long ago ... experienced reality as an endless hike in the mountains moving through time, coming to life in the thoughts and acts of all beings. It is a most special hike, for the whole of reality is also walking with me. Walking the mountain path, each step becomes the rocks, the pine trees and the flowers in the meadow, the insects on the flowers, the deer that run away into the forest, the eagles soaring above in the blue skies, we are all one.

With every step you and I are walking on this hike, as also is every tree or ant, the mountain beneath our feet, every piece of rock on the path, the clouds holding rain above me and the waterfall that passes us. Everything on the mountain or in the forest, no matter how old or vast, no matter how unnoticed or small, is walking with me and with each other on this hike. And although I may feel as if I am separate from all of nature, I am part of the mountain, the forest, the path, the sky - they pass through me as I hike through them.

So united did Dōgen see that whole that, in his mind, each step on the trail holds all other points, near or far, each point miraculously fully contains the whole, and each moment of time ticks with all other moments of time, before or after. It is much like saying that every step of each hiker somehow embodies, depends upon, and also fully expresses every step by all the other hikers on the mountain, past, present,or future, and fully contains the entire trail too. Dōgen experienced the time of the hike as the overall movement that is fully held and expressed in each individual step itself, with past not only flowing into present and future, but future flowing into the present and past, as the present fully holds the past and future of the hike.

... Master Dōgen spoke of practice, putting it all in motion. Where this hike has come from, where it is going, is not as importantas the walk that is truly realized—made real—right here, in your next step along the trail. The trail is always right underfoot, so just walk, without thought of any other place.

Gassho
Heikyo
Sat today

[Jundo]

Hiking together with one pair of boots!

Gassho, J
stlah

[Dainei]

Late to the party but hey! there is not time, not early not late. LOL

"The Great Bikeway"

Eihei Dōgen, a Japanese Zen Master of long ago ... experienced reality as a great bike ride moving through time, coming to life in the thoughts and acts of all beings. It is a most special bike ride, for it is the ride that the whole of reality is riding, with nothing left out, that you and I are riding, that is riding as you and me. It is a vibrant, swirling, flowing, merging and emerging unity that Buddhists sometimes call “emptiness,” as the motion and sweep of the bicycle ride “empties” us of the sense of only being separate beings, and fills and reaffirms us as the whole. We, as human beings, can’t be sure when or where this bicycle ride began, or whether it even has a beginning or end. But we can come to see that it is being ridden now in each pedal stroke and breath we take, much as a bicycle ride unfolds and constantly renews with every pedal stroke or surge of its riders.

You and I are bicyclists in this bicycle ride, as is every creature great or small, the mountains and seas, every grain of sand or massive galaxy, the atoms that make up the universe and the whole universe itself. Everything in reality, no matter how old or vast, no matter how unnoticed or small, is riding their bicycles together. And although we may feel as if we are separate bicyclists—finite individuals on a grand stage spanning all of time and space—we are also the bicycle ride itself riding through us. A universe of bicyclists that are being ridden up in this ride that the whole universe is riding. Picture in your mind a spectator witnessing a bicycle ride so vigorous and vibrant that its countless actors seem to vanish in the swirl of motion: single bicyclists becoming pairs, then groups, coming together and separating moment by moment, yet so merged as the overall movement that, from a distance, individual bicyclists can no longer be seen. ...

... So united did Dōgen see that whole that, in his mind, each point holds all other points, near or far, each point miraculously fully contains the whole, and each moment of time ticks with all other moments of time, before or after. It is much like saying that every pedal stroke of each bicyclist somehow embodies, depends upon, and also fully expresses every pedal stroke by all the other bicyclists on the stage, past, present, or future, and fully contains the entire bicycle ride too. Dōgen experienced the time of the bike ride as the overall movement that is fully held and expressed in each individual move itself, with past not only flowing into present and future, but future flowing into the present and past, as the present fully holds the past and future of the bike ride.

... Master Dōgen spoke of practice, putting it all in motion. Where this bike ride has come from, where it is going, is not as important as the bike ride that is truly realized—made real—right here, in your next pedal stroke and effort. The bike ride is always right underfoot, so just ride, without thought of any other place.

copy.png

Gassho,
Dainei
Sat

[Jundo]

Nice ride!

Gassho, J
stlah

[Noel]

Hi,

I ordered the book and is coming this next week. Is it too late to join?

Thank you!

Gassho,

Noel

Sat today-Lah

[Jundo]

Hi,

I ordered the book and is coming this next week. Is it too late to join?

Thank you!

Gassho,

Noel

Sat today-Lah

Oh no, Noel. Please jump in! And I will email you a PDF that you can use for now ....

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[MalleableGirlParts]

Am I invisible?

[Onkai]

Hi,

So full disclosure: I initially felt a little silly about this exercise. I suppose it's more about me feeling that whatever is important to me is unimportant in the grand scheme of things. And when I feel a certain way about something (myself), I belittle that something.

I didn't know what to use here. Tennis? Music? Cooking? These are all things that are important to me. But then I thought of books. Or reading specifically. But then reading didn't quite seem to fit as well as I would have liked, or at least my interpretation wasn't up to par. Writing, though...that is a good fit. It felt right and amazingly really did speak to my heart and understanding of what, I think, is being conveyed here.

Anyway, thank you for this exercise that I didn't want, but ultimately needed. Isn't that how Zen is done? Through the experience?

Eihei Dōgen, a Japanese Zen Master of long ago ... experienced reality as a great story written through time, coming to life in the thoughts and acts of all beings. It is a most special story, for it is the story that the whole of reality is writing, with nothing left out, that you and I are writing, that is writing as you and me. It is a vibrant, swirling, flowing, merging and emerging unity that Buddhists sometimes call “emptiness,” as the words and sentences of the story “empties” us of the sense of only being separate beings, and fills and reaffirms us as the whole. We, as human beings, can’t be sure when or where this story began, or whether it even has a beginning or end. But we can come to see that it is being written now in each step and breath we take, much as a story unfolds and constantly renews with every turn of its pages.


You and I are authors of this story, as is every creature great or small, the mountains and seas, every grain of sand or massive galaxy, the atoms that make up the universe and the whole universe itself. Everything in reality, no matter how old or vast, no matter how unnoticed or small, is writing this story together. And although we may feel as if we are separate authors—finite individuals on a grand stage spanning all of time and space—we are also the story itself writing through us. A universe of authors that are being written up in this story that the whole universe is writing. Picture in your mind a spectator witnessing a story so vigorous and vibrant that its countless authors seem to vanish in the swirl of motion: single writers becoming pairs, then groups, coming together and separating moment by moment, yet so merged as the overall writing that, from a distance, individual authors can no longer be seen. ...


... So united did Dōgen see that whole that, in his mind, each point holds all other points, near or far, each point miraculously fully contains the whole, and each moment of time ticks with all other moments of time, before or after. It is much like saying that every word of each author somehow embodies, depends upon, and also fully expresses every word by all the other authors on the page, past, present, or future, and fully contains the entire story too. Dōgen experienced the time of the story as the overall story that is fully held and expressed in each individual word itself, with past not only flowing into present and future, but future flowing into the present and past, as the present fully holds the past and future of the story.


... Master Dōgen spoke of practice, putting it all on the page. Where this story has come from, where it is going, is not as important as the story that is truly realized—made real—right here, in your next word and sentence. The story is always right underneath your pen, so just write, without thought of any other place.

Hi Jenn,

I think your post came between other posts and was overlooked.

I love your metaphor of writing a story, as I write fiction, too. In this context it is inspiring. I'll let Jundo weigh in about how it fits what he was expressing in his book.

Gassho Onkai
Sat lah