The Zen Master's Dance - 7 - Fukan Zazengi (Middle of p. 32 to Middle of p. 37)

[Jundo]

Sorry, a little late this week ...

We continue from the middle of page 32, "We can still see the traces of the Buddha Sakyamuni," stopping right BEFORE page 37, "Give up even the aim of becoming a Buddha."

Dogen says that we should generally have a quiet and clean room in which to sit, not too hot or cold. Yet, we should be able to sit ANYWHERE when the heart becomes a "quiet and clean space, not too hot or cold." Please describe Zazen mind in a difficult or uncomfortable place or circumstance, when the heart became a "quiet and clean space, not too hot or cold."

Perhaps, this week, as homework, sit in a rather disturbing place with the heart a "quiet and clean space, not too hot or cold."

Also, rain is just rain, yet a farmer may welcome it, while a picnicker will despise it.

Can you describe a difficult time in your life which you absolutely despised ... yet also describe how its rain is just rain?

Gassho, J

STLah

[Hosui]

It’s not as if these weekly assignments offer me even a creative break from the singleness of my interfused zen purpose — which is perhaps Jundo’s cunning intention here — as this week my Dogen-inspired monomaniacal energies are revealing the transitoriness of our unreal lives that form the basis of our practice (see Muchu Setsumu chapter in Shobogenzo). William Blake misspoke when he suggested we'd be less oppressed if only we’d throw off our mind-forged manacles. Hate to break it to you Bill, but it's the other way round. Said manacles are where we're at, the full extent of our practice, no prison break coming up. We need to knowingly wear those oppressive manacles, sitting with the unreal, the dewdrop, the dream, the bubble, the flash of lightning, the RAIN of this transitory unreality. The ANYWHERE / ANYWHEN is the real within the transitory dream of our lives, and our precept-inspired actions point the way (to where we already are, in fact). BTW, I don’t think I’ve ever despised myself, and if I have it's all been part of this helpful game of bondage. Pass the handcuffs.

Gassho
Hosui
sat/lah

[Jundo]

[Koriki]

After reading this section I went to a part of the forested park near my home where they were repaving the road that runs through it. I sat zazen at a bench about 100ft from the work, listening to the endless noises during a hot summer day. Pretty quickly I noticed that the noises just kind of blended together and actually seemed helpful in comparison to the usual silence I sit in. The heat wasn't problematic either. Honestly, it was a bit easier to sit without distraction when there were several major "distractions" around me. Maybe the process of not getting caught up with the beeps, ground shaking, and truck noises helped make it easier to do the same with my own thoughts? Interesting and surprising results.

Gassho,
Koriki
s@lah

[Jundo]

The real distraction of construction is between the ears, more than outside.

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Gassho, J
stlah

[Hokuu]

A very small thing, but I did a short zazen before an important call with a customer, which brought more balance to my heart and a gentler speech as a result

Gassho
Hokuu

[Jundo]