BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

[RichardH]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Does it suck? It's pain, but does it suck? Maybe right at that moment? But even then, who can say? Pain is pain.

...and how is that panning out for you? For me sometimes pain is just pain.. alone in/as sheer, bright, presence.... all enlightenedish. Then sometimes it is pain-while-bank-refuses-interest-rate-lock-in-and-ass-of-pants-tears-while-kid's-tourette-syndrome-goes-ballistic. Now maybe that is unenlightened... all greed hatred and delusionish. But nonetheless.. that is the moment as-presents too. That too. If it is not that too.. then I might as well go find a kuti in the woods and kiss the world goodbye.

[Al]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Closing the gate, hitting the snooze button
I vow with all beings
to celebrate the idea of spring
even as the persimmons are already falling

[Risho]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Does it suck? It's pain, but does it suck? Maybe right at that moment? But even then, who can say? Pain is pain.

...and how is that panning out for you? For me sometimes pain is just pain.. alone in/as sheer, bright, presence.... all enlightenedish. Then sometimes it is pain-while-bank-refuses-interest-rate-lock-in-and-ass-of-pants-tears-while-kid's-tourette-syndrome-goes-ballistic. Now maybe that is unenlightened... all greed hatred and delusionish. But nonetheless.. that is the moment as-presents too. That too. If it is not that too.. then I might as well go find a kuti in the woods and kiss the world goodbye.

Damned right! When you are in pain, you don't say oh wait, hold on "Pain is Pain". No you hurt. Sometimes you hurt like hell depending on the injury. But the key is to not add to the pain with more mental chatter. Not that that works out well for me. A lot of the time I yell, and swear and get angry about it. But I do learn from it.

Gassho,

Risho

[alan.r]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

...and how is that panning out for you? For me sometimes pain is just pain.. alone in/as sheer, bright, presence.... all enlightenedish. Then sometimes it is pain-while-bank-refuses-interest-rate-lock-in-and-ass-of-pants-tears-while-kid's-tourette-syndrome-goes-ballistic. Now maybe that is unenlightened... all greed hatred and delusionish. But nonetheless.. that is the moment as-presents too. That too. If it is not that too.. then I might as well go find a kuti in the woods and kiss the world goodbye.

Oh I don't know. Not enlightened nor unenlightened nor whatever. I'm just saying, sometimes saying something sucks is the first little trip for me, the first little misstep. Not that I don't do it, I do all the time, but when I do: a little cave with just me. Weeds and flowers. And if I keep going in my mind, These weeds suck, well, they will, and there I'll be with all that sucks, my shit, mine; if I can simply see thing, well, maybe something else, I don't know. Just because something is unpleasant doesn't make it wrong. In any case, I didn't mean to be judgmental, just to look from some other spot at it.

A nail in the foot!
Take it out.
But don't call it anything.

PS: Shinkai, I love that.

Gassho,
alan

[Myoku]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Basically Not Speaking is a good thing. Much better than speaking most of the time; and as Gary said, this also applies to thoughts. For me it certainly does; especially those thoughts giving us and other trouble, thoughts which arise from greed, anger, ignorance.

This week I had trouble with a business partner, big trouble. I wont go in all details, as its pretty complex, but during this "divorce" I needed to digest a lot of harsh and ugly comments from this former partner, he was very angry; and I felt very bad treated, especially as I think I played my part pretty fair.
I was thinking about the situation, how to act (after all it was an important relation) and why he was so hart to me over and over again. I could not find sleep on last Wednesday. Lying in bed I did some "zazen", it was tricky as my mind wandered back to my trouble on and on. But then I had a couple of minutes free of that notorious thinking. And next even about 10 minutes, when suddenly I saw much clearer. By constantly working on it, fueled by my anger and greed, my pushing to solve it, I was stuck. By releasing it, it solved itself. To make it short: the separation was inevitable, but I could go into it with peace now.

_()_
Peter Myoku

[Heisoku]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

I hope things are improving for you Myoku. I too have had many sleepless nights as confusion and anger generates an energy that just won't die down. I have tried zazen on these occasions but although thoughts are cleared it's the energy that I find a nuisance.It just keeps zinging around!

[Myoshin]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

To accept life as it is and not be frightened it's hard, harder it's to accept that the Dharma is simple, it's humain to feel something missing from this simplicity, and when we realise it we can be frightened by this ultimate reality:even with the Dharma, nothing can and has to be grasped. Is a great liberty or a great prison of non sens of our life if we fell frightenend and alone. "to look life in the face, to know it for what it is, to love it for what it is, to cherish it, and to drop it"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMErdpA804Y[/video]]

This movie talked to me a few years ago like Dalloway feeling her life incomplete.

My little understanding and feeling

Gassho to all

[Gregor]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

At work people often come to me with a question or worse a problem/crisis that needs to be handled. I'm trying to learn to move with a little less urgency and more quiet focus. Usually when we react from a place of panic or anxiousness the best choices are not made.

Perhaps taking that extra moment to be silent and consider the next action or thing to say is what is in order.

Even in my personal life I'd like to use this Koan to inspire me to take spme more time and allow space and silence between stimuli and response.

[mr.Lou]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Tried to post my photo response and got this message:
"Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached."
Oh well. It is what it is.

[Jundo]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Boy, a lot of words for a Koan about not speaking! 8)

What was spoken loud and clear by the Buddha, coming up ... going down the stairs?

What was taught that might not be heard in a lecture of 10,000,000 words?

Gassho, J

[Myoku]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Most highly treasured would be some story from your own life describing a moment ... perhaps your life now, or some event you recall many years ago ... in which the insight of the Koan served as a kind of "turning word" to let you see, experience or handle an event in your life differently (This week, our Case 1, will ask for such an example).

Boy, a lot of words for a Koan about not speaking! 8)

_()_
Myoku

[Omoi Otoshi]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Boy, a lot of words for a Koan about not speaking! 8)

But is it about not speaking?
Was the Buddha always silent?
Did he think a lot about when to speak and when to stay silent?
In my view, silence is not generally better than speaking. But sometimes words are meaningless, extra.
There can be just as much meaning communicated through silence, action.

Then the venerable Sariputra said to the goddess, "Goddess, how long have you been in this house?"
The goddess replied, "I have been here as long as the elder has been in liberation."
Sariputra said, "Then, have you been in this house for quite some time?"
The goddess said, "Has the elder been in liberation for quite some time?"
At that, the elder Sariputra fell silent.
The goddess continued, "Elder, you are 'foremost of the wise!' Why do you not speak? Now, when it is your turn, you do not answer the question."
Sariputra: Since liberation is inexpressible, goddess, I do not know what to say.
Goddess: All the syllables pronounced by the elder have the nature of liberation. Why? Liberation is neither internal nor external, nor can it be apprehended apart from them. Likewise, syllables are neither internal nor external, nor can they be apprehended anywhere else. Therefore, reverend Sariputra, do not point to liberation by abandoning speech! Why? The holy liberation is the equality of all things!

What was spoken loud and clear by the Buddha, coming up ... going down the stairs?
What was taught that might not be heard in a lecture of 10,000,000 words?

We were not there, so I don't believe we can know for sure. So much communication is going on all the time that can't be captured in a few lines. But my guess is that what was taught was the same truth that was taught in the flower sermon.

Gassho,
Pontus

[Omoi Otoshi]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Tried to post my photo response and got this message:
"Sorry, the board attachment quota has been reached."
Oh well. It is what it is.

I got that too.

/Pontus

[Heisoku]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

:lol:

[Jinyo]

Re: BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 1

Jundo wrote

Boy, a lot of words for a Koan about not speaking! 8)

.... well Shishin Wick managed over a page

Off or on the mark I really appreciate the level of sharing in this discussion.

Gassho

Willow