BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 37

[Matt]

In reflecting on this question, I cannot think of any major events that led to ephiphanies, but rather, lots of small everyday occurences.


I have to admit that many of these involve anger, like Risho describes above.


For example, those times when I am driving and someone cuts me off. When I respond with anger, by honking my horn, it only makes me feel worse.


Though I have worked on this, nevertheless I have to recognize this anger. Wick notes, 'There is a tendency, when we see our judgments, to beat ourselves up if we don't like them or to praise ourselves if we do like them.'


One of the unexpected challenges for me in this practice is noticing those parts of myself that I do not like as much.


Gassho,
Matt J

[Ed]

Let our story be one of listening also.
Hear, listen open your ears and eyes and feel the cries of others. Dedicate whatever merits practice gains to the healing of this discomfort.
This too will shape who we become, how we blossom into our most basic Self.

[Mp]

Let our story be one of listening also.
Hear, listen open your ears and eyes and feel the cries of others. Dedicate whatever merits practice gains to the healing of this discomfort.
This too will shape who we become, how we blossom into our most basic Self.

So true Ed ... I feel this too is a vital part of practice. =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Amy Penne]

Amy Penne here, new member of Treeleaf. Blessings to you all. This is a particularly interesting prompt for me. My natural reaction is usually to run away when people ask things of me. I will too often say yes to things out of a sense of guilt and then resent the action or task I will wind up doing (volunteering for something at my kids' school, or doing something in my community). I WANT to be "good" and react easily to needs that arise. But it is not easy. Sitting Zazen over the last month, especially as I've been following Treeleaf, and sitting through the last two Saturday (for me) Zazenkai sessions, I found myself with an opportunity to spontaneously offer to help my sister-in-law (and this does NOT come naturally or easily to me!) and I offered to do so for an event coming up this Saturday. Her son (our nephew) is receiving First Communion in the Roman Catholic Church and I offered to be at her house early to serve lunch to the crowd and do the last minute detail work for the family and guests. I don't yet know if I'll actually be resentful on the two-hour drive up to their house this Saturday--but it will be a perfect time for practice!! Gassho--Amy