Realizing Genjokoan - Chapter 2

[Onka]

In messages Jundo has teased me playfully about me being an anarchist to which I have responded in my own lighthearted way. I understand how it may come across as odd that a long time anarchist would choose to engage in a study that from the outside may seem to require adherence to hierarchical structures and relationships. Chapter 2, particularly the end of it sounds very much like anything you'd find in a 'Social Anarchy 101' reading or hear from almost any anarchist around the world. The idea of an individual's desires or needs being in complete isolation or superseding the needs and desires of the broader community or vice versa is the very basis of what anarchists continually fight for, anywhere. I'm not trying to hijack this discussion so please forgive me if it seems like that. I'm just giving my own thoughts on chapter 2.
It's an interesting journey I'm on in that previously I have fought for the Middle Way whereas now I'm trying to find the Middle Way in a way that costs me less in terms of damage to my own spirit, damage to my mental wellbeing, damage physically and damage in terms of economic quality of life - and trust me, my politics have cost me a LOT!
My greatest challenge so far on this journey is engaging with others and readings from a place of peace rather than conflict, either offensive or defensive, because conflict is literally all I've ever known. TMI perhaps but hey, transparency and vulnerability are part of transformation aren't they...
On to chapter 3 lol.
Gassho Anna.

[Jakuden]

In messages Jundo has teased me playfully about me being an anarchist to which I have responded in my own lighthearted way. I understand how it may come across as odd that a long time anarchist would choose to engage in a study that from the outside may seem to require adherence to hierarchical structures and relationships. Chapter 2, particularly the end of it sounds very much like anything you'd find in a 'Social Anarchy 101' reading or hear from almost any anarchist around the world. The idea of an individual's desires or needs being in complete isolation or superseding the needs and desires of the broader community or vice versa is the very basis of what anarchists continually fight for, anywhere.

Anna this really turns out to be quite the epiphany, thank you! We spend so much time, and rightfully so I think, focusing on embracing our lack of separation from others. This helps us suffer less, but I really agree that the full embracing of the Way allows for celebration of the individual as well. The Japanese expression of Zen Buddhism strikes me as almost militaristic sometimes in its emphasis on conforming. This is essential for personal growth here in the West, where we tend to be over obsessed with individuality, and our attachment to the individual causes a lot of suffering.

However, some of us need to learn to embrace the individual as well. Perhaps we have been oppressed because of minority status, or outright abused by family or society, and haven’t developed enough respect for ourselves yet to find what we have inside to give to others. I have been in that place.

There’s actually a Zen book that addresses this, it’s called “Zen Heart, Simple Advice for Living With Mindfulness and Compassion” by Ezra Bayda. He describes a “me” phase of practice, which seems to me to be pretty accurate, as most of us come to Zen practice to relieve our own suffering and can’t just “skip over” that and go right to Bodhisattva [emoji1] But I think when we do shift our focus to others, although it does relieve suffering, some of us forget that we individually still deserve respect, compassion and loving discipline, just as we are learning to give to others. As you said, the individual leaf is still worth celebrating and cherishing, even though it is inseparable from the tree. Genjokoan fully embraces both individual and group as a whole entity realized, Not Two.

Gassho
Jakuden
SatToday/LAH


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[Tai Shi]

For me the metaphor is fish swimming into expanse of ocean finding private suddenly both expansive and public duality of fish becoming one with ocean such as birds taking flight into air: do fish and bird find rest? Where is shoal or tree? Then being here and now the finch battering itself against our window pane finds only solid air at front and back windows! For this moment perhaps rest then search for other bird there is no rest so does bird realize such ness?


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[Tai Shi]

Sat
Gassho
Taishi


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[Tai Shi]

There she is again Taishi/sat/Gassho


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