Re: 7/15 ZEN SEEDS: P. 11, P. 13 (INTRO)
Answer #1:
When I first came back from art school and began sitting and walking meditation, there was an event that symbolizes 'going with the flow' for me. My father, my brother, and myself were on our way into town one night during a typically sub-zero UP winter driving the old Ford Escort my father had just inherited from his father who had very recently died. We lived way out in the woods at that time and at some point, maybe 3 or 4 miles out from home, the car broke down. I don't remember the nature of the malfunction, but it necessitated abandoning our trip and walking home. My father was pissed and began a tirade of urgent complaints directed at the unreliability of cars in general (He was a mechanic). My father was a world-class complainer - a real champion of the craft. Once he got on a roll, frequently a multi-hour roll, he was like a force of nature. Of course, being the eternally contrary son that I was, I would very often try to inject positive counter-arguments, complaints of my own, anything I could think of to stop the incessant bitching. (Side note: I inherited this trait from him, LOL.) As you might imagine, this only infuriated him all the more. On this particular night, I'd been quite recently enjoying a lot of my meditation. I ignored his complaining and just enjoyed the walk...after a while, I started commenting on how beautiful the night was and how lucky we were to all be walking together (we didn't get very much time like this anymore), I wasn't trying to get my father to stop complaining - for all I cared, he could complain the whole time - I still loved him. I didn't argue with him, I just enjoyed myself. And then something weird happened...my father was silent for awhile, and then before I knew it, we were all laughing and joking.
As for swimming against the current....let's just say that there's a reason the previous event stands out in my mind.
Answer #2:
When I look in the mirror, I see curiosity....but I know that many other faces also appear. I don't even want to try at the koan, sorry.
Chet
Answer #1:
When I first came back from art school and began sitting and walking meditation, there was an event that symbolizes 'going with the flow' for me. My father, my brother, and myself were on our way into town one night during a typically sub-zero UP winter driving the old Ford Escort my father had just inherited from his father who had very recently died. We lived way out in the woods at that time and at some point, maybe 3 or 4 miles out from home, the car broke down. I don't remember the nature of the malfunction, but it necessitated abandoning our trip and walking home. My father was pissed and began a tirade of urgent complaints directed at the unreliability of cars in general (He was a mechanic). My father was a world-class complainer - a real champion of the craft. Once he got on a roll, frequently a multi-hour roll, he was like a force of nature. Of course, being the eternally contrary son that I was, I would very often try to inject positive counter-arguments, complaints of my own, anything I could think of to stop the incessant bitching. (Side note: I inherited this trait from him, LOL.) As you might imagine, this only infuriated him all the more. On this particular night, I'd been quite recently enjoying a lot of my meditation. I ignored his complaining and just enjoyed the walk...after a while, I started commenting on how beautiful the night was and how lucky we were to all be walking together (we didn't get very much time like this anymore), I wasn't trying to get my father to stop complaining - for all I cared, he could complain the whole time - I still loved him. I didn't argue with him, I just enjoyed myself. And then something weird happened...my father was silent for awhile, and then before I knew it, we were all laughing and joking.
As for swimming against the current....let's just say that there's a reason the previous event stands out in my mind.
Answer #2:
When I look in the mirror, I see curiosity....but I know that many other faces also appear. I don't even want to try at the koan, sorry.
Chet
I know from Tea Parties and the sound of your voice that you are definitely not ugly on the inside! Gassho, Grace.
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