[ENGAGED]
I think a way we can be engaged is by using our own Treeleaf motto as a personal slogan, a challenge, a reminder, even a mantra...
"All of life is our temple."
For most of us who grew up in families that were in any way religious, on Sunday, or on the Sabbath, whether we went to a church a synagogue a mosque, a kingdom hall, or wherever with our families, the conduct of just about everyone involved was different. Dad didn't curse at church very often. Mom was dressed to the nines. And I was expected to behave in a way that was nearly impossible to achieve anywhere else. Every other kid in my neighborhood was the same. Come Sunday morning, there we would all be in our "church clothes," clean, smiling, polite, well behaved, even if it was on pain of death because grandma was watching from the row behind us...
All of life is our Temple.
How would I behave in the temple? How would I speak? How would I comport myself? How would I be dressed? What sorts of conversations would I be engaging in? To whom would I be deferential?
... Should that not be my behavior now?
I have mentioned before that I consider the sort of work I do an extension of my priesthood. If I truly believe that all life is our Temple, then this is the field in which I work, a ministry that I am called to. I don't think that's different for anyone.
All of our jobs supposedly require our full attention while we're on the clock. Treat it as practice. Parenthood certainly requires a greater level of dedication than almost anything else in the whole world. We can treat that as practice.
There's a verse that we recite when we put on our robes...
"Robe of liberation boundless, field beyond both form and formless, wearing the Tatagatha's teachings, vowing to save all sentient beings..."
I have to dress a particular way for work. I have to deliberately choose to wear clothes that make me look as non-threatening and non-authoritarian as possible. I put these things on so that I can be of greater service to other people. And I see nothing about that that is any less sacred or different than putting on my robes or my Rakusu. "... Allowing to save all sentient beings..." When I dress for work, even if it's just doing virtual counseling online, I've gotten in the habit of reciting that verse. Why not?
If I really believe that all life is our temple, what is different between me putting on my Kesa and a doctor putting on surgical scrubs? What's different from me putting on my Rakusu and a waitress putting on the apron that she wears to feed rooms full of strangers, and, more importantly, provide for her own family?
If all life is our temple, then every aspect of it can be a sacred, even a holy thing. "Chop wood, carry water..." Anything, done for others, is fulfilling our idea...
All of life is our temple.
Now ... If only I can start remembering that when I'm in traffic, or watching the news....
These are just my thoughts, not a teaching. I'm just another guy, figuring it out as I go. If I said something that works for you, great. Take everything I say with a big grain of salt...
ST
LAH
I think a way we can be engaged is by using our own Treeleaf motto as a personal slogan, a challenge, a reminder, even a mantra...
"All of life is our temple."
For most of us who grew up in families that were in any way religious, on Sunday, or on the Sabbath, whether we went to a church a synagogue a mosque, a kingdom hall, or wherever with our families, the conduct of just about everyone involved was different. Dad didn't curse at church very often. Mom was dressed to the nines. And I was expected to behave in a way that was nearly impossible to achieve anywhere else. Every other kid in my neighborhood was the same. Come Sunday morning, there we would all be in our "church clothes," clean, smiling, polite, well behaved, even if it was on pain of death because grandma was watching from the row behind us...
All of life is our Temple.
How would I behave in the temple? How would I speak? How would I comport myself? How would I be dressed? What sorts of conversations would I be engaging in? To whom would I be deferential?
... Should that not be my behavior now?
I have mentioned before that I consider the sort of work I do an extension of my priesthood. If I truly believe that all life is our Temple, then this is the field in which I work, a ministry that I am called to. I don't think that's different for anyone.
All of our jobs supposedly require our full attention while we're on the clock. Treat it as practice. Parenthood certainly requires a greater level of dedication than almost anything else in the whole world. We can treat that as practice.
There's a verse that we recite when we put on our robes...
"Robe of liberation boundless, field beyond both form and formless, wearing the Tatagatha's teachings, vowing to save all sentient beings..."
I have to dress a particular way for work. I have to deliberately choose to wear clothes that make me look as non-threatening and non-authoritarian as possible. I put these things on so that I can be of greater service to other people. And I see nothing about that that is any less sacred or different than putting on my robes or my Rakusu. "... Allowing to save all sentient beings..." When I dress for work, even if it's just doing virtual counseling online, I've gotten in the habit of reciting that verse. Why not?
If I really believe that all life is our temple, what is different between me putting on my Kesa and a doctor putting on surgical scrubs? What's different from me putting on my Rakusu and a waitress putting on the apron that she wears to feed rooms full of strangers, and, more importantly, provide for her own family?
If all life is our temple, then every aspect of it can be a sacred, even a holy thing. "Chop wood, carry water..." Anything, done for others, is fulfilling our idea...
All of life is our temple.
Now ... If only I can start remembering that when I'm in traffic, or watching the news....
These are just my thoughts, not a teaching. I'm just another guy, figuring it out as I go. If I said something that works for you, great. Take everything I say with a big grain of salt...
ST
LAH
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