Gate Eleven
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, own it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have before letting it go.
Mindfulness of generosity is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not expect reward.
The Koan:
"In the early days there were no snacks in the kitchen at Tassajara, So sometimes I'd send cookies to a friend of mine there. I began to wonder why she didn't write to say how great I was.Then I thought , how selfish of me. I'm not being generous, there are strings attached. I just want something back.
I told Suzujki Roshi about this and he said," It's all right for you take care of her, but first you have to take care of Yourself !" His voice rose as he Said this, and then he got right in my face to say loudly,"Do you understand?"
. -Zen is Right Here pg.101
A Most note worthy reply :
When we can see others as not separate from ourselves, we simply give as a natural expression of being.
That’s the real trick isn’t it. Giving without any expectation of reward. Often giving at least has the reward of self satisfaction and good feelings of being the giver. Here we are talking about a generosity that is as natural and instinctive as breathing.
Giving and taking
Empty words
This just gives to this
js/stlah
Read the following, place it in your heart and sleep on it. Then, tomorrow, own it until evening when you can leave a brief comment on what you may have before letting it go.
Mindfulness of generosity is a gate of Dharma illumination; for [with it] we do not expect reward.
The Koan:
"In the early days there were no snacks in the kitchen at Tassajara, So sometimes I'd send cookies to a friend of mine there. I began to wonder why she didn't write to say how great I was.Then I thought , how selfish of me. I'm not being generous, there are strings attached. I just want something back.
I told Suzujki Roshi about this and he said," It's all right for you take care of her, but first you have to take care of Yourself !" His voice rose as he Said this, and then he got right in my face to say loudly,"Do you understand?"
. -Zen is Right Here pg.101
A Most note worthy reply :
When we can see others as not separate from ourselves, we simply give as a natural expression of being.
That’s the real trick isn’t it. Giving without any expectation of reward. Often giving at least has the reward of self satisfaction and good feelings of being the giver. Here we are talking about a generosity that is as natural and instinctive as breathing.
Giving and taking
Empty words
This just gives to this
js/stlah
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