Disclaimer: This group is not part of the regular Treeleaf forum. To take part, you must have registered on the original thread (https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...ase-Read-Agree) and agreed to the group rules.
In this chapter Toni talks about Zen and how it has helped her. Since Zen is probably the main practice for most of us here, this might be a strange chapter, but it may also be the one with the most familiar material.
Incidentally, I have plans myself to write a book on Zen and Chronic Illness structured around koan stories so it is interesting to read how Toni uses them here. Although in Sōtō Zen we tend not to use koans as meditations, I imagine I am not alone in having found some koans to be valuable in challenging the way I look at life.
There are also a number of koans I would say are particularly pointing at living life with illness. Among these are:
Blue Cliff Record Case 3. ‘Master Ma is Unwell’
Great Master Ma was unwell. The temple superintendent asked him, “Teacher, how has your venerable health been in recent days?”
The Great Master said, “Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha.”
Book of Serenity Case 94, ‘Dongshan is Unwell’
When Dongshan was unwell, a monk asked, “You are ill, teacher, but is there anyone who is not ill?”
Dongshan said, “There is.”
The monk said, “Does the one who is not ill look after you?”
Dongshan said, “I have the opportunity to look after him.”
The monk said, “How is it when you look after him?”
Dongshan said, “Then I don’t see that he has any illness.”
Toni continues by talking about Zen poetry and how certain poems either help or entertain her, often both.
Questions!
Are there any koans that have helped you understand or deal with illness or caring better?
Are they any poems (Zen or otherwise) which help you make sense or otherwise work with your illness or illness of someone you are caring for?
Is there anything else directly relatable to Zen practice that you draw on during difficult periods of illness or caring?
Gassho
Kokuu
-didIsittodayordidInot,welltotellyouthetruthinallth eexcitementIforgotmyself,soletyouaskyourself,doyou feellucky?/lah-
In this chapter Toni talks about Zen and how it has helped her. Since Zen is probably the main practice for most of us here, this might be a strange chapter, but it may also be the one with the most familiar material.
Incidentally, I have plans myself to write a book on Zen and Chronic Illness structured around koan stories so it is interesting to read how Toni uses them here. Although in Sōtō Zen we tend not to use koans as meditations, I imagine I am not alone in having found some koans to be valuable in challenging the way I look at life.
There are also a number of koans I would say are particularly pointing at living life with illness. Among these are:
Blue Cliff Record Case 3. ‘Master Ma is Unwell’
Great Master Ma was unwell. The temple superintendent asked him, “Teacher, how has your venerable health been in recent days?”
The Great Master said, “Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha.”
Book of Serenity Case 94, ‘Dongshan is Unwell’
When Dongshan was unwell, a monk asked, “You are ill, teacher, but is there anyone who is not ill?”
Dongshan said, “There is.”
The monk said, “Does the one who is not ill look after you?”
Dongshan said, “I have the opportunity to look after him.”
The monk said, “How is it when you look after him?”
Dongshan said, “Then I don’t see that he has any illness.”
Toni continues by talking about Zen poetry and how certain poems either help or entertain her, often both.
Questions!
Are there any koans that have helped you understand or deal with illness or caring better?
Are they any poems (Zen or otherwise) which help you make sense or otherwise work with your illness or illness of someone you are caring for?
Is there anything else directly relatable to Zen practice that you draw on during difficult periods of illness or caring?
Gassho
Kokuu
-didIsittodayordidInot,welltotellyouthetruthinallth eexcitementIforgotmyself,soletyouaskyourself,doyou feellucky?/lah-
Comment