Hi dear sangha,
These past few days I wasn't around Treeleaf because I organized a mini-retreat in Mexico City and I had to travel there to meet my sitting group there. In Mexico these events are called "urban retreats", which are gatherings for spiritual practice, but each participant gets back home to eat and sleep for the night.
We talked zen practice in general (history and why it is important for these crazy world), how to sit zazen and we read the Heart Sutra.
Here are a couple of photos:
e5a80be0-f899-430f-9556-ccc3010197c6.jpg
IMG_20180304_121056717.jpg
While in the city I took some notes and I want to share them here:
---
Where is everyone going? Why are they such in a hurry? They are already where they need to be!
---
How beautiful and magnificent this city is. I'd like to say this to everyone here so they could treat her with respect.
---
Life can't be possible without the kindness of all beings. We are united by the fine threads of Gratitude, Compassion and Generosity. We are looking for them outside ourselves, but they need to flow from within.
---
A yellow flower has emerged from a crack in the pavement, under the shadow of a big building. It's small and beautiful. It's peaking and saying hello from the depths of the city.
A very important lady, on her very important clothes, speaking important things on her important phone about her important problems, she has stepped on the flower.
Dear flower, please be reborn somewhere people can appreciate you.
---
There are no good guys, nor bad guys. No corrupted politicians or crime. Everything is a reflection of what we are, what we have inside and how we live life. If I live without values, ethics, elegance and silence, how can I ask others to behave with values, ethics, elegance and silence?
---
Sun hasn't come up yet and I am sitting zazen. Letting go of thoughts I listen to life turn on with the golden light.
---
Dear public works man: thank you. It's because of you and the thousands of people who work in anonymity that this city is possible.
---
A man in front of me payed for his cup of coffee with a few coins. He added a smile, which is worth millions compared to coins.
---
Success. Such an expensive illusion! The more we strife to get it, the more locked up we are inside our egos. We want to earn more, to be more, we want the business to grow. But we often forget the gratitude we owe to all the sentient beings we destroy to achieve success.
---
What if we start healing Mother Earth instead of stealing stuff and bleeding her constantly?
---
People at the retreat are Buddha. But this heart of mine is too small. What to do with all this love?
---
In absolute silence and motionless I look at them in zazen. Crossed legs, erect spines, hands in mudra.
I have nothing, only this happiness that can't fit in my backpack.
---
When I said goodbye, tears wanted to show up. Not yet, I told them.
Gassho,
Kyonin
Sat/LAH
These past few days I wasn't around Treeleaf because I organized a mini-retreat in Mexico City and I had to travel there to meet my sitting group there. In Mexico these events are called "urban retreats", which are gatherings for spiritual practice, but each participant gets back home to eat and sleep for the night.
We talked zen practice in general (history and why it is important for these crazy world), how to sit zazen and we read the Heart Sutra.
Here are a couple of photos:
e5a80be0-f899-430f-9556-ccc3010197c6.jpg
IMG_20180304_121056717.jpg
While in the city I took some notes and I want to share them here:
---
Where is everyone going? Why are they such in a hurry? They are already where they need to be!
---
How beautiful and magnificent this city is. I'd like to say this to everyone here so they could treat her with respect.
---
Life can't be possible without the kindness of all beings. We are united by the fine threads of Gratitude, Compassion and Generosity. We are looking for them outside ourselves, but they need to flow from within.
---
A yellow flower has emerged from a crack in the pavement, under the shadow of a big building. It's small and beautiful. It's peaking and saying hello from the depths of the city.
A very important lady, on her very important clothes, speaking important things on her important phone about her important problems, she has stepped on the flower.
Dear flower, please be reborn somewhere people can appreciate you.
---
There are no good guys, nor bad guys. No corrupted politicians or crime. Everything is a reflection of what we are, what we have inside and how we live life. If I live without values, ethics, elegance and silence, how can I ask others to behave with values, ethics, elegance and silence?
---
Sun hasn't come up yet and I am sitting zazen. Letting go of thoughts I listen to life turn on with the golden light.
---
Dear public works man: thank you. It's because of you and the thousands of people who work in anonymity that this city is possible.
---
A man in front of me payed for his cup of coffee with a few coins. He added a smile, which is worth millions compared to coins.
---
Success. Such an expensive illusion! The more we strife to get it, the more locked up we are inside our egos. We want to earn more, to be more, we want the business to grow. But we often forget the gratitude we owe to all the sentient beings we destroy to achieve success.
---
What if we start healing Mother Earth instead of stealing stuff and bleeding her constantly?
---
People at the retreat are Buddha. But this heart of mine is too small. What to do with all this love?
---
In absolute silence and motionless I look at them in zazen. Crossed legs, erect spines, hands in mudra.
I have nothing, only this happiness that can't fit in my backpack.
---
When I said goodbye, tears wanted to show up. Not yet, I told them.
Gassho,
Kyonin
Sat/LAH
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