Seeing your practice in moments of daily life

[Rob Parisien]

I know the feeling! Coming back to awareness and realizing that I am alive right here and right now (and not just a constructed/contracted self in my thoughts) always is a little bit astonishing to me. But then again as Kaishin notes daydreaming is also reality... for me as a beginner is is like going in a circle: I realize that I have been not really there, then I come back, and then further realize that daydreaming is real too and life just goes on, as it does. But there is something really nice about snapping out of the dream...

It is helpful for you all to share your experiences and observations for beginners like me to read. I am delighted to be a part of this sangha.
Gassho to all

Rob
sat today

[Shoki]

Many of us marvel at the wonders of nature and these experiences can give us moments of clarity. That's good. But sometimes it focuses too much on pretty things. Flowers, sunsets, cute animals. But what about the pile of dog poop on the street? The trash in the gutter? Cigarette butts on the beach?

It's easy to get all poetic about butterflies and rainbows because they're nice and rusty beer cans are not. This week I caught a glimpse of something bright red in the woods by my house. Thinking it was some wildflower I took a close look only to discover it was a discarded plastic cup. So it went from a good thing to a bad thing in seconds. The same sun that shines on a flower also shines on that cup.

In my experience, getting inspired through these classifications of good, bad, pretty, ugly, clean, dirty just get me off the path. The trash should be cleaned up but not because it's categorized as bad and flowers are good and worthy of inspiration.

Gassho
STlah
Shoki

[Risho]

Shoki - you must be referring to the Red Solo Cup Sutra by Toby Keith Bodhisattva

"https://youtu.be/BKZqGJONH68" -> I can't link it directly due to copyright stuff.

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

[Rousei]

I feel that responses so far touch on mostly the environmental aspect of Mark's anecdote. To me, his story is not so much about mindfully appreciating the beauty of a natural environment. Rather, he's simply saying that the experience of "snapping out of" his daydream while cycling to work reminded him of the practice on the cushion. That is, opening the hand of thought, being with just what is. So, the practice on the cushion actualizing off the cushion. Apologies if I am misinterpreting your intent, Mark, and others!

This is indeed what I was hinting at. As I read more books about our practice I started to notice that the practice itself feels like this continuous yoyo between illusion and illumination. Then the more I tried to take what I read and apply it to daily life I began to progressively more often see the interaction between the two. While sitting we sit in open awareness and when we notice a thought arising we open the hand of thought and let it go, we do not hold onto it. Without the thought to let go there is no practice. Otherwise we're simply not thinking. Perhaps this in itself could be another thread, because I would love to get feedback on this thought.

So yes, It's not so much about beautiful backdrops, but that awareness of going between illusion and illumination. Of snapping out of something. We cannot have that sense of illumination without illusion. The deluded self creates that illusion and once we realise it we illuminate our true self.

Geika and Inshin posted really good examples of this. The more I'm aware of this yoyo, the more I see it in every moment. My practice expands from the Zafu to daily life. Many of you are also posting examples of being aware of this back and fourth which is really wonderful to see.

Sorry for running long, I just felt like I wanted to say this.

Gassho
Mark
ST

[tclark7]

Without the thought to let go there is no practice. Otherwise we're simply not thinking.

Yes! Burn the Buddha statue so that you can be warm and live through the night. He won't mind.


Tim
ST

[Jundo]

Many of us marvel at the wonders of nature and these experiences can give us moments of clarity. That's good. But sometimes it focuses too much on pretty things. Flowers, sunsets, cute animals. But what about the pile of dog poop on the street? The trash in the gutter? Cigarette butts on the beach?

It's easy to get all poetic about butterflies and rainbows because they're nice and rusty beer cans are not. This week I caught a glimpse of something bright red in the woods by my house. Thinking it was some wildflower I took a close look only to discover it was a discarded plastic cup. So it went from a good thing to a bad thing in seconds. The same sun that shines on a flower also shines on that cup.

In my experience, getting inspired through these classifications of good, bad, pretty, ugly, clean, dirty just get me off the path. The trash should be cleaned up but not because it's categorized as bad and flowers are good and worthy of inspiration.

This is PRECISELY what my little talk will be about during our Zazenkai today. Please join us for that ...

September 10-11th Treeleaf Weekly Zazenkai - "The Small Things of Nature" Zazenkai

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?19048-September-10-11th-Treeleaf-Weekly-Zazenkai-The-Small-Things-of-Nature-Zazenkai

Gassho, J

STLah

[tclark7]

Many of us marvel at the wonders of nature and these experiences can give us moments of clarity. That's good. But sometimes it focuses too much on pretty things. Flowers, sunsets, cute animals. But what about the pile of dog poop on the street? The trash in the gutter? Cigarette butts on the beach?

Makes me think of the movie "American Beauty."

Tim
ST

[Shoki]

Shoki - you must be referring to the Red Solo Cup Sutra by Toby Keith Bodhisattva

"https://youtu.be/BKZqGJONH68" -> I can't link it directly due to copyright stuff.

Gassho

Risho
-stlah

Exactly! I prefer the translation by Red "Solo Cup" Pine.

Gassho
STlah
Shoki

[Shonin Risa Bear]

With Geika. Samu. _()_

IMG_0535 copy.jpg

gassho
ds sat and lah

[Seibu]

Hi Mark,

The snapping out of something like you said is something I experience both on and off the cushion. Sometimes I'm doing the dishes and it happens, sometimes when I sit it happens after several minutes, even during a conversation it happened: all thoughts drop away. The moment can last for quite some time but once you realize (usually immediately :P) you start to reflect on this state. "Oh wow this feels great, or hey, my thoughts are gone everything's clear now." The thoughts return but I still feel like the state lasts for a few more minutes. I believe not attaching to this is what it's all about; if it comes it comes just like any other state of mind or emotions that come and go. As Geika said: bring the laundry up the stairs, step, step, step.

Gassho
Seibu
Sattoday

[Sekiyuu]

One time I was waiting for a bus on a noisy, busy street that stank of car exhaust, after working up a mildly disgusting sweat from walking up a steep hill. I saw the wind blowing through the trees across the street and realized I was in paradise.


Sekiyuu
Sat Today

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[serenewolf]

I have found that my emotions are calmer than they used to be. I got very angry with myself yesterday for dropping and breaking my gaiwan lid (it was one outcome of a string of clutsy actions that led to a broken gongdaobei, a broken gaiwan lid(my favourite and only one) and a burn and damaged vocal chords, as well as spilled and wasted tea). The anger was quick to fade and i was mindful enough to keep my outburst private and contained. Another experience was at a haunted house event with friends, i was able to enjoy it but felt no fear or even anxiety, only calm.
Gassho
David
Sat/lah