Waking up to what you do

[Houzan]

Just finished a book by Diane Eshin Rizzetto, student of Charlotte Joko Beck, called “Waking up to what you do”. Nice read and great perspectives on the precepts. I found it helpful at least [emoji4]

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/341771

Gassho, Michael
Satlah

[Jundo]

Thank you, Michael. I am a big fan of many of the Joko Beck books and those influenced by her.

Can you summarize some of her points? I read it years ago I recall.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Houzan]

Waking up to what you do

Sure thing[emoji4]

To me there were seven key takeaways:

1. “The dead spot”. Diane uses the analogy of the trapeze artist that floats in the dead spot between bars (after letting go of the bar) to illustrate that working with the precepts is quite similar. When certain situations occur, we should, as the trapeze artist, be comfortable being in the dead spot just experiencing and then responding wisely, instead of just reacting based on habitual patterns.

2. Working with the precepts is very much an awareness/ mindfulness practice.

3. She describes A process to work with the precept (she underlines that this is not necessarily THE process): 1) observe your behavior around a precept - to build a habit to be aware, 2) deepen the observation by noticing thoughts and sensations, and 3) identify the underlying requirements that we place on ourselves and/or the world (deeply held beliefs) - it is when a requirement is not met that we break precepts. She points out, if I don’t remember incorrectly, that it is these requirements that crystallize the self and imprisons us in the same old habitual patterns.

4. The process is a spiraling process which never ends.

5. She recommends to work with one precept at a time (or maybe more correctly, and in my own words, a “layer” of a precept at a time).

6. She recommends her students to rephrase the precept in line with the student’s underlying requirements, or situation, in order to better serve the student’s practice.

7. She goes through eight precepts in the book. All framed in a nice way, and explores them broadly: 1) I take up the way of speaking truthfully, 2) I take up the way of speaking of others with openness and possibility, 3) I take up the way of meeting others on equal ground, 4) I take up the way of cultivating a clear mind, 5) I take up the way of taking only what is freely given and giving freely of all that I can, 6) I take up the way of engaging in sexual intimacy respectfully and with an open heart, 7) I take up the way of letting go of anger, and 8) I take up the way of supporting life.

All in all, I think Diane does a great job of describing the precepts and how you could work with them.

Gassho, Michael
Satlah

[Koriki]

1) I take up the way of speaking truthfully, 2) I take up the way of speaking of others with openness and possibility, 3) I take up the way of meeting others on equal ground, 4) I take up the way of cultivating a clear mind, 5) I take up the way of taking only what is freely given and giving freely of all that I can, 6) I take up the way of engaging in sexual intimacy respectfully and with an open heart, 7) I take up the way of letting go of anger, and 8) I take up the way of supporting life.

Oooh, I like the way that is phrased. Focusing on what we can do vs what not to do. Thanks for the recommendation.

Gassho,

Koriki (Mark)
s@

[Houzan]

Waking up to what you do

Oooh, I like the way that is phrased. Focusing on what we can do vs what not to do. Thanks for the recommendation.

Gassho,

Koriki (Mark)
s@

Agree. Also interesting to see how some of the students rephrased it for themselves, for instance:

I take up the way of honestly facing the distrust, uncertainty and fear that propels my tongue to be disloyal to the truth of this moment

or:

Fear holds the cup and I hide in the distortion of its shadow. The cup falls and sunlight blinds with painful brightness. I vow to stand with empty hands, tight chest, trembling, and tears. I vow to stand with eyes open to what is revealed. Who drops the cup?

Gassho, Michael
Satlah

[Shinshi]

Thank you for sharing solenziz! And I appreciate you taking the time to summarize. I too like the wordings. It kind of reads to me like she has combined precepts #6 and #7 into her #2, and just drops the one about disparaging the Three Treasures.

I have liked the Joko Beck books.

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Seiko]

In precept study during Ango, I have found it useful to read, examine and compare different expressions of the precepts.

Gasshō
Seiko
stlah