Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

[Taigu]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Thank you Luis and Chet, although I did not want to slap anybody in the face... :?

Johhn, you are already doing it when you sit, begging nothing, happy with just what is, at ease with everything. How? Trust practice and time, it does work and things fall off. Our practice is about loosing not getting. Loosing misconceptions and delusions or better' being reminded how deluded we are. As long as one is aware of this grasping, one should not not mind. Take questions with you, take these verses and pictures with you, breathe them in and out and allow your life to display the blossoms.


gassho

Taigu

[Shui_Di]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

thanks Taigu, nice talks.

I'll enjoy your talks.

Gassho, mujo

[John]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Johhn, you are already doing it when you sit, begging nothing, happy with just what is, at ease with everything. How? Trust practice and time, it does work and things fall off.

Thanks for that, Taigu. Like Seung Sahn says, I need to stop this always checking myself and just try, try, try....

Gassho,
John

[Taigu]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Thanks John, gassho to the great Seung Sahn but trying is exactly the opposite of spontaneous free practice, in trying there is the idea you are going to check that what you figured out is right, in trying we are competing with the shadow of our dream, in trying we are putting too much effort for it comes from the achiever not the one that releases, allows and let the clouds play free in the boundless sky...Practice, practice, practice is very likely what he meant. Wasn't he?

gassho


Taigu

[Seishin the Elder]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Thank you Taigu for the beginning of these observations. As I listened to your class yesterday I was put in mind of something I experienced many years ago. Growing up in Chicago afforded me the opportunity to go to the Art Institute quite often as a youth. One of my favorite places was a large hall , and sitting on a bench in front of Seurat's "Sunday Afternoon...." painting. It is huge. The closer one gets to it the more "out of focus" it is, in it's pointalism. The further point one observes it from the clearer the figures become. I learned many "life-lessons" sitting on that bench in the Art Institute enjoying that painting, up close and far away. I sort of felt the same things as I looked over the Ten Oxherding Picteurs last week in preparation for your lessons. I am really looking forward to these classes in the cloming weeks.

Gassho,

Denis

[disastermouse]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Thanks John, gassho to the great Seung Sahn but trying is exactly the opposite of spontaneous free practice, in trying there is the idea you are going to check that what you figured out is right, in trying we are competing with the shadow of our dream, in trying we are putting too much effort for it comes from the achiever not the one that releases, allows and let the clouds play free in the boundless sky...Practice, practice, practice is very likely what he meant. Wasn't it?

gassho


Taigu

Glad to have you here, Taigu! I'm looking forward to more talks...

Chet

[Eika]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

. . . trying is exactly the opposite of spontaneous free practice, in trying there is the idea you are going to check that what you figured out is right, in trying we are competing with the shadow of our dream, in trying we are putting too much effort for it comes from the achiever not the one that releases, allows and let the clouds play free in the boundless sky...

MANY thanks for this . . . wonderfully said!

I can use this with my music students, too. I often have discussions with them about how trying gets in the way of making music well, but having new ways to say it to them will help.


Gassho,
Eika

[Rich]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Taigu, I enjoyed your online talk. Especially the comment about always fishing for answers.
/Rich

[John]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Thanks John, gassho to the great Seung Sahn but trying is exactly the opposite of spontaneous free practice, in trying there is the idea you are going to check that what you figured out is right, in trying we are competing with the shadow of our dream, in trying we are putting too much effort for it comes from the achiever not the one that releases, allows and let the clouds play free in the boundless sky...Practice, practice, practice is very likely what he meant. Wasn't he?

Thanks Taigu. I have to get out of my own way and let things just unfold - like a cow peacefully chewing its cud. But cows get slaughtered

Gassho,
John

[disastermouse]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Thanks John, gassho to the great Seung Sahn but trying is exactly the opposite of spontaneous free practice, in trying there is the idea you are going to check that what you figured out is right, in trying we are competing with the shadow of our dream, in trying we are putting too much effort for it comes from the achiever not the one that releases, allows and let the clouds play free in the boundless sky...Practice, practice, practice is very likely what he meant. Wasn't he?

Thanks Taigu. I have to get out of my own way and let things just unfold - like a cow peacefully chewing its cud. But cows get slaughtered

Gassho,
John

That's because cows rarely think.

The point is not to never think. You might as well tell the sun to stop shining.

Chet

[Shogen]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

HelloTaigu
Your decision to comment on the Ten Ox Hearding pictures, while in your words being difficult, is indeed an excellent one. Thank you for your efforts.
Gassho Zak

[scott]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

"Wednesday with Taigu" on picture #1 was wonderful. Thank you very very much.

Scott

[Shogen]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

Hello Taigu
In your Wednesday with Taigu talk you said," We are like a big fish swimming in the sea searching for the sea." This made me realize that when we drop the delusion of what we are seeking, here and now is just "It."
gassho Bill

[Rich]

Re: Monday talks: Ten Oxherding Pictures

thanks taigu, enjoyed your talk,