Sawaki Kodo powerful words

[YuimaSLC]

The thoughts and training of Sawaki Kodo Roshi pop up in a number of Japanese teachers who have reached out to the West to spread the Dharma. Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and Shunryu Suzuki Roshi speak of him in their works, also. I get the impression that he traveled a fair amount within Japan and conducted sesshins at various temples....Antai-ji being one example. But, I had rarely actually read from Sawaki Kodo's own thoughts. Thank you Taigu for initiating this 'thread'
and Pontus for the link to Antai-ji.

Gassho

Richard

[Jinyo]

Hey Willow, hope things are getting better. My take is that life is a gift even with the pain and suffering and everything else. And you know what, we create most of the contradictions and difficult circumstances which leads to more pain and suffering. And understanding, fuhgetaboutit. From this perspective every day is a good day especially if you are breathing. And furthurmore Budhists do not have a monopoly on wisdom. Dogs and cats are pretty smart. Sorry if I got a little carried away.

Hi Rich - I do agree - life is a precious gift. I would be lying to myself though if I said that I am always able to connect with every day being a good day. And I struggle even more to think of giving this as a response to anyone who is struggling either mentally or physically with a lot of pain. This is the 'contradiction' for me.

The way I figure it is that what might seem like a bad day,month - even years - can be the sowing of seeds of creativity - good things to bloom out of the darkness. A bad day may really be a good day in terms of learning empathy for others.

But another little voice in my head asks 'is this rationalizing'?

I have just asked my little cat (who is definately smarter than me) and she says I think too much

Thank you for asking how things are - getting better thank you.

Gassho

Willow

[Rich]

I don't think anyone can always connect with every day being a good day. Trying to connect with a moment is the best we can do. Take care and hope your mom and sister are doing better.

[Rich]

Out of suffering emerged the strongest souls.
The mightiest among us are seared with scars.
Kahlil gibran

[Mp]

Out of suffering emerged the strongest souls.
The mightiest among us are seared with scars.
Kahlil gibran

So true Rich .... I did a little read up of Sawaki Kodo and it is amazing how he survived such a brutal upbringing ... encouraging in so many ways.

Gassho
Michael

[Jundo]

Hi Rich - I do agree - life is a precious gift. I would be lying to myself though if I said that I am always able to connect with every day being a good day. And I struggle even more to think of giving this as a response to anyone who is struggling either mentally or physically with a lot of pain. This is the 'contradiction' for me.

The way I figure it is that what might seem like a bad day,month - even years - can be the sowing of seeds of creativity - good things to bloom out of the darkness. A bad day may really be a good day in terms of learning empathy for others.

But another little voice in my head asks 'is this rationalizing'?

I have just asked my little cat (who is definately smarter than me) and she says I think too much

Thank you for asking how things are - getting better thank you.

Gassho

Willow

Hi Willow,

I posted a little essay elsewhere by Nonin of Nebraska Zen Center.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?10235-everyday-is-a-good-day&p=87834&viewfull=1#post87834

As Taigu reminds us, "everyday is a good day" is not some simple bumper sticker, but includes the ugly, the sad, even the most terrible of days.

A famous statement, thunderous, breaking through our beliefs that tomorrow will be great and yesterday was better, something not for the faint hearted, something for what has courage in us, not for the victim, the abused, the oppressed, the destitute, the jobless soul, the lonely one, the bored, the angry guy, the weeping eye... For all　these guys that we can sometimes be, a statement that says that As it is, raw, complete and intense, it is just good. It is good and we may cry, shout, beg, giggle, kick, strike or fly way...It is bigger than us, bigger than anything we can think of.

Gassho, J

[Seizan]

As Taigu reminds us, "everyday is a good day" is not some simple bumper sticker, but includes the ugly, the sad, even the most terrible of days.
J

I really notice that saying this to myself, and about today being my favorite day, changes a lot of my negative circumstances around. I become a little more tolerant of the ugly and the sad, because I become grateful that I am living and experiencing. It's bumper-sticker-esque, and I can see where it is hard to swallow during difficult times, but sometimes it takes the edge off of things for me.

Gassho,
Dani