The Zendo Has No Walls

[Yugen]

Yugen, thank you for sharing. I have been struggling with my youngest son's behaviour for months and months now. He is very, very defiant and strong-willed to the core. Today was an extra challenging day and I just felt like I did not know how I was going to go on anymore. But, your words give me the encouragement to keep going, despite the pain it feels to parent such a child, this too is my practice.

With deep bows,
Treena

Treena,

I am just a confused novice priest but it seems to me that sometimes the most fruitful and productive practice occurs in the places where we least expect or want. Hang in there. If the best we can do is to put one foot forward at a time, then that's what we do.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me. My son used to bang his head on the floor and make himself throw up before he would pick up his toys or take a bath. Now he's eighteen, flies planes, does engineering and has a smile like a beautiful sunrise and I can barely keep up. Being patient was worth it.

Deep bows
Yugen

[Taigu]

Daido Loori used to remind people that being a parent and having s normal life living this life meeting the 10000 things was much much harder than being a monastic.
We have all been there and somehow I am still there ( with a grown up daughter refusing to get in touch and blaming every inch of my flesh-blood-mind for whatever took place more than 10 years ago)
Patience, patience and remember:no big deal.

Gassho


Taigu

[Hans]

Dear Yugen,

thank you for sharing your insights with us.

Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Daitetsu]

Hi Yugen,

Thank you for this inspiring post!

Gassho,

Timo

[Myosha]

Thank you.


Gassho,
Edward

[kidbuda]

thanks Yugen! Life is our zendo indeed...and the only walls it can have, are the ones we decide to put.

Gassho

kb

[Ricky Ramos]

Thanks for those thoughts. I agree with you. Zazen practice encompasses our whole life and every minute of it. I have read, from the Zen Peace Makers that th epeople who are in need can be also seen as our Bodhissattvas, in a sense. What I mean it that they also teach us, and lead us, into works of love and compassion.

[Kyonin]

thanks Yugen! Life is our zendo indeed...and the only walls it can have, are the ones we decide to put.

Yes indeed. Thanks, Kid!

Deep bows,

Kyonin

[Genshin]

I have only just read this. Thank you Yugen.

Deep bows,
Matt