Hello fellow Treeleafers,
I hope the holidays have treated you well and given you the opportunity to share with family and friends. Please allow me to share with you my experience of life and the practice of Zen. Maybe in my fumbling of words I can share with you the beautiful practice of Gratitude & Acceptance. =)
Recently I was reminded about gratitude from the wonderful talk Tonen O’Connor gave to us http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...-Sit-A-Long%21 and also about acceptance through the wonderful book “Inside the Grass Hut” by Ben Connelly http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...-the-Grass-Hut.
Over the last few months I have been faced with the challenges of life from my daughter being very sick and in the hospital to being “thrown under the bus” by some family member’s. Like many of you life can throw us these curve balls right when we think we have no protective gear on. In actuality these teachings are always here with us where ever we go in life and with whatever we face … so in essence, this practice is our protective gear, the gear of gratitude and acceptance.
Recently when my daughter was very sick and in the hospital I felt afraid, sad, and that I failed her not being there. Through this experience, I practiced, I sat, I felt, and I allowed whatever to come, come and accepted it as it was. In doing so I was able to see all the wonderful people who were there helping my daughter when I was not able to. Who kept me informed so I felt connected and not alone. Through this acceptance I felt gratitude for all these wonderful people. Thankfully my daughter is on the road to recovery and back home with her mom … to which I am grateful!
Just when I think life is coming back to a state of normalcy I am faced with the upheaval of where I live, as my brother is doing major renovations to the house. Being pushed out of my home, my comfort zone through the stench of toxic glue and plaster … to the choking of drywall dust filled air was not something that I was ready for. Again, the feelings of frustration, sadness, and betrayal boiled to the surface. Having to spend 8-10 hours a day in my truck from wifi to wifi spot to get my freelance work done; to sleeping on a friends floor at night was a true test. On top of it all we have been faced with some of the worst weather in record … state of emergency due to flooding and not being able to drink the water due to high levels of turbidity … when was it going to end? But again this practice of acceptance shined through and helped me see that there was so much I could be grateful for … my daughter being safe, my truck, my health, my friends floor, for Jundo and this Sangha, for these teachings … for wifi to help me get my work done.
There is a wonderful passage in the book “Inside the Grass Hut” which quotes Dogen from the Genjokoan which says, “Practice intimately and return to where you are. When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point. Realizing we are here is our practice, and practicing is realizing we are here. Practice is the Buddha Way.”
The following day after I read that the storm outside had passed and I took the opportunity to get outside and just be with the warm rays of the sun. I drove to my favorite spot, open the tailgate to my truck and sat zazen. With the warm rays of the sun on my face, the snow capped mountains, tears on my cheek … I let go, I accepted life just as it was … in that present moment I felt the same gratitude and acceptance that the trees have for the mountains and the mountains for the sky.
Even though these experiences we face in life are not always so pleasant - whether good or bad, easy or not so easy, we should try and be grateful and accepting of the wonderful opportunities … as they are some of the best teachers. =)
Another quote from Dogen that I reflect on often is, “If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?” ~ Dogen Zenji
I wish you all the best over the holidays and the coming of the New Year ... I am truly grateful for all of you here at Treeleaf. =)
Gassho
Shingen
~ Sat today
I hope the holidays have treated you well and given you the opportunity to share with family and friends. Please allow me to share with you my experience of life and the practice of Zen. Maybe in my fumbling of words I can share with you the beautiful practice of Gratitude & Acceptance. =)
Recently I was reminded about gratitude from the wonderful talk Tonen O’Connor gave to us http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...-Sit-A-Long%21 and also about acceptance through the wonderful book “Inside the Grass Hut” by Ben Connelly http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...-the-Grass-Hut.
Over the last few months I have been faced with the challenges of life from my daughter being very sick and in the hospital to being “thrown under the bus” by some family member’s. Like many of you life can throw us these curve balls right when we think we have no protective gear on. In actuality these teachings are always here with us where ever we go in life and with whatever we face … so in essence, this practice is our protective gear, the gear of gratitude and acceptance.
Recently when my daughter was very sick and in the hospital I felt afraid, sad, and that I failed her not being there. Through this experience, I practiced, I sat, I felt, and I allowed whatever to come, come and accepted it as it was. In doing so I was able to see all the wonderful people who were there helping my daughter when I was not able to. Who kept me informed so I felt connected and not alone. Through this acceptance I felt gratitude for all these wonderful people. Thankfully my daughter is on the road to recovery and back home with her mom … to which I am grateful!
Just when I think life is coming back to a state of normalcy I am faced with the upheaval of where I live, as my brother is doing major renovations to the house. Being pushed out of my home, my comfort zone through the stench of toxic glue and plaster … to the choking of drywall dust filled air was not something that I was ready for. Again, the feelings of frustration, sadness, and betrayal boiled to the surface. Having to spend 8-10 hours a day in my truck from wifi to wifi spot to get my freelance work done; to sleeping on a friends floor at night was a true test. On top of it all we have been faced with some of the worst weather in record … state of emergency due to flooding and not being able to drink the water due to high levels of turbidity … when was it going to end? But again this practice of acceptance shined through and helped me see that there was so much I could be grateful for … my daughter being safe, my truck, my health, my friends floor, for Jundo and this Sangha, for these teachings … for wifi to help me get my work done.
There is a wonderful passage in the book “Inside the Grass Hut” which quotes Dogen from the Genjokoan which says, “Practice intimately and return to where you are. When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point. Realizing we are here is our practice, and practicing is realizing we are here. Practice is the Buddha Way.”
The following day after I read that the storm outside had passed and I took the opportunity to get outside and just be with the warm rays of the sun. I drove to my favorite spot, open the tailgate to my truck and sat zazen. With the warm rays of the sun on my face, the snow capped mountains, tears on my cheek … I let go, I accepted life just as it was … in that present moment I felt the same gratitude and acceptance that the trees have for the mountains and the mountains for the sky.
Even though these experiences we face in life are not always so pleasant - whether good or bad, easy or not so easy, we should try and be grateful and accepting of the wonderful opportunities … as they are some of the best teachers. =)
Another quote from Dogen that I reflect on often is, “If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?” ~ Dogen Zenji
I wish you all the best over the holidays and the coming of the New Year ... I am truly grateful for all of you here at Treeleaf. =)
Gassho
Shingen
~ Sat today
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